|
|
In
September 1996, I received a call from a motor dealer friend and seminar
client as I had mentioned the my Mazda MX6 was getting past its use buy
date and I could be interested in another Volvo as I had previously
owned two Volvo 760’s and would like to up grade to an 850.
He called to say that they had access to 1995 850 GLT with 15,000
genuine Km’s and every extra we could wish for.
We drove down to Auckland from Whangarei the following day to view the
car and was very excited in what we saw, naturally, having worked in the
motor trade for some years previously to my current profession
we kept our emotions to our selves and after some friendly but
persuasive bargaining we drove back home in our new joy.
It could not have been built to our own specifications any
better, it had everything from, the colour beautiful metallic maroon, a
rear spoiler, mag wheels, front air damn, side sill flares, 5 airbags,
trip and fuel computer, wood grain dash, full CD 8 speaker sound and
velour upholstery, yes it suited us with our dog, as no leather to
scratch.
We have had the car now for nearly seven years, have travelled 217,000
Km’s in absolute comfort and safety over the North Island in our work
and showing our Wheaten Terrier “Bridie” and she obviously loves it
to, as every time we go out she is first in to the back seat and her own
safety belt. We fitted a
magnetic fuel line attachment about 5 years ago and have saved thousands
of dollars in petrol costs a s we run it on 91 octane and get an extra 2
to 3 litres per hundred Kms.
It has not been without some inconveniencing problems, like the time in
Auckland we broke a fan belt tensioner and we had to drive back to
Whangarei, without power steering, air conditioning, alternator and with
the electrics to the transmission the gear selection was a bit erratic,
we also had to buy a new battery as the existing one packed it in and
the new one got us to Ruakaka where we had to call Peter Blacklock the
Volvo service dealer to come and tow us the last 20 Km’s to his
garage.
We have also had 2 new front screens, one in particular on our way from
Whangarei to Auckland, we had just changed drivers at Te Hanna and Wham!
a truck threw up a large rock and shattered the drivers side, I made the
statement to Dianne, that would not have happened if I had been driving,
to which she asked why? My statement was we would not have been in the
spot if we hadn’t stopped to change over.
We have enjoyed the Volvo and never tired of driving it and even today
at 8 years old, washed and polished you could park it at a government
house function and still attract attention.
We are coming up for a change and not sure yet what Volvo we will
get, though I like S70 if I can find a low mileage with all the goodies
we have at present.
|
