datsunlover Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Well, a couple days ago a friend of mine was in a car wreck. Waiting to turn left in his 94 Volvo 850T (with his girl friend riding shotgun, her 1 year old behind her SLEEPING, and his 4 year old son behind him..) light goes yellow, traffic stops, he starts his turn and a minivan screams through the yellow/changing to red light. He sees it, tries to get out of the way, but the van hits the right pasenger REAR door hard. Air bags go off in the front, twists the car so bad the front windsheild cracks, and his girlfriend couldn't open her door from the inside. I have to say.. if/when I start a family, I AM BUYING A VOLVO! His girlfriend's kid didn't get a scratch! Woke up and looked around.. didnt even freak out. His kid was fine, but started crying when they had to leave 'daddys car' and go home in another car. My buddys fine, and his girl wasn't hurt to bad, just slightly burned by the 3 coffees on her lap, and her neck is a bit sore. (I think she turned her head away quickly at the moment of impact, and got a bit of whiplash in the hit/spin) My friend told me "He has never felt safer in a crash. Car was like a rock.. just took the hit and held together." I saw the car yesterday at the impound, and it's totaled IMO.. the pass. rear door is pushed right into the wheel well, and into the car so much its about 1/4" thick in one spot. Actually ripped the sheet metal in a few spots.. The interior panel is BARELY touching the seat. (where a 1 year old was sitting in a car seat) The rim is bent to hell, and looks like the rear suspension is kicked in and back so far I doubt a doughnut tire would even go on it. The door glass is actually BENT but didn't break. Even the drivers side rear door is sticky to open, so it would seem the chasis is twisted pretty good.. It WAS a really nice car.. What REALLY sucks, is that even though the minivan was running the light, AND most likely speeding, my friend is still 'in the wrong' and the cops droped off a ticket/fine tonite for 'improper left turn' which means he's 100% at fault. He only had basic coverage too, so he's screwed. He's going to fight it in court, but I don't think he has much of a chance.. Kind of a crappy start to 2005.. but at least everyone is still alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Yes its sad to say, this has become an epidimic in this country.... instead of TAKE FOOT OFF GAS when light turns yellow... its all about STOMP ON THE GAS and go for it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 YUp, My best friend owns and swears by Volvos. He had the 850TR Wagaon and sold it for his new XC70 AWD Wagon. I car pool with him two days per week in that car... They are well made for sure... Buy used though. His lost 7K in value between March and October this year and it is a 2003 loaded... Glad your buddy and his family weren't hurt... This is WHY I'm a fan of red light cameras... We can't police ourselves, so the government will have to do it for us... Sad really. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280Zone Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Volvo has always been a bit ahead in the safety department. Very well built cars but lack a bit in styling. Here in AZ left turns almost ALWAYS = Fault. Focus on the lucky to be alive and well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 2, 2005 Author Share Posted January 2, 2005 Well the new Volvos are starting to actually LOOK good, as wel as being safe/well built. If my friend wasn't charged (and the lady driving the van had been..) He was going to look at a C70 convertable.. IMO a really nice looking car.. Unfortuantly, the left turn thing is the same here in Canada. Unless the lady was drunk, or had left the scene of the accident, my friend is at fault. I would probly have done the exact same thing.. I mean, the light was yellow long enough that ALL the other traffic was stoping.. He's sure the light was red as he got hit.. too bad there wasn't a camera. IF he can even afford insurance now, he may buy my 2wd Nissan truck.. even that's gona be expencive though.. I saw him yesterday and was playing with his 4 year old (got some 'cool tools' for xmas; plactic nuts/bolts, screwdrivers, drill, ect.. pretty cool toys!!) and the kid is happy and totaly unaware of what happened 3 days ago.. yes indeed. Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Yup...it was for that safety record that I bought my wife a 1996 850 when she was pregnant with my Son. Still going strong with 130k miles. Only problem we've had was the fuel pump died....but that is because she insists on running the tank down Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JAMIE T Posted January 2, 2005 Share Posted January 2, 2005 Volvo's are nice and and all, but I bought my wife an Expedition for basically the same reasons, plus I can tow with it when I need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Volvo's primary selling strategy has always been their emphasis on safety. They made most of their reputation on the 140 ("Amazon") series cars and in this country, on the 240 series cars. There was a statistic that in the 240, no one ever died in one for at least ten years. That's big. It has been years since I have sold them and knew everything about them, so the grey matter isn't what it used to be on automotive trivia, but I think I'm close on that one. I like the fact that nearly all of the suspension and everything is rather over built, if you will, on the RWD cars with the exception of the P1800. The only thing they lacked was adequate power, although the turbos were ok. A JTR kit for the RWD cars is exactly what the doctor ordered! The ultimate RWD Volvo would be an 80's Volvo 780 with an LT1 JTR conversion, ipd suspension, Remus exhaust, Recaro interior, and Volk Racing wheels. I nearly did the V8 conversion on the 2 door 240DL I owned, but the Z won out hands down due to power to weight ratio. Good to hear the friends were ok in the accident. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 3, 2005 Author Share Posted January 3, 2005 yah, my friend and I have both toyed with the idea of a V8 volvo.. several times. His first car was a 240, and my father had Volvos.. (240T and 740T wagons) so we both 'know' the cars. I agree on the overbuilt part too.. From all I have found out, you can basicaly drop your V8 in and go.. no chasis, suspension, brake upgrades are really needed.. But hey, while Im at it... I think if I did one though, it would be a 240 wagon. Lowered (IPD) and shaved bumpers, quiet muflers, and all black paint/windows. Oh, and I'd lean towards the 351W as my volvo friend is ALSO a ford guy, and has the info/conections. It would make a nice sleeper to cruise around in.. If his 850T isn't salvageable, he's probly gona drive his crown vic, which was originaly going to be his 'engine/tranny donor car' for a mustang progect. (And yes, it has the 351/C4 I WAS going to drop in my z.. long story) Looks like he won't be building a stang anytime soon, and I doubt the 850 will ever see the road again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moridin Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Lets just say there was an unfortunate accident with my friend's heavily modified 740 turbo and some drifting. Hit something pretty hard and the car only had some scratches. Tough cars. Another brand of cars that are really tough are Saabs. My uncle was hit head on, on the freeway, by a drunk driver in an older Toyota pickup. My uncle lived, with some pretty bad injuries, but he lived. As did his wife at the time, and my cousin in the back seat (who was only 12 months old at the time and in a car seat) came out without a scratch. The drunk driver got what he deserved ultimately and didn't live through the thing. A little off topic, but that is the reason I think all drunk drivers should be stripped of their license for life and shot in both knee caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted January 4, 2005 Author Share Posted January 4, 2005 Heh heh.. well, my friend just can't be without a Volvo.. He talked to a guy at a nearby dealership, and may get into a '92 960 wagon. Said the guy will give him the 960 AND $500 for his wrecked 850T. The 960 needs a tranny and a few minor things, but is in overall pretty good shape. My friend has ALSO sourced out a 960 sedan localy to use as a parts car (needs engine/interior work). For $500. He still likes the 850T more, but finding an 850 to swap his turbo motor/ect into is not easy or cheep... at least the 960 is rear wheel.. muhahaha... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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