|
After buying and consuming three used 240 Wagons over the past 21 years (each 7 years old and used for seven years, each starting at about 80K miles and retired at about 170K miles, with the price doubling with each purchase - $2K, $4K, $9K), I'm at the end of the seventh year with my current '91. To continue the progression, a '98 V70 with 80K miles will probably cost 2 x $9K or a little less, but from what I've read this model year might not be the best choice for reliability, particularly since my '91 has been the best of all (90K miles on one tuneup at the start, just a little exhaust work, and a new starter last month). So I've decided to take the plunge and buy a new 2004 V70 T5 (that I would plan to keep for 14 years)....and I don't care about the cost (sort of..). At this point, I'm down to selecting options. The premium and climate packages are definite.
My questions:
1. Is speed sensitive steering effective? I would like to get the sport package with the 17" wheels (and i'd get winter snows on 15" rims if needed.... Boston area) which appears to be the only way to get the new speed sensitive steering. Since I do a significant amount of both city and highway driving, this seems like a nice feature and perhaps something that Volvo will include on all models in the future and I would be jealous to have in a few years if i don't get it now. I'm still not entirely sold on the benefits / extra care needed with the 17" tires.
2. Do laminated windows with the touring package make the side windows dark tinted or is there a choice of tint? My wife and I plan to do some long auto trips and the added security towards break-ins of these windows will be a comfort. I have seen some dark tinted Volvo windows and they look pretty good, I thought, but might they make it harder to see out?
3. Xenon Lights? From what i've been able to gather from this and other boards, the Volvo halogens are adequate, but once again, if the Xenons become more popular in this country in a few years, I might l wish I had them.
Just a few more notes, I'm used to front wheel drive, my wife has had Corollas and now has a 2003 S40 (which we both love.... but she won't let me drive it because I mess up the seat adjustments). The three 240's have all been manual shift, but I'm ready for the automatic (sick of shifting in traffic, and on long trips my wife won't share the driving with a manual shift) and the power of the T5 is the only thing that makes up for the loss of manual....the 2.5T didn't seem to do it for me.
Thanks in advance for any comments. I've been following this board for quite awhile and greatly appreciate all the information that has helped form my decisions so far.
Ed
|
