esrosedotblog

The Volvo is still acting up.

So I stayed home from a regular Meeting and called in to the service. I will take it in tomorrow morning. I have reserved a ride home from the dealer.

It burbles during the start process. There were some signs of this all the way back to my trip to San Diego. We figured it was something I was doing wrong with the switch or the brake or something. It did go away. But not forever. It is back.

It is not too troubling. I will take it one step at a time. I do know that it will work out. Just not according to my schedule but then that is most of life, isn't it?

Gotta learn to ride the waves.

Labels: repairs, Volvo

Trouble with the Volvo again this morning.

Starting. It has trouble finding the "immobilizer" which engages if we don't press the brake pedal. Or something.

John took him in once and it was one of those things that they couldn't see, so, they didn't do anything. I will call today to see if I can get an appointment for tomorrow.

They don't know me. Well, our salesman Bob does. John is the guy who does most of this. I don't know if I will be able to get a loan car. I really don't need one I suppose. I can sit there and wait. We will see. It is not tomorrow yet.

Labels: automobiles, Volvo

We used to be committed Saab owners but GM ruined that. They bought them out and Saab sold out to them. And the dealer arrangement. Piss poor. A bunch of Chevy salesmen who didn't understand the Saab at all.

So we were off to Volvo. Hard to swallow as long time Volvo sneerers we took the pill and got over it.

A beautiful "station wagon" later and now a 2103 convertible, the last of the hard tops, has turned us into excited fans. Nothing like converts for enthusiasm and commitment!

This video review is fun. It is for the new 2015 crossover, a new idea for Volvo.

Driven | 2015 Volvo V60 T5 Drive-E

If we were looking for a dog car again, this might just be it.

I have finally surrendered to "tear drop" shapes and sloping back windows. I will squint. But the video shows that the Volvo has taken over a whole category and is a proud companion for the other models which we are now committed to.

In any market, a brand committed buyer is a valuable commodity and we have become brand buyers.

My first job was with a brand, Ocean Spray Cranberries, and the new management at the time, of which I was a part, had brand loyalty as gospel.

When I left there and started working for a chain store which had its own private labels (I was an engineer working on our own food operations) I converted. An apostate. A denier of a truth which still holds today. Brands do matter. There is more care, and yes, your money, spent on maintaining the integrity of that brand and the money is often, if not always, spent in the right place.

Volvo is pricey of course. We are lucky enough to be able to afford the difference but when it stacks up with the Audis, the BMers and the rest, it is still a good deal. And it no longer looks like a box on wheels. They have spent their branding money where it all counts and it seems this new one is no exception.

It occurs to me, after the fact of writing this, that to be honest, we not only became heretics we went to Chrysler, a Jeep and then a Sebring convertible, in the interim between Scandinavian cars. It was fun. It was useful. We loved both cars. But the yearning for the imports was still there and could not be stamped out. We were back with the Volvo in a wink as soon as we moved to the condo and could only have one vehicle. Besides, Chrysler went into the shitter too what with its being bought and thrown about hither and yon finally fully owned by Fiat! Not bad, Italians, but not enough.

Labels: Volvo

I got the urge this morning to take a drive in the new Volvo convertible.

I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have wanted or done a joy ride.

And it was joyful.

I went out to the airport, right to El Cielo which goes to 111 and becomes Sunrise. A left on Toledo and a run up the mountain on Bogert to the very top where I could see the beginning of sun hitting the big mountains to the west.

Specfuckingtacular!

I had hardly left the house and I could smell the air. Horse shit as it happened, I think. At that hour, 4AM, no exhaust at all.

The sky was just beginning to light and as I drove all the colors arrived. Your pinks, your blues, your yellows that you can't see but are there. The green of the trees showed up. All in the open air with a 360 degree view.

From the top of Bogert you can see all the way west and north in our part of the valley. The mountains on the left, the small homes nearby, the desert in-between me and the place we used to live on the Mesa. Then beyond the village into the desert beyond, the windmills, the far desert and, of course, the inevitable mountains. The big pass just to the left heading toward LA and all that.

The car is quite something. It can make a fast getaway and it will stop on a dime. I was gawking and forgot about a light which had changed. No screeching tires and a nice grippy brake action.

At first the ride felt bumpy. Later, when it became a lot smoother, I realized that I had been on a street that had a lot of bumps and this Volvo takes them and passes them on. I realize that this is also a function of having a lot of pressure in the tires but they recommend that be the case.

