Tarheel

Thanks JB.....Now I know who I've been having happy hour with on Fridays You ar right Bill....stick a fork in this thread its done[]

Thanks Bill and just who is that fine looking group?

"Would not die or even sputter" I can live with that Sputnik and 300,000 miles sounds just right. Anyway it looks like its a done deal. She is gettng the new Volvo in the next day or two. She deserves it after driving the Saturn wagon for nine years without complaint. So a big thanks to all who took the time to offer up advice and suggestions. I think we all guessed the outcome many post ago. Maybe I can get some pictures by the weekend.

Thats good practical advice Jeff. The sting of the payments will live on long after the new car sizzle ends. I just got off the phone with the dealer in Charlotte with the loaner that has everything the new one has plus remote key (PCC) and satelite radio and he offered a little more for the trade in. I asked him to go look at the car for dings, scratches or wear. I not only want the car cheap....I want it to be in perfect shape[] I asked him about Volvo being sold and he said that was not an issue when Ford bought Volvo and would not be this time. We will see.

CTS wagon[^o)] She does like wagons. Thanks Fotog. As Dee and Bill have said " I have my marching orders"[:S]

Good morning Bill. I showed the wife the report from the link provided but she still wants a Volvo. We had the discussion yesterday about what car companies will be left standing with Hummer, Jeep, Chrysler, Saab, Viper, Saturn, and Volvo possibly being sold and GM and Ford in severe financial trouble. Whats left? Kia, Hyundai....... Scary times is right. The new rich are going to be those with a job[:^)]

I read the story from the above link. Bottom line is Ford is negotiating terms of a possible sale of Volvo with London bankers. If I buy now what would that mean as far as value, service, parts for the V70? Ironically Volvo is saying Saturn is up for sale as justification for low balling our trade in[:S]

Good memory blindman. I do still remember the ladies name at the draft board and wondered on the way home this afternoon if she was still living. I think I will try to look her up. I was born in 1949 and remember that we posted the lottery numbers and initials of everyone in our frat (TKE). My memory may be failing me was there a 1A or was it 1H as highest priority? My friend Bob Ward who had a low lottery number joined the Army and decided telecommunications should be safe. The first day in Viet Nam an officer asked Bob what he did and he said "telecommunications sir". The officer directed him to a radio pack and told him to strap it on. Not what Bob had in mind. Bob told me stories of climbing towers to string line and hearing bullets flying by. I lost track of Bob over the years and looked him up ten years ago and we took up like the previous years had never happend. We were friends at 13 years of age and he lived several houses down the street from me. We created a lot of mischief in our time. Bob died last March, the 9th, of a heart attack. A good man and a good friend.

Welcome chili bone....good to have another Wilmingtonian on the forum. Next time you can join us if you don't mind hanging out with old fogies[] I will pm you my address if you care to stop by and hear my modest set up. As far as the test my preferance was the same as bluesboy's with a vintage Fisher finishing first. The surprise was the SS HK sounded much better than the little chinese tube amp. The HK 630 was impressive especially considering the $60 price tag. I guess the 35 wpc helped with bass output and the Kailin sounded rather sterile and lacking depth. And yes Dave I did worry that the Makers Mark was influancing what I was hearing but by the time I began thinking about it was too late[:^)] So.......a nice diversion for a Sunday afternoon and some good music. JB, Arky, and chili bone.....bluesboy and I do the MM with 2 small cubes of ice...doing our share to conserve water[D] Chuck

Oh we love tales of debauchery here especially about bluesboy. I understand the two of you cut quite a wide swath through the northwest in your day[] Nice meeting you as well.

I recall the lottery system but not my number. A lady from the draft board called and told me if I would agree to change my student deferment 2S to 1A for six months I could resume my 2S without worrying about becoming 1A again. She said that it was a high probability they would not get close to my number (somewhere around 150). I don't know why she did that but I owe her big time. Several friends with low numbers went ahead and joined so they could go to Bragg during the winter rather than Paris Island during the summer. A long time ago....1967 or 68.....

