We are seriously thinking about getting a second car and letting our '03 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Magnum rest so it's age can catch up with the miles we've put on it.

There are some special criteria we need to meet, and I want to get some ideas of which VOlvo model might fill our needs.

I'm a permanently 100% disabled Veteran in a wheelchair about 90% of the time, and usually ALL the time if we're away from home. This means we need a large trunk with a low lift-over to make getting my folding chair in and out of the car easier.

Also, I have a heavy Bruno motorized lift that carries my power chair. The unit, with chair aboard, weighs about 500#, which is a lot of weight to hang out behind the rear bumper. Even on our Dakota we had to install overload springs to keep from dragging the carrier over bumps!

I am especialy sensitive to heat/cold, so air conditioning is a must. Also, 4 doors, with the front doors being nice and large is a requirement. The wife's Mom seems travel with us a lot, and she's claustrophobic so she has to have a door in the back.

The engine should be in the 180-200+ HP range, both to pull the mountains
around here, and to tow our little fiberglass campt railer on occasion.

So we end up with a list like this:

- Larger sedan or station wagon.
- V-6 or V-8 engine.
- Automatic transmission.
- If sedan, large trunk w/low lift-over.
- 4 doors.
- Air conditioning.
- Front- or rear-wheel drive.
- Able to tow moderate loads (1,000# or less).
- Would like to be able to carry power chair, so we'd need rear suspension that can be beefed up. If not practicable, I can build a tiny trailer just large enough for the power chair, although that wouldn't be my first choice.

In particular, we also need a very light color paint, white preferred, due to the desert sun. Upholstery color not important, as long as it's not black.

ALSO, since this is a second car - and we're still paying on the Dakota - the price should be $6,000, more or less.

Personally, I prefer RWD and as few computers as possible, although I'm learning enough about automotive control systems that I think I can deal with computer problems now.

The problem of fuel economy is getting more important every day. I know that most Volvo's get fair MPG, certainly better thatn our Dakota! My PV544 gets 30 MPG, but it's a little small, slow, and old to fill our need for a real, functional second car.

I'd appreciate your insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the various models that come close to filling our list of needs.

Thanks!
Steve & Tarona Stanfield
Ridgecrest, CA
(Just southwest of Death Valley)
1964 PV544