I was feeling the ride. Nice. Once I got used to it I also realized that I could do something about it. I can't tell you what that is but I remember from the Saab convertible that the bumps transmit to the driver and very subtle corrections take place that translate to an interesting alive driving experience.

The only thing that would make it livelier would be to have an old style standard drive but that has been lost a long time ago in most cars. There is an SD or special drive setting on this which will allow shifting. We had this on our SUV Volvo. I don't use it as it is so phony it is hurtful.

This car has an identity. I got to that some on this drive. I got to know it. I feel at home.

Labels: Volvo

So, we spent the afternoon at the Volvo dealer.

Meet the C70 convertible 2013. It has 13 miles on it. The model is being discontinued with no convertibles in the line for at least 3 years.

I won't even get into the reasons we do not want the station wagon any more. (I know, they are called something else now but they are still all station wagons to me.)

Labels: Volvo

First snow of the season on the mountains.

And lots of rain for us down here.

And the temps last night were in the fifties.

Short lived autumn.

Life in the desert.

Of course, today, the temps will get up to the 80s and it will be gorgeous.

The snow up there will probably not last long except in the crevices and cracks of the mountain rocks where there will be snow as late as May next year.

I had to put the heat on for the house this morning and the heater in the Volvo.

Did I mention that, like it or not, the Volvo has heated seats?

It is, after all, made in the land of ice and snow.

Our Saabs had them too.

So, laughingly, I turned them on this morning, noticing in the process that John had evidently turned his on last night.

As predicted by Bob, the Volvo salesman, I was surprised at how nice it was to warm my ass on the way to and from the gym.

I don't wear a jacket there even in the coldest mornings so this is a good sign.

Labels: desert, seasons, Volvo, weather

John got back home from Italy last night.

Booker and I went to pick him up.

We had a nice reunion. I think maybe Booker figured that he would have to deal with only one dad for the rest of his life. He was quite relieved to find this was not true.

I was relieved too.

I had done pretty well until last Friday when I got "aimless". A euphemism, I think, for lonely. Or missing my love. In any case, I just let the feelings roll and sat and read and read and sat and then somehow that phase got over and I was into anticipation and excitement.

The flights were faultless and we picked him up just as expected.

In the new car which he had never seen.

It passed muster. He has it out there now.

We had a short tutorial this morning but there is not that much that is new or unusual and what there is, as in all properly designed devices, is easy to figure out by simple trial and error and intuitive action.

I can't say things are back to normal yet. I made meat loaf today so that it could age into tomorrow and also be enough for six times.

Tonight, without thinking, I set up for American Chop Suey. Pasta. What was I thinking?

Not that he had any of that while he was away.

He seems happy about it.

It is different.

American, after all.

Labels: Booker, food, home, travel, Volvo

Booker and I were due for a change of pace so we took the Volvo for its first lengthy spin this morning.

Down to Palm Desert and up the mountainside on 74 to Idyllwild which is tucked into the nearby mountains. Our sky high neighbor. 6000 feet. Higher during the ride.

Part of this is to take the new Volvo through its paces up the serpentine and around the curves going into the rural piney woods.

We went through the town and kept going to a rest stop beyond, then on down the other side of the mountain, Ca 243 to Banning where we joined the 10 and had a chance to open the Volvo up on the high speed road.

The other reason to go, was to see something different and to give Booker the exciting thrill he gets from being up there.

We think maybe he grew up in this kind of place. Pines, mountains. He was born and lived near Reno NV for awhile.

In any case, he gets quite animated and, where possible, I open up the windows so he can hang out and take it all in.

When we got out he would have gladly struck out down the steep hill and into the woods.

We satisfied ourselves with a pee and a walk around at the end of the leash.

Then back into the car and on home.

The locale is great for me too. It so different and so nearby. But this is California where there is some of everything. The mountain views on this road can be breathtaking and the woods are close in and so green! My eye is a desert eye and so the immediate change is fun to take in. I am never quite ready for it even though I have been in woods all my life.

We left at 6 AM just to see the sun rise as we went up the mountain and returned home just before 9AM. It is about a hundred miles all told.

The car is great. It is beefier than the one we had before. Even if it is the same model, it has a more powerful engine and handles very nicely especially on the tight turns at higher speed.

I need to be careful with Booker in the car as too tight and too fast spills him over. Not nice.He does pretty well with a crouch which lets him have the window and lowers his center of gravity. Smart dog. Adaptive.