Voted....good luck in the contest.

Yeah I know Bill its a heck of a time to make a large purchase. I have stalled for awhile to see how many new projects our small company will get in this funding cycle. We should hear this week and that could make me rest easier (or not). In the mean time I called Charlotte Volvo and they have one exactly like the one we are looking at that is a loaner with 4500 miles on it. I should hear back today. Told the wife and she unenthusiastically said "Oh".....she doen't understand the concept of letting someone else pay depreciation! Thank you Winchester, Mr.Tech, Fotog and Jeff for your thoughts and to Hypoxia for that link (Ford selling Volvo). BTW welcome aboard Hypoxia. A great group of people here.

Good idea Mighty Favog. The wife is very good at having the maintainance done right to the minute. I wonder how many of us here do our own maintainance? I think Speakerfritz does. I haven't since my first car......a TR3. Thats a story for another day but it had a tractor engine and came with a crank?

Welcome hcman. I've heard bluesboy speak of you often......most of it good[] I have been doing his quality control for some time now since I have no skills of my own....and those xovers are going to be top notch. About that Oban....do you think you could mail it to the east coast? Get Don to tell you about our 3 cheap amp blind testing we did yesterday. Those Niles switches are niffty. Again....Welcome!

There you go JB. I think a Malibu is built on the Saturn Aura platform or vice versa. So much of that sharing going on such as the Volvo V50 being built on the Ford focus and Mazda 3 platform. But a hundred years from now who is even going to remember? Now its off to work so I can make those car payments so the little lady can run to the grocery store in a nice, safe, vehichle[:S] Yes Bill......you could say JB is Top Notch when it comes to one liners.

Thanks for all the good suggestions. The wife has made it clear through body language, if nothing else, that she wants the Volvo. So we won't be remodeling the kitchen or enlarging the master suite for now. Cost of repairs is a big dread for me plus breaking in a new dealer[+o(] will not be much fun. Now do I self finance and pay myself back monthly or do an adjustable home equity at 4% and claim the deduction[^o)] Very good and welcomed advice from all. Thanks guys.

Way to go Joe.....best wishes to all your family[Y]

Tarheel - thank you so much for your concern. no I am not near the flames.. Thankfully. I can not believe it.. it is absolutly devestating, over 108 people have lost their lives and this number is sure to rise and that is not included the injured and the countless number of homes that have been destroyed and the animals that would have had no chance to excape. I feel for these people so much. and to think that most of the fires were delibretly lite is just impossible to comprehend. edit - i will also mention that I was probably 30 minutes drive away from where the nearest fire was burning - but I was never in danger - i could never see smoke or flames. Good to hear. Saw coverage of the devastation and thought about you after seeing your post this morning. Stay safe!

DownUnder.....Are you anywhere near the wildfires?

Good advice Daddy Dee[] Life with her will be easier if I follow your advice. Donation....got me thinking there Bill[^o)]

Good morning Bruce and thanks for your comments. The salesman also mentioned that Ford had learned a lot from Volvo about safety issues. The car in question is a black 2008 V70 with tan leather and drives and rides great. Volvo is reducing it to below invoice (about $8 K off sticker) because it is a year old. The wife keeps a car for a long time so even though the price is hard to swallow there may be little chance of changing her mind.

Thanks Bill. Your son was very fortunate to have escaped with no injuries. One thing I have learned about wrecks is CarFax reports will come back to haunt you if you trade in your wrecked car. Even if it is satisfactorily repaired and drives fine you will be offered next to nothing in trade. That happened with the wifes Saturn wagon. Someone ran into her car in a mall parking lot and now Carfax list structural damage in their report. Accurate but does not note that all parts were replaced and with new body panels the cosmetics were actually improved. Something to keep in mind when negotiating a claim.

Sounds like a plan. Should I bring some fuses?

The wife has her eye on a new 2008 Volvo V70. I took her to drive a 2009 VW Passat today but she can't get the Volvo out of her head. Anybody have one? Opinons?