Well my oldest daughter, she who destroys cars, has wrecked another one. Last Thursday evening ,about 7 or 8 PM, she was driving down a country road and a deer jumped across the road (her story). She swerved, caught the right front wheel on the edge of the pavement, went into a deep water filled ditch and then rolled at least once.

First the good news. She got a big goose egg on her head and bruises elsewhere but no serious injuries. After I found out she was lightly injured, I considered adding some injuries myself.

Her Volvo, a 1986 240 wagon, protected her like a champ! The front end collapsed when the nose hit the other side of the deep ditch as it was designed to do. Then, when the car rolled, the top did not flatten like the Ford Explorers do. The windshield, which was one of the new model glue-on ones shattered but stayed in place. Here's one for you, all 4 doors opened and closed normally!

After finding she was going to be ok, I then nearly cried over the car. It used to be mine and the list of work I did on it is pretty long. Rebuilt front and back suspension and shocks, new windshield, replaced door panels and pockets, added a tach and clock, repaired the wiring harness, new headlights, replaced the tailgate harnesses, repaired the radio, fixed water leaks, repaired the OD, switched to synthetics in engine, tranny, and differential, and more. The car ran perfectly, used no oil. I've a notion to go to the salvage yard and buy a bunch of stuff out of it but I can hardly bear to look at it.

I'm beginning to think my daughter (she's 40) should never own a car. She has had 8 cars. I've given her 6 of them. She has wrecked 3, damaged 3 and only 2 were still running when we sold them. I don't plan on giving her any more cars!

Thanks, guys and gals for letting me vent. I really appreciate the strength of the Volvos and the support of this forum.