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I don't know where to start and when to finish with your post but here is the summary:
1. If this Board were not as negative as it is then I would not have to be as positive as I have been to counterbalance. You can see my posts in another Forum where EVERYONE is balanced and you will see how many times I have criticized (and actually lambasted) Volvo for their shortcomings (all car manufacturers have them).
2. I understand the technical questions will exist here; that is what the main purpose of this Forum is and it is perfectly understood that someone is going to come here asking "this part broke/malfunctioned, what do I do or what do you think"...What I don't get is the vile that is poured all the time about how $hitty these cars are because they aren't.
3. Different opinions are actually OK. Afterall, we do have democracy right? But when people come back and they put one person down because of what he/she believes and/or what he/she does for a living, well, then either that person will shut up and take it or will "strike" back.
4. Sure, when the 1998 XCs first came out I was telling everyone that they were great cars based on my previous experience with 850s. Over the course of time, MY1998 for Volvo (and some in MY1999) proved to be not the "perfect" model years that we were accustomed with. Were the cars junk? Absolutely not! But annoying problems like AWD irregularities, lightbulb failures (more than enough), power lock problems, etc. did cast a shadow upon Volvo's reputation. Were all the 1998s and 1999s like that? Of course not! How about half? Of course not? How about 20% of ALL 1998s and 1999s? Of course not! But if you come here, you would think that the majority are junk. That is what I cannot accept and react to. I see HUNDREDS of customers every month while I work where I work. A VERY SMALL number of people have had certain problems. Sure, I cannot see them all. But the computers can and I do get to see how many people come monthly for warranty work. And believe me, there isn't a good reliability halo cast over our dealership...I have also owned a 1998 V70R and that car was a dream then I sold it and got my present car. Actually, the guy who bought it from me, has already put in 45,000 additional miles and absolutely LOVES the car. His only problems? Two lightbulb failures and the airpump went at 42,000 miles and change. But he does take care of the car, never missed a service, knows about the tire situation, etc.
5. Whether people here believe what I post or not does not really concern me. I post what I believe is right and also quote directly what I find from other sources. See, this is the problem. You and many others believe that I come here to SELL Volvos so that I can benefit (you mention that in the end, that whatever happens here might "effect" my income). I have written this in the past and will write it once again. If I depended upon the Internet to make a living, then my appearance would be even more tragic than the poor starving children of Africa. As a matter of fact, I do not even sell (directly) where I work. I manage and train a sales force. I do not come in regular contact with customers, in the same respect that a sales person would. I used to do that some years ago. So, whatever happens here does not Affect me at all! To suggest that the Brickboard affects my income, one way or the other is plainly ludicrous.
6. What changed from 1998 to 2001 or 2002? Superficially, the AWD system may look to you that it is the same but there have been some minor improvements which (I want to believe) will constribute to making the system more versatile and/or eliminate any problems that a small number or owners had a few years ago. But I will tell you this, back in 1998 and 1999, these cars did not win any Initial Quality awards... ;)
Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M SR, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., ipd ME7 ECU Upgrade, K&N Air Filter, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17" 'Tethys' alloys
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