you mention cheaping out as a way to put out a car with more features. well, it's our fault. how much do all those cup holders weigh? headlight washers, 6-10 speakers for the radio, power windows, sunroof, etc. gas mileage has to get better, otherwise the guzzler tax kicks in. why do you think those alloy engines are so tightly spec'd? can't weigh as much as a b21 and still have lotsa power and torque. i've lamented the cheap plastic on the 700s for years. but, it's the wave of the future. look at a 190 or 260 mercedes door panel. the vinyl where the armrest is lifts off the panel and tears. a seperate armrest weighs more and is more money. look at how the price climbed on a 240. the s/v40 is the cheap car volvo has. anyone with a base 240 up to 81 or so, no power anything. by the time 93 came around, the car was nicer that any v6 sold in the 70s-no prv jokes, we are talking options and price points. and it was too much money, they didn't sell and volvo had to kill it. why do you think the s40 floorpan is the same as the new focus-it's cheaper. it's gotta be done somehow, so we can hang more bloody cup holders, dvd players and who knows what else. what do i drive-an 86 toy corolla gts 2 cam, 16v with a power sunroof-no manual available. i replaced a 78 242 m46 with a 76 242 m46 and then to an 80 gt-then got the toy. why the 240s, they are simple. why the toy, well it's simple, too and alot more fun. only other 240 i'd consider besides 76-80 is a 91-93. airbags and abs-gee, there's some more weight, that's why all the plastic. and so it goes, chuck.