I actually like your story so I'm going to reply and let you know it made nice reading for a 20 year old volvo lover! I cant wait to take a real road trip in my 240, I have a two, a 1990 240 dl and a 1986 240 dl, the 86 is a project i got for 700 bucks I just had to find it cuz its so hard to find a sedan thats manual around dallas. A friend and I did take a mini road trip in my 1990 240 last summer. we drove from dallas to wichita kansas one night/morning ate breakfast at a scary diner and headed home. stressful fun adventure! my transmission mount and seals were shot, I was leaking atf and oil there and back and we ate up 300 dollars in gas, super fun though. I hope your havin a good time, I cant think of a better way to spend a week!