What could be easier than running your car through an automatic car wash? Pull up to the entrance, pay your money, put your car in neutral, and let the machines do the rest. No fuss, no muss, right?
Read MoreIn 2018, the weekly Chicago News named the Volvo XC90 its SUV/Crossover of the Year. Recently, the publication’s car reviewer, Jason Saini, took another XC90 out for a spin—this one a 2019 T6 Inscription—to see whether the model was still living up to the praise he’d heaped on it a year earlier. (Hint: It did.)
Read MoreAfter nearly two months to the day of waiting—and about 10 days ahead of original schedule—my new 2019 XC90 T6 Inscription was ready for pickup at my local dealer.
Upon arrival, I signed a few pieces of paper, after which my salesman, Bob, spent an hour going over the vehicle’s electronics, safety features and infotainment system. Even at that, I had to cut him about an hour short due to other commitments I had that afternoon. We agreed that I’d come back in a few weeks once to figure out anything that was still eluding me.
Read MoreFor a car guy, bringing a new vehicle home from the dealership is a little like bringing a new baby home from the hospital. You want to prepare the nest, make sure everything is clean and ready for the new arrival.
Read MoreIt’s a message I’ve preached to friends and family as long as I can remember: When buying a car, don’t buy new, buy certified pre-owned.
In most cases, it really does make sense. Buy a low-mileage one- or two-year-old car, and you’ll not only enjoy substantial savings off a new vehicle, you’ll also in many cases walk out of the dealership with a longer warranty.
Read MoreFor years, Volvo offered what was widely considered the best certified pre-owned warranty program in the auto business. It carried no deductible and ran for seven years from the date the vehicle was put into service (e.g., when it was sold), or 100,000 miles—whichever came first. It also included Volvo Roadside Assistance for the life of the warranty.
Read MoreWith Patti’s S80 in the shop for state inspection, mounting of its winter tires and wheels and a pre-winter detailing, our dealer provided us with a 2018 S90 T5 AWD Momentum as a loaner. It was painted in gorgeous Maple Brown Metallic and trimmed in amber leather upholstery. The car had about 8,500 miles on it, and I couldn’t wait to see how it compared to Patti’s 1998 S90, our first Volvo.
Read MoreThe story of the world’s newest website for Volvo enthusiasts starts nearly two decades ago with my wife, Patti. The year was 2000, and she had come home from work with a preposterous idea. One of the attorneys where she worked was selling his low-mileage 2008 Volvo S90, and she wanted to buy it.
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