Aaron Gold, family man
Tuesday December 30, 2008
Today I swapped the Challenger SRT8 for one of these -- a Volvo V70 wagon. Now, don't get me wrong, the Volvo is a very nice car... but when the guy from Chrysler drove away in my the Challenger, I died a little inside. Review coming soon, if my tears don't short out my laptop. -- Aaron Gold
Comments
I disagree Aaron…the Volvo wagon is not a “nice car”, it’s a nice “sensible” car…and nothing drives a stake into a car enthusiast’s heart more deftly than the words “nice sensible car”!!!
Ha ha ha ha!!! I actually had this happen “in real life”. When our third came along, we traded our Magnum SRT8 for an Odyssey.
You swapped a test drive. We signed papers, drove one fantastic car to the dealership and then schlepped home in another, entirely different “car”. For “life”. Till death do us part. Etc.
Then my wife decided my S2000 was too selfish because it had no back seat. After some “discussion” that ultimately had to go too. The consolation was an Evo X – very sensible car given the circumstances.
Aaron, I think all of us have had to make the “Family Truckster” Jump at some point. Mine was to a XC 90. I’ll concede no where near as sporty as 335 Coupe, but I do feel very safe when driving with my family. My wife refused to drive a “Soccer Mom Van” and really likes this vehicle. It does not have the European Jogging shoe look that the wagon has.
ugh… that is painful to think about.
Challenger SRT8 to a Volvo… Looks like it was a merry xmas but a not so happy new year. Oh well… I am sure you have something awesome lined up right around the corner.
1971 240Z.
Navy transfer overseas in ‘72. Can only ship 1 car & I have a family of four. We ship the Torino wagon and I plan to buy a new Z when we return.
3 years later the Z has morphed into the bloated 260Z with ugly bumpers … and doubled in price.
I miss my 240Z to this day.
It’s too bad you couldn’t trade the regular V70 for a V70 T5R. I know the SRT8 has more ‘punch’, but the T5R can hold it’s own.
@Daniel Cote: that story is sad… I had a 1985 300ZX in college, the cooling system went on my and I had to choose between my father (for a graduation present) putting $2k worth of work into the Z (which it needed) or putting $2k down on a 30k mile 1999 Ford Ranger. I chose the truck and regret that decision to this day… The truck served me well for sometime, dying this past spring at the age of 110k miles. I used it to move cross country and it always ran great (until it threw a rod) but if Jon Titor was here, I would ask him to use his time machine and go rescue that Z…
Aaron, the only good thing is that even if you had to give up the “Hot Rod” for the “Family plan”you didn’t have to pay for it as well as having the indignity of giving up a Hot Car.
Your life’s great moments are FREE and come around a lot faster and more often than us ordinary mortals ever can hope for. So don’t whine or snivel because another of life’s great moments is waiting for you real soon…
Seems like everyone’s a little too afraid to do their own handy work these days. I “borrowed” my sister’s 2005 Honda Odyssey, and promised my brother-in-law that he would no longer be miserable driving it (not that it’s bad to begin with). I put on a new set of wheels and sport tires (and yes, included winter ones for them), ordered a more dynamic spring suspension setup (adjustable), slotted rotors, cold air intake, and after searching even found a nice, mature yet aggressive sport exhaust. It’s big, but it handles like a Civic Si. He’s so happy, he gets a me a six-pack every weekend. And I’m pretty sure their kids enjoy it as well.
In short, a family car is what you make it, so have fun with it. Minivans can be a blast too. Now if we could only get a Mazdaspeed5…
Agent Mike, while its more appealing than a mini van, the XC90 is also a yuppie “Soccer Mom” vehicle.
I drive an 03 v70 with 77,000 miles. It serves a family car, wicked comfortable commuter car, take junk to the dump car,etc.
It’s awesome in the snow, averages 28 mpg, and is as safe as a bank vault. You can drive this car for hour after hour and not be uncomfortable – heated seat that moves into as man positions as a dentist chair. Go get one, you’ll be glad you did.