Re: Volvo Rules!!! Rules what?

[jdouglas@mitre.org (jason douglas)]

OK, I can't hold my tongue any longer.  The problem with Volvos is less with
the car than with
the typical Volvo driver.  Obviously, the folks on the list are _not_
typical Volvo drivers, as 
that sort of individual regards cars somewhere between "transportation
applicances" and
a necessary evil that society will (hopefully) soon advance beyond!  Nobody
like that
would dream of owning an Audi and wasting their time on the net discussing such
proletarian, politically incorrect subjects as expensive German cars.  

This can be seen from Volvo's advertising, which used to stress safety above all
else.  Frankly, it is hard to believe that Volvos are any safer than other
Euro cars in their
price class.  They are regularly bested by Saabs in crash tests.  No, its
just that safety 
sells with the typical Volvo owner.

I speak with some authority from living in an areas utterly infested with
Volvos!  In fact, the local
dealer's son is the Lt. Governor of Virginia!  They used to make low-ball
offers every time
the local Police force needed to lease some new cars.  As a result, the 30
man force in this
town of 10,000 inside the D.C. beltway drove Volvos exclusively!  We got
quite a reputation
as rich, quiche eaters, or snobs, depending on one's outlook!  I guess they
have decided to put 
their advertising $$$ elsewhere,as the new cop cars are Crown Vics.  Not
quite as classy as
a 240, but there is no substitute for cubic inches.

With regard to the actual machinery, Volvo has certainly done some
respectable work
and their newer offerings, like the 850 seem very nice indeed.  It is also a
welcome relief
that the latest advertising is about performance and not safety.  Perhaps
the country's swing
away from hard core liberal values is having some positive effect here!

Finally, the true auto enthusiast has an open mind about hardware and
appreciates all
cars.  Its just that he appreciates some more than others.  I welcome
enthusiastic Volvo
owners and their cars if only because it livens up the discussions. 

There, I feel so much better now!
------------------------------------------------------
Jason Douglas
MTS Dept G057                        
MITRE Corporation