On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:31:52 GMT, "Doug Kanter" wrote:


wrote in message
roups.com...

Wayne.B wrote:
On 12 Dec 2005 07:09:33 -0800, wrote:

My little V40 contiues to scoot along without a hitch or hiccup. I'm
not sure what we'll replace her Subaru with, but it would be a Volvo
XC70 if we found the right deal on the right car and it's unlikely to
be another Subaru unless they have done something about
front seat comfort in the last few years.

======================================

I've never owned a Volvo but have rented a few and always found the
front seats to be among the most comfortable I've ever seen.
Unfortunately their self perpetuated reputation for reliability
doesn't seem to stand up under scrutiny however.

With a Volvo, you put up with a lot of minor nuisances (many are
electrical in nature), but
with proper maintenance and a little luck it's possible to get huge
longevity from the basic power train.

The Japanese cars, in general, are a little more reliable than a Volvo-
but are less likely to
do 200-300k without an engine overhaul (as Volvos often do), and less
sturdy in a catastrophic accident.


I dunno about that Japanese engine thing, Chuck. I had a 1982 Tercel. At
160k or 180k miles or so, my mechanic thought it would be interesting to
check compression. The numbers were perfectly even and within spec across
all 4 cylinders. He thought his measuring thing was screwed up, so he tried
another. Same results. No nasty engine problems of any other sort, either.
No ooze around gaskets, nothing. Unfortunately, some drunk a-hole decided to
total the car, so I never found out how far it could go. I suspect that if
the motor was going to need a total overhaul, it would've shown SOME signs
of age by that point.


Yesterday I was 'bragging' about my GMC pickup. It was in the shop for a new clutch, but had been of
great service for the past ten years and 113,000 miles.

This morning, Ronnie, my mechanic guy, called to wish me Merry Christmas and let me know what else
they found wrong with the truck. So far, the list includes:

Clutch needs replacement
Intake manifold gasket leaking water
Left rear spring has a broken leaf
Brake master cylinder leaking
Power steering pump leaking

I sure wish I hadn't already done all my Christmas shopping!
--
John Herring

Hope your Christmas is Spectacular,
and your New Year even Better!