$4 gas (Boston, Fitchburg, Danvers: license plates, interior, county)

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Anyway. I paid $4.35 for gas this AM.

I wonder if we will see Jan prices ($3.40ish) again this year.

The December gasoline futures are $2.40-ish. Add $1.00 to approximate the Massachusetts pump price. It's certainly possible. My gas price Magic 8 Ball is notoriously inaccurate.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

This one is a cream puff 2011 S80 3.2 my wife bought used at a Mercedes dealership at half of MSRP in late-2015 with 5 years/30,000 miles on it. It only has 70,000 miles on it. It lived in Nashville until 5 years ago so it hasn't seen much road salt. In 6 1/2 years, it's had one A/C valve replacement. We had an XC60 loaner while the AC valve was getting fixed. Oil changes and tires once. It needs filters, a brake flush, and plugs are scheduled at 75,000. I imagine the brakes are close to end of life. It's only one data point but this particular car has been very solid.



I put ~ 500 miles on an XC60 T5 loaner. It was OK but it felt small and underpowered compared to an S80 or the Outbacks I've been driving.


FWIW, Subaru announced yesterday that the 2022 was the only midsize SUV that got a "Good" rating on the new side impact test run by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. In 2022, I think Volvo safety is more marketing than anything. For midsize cars, Accord, Camry, Altima, Maxima, Kia K5, Legacy, and Outback all have IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating. If you want to pay the up-charge for a luxury brand, by all means do so. Volvo and Lexus have midsize models with that safety rating. For large luxury cars, add Mercedes, Audi, and Genesis to the list.

Sounds like you've had great luck, that's awesome for an 11 year old vehicle! I did test drive a XC60 T5 and an XC60 T6. The difference in power is noticeable. I wouldn't get the T5, I'd get the T6 if I end up getting an XC60 or XC90. It looks like the 2022 Volvo XC60 got a good rating on the side impact test too...https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...-door-suv/2022

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Sounds like you've had great luck, that's awesome for an 11 year old vehicle! I did test drive a XC60 T5 and an XC60 T6. The difference in power is noticeable. I wouldn't get the T5, I'd get the T6 if I end up getting an XC60 or XC90. It looks like the 2022 Volvo XC60 got a good rating on the side impact test too...https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...-door-suv/2022

My point was that there are a bunch of cars with similar safety ratings. Years ago, Volvo was doing safety features that weren't required. That is still being marketed despite there being plenty of other cars that have the same safety rating. I'm too much of a cheap bastitch to pay the extra money for a new European luxury brand. I bought a top trim level Outback, put a 10 year/100k mile/$0 deductable extended warranty on it for $1,650, and I have a decade of push the button and go.


My wife did the "buy the car that depreciates like a stone" strategy. An S80 is a very nice car but they don't hold value when they come off lease so they're usually a really good value. A useless strategy in 2022 but good until COVID-19 messed things up. I have no sense for Volvo fleet reliability. This one data point is impressive. The total cost of ownership has been really low.

[newenglandgal123]

Reckless loonies like this is why I'm inclined to pay up and get a Volvo or other Top Safety Pick Plus rated SUV.


https://www.wcvb.com/article/serious...haron/40812999

[msRB311]

I have a Volvo as well. This is the 2nd one for me. I love them.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Reckless loonies like this is why I'm inclined to pay up and get a Volvo or other Top Safety Pick Plus rated SUV.


https://www.wcvb.com/article/serious...haron/40812999

I was in a roll-over about 20 years ago (as a passenger). Believe it or not the brunt of my injuries were lacerations from crap in the interior smashing into my face. Needless to say, I keep a very spartan interior in my cars these days.


I was debating getting an XC60/XC90 for my wife next vehicle cycle. I can't convince her to go Mach-E just yet.

[msRB311]

Saabs were great cars as well. I had a rollover in one of those where I just walked away without a scratch.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I was in a roll-over about 20 years ago (as a passenger). Believe it or not the brunt of my injuries were lacerations from crap in the interior smashing into my face. Needless to say, I keep a very spartan interior in my cars these days.


I was debating getting an XC60/XC90 for my wife next vehicle cycle. I can't convince her to go Mach-E just yet.

Horrible for everyone involved in any rollover. However, this crash on 95 in Sharon it looks like karma got the perpetrator and the innocent people driving along made it out alive which I was happy to read (although they still had to go to the hospital).

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I have a Volvo as well. This is the 2nd one for me. I love them.

Which models have you had? Have they been reliable, stay out of the shop except for routine maintenance?

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I was in a roll-over about 20 years ago (as a passenger). Believe it or not the brunt of my injuries were lacerations from crap in the interior smashing into my face. Needless to say, I keep a very spartan interior in my cars these days..

That is actually a pretty good reason for going spartan that I never realized. I keep my car interior spartan to reduce the tempation of theft when I am parked away from home.