I am aware of the improved gas milage of the 2104. We didn't move the needle all that much. Well, no needle. The dash controls are all digital now. Nice. A little harder to read because everything is in a different place than before.

Labels: Booker, driving, Volvo

I picked up the new Volvo XC70 this morning.

It is great. I have mostly driven it home but I did try some bells and whistles. Saving most for later.

Three hours door to door did me in. Two hours of paper work there. And I had put in two hours last Thursday on the buying decision, model, color, blah blah.

It is the same car basically as we have driven. The XC70 is a Volvo success story and they are sticking with it.

There is a grill change, always a distinctive grill change every model year, and a totally new control panel.

Some features that came with the upscale package and a few I got because I wanted the vehicle now and this one was available in Escondido.

It will take a while to appreciate some of the frills but I think I can get there.

It has a smart "key" which, as in the past, is more of a slab. The car senses it as you approach and, if you wish, you can merely press a button to open the driver's side. The start button also senses the key and it is not necessary to insert it. Just keep it in your pocket. Silly but fun.

More important there are side sensors which light up if there is a car in the right lane, outside the sightline. A little orange light goes on at the inside corner of the mirrors. Both sides. Radar!

The mirrors on the outside will look down to show a curb line or a line line.

These are real safety and conveniences in one.

The mirrors will come back, tuck themselves in, so that you can go in a tight space. Not advised for backing out of the garage as we need to see but I will figure their logic out.

The car is heavier. Yet has better milage. Good for a Volvo. It also has more power on the getaway and, a surprising feature, feels like a geared car on the decelerations so that the motor helps slow down. Very very nice.

It is really silver. Shiny silver. But tasteful.

A new color so that people will know it is new. But still light for reflecting the sun here.

I am happy with it.

I will have a little over a week to read up on it before John returns and I can be smart about everything before he figures it out.

Labels: Volvo

There is not much to say about the new 2014 Volvo XC70 I bought yesterday.

A picture would be worth a thousand words. See below.

If you saw the old XC70, you would see the new one except for a modification in the grill, small, which they always do so the cognizant can cognizate.

And the panel is all digital, variable, big and hi tech. You can get, if you want, the digital version of the old dial, just flick the switch. Or big numbers. And all.

It is the first thing that Bob the salesman has to show me and it seems cruel not to allow him the demo he so thoroughly has practiced or the boyish enthusiasm with which he conducts the tour.

I didn't even get into the car.

We went in and made a deal. It took the usual fucking two hours. Find the car in Escondido or somewhere, talk a little about how it will be not perfectly match my specs, I had to by a seat warmer and a remote ignition. One for the seriously cold climate we have here in the winter and the other so that I don't have to get into a HOT car. Shit.

But it is always thus. Just get them and believe that we will appreciate a warm ass when it hits 32 on those few days it does and the bit of air blowing in our faces as we open the car.

Otherwise it is the front wheel drive (cheaper) and beige interior and same same same.

We wanted a light color. The desired crystal white which has sparkles in it comes only in the top top of the line package. So I am getting what he told me was Champagne but the writeup says Seashell. It is a beige, light, that shines and turns silver as you walk up to the car. It is very flashy in its way and the humble desire we had to let people know subtly that we had a new car is out the window. This one shouts "look at me". "new new new". And it is just gorgeous. Not tan, not silver. Light because we don't want a heat absorber in the desert. Why people have black or dark blue cars like the one he showed me, also dirt flashers, is beyond me.

Here it is, I think it is lighter than this. I know it is. And you can't see what happens when you walk up to it in the sunlight as it gets different shades and shines in your face. My god it is pretty.

I pick it up Monday. Another two hours of back and forth.

Gladly the Volvos do not dicker or mess with you. It is all blue book less damage on the trade in (we had some damage, I thought serious, but not at 1500 and did pretty well). Then the sticker, less a "sale" two thousand off why we are getting it now, an extended warranty so we are covered for anything for 8 years and 100,00 miles which we have no chance of hitting. I hope.

I am a little excited. I told John on the phone in Bologna yesterday. He was very tired from the travel over to Munich and through the Alps on the train so he was very amenable to almost anything. I should have tried slipping a few more things in. But I had already told him of my unilateral decision to get the house cleaned bi-weekly which he is a bit cool to. He said fine even if it was an extravagance. You should see the house. Clean, clean, clean.

The simple fact is that I am tired of cleaning and we do not come close to my standards for a clean house and these new people (a family team, two men and two women I think married to each other but maybe not) exceed my standards by quite a bit. I just need to put some things back where they "belong" like my medicine chest stuff but actually even that has more spare room and a better display.

