After a few years of casting about early on, I've became a firm believer that the best bang for the buck is in using Original Volvo parts. Wheel bearings, suspension rubber, motor mounts, engine seals, timing belts, brake pads, clutch pilot bearings even windshield wiper blades were well worth the extra cost considering the long and predictable service they provided whenever they came packed in a blue Volvo box.

But, what is this? I just picked up some front brake pads and when I got home I noticed that they were not made in Sweden, or Germany or even Italy but in God-forsaken India! In my rather long experience as a consumer of all things consumable, the only thing I have seen made in India which was worth buying was my front door mat and that came by way of McMaster-Carr.

Two thoughts come to mind: Is this the way Volvo has chosen to go and does Volvo have the gonads to foist the same Indian-made dreck on their European market?

Rich