Curiosity. I'm getting about 18-20 mpg driving somewhat conscientiously (although I am known to punch this baby up to 90 mph on a clear stretch on a dry road with no radar in the area just because I can). I stopped in a local Volvo dealer just yesterday, just to see what a new Volvo smells like, and I was shocked that the three vehicles that caught my attention (all 2004)'s got 15 city/20 hwy! One was the SUV, then there was a S40 and a beautiful black/on/black S70 (I think). Except for the S40 (which I think was rated at 18/22) the mileage seemed atrocious for the size of the engines in those things. Previously, I was somewhat disappointed that I couldn't see a marginal increase in my gas mileage after recently having replaced my catalytic converter, O/2 sensor, engine wiring harness, fuel pressure regulator, fuel-injector O-rings, ECU, distributor/cap/rotor/plugs/wires, (trying to cure a previous no-start condition, which I finally have) and, of course, an oil change.

As I was leaving the dealership one of the salesmen (a distinguished looking gentleman) asked "how ya doing today?", and I responded: "I am doing just fine, now that I see that my 86 740 Turbo wagon gets better gas mileage than those 2004's do."

He shrugged it off, and I drove off into the sunset.