Labels: housekeeping, Volvo

We just returned from the Airport departure door, United.

Booker and I. We came home without John.

He is off to Italy via Boston.

He will arrive in Boston, stay over with an old college chum (he still has one left), lunch with a grandson at his work and then tomorrow night off to Munich.

He is going to Deutschland so he can take a train through the alps going to Bologna.

Then to Ferrara, Parma, Modena, Ravenna, Padua and Venice where he will stay five days until he goes back through the Alps (night train no sights) to Munich and finally home.

It sounds like the Cole Porter Kiss Me Kate song "We open in Venice and then play Verona then off etc until they open in Venice.

We, on the other hand, are staying in Palm Springs and while doing nothing really special, hope to be able to pack in a couple of different things.

For one, on Thursday, taking advantage of the absence, we are getting the whole house cleaned top to bottom by professionals. It has been three years of our own cleaning and there are a few dust fuzzies hidden under the sofa and so on.

To kill time, we don't want to stay here with four or five guys moving furniture, lifting rugs, scrubbing all the tile, Booker and I are going to buy a car.

We have a date with the Volvo guy to sign up for a '14 XC70 which will be as close to the '08 as possible. Of course there will be doodads which we will not really want like the map thing and bluetooth talking with which no one can understand what you are saying to say nothing of the fact that hands free talking has now proven to be as dangerous as holding the phone.

I am not sure if we will leave with a new car, we had not planned to but yesterday when I talked to the Volvo guy he said he already had four of next year's models on the floor. They are always a step ahead and trying to push the "now" over the "wait".

We decided to set it up now because there is a double bonus discount and we do not mind waiting. Which we will probably do as we have a rather specific color (white sparkles although they don't call it that I think it is crystal something) and a more or less stripped down, I think the middle range, set of options. Beige interior and so on. Leather seats.

If we wait it will be 14 weeks but if he has the very specific thing we want, I will take it on Thursday.

What else are we going to do to fill in the other Dad husband's absence? Not much. I have a trip to In and Out Hamburger in mind on Thursday if we need even more time while the cleaners are doing their thing.

I will, of course, have to answer the usual questions about why I am not going with him.

I try to keep it simple "I do not want to go to Italy" but that is rarely enough. The second explanation is that I do not want to stand around in churches and museums looking at old shit. (gasp) Then, usually we have to go to the long term advantages of de-coupling some of our life together so that each of us has an independent existence and achieve some level of person-hood. The "person-hood" always stops them cold. That is a handy verbal artifact from the "human potential movement". I never used it then but now it is a handy conversation stopper.

You cannot explain this to some people. Many get it, nod and grin. They are doing the same thing with their partner or want to.

Others? Stymied. What? How can that be? They signed up for the Kool-Aid. Yes. I know they are still in love, that they do not want to be separated from their mate, they are happiest with them than they are anywhere and so on. Good luck with that, mate.

I still remember the year that my mother, who loved the Jersey shore, did her annual nagging of my Dad to go with her. After I had grown up he never went back. Never.

In frustration, this time, she said that if he didn't go, she would go by herself. And she did.

The world did not cave in. She had a good time and actually took a friend, Harriet, along. He did what he wanted for a week. They could afford it and it relieved the daily pressure of people pleasing alternating with silent scorn or actual fighting that was normal around that house.

Boy did I learn from that. And, later, when, like everyone else, Harriet got worn out by my Mom's self centeredness Mom went by herself.

They both loved it although they continued to do the "he never goes with me but I have a good time anyway" bullshit but that was their life and normal.

Needless to say, we do not do that. He goes, I stay, we both have a good time.

I get my time alone in San Diego (went in August) and all is well. Booker even makes out well. Each of us overcompensates for his being alone so he gets more petting, longer walks, sweeter treats and so on. I am not sure he is pleased by this incidentally.

The one reaction that is hard which is when they ask John how he could leave and go somewhere without me. This is a slightly different spin on the ball and would be the hetero sexism if it wasn't two men. We just let them figure it out. There is no explaining.

So here we are. We just got home. On the short drive from the airport I worried that he might have forgotten his ticket and then because I knew better I worried that he would get his luggage stolen from his car in Boston while he was having lunch with our grandson.

And then, given nothing to worry about, I had sweet tears. This is the culmination of a long year of planning for him. It is his hobby and fascination. He has planned the footsteps at each site and made the necessary elimination of the better and the not. He will have a great time. It is alos a good thing that he will not be renting a car there this year. Always a concern for me. Wild Italians on the road. He will do all trains. Good.

