Car functionality.

[MikeGMT]

Years ago when I had a young family I always fancied a Volvo estate. One day while out and about I came across a 265 GLE Estate and p/x my current car. This was my first Volvo and afterwards I thought what have I done, swapped a 60,000 mile car for one with 118.000. Doubts started to creep in but how wrong would I prove to be in the intervening years. Had this car 7 years and toured all over the UK without problems, 3 kids in the back, luggage compartment full and the dog still had plenty of room.

I used to belong to a fishing club and everybody used to make a beeline for my car if we had to go any distance. On one occasion it was loaded up with five of us and all the fishing gear without having to drop the rear seats. On the return trip it even had a Ford Orion on a towrope (broken down), with another 3 onboard and their gear. Never missed a beat.

If ever there was a functional car this was it. Maybe didn't have all the frippery's of todays cars though I guess it was well spec'd for the day, even had a button on the dash to pump up the rear suspension for heavy loads.

Loved that car, V6 PRV 2.8 interestingly the same engine that DeLorean fitted to there Back to the Future car.

Registration SBL???Y, we used to call her Sybil.

[ThomasG]

Originally Posted by MikeGMT

Years ago when I had a young family I always fancied a Volvo estate. One day while out and about I came across a 265 GLE Estate and p/x my current car. This was my first Volvo and afterwards I thought what have I done, swapped a 60,000 mile car for one with 118.000. Doubts started to creep in but how wrong would I prove to be in the intervening years. Had this car 7 years and toured all over the UK without problems, 3 kids in the back, luggage compartment full and the dog still had plenty of room.

I used to belong to a fishing club and everybody used to make a beeline for my car if we had to go any distance. On one occasion it was loaded up with five of us and all the fishing gear without having to drop the rear seats. On the return trip it even had a Ford Orion on a towrope (broken down), with another 3 onboard and their gear. Never missed a beat.

If ever there was a functional car this was it. Maybe didn't have all the frippery's of todays cars though I guess it was well spec'd for the day, even had a button on the dash to pump up the rear suspension for heavy loads.

Loved that car, V6 PRV 2.8 interestingly the same engine that DeLorean fitted to there Back to the Future car.

Registration SBL???Y, we used to call her Sybil.

My very understanding of funcionality.

Now.. can you imagine new V90 doing the same job?

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

My very understanding of funcionality.

Now.. can you imagine new V90 doing the same job?

Err, no. They require too much pampering these days. Bit like society in general.

[I Feel Old]

Get away, ya pair of old romantics yeh.

An old 265 just in case you come across a stricken Ford vs the utility of a V90 and you’re suggesting the 265 is in the running?

[biggbn]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

My very understanding of funcionality.

Now.. can you imagine new V90 doing the same job?

Yup, with more comfort, less fuel and not having to haul that boat anchor Renault v6 about....tappetytappettytappety.....

[I Feel Old]

Hard to believe, but true. Typing away on this thread and other half appeared, having been looking out the window, saying the outside lights are on. Wee while later she was back saying , ‘just checked they’re switched off’. Went out to investigate and discovered car lights were on. Quick investigation failed to find an obvious reason.

Bloody technology, well either that or Mike and Thomas have the voodoo dolls out!:

Probably be checking every hour through the night for the next month.

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by I Feel Old

Hard to believe, but true. Typing away on this thread and other half appeared, having been looking out the window, saying the outside lights are on. Wee while later she was back saying , ‘just checked they’re switched off’. Went out to investigate and discovered car lights were on. Quick investigation failed to find an obvious reason.

Bloody technology, well either that or Mike and Thomas have the voodoo dolls out!:

Probably be checking every hour through the night for the next month.

HaHa it worked then. 'OOOOOO'

[I Feel Old]

It’s bloody true, thought it too unbelievable to post, then thought why not. Spent a while wondering if I had told other half I was discussing the frailties of technology and I was being set up. I hadn’t. Weird !

[dingov70]

Originally Posted by green van man

The only car I did that with was a 1750cc escorts Mexico mk1fitted with twin 40 DCOE webber carbs. That WAARRPP WAARRPP was music indeed.

Paul.

Ah! had a BDG in a group 4 escort , I know the joy & fuel poverty well

zero frills & underpant wrecking performance for the time

[ThomasG]

Originally Posted by MikeGMT

Err, no. They require too much pampering these days. Bit like society in general.

I can't either.

In my V70 I carry all sorts of tools, offer some ladders or timbers on the roof(daily basis), then when I go "out" its loaded up to the roof- tent, equipment, sometimes bikes on the roof, sometimes roofbox..

I can't imagine new Volvo in this role.

Being afraid to scuff interior, being afraid that self levellers for lights won't perform as they should, etc.

Is it only me or do cars nowadays turn into less "usable" toys full of gizmos?

Sure- you can tell me "if you want to carry loads- buy a van"

But anyone who drove "older" Volvo estate will (I believe) just laugh at that.

That "V" used to mean something.
It stood for "versality".
And oh, versatile these cars were (are).

Tear seats down- full flat surface in the rear.
In addition drop down passenger seat- whoa! Sooo much loading space!

Put them up again- one of most comfortable long range cruisers.

A van?

No.

New Volvo?

Em... I think I may need to pair it up with something for carrying loads.

But why would I want 2 cars if I can do all that with one?

In my personal opinion:

As the years go by, cars functionality level drops, being replaced by all sorts of commercially propelled gizmos.

Give me old style estate , even with some gizmos, the less dangerous ones, but still " old" style estate, any day.