Volvo Va Va Varoom

VOLVO VA VA VROOM

I’ve been driving for 40 years and have never owned a foreign car. I listened to my dad when he warned me that they are expensive to buy and even more difficult to maintain.

Back in the early 1970’s when I was choosing my first car I really wanted a little red MGB but settled for a white Vega with black racing stripes. That car took 4 of us on our first trip to Florida without our parents. It came fully loaded with an 8-track player and huge speakers. We drove along the I-75 South with Black Sabbath and Chicago playing as loud as it would go. I’m sure we suffered hearing loss from that trip. My next car was a gold coloured Mustang with a large V-8 engine and a thirsty gas tank. As time went on, I graduated to a red Dodge Caravan. That minivan transported scores of hockey players and little leaguers to countless games and tournaments as Michael Jackson’s music blared from the tape deck. The rest of the cars and trucks blurred into obscurity until I moved to Alberta. I came under the spell of the Ford Explorer and have owned 3 of them in quick succession. I really liked the 4 wheel drive and the roomy interior. But nothing lasts forever. Our needs and preferences change as we go though life and the cars we drive reflect that change.

So last Saturday, with some prompting and encouragement from my son- in- law Neil, and my daughter Allison, I bought my first European car. It’s a Volvo XC70. My dad’s advice was good 40 years ago, but we live in a different world today. If he were here, I’m sure he would agree.

We started our search at the BMW dealership. At first I was still fixated on the SUV idea, but soon realized that I don’t really need all that power and towing capacity. We made notes to keep track of the vehicles I liked and moved on to the Audi dealer. We also walked past a few Mini’s but they were quickly eliminated since I am a lot of things, but “mini” is not one of them! There was also a Range Rover, but I wasn’t planning any African Safaris in the near future and I could have renamed it “Out of my Price Range Rover”. So we moved on to the Volkswagens. I sat in a few models and salivated at the CC in the showroom. It was luxury itself and very posh, but not practical for our Alberta winters. I could imagine myself cruising around in Monte Carlo with that gorgeous vehicle. On the downside, there wasn’t very much room in the back seat, as my son in law was quick to point out. I crossed it off the “wish list” and stopped day dreaming.

We never checked out the Mercedes because time was running out, but made one more stop at the Volvo dealership. I didn’t know what to expect. My only experience with the brand was being driven in a friend’s car many years ago. It was a solid, no frills little tank. What made a lasting impression at that time was it’s seat belts. It was the first time I had ever put on a seat belt, since most cars didn’t even have them in those days. Safety was always the top priority with the Volvo company.

We walked into the showroom and were greeted by a sweet young lady who immediately started telling us about the wonders of this car. My eyes glazed over as she went on about torque this and turbo that, but I decided to take it for a test drive. From the moment I sat behind the wheel, I was struck by the comfort and simple elegance of this car. The dashboard was easy to understand and the quality was evident in every feature. We drove along the slippery winter streets without any problems. The all-wheel drive made a smooth transition when needed and the little lights on the side view mirrors warned me when another car was approaching in my blind spot. The gas mileage is very good too. We should all be mindful of our consumption in this world of dwindling fuel resources. Our children and grandchildren will thank us some day. It was an excellent road test! I decided to buy it.

My adrenaline was up and my cheeks were flushed, but I was determined to make a good deal. The salesperson indicated that they don’t usually deviate very much from the sticker price. She said that negotiations were not part of the process in this dealership. She said they didn’t enter into the little “walking back and forth dance” that happens in other dealerships.

I ignored her comments and calmly offered her approximately 10% less than the list price. She looked a bit uncomfortable and then sought out the sales manager. He came out with a sombre demeanour and also stated their “no negotiation” policy. He even said that their price was set as low as possible.

I nodded and asked politely if he could improve on that price to “sweeten the deal”. He coughed and walked away. When he came back, he had lowered the price by about 5%. “Sweeter” yes, but not sweet enough for this determined lady. I could see them fidget and exchange glances as I asked for more options.

They both walked back into the office for a minute. It was a test of wills. There was a lot of walking back and forth in this dealership even though they told me initially that they didn’t use that approach to pricing.

I really liked that car, but I was ready to walk if they refused my request. When they came back the new price was 10% lower and I was satisfied.

I’m entering into a different phase of my life with many new beginnings just around the corner and I’ll be turning those corners with my European car. If you happen to see a tall blonde middle aged woman getting out of a Volvo at the Ikea give her a wave. It just might be me.