Other than that we are pleased to see him happy with his pursuit, now his fifth (?) trip to Italy. Maybe four. It seems like five because while he is planning it seems like he is there at the time.

This is the first thing I did back in the house. Now. On to breakfast and the first morning dog walk of the two weeks. I am the sole Dad now and I have to get myself into gear.

Labels: life, travel, Volvo

A NONSTARTER

I went out to the Volvo this morning to go to the gym and it would not start. Dead battery.

This is the first time with this car but not uncommon here in the desert where a battery's life is limited by the heat and aridity.

We try to remember to ask them for an extra special check of battery strength but with Volvo such militance is redundant. I am sure that they do all they can.

And there are 7000 miles between maintenance sessions. It takes us almost a year to drive that far.

So, it was no gym.

We belong to AAA but Volvo has its own complimentary service which I called.

A guy was here in 30 minutes, promised in 45. A looker. Always nice.

It is a little hard to get into the Volvo battery but he says not as bad as a Mercedes or other similar autos. He actually doesn't get many Volvo calls for anything. A good sign.

So he got it started. It was dead-dead so he advised to keep it running all the time until we take it into the dealer for a new battery.

John is there now.

We went to the store as scheduled. The dog got his walk. Everything went on schedule but the gym which I actually grieve about some but I will recover.

I don't like doing it. Do not view it as a vacation. It is unwanted.

Nevertheless things will be back on track soon and that is a wrap.

Labels: automobiles, Volvo

AND ANOTHER THING

The Volvo went back in the shop after its servicing last week to get a new ignition switch.

We had noticed a stutter and the computer showed a problem.

While working on this, they found that the battery was leaking.

I have had battery anxiety lately. After about a year, the car batteries succumb to desert heat syndrome and just stop cold. Or hot.

So, as it turns out it was time and it was not picked up in the servicing.

We got the battery for free and a new cable. The first time I have gotten a battery under a warranty situation. I wonder if it was because they missed it the first time.

And wouldn't you know? Volvo has their own battery. Good luck if we call AAA. But we have a Volvo emergency number. I just don't want to use it.

Labels: Volvo

THE RIDE

We all loaded into the Volvo last night and pulled out of here about 15 minutes before the fireworks were to start.

We headed north through the desert and out to Dillon Road which is actually one of the old east west roads pre-I10.

We rode for awhile until we saw fireworks and then headed back.

We could see them off and on as we drove back into the valley. Booker was unfazed but excited to have the ride and, when we did get back, no trouble with traffic, he was like a kid that couldn't settle down for bed.

He and I were two hours after our bed times. I had no trouble getting into the sack and staying there until two hours after I would normally get up. Five AM. But I skipped gym and I had shopped ahead so we didn't need the usual Tuesday shopping day.

Now, I am back to normal more or less.

There were also, as far as I know, no firecrackers or other private explosives. Good. Booker doesn't like those either.

All in all a very successful venture.

Labels: Booker, holidays, Volvo

TOTAL SURPRISE

We heard from the AAA insurance today about the totaled Sebring.

We were floored.

After researching the Blue Book and the other evaluation sights we had decided that we would only get about a fifth of the cost of the replacement Volvo.

As it turns out, they are giving us about twice what we expected which is about a third of the Volvo cost.

Pleasant surprise.

We have been treated very well by AAA and heartily recommend them for all insurance.

They researched this. We sent in the repair records for two years. They looked up the value of the same car here in the desert. There are a lot of them. Very popular. I am sure that had an effect as well. The used market is pretty good for the convertible. It has a good record.

So its local value is higher.

We will have to take the title in and sign the car over to them. They will send it to a recycle, used parts place to cannibalize it. I am sure that has something to do with the settlement also.

Who knows?

We are happy to have anything turn out twice as well as expected.

Labels: Volvo

AIR IN THE HAiR

I thought that I was indifferent to the fact that our new Volvo has a sunroof.

I didn't see me using it much.

But yesterday, I just got this itch to open it and it was great!

Air in my hair.

And it seems to pull the air in the windows, through the car and out the open top.

We try to keep the house and the car open as long and as much as we can. Heat notwithstanding.

Even now with the days in the hundreds, the nights are 80 max. So we open the house in the morning, same with the car.

Great.

One other thing.

A little more disturbing.

