Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

That's the difference innit. You don't need to drive a mini or a skoda to know it will be acceptably competent but hybrids are all new and weird, not to offer an extended test drive is absurd.

Email Volvo UK and ask if that's their policy and if it's not whether they could recommend a more agreeable dealer. They'll be very interested to know their dealers are being silly.

@Dammit have you seen Randy pobsts (?) Review on ignition of the v90 cross country? Think it's the 2 litre turbo but he couldn't praise the car enough. Looks like a proper estate and a very good car overall.

My pug sickness is getting worse too... Going to look at a gti6 that's got 308,000 klms on it.. faded paint and a dent in the rear quarter. But... Rebuilt engine including new rings and a special cam, bronze jointed gear linkages, lightened flywheel, quaife lsd and a long list of other bits... Won't be pretty but I bet it drives well. Think I've lost all sense!

@Dammit have you seen Randy pobsts (?) Review on ignition of the v90 cross country? Think it's the 2 litre turbo but he couldn't praise the car enough. Looks like a proper estate and a very good car overall.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/watch-randy-pobst-drift-volvo-v90-cross-country-rally-school/

?

The T8 is that engine with an electric motor in the back that gives another ~80 bhp to make it up to 400.

I suspect getting an Uber driver to head down to my parents, pootle around town, go for a vroom down the A272 and then cruise back home on the motorway might prove expensive.

I also suspect that doing this in a Prius will tell me almost nothing about a plug-in hybrid V90, given that the Prius is neither.

Ya, that's the one. I didn't realise they had a hybrid version. I guess it would be the heaviest in the lineup but basic driving dynamics should be similar as it seems the platform is a good one. I'd love a standard V90 estate but here in aus we're only getting the Cross country version.

I used Volvo's own "book a test drive" thing last night, and I left a message with Kingsworthy Volvo that I'd like to speak to someone about a V90 T8.

Nothing from either of those attempts at contact.

I sincerely feel that it should be easier than this.

And are so infuriated with me that they refuse to sell me a Volvo?

Not that I looked at £75k cars, but when I visited 5 dealerships in one day none seemed particularly interested in selling me anything at all

I'm neither a rapper nor a Known Man in the in-office reprographics industry, therefore I don't want a Lexus, so whilst Hefty's tale was interesting it's not cheering me up.

However, the first manufacturer to actually respond to me may be that little bit closer to hitting their Q3 target.

Although actually this is silly, lets forget the idea of buying a new car so it can sit outside the flat and do likely 3,000 miles/year.

Lets broaden the net somewhat - what can I get on the second hand market that's going to be around 20 grand, fast, petrol or petrol/electric, and an estate?

I'm going to end up pointing at Danstuff and shouting "car friend!" aren't I?

For e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Audi-RS6-Avant-REDUCED-TO-SELL-/253007312656?hash=item3ae8693710:g:-qAAAOSwsXFZGypC

Or the one that Hefty spotted a while ago:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-MERCEDES-BENZ-E-CLASS-6-2-E63-AMG-ESTATE-7G-DCT-525PS-W212-LADY-OWNED-FMBSH/232315215425?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

I'd need a very large gauge in my sieve.

And yes I do need to sell it, but not had a single call at the current asking price, which suggests that either I've advertised it in the wrong place or I'm asking more than the market wishes to pay.

But your inside a sensible volvo?

We had a fiesta with that 1.25 in it from new around 1998, next door had a 1.3 ka. Even from 6 months old you could here it rattle and smell it.

Parked on Sandbanks Road, bh14, yesterday morning. Looked tidy.

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The 9-5 were so old before they face lifted them, then they made them a bit daft and put them out for another 2-3 years. Tbh after having both the 9-3 ss is a far better car to drive, be in, use daily, work on, fuel usage and surprisingly space! 95 has slightly more around the driver, but real world usable boot space and back seat space is better in the 93ss I'm sure of it.
Also how the 2.2 vauxhall diesel was put I those cars at all let alone still available in 2007 was a mystery to me. The fiat group 1.9 cdti was superior in every way.

Can people see this thread without being logged in?

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=269447

Which, this one or the volvoforums one? I could see the one in your link anyway. Very convincing write up.

I'm actually considering a 9-3 now after swearing (repeatedly) I'd never buy a saab again, how it was just to be able to say I'd once owned one.

The one on the Volvo Owners Club.

I'm going to end up pointing at Danstuff and shouting "car friend!" aren't I?

Unless you get an M5 touring or a Merc, absafuckinglutely.

How about the S6 Avant? V10, auto, 430 bhp and half the price of the RS6.

Although it appears to coke up and the gearbox is garnering far from universal praise.

Hmm.

Of the three choices (M5/S6/AMG) which goes wrong least?