Yikes! Hope I did not mislead you, on two points: First, for plug wires, Bougicord is the best. I meant to make the point that if you use the brands that Volvo used to build the car, you keep it, fully, a nice, reliable Volvo. Kind of got side tracked extolling the virtues of Bosch. So, where Volvo used Bosch, use Bosch, and where Volvo used someone else, use someone else. Try to use OEM stuff, and you will keep it as good, reliable, and strong as when it was new.

Second, we can't really "afford" Bosch and Thermador appliances either. But a small inheritance from my most loved and sorely missed relative makes it possible to stretch (quite) a bit to do it. This brings up a point that relates to the car parts, though. Best expressed as a statement by some famous economist of years past: Poor people can't afford to buy cheap goods. Example: you may save some money **at the time of purchase** by buying the Scan-tech cap and rotor, but they won't last as long, and you will need to replace them much sooner than the Bosch. In the end, over a period of time that will vary depending on what purchase you are evaluating, the better quality (usually more expensive) merchandise will cost less than the multiple purchases of the lower quality, cheaper stuff.

BTW, and just for kicks: if you think Bosch and Thermador appliances are expensive, check out BSH's top-line brand, Gaggenau (www.gaggenau.com). A double oven from them lists for about $8000. And a single steam/convection oven (which I am drooling over) also costs about $8000 to $9000 (you can buy three very nice 700 series Volvos for that much $$). But they are works of art, and built very well. Bosch makes the Gaggenau refrigerators, but they have a feature that the "Bosch" branded ones don't: Remote Vision - they have a wireless card, like your computer or laptop, and connect to the internet or your computer. If the self-diagnostics detect any problems, they notify Gaggenau, who then calls you up and arranges for access to the unit, at your convenience, to correct the problem before it causes failure. Nice touch.
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Scott Cook - 1991 745T, 1985 RX-7 GSL-SE, 1986 Toyota Tercel (Don't laugh, it is reliable, faithful AND gets 41 mpg!)