The Volvo keeps its headlights on whether it is night or not. It is one of those cars you see that wants you to know it is there. Lights.

This is another of those things that I always scoffed at but now that it is on my car, I have taken a turn in attitude.

I mean, Volvo's thing is safety, right?

So if they think it is safer to keep the lights on then, well, goddammit, we should keep the lights on.

The guy said that we could make an adjustment and turn them off but I don't think we will.

Not only are we driving this car that I always attributed to nerds and school teachers but we are keeping the lights on all the time.

It is a flashy bugger though. Not like the old boxy Volvo at all. That makes up for it.

Labels: Volvo

VEHICULAR ASSIMILATION

The new car is great.

It is not the bells and whistles although they are a bit of fun.

It rides and drives like a charm. Smooth and responsive with a bit of grit in the feel of the road. It is not a "floater" with all the shock absorbed.

We are working on having it as the only car.

I drove it to the gym and the store.

There were a few bumps but nothing big. Like. It keeps its low beams on all the time. We have criticized this in others but we got a bit of why from the salesman and it is part of the Volvo safety formula.

So when I got in this morning and pushed (yes pushed) the start button (yes, button, there is no key but rather a wedge that goes in a slot to unlock the system) the lights went on so I just more or less forgot to turn on the headlights. As a result the high beams didn't work. Just flashed. I figured out what I hadn't done by the time I got to the gym.

Little familiarizing things.

But it feels just right. It locks and has an alarm which we use but we aren't closing all the windows all the time.

Isn't this boring?

Someone talking about his new Volvo.

Did you notice that the Volvo logo is the male sign? John did before I did. Cool, huh?

Labels: Volvo

GOT IT

We went to sign papers on the Volvo this morning.

The original idea was to get the vehicle off the lot and into storage so we could buy it when we get a settlement on the Sebring Convertible that was totaled.

As it turns out, we had to pay, we had to apply for a loan, we had to do all the paperwork that a sale involves.

So we took the car home for a thousand dollars and financing. The first payment isn't until the end of August when, with any luck, we will simply buy the car outright. There is no prepayment penalty.

But, goddam, the paperwork. And you have to do it even if you pay cash. The Patriot Act. They want to know where money comes from and goes. And other stuff too.

I remember this from the Sebring.

But what we did not have to do is to put up with a lot of bullshit from the salesmen.

They are two. There is a manager. The manager tolls it all up. You stay with the salesman until the last minute then go in and give your money to the manager. No more pressure. Nothing to be sold.

It is great.

There are two service reps. We were taken to meet them. Nice.

I said before, it is like the agency where we used to get our SAABs.

We drove the car home. John did.

I got on the phone to add the car to the insurance which went just fine.

Then I took it out for a little drive. I figured out how to work almost everything. I don't know why it seemed so formidable.

It has been a long day though. No nap. Behind on schedule.

Labels: Volvo

NEW CAR

I have not reported this to the blog but John totaled his Sebring convertible the day before we moved. More than a week ago.

He walked away without a real bruise or scratch but the Sebring is, well, totaled.

We await the settlement with the insurance company.

They try to do the right thing. It is AAA. It takes some time. They do local comps and look at the car's actual maintenance records and so on. So they know it is not a junker pre-crash.

We have been looking for a replacement.

I will not bore with the details but suffice to say that we had pretty much centered on a Ford Escape or similar until John went to the Ford dealership here and wasted 3/4 an hour with what a friend calls "Fifties selling". Bullshit.

We had some interest in the Subaru Forester so he stopped at that dealer which is joint with a Volvo agency. It is a small place. Three salesmen on a Saturday.

In the process of a very nice involvement with a sales guy, John ended up looking at a Volvo XC70. This is a wagon. Not an SUV.

The car is used. A turnover from leasing. Mint condition. 29000 miles.

Full warranties available. The right price.

We went over together to look at it. I have a "rule" about not buying a used car but this broke the vows. I also remember Volvo as a sort of dull cousin of our beloved SAABs which were so badly treated by GM. Most of the SAAB guys went to Volvo.

Anyway, the car drive great. It is a space age deal. All buttons and gauges and shit. A little intimidating.

But we are probably going to buy it.

I drove. Booker and John sat in back. It is one of the few cars or SUVs that have a good flat back for the dog and also has a three way split so John could sit next to the pup and both could have a lot of room.

It seems like the right thing.

Unless we get buyers remorse overnight we will go tomorrow and put some money down on it to hold it for the AAA insurance check. That will get us started.

Labels: Volvo