CD Article: 2006 BMW 325xiT

[Shnak]

I have had poor dealings with several dealerships and sales staff in the past including Subaru. I’m not sure if I would let the experiences totally deter me from a specific brand.

Yeah I agree with that. I went to look at Nissan vehicles a few years ago, and when I directed myself towards the Altima (by curiosity), a salesman came to me and pointed the Sentra instead. I then pointed the door and that's where I went. Bunch of retards.

So yeah, mdx, the V70R is too much of a good vehicle to not get one by principle. Just don't ever buy anything from that dealership, file a complaint if not already done, and get your V70R from another dealership. Once you have bought it, go back to that dealership and let them know that they lost some money from you with their arrogance.

[mdxtasy]

It wasn't the dealership that steered me away from the deal, it was the customer service from Volvo Canada that made my mind up. 

[Shnak]

It wasn't the dealership that steered me away from the deal, it was the customer service from Volvo Canada that made my mind up. 

hmm... what did Volvo Canada do wrong exactly? I must've missed that part. Did they just not care at all about your problems with that dealership and basically told you to leave them alone?

[ktm525]

What happened again at that Volvo dealership? Wasn't it something with not being able to test drive that used V70R for some stupid reason?

Ah the old thread....love it.  Confirms my strong view of never purchasing a Volvo.  Never.
http://www.cartalkcanada.com/forum/index.php/topic,29391.0.html

Wow. I never saw that old thread before. The nice Volvo dealer flipped me the keys to a new V70R Manual and said "have fun". Take it out for the morning.  Perhaps in the armpit capital of Alberta there is not as many youngsters with the $ to outlay on higher end autos. Perhaps you look shifty?   Either way if I ever bought a V70R I would go oversea delivery all the way.

[mdxtasy]

I'm not the most upstanding person out there....and my attire can hardly be deemed fashionable.  Maybe I just don't look as rich as ktm. 

That's okay...I'm happy with our fleet.

[84im]

I know someone who purchased an older 740 wagon, with a blow turbo motor, and swapped it over for a 302 V8 and 5 speed.  Very nice, and the conversion was fairly simple and inexpensive (compared to rebuilding the Volvo motor and turbo).

[ktm525]

Yjere was an article in last Friday's Calgary Herald about a Volvo V8 conversion. The car was running a hopped up 302 / 5 speed. The engine/tranny combo was lighter than the original turbo 4/ Auto. The Ford V8 was deemed the engine of choice because of the forward mounted distributor. This allows the engine to be placed well back. This conversion was not cheap. I would estimate $10-$20k. The featured car was running well over 400HP

[mdxtasy]

In Edmonton, there was a black 2dr Vovlo with a 302 V8.  I was sitting behind the C4 Corvette it was lined up against in my MB and when the light turned green, the Volvo literally leapt off the line and sprinted ahead of the vette.  Then the Volvo took off (maybe NOS?) but my goodness, that was such a great site.  Gino in the Corvette was pretty embarassed at the next set of lights.  The Volvo made that light. 

[84im]

The conversion can be done on the cheap.  302 Mustang motors are VERY common and cheap.  The trick is to put in motor that is the same year as the car.  My 1990 Miata has a 1990 Mustang 302 motor....passes Air Care, with ease.  But, these conversions can get expensive.  I've got the bills from the original owner (of my V8 Miata), and it cost him somewhere around $45,000-$47,000 in 1994 (including donor car)

[stickshift]

The conversion can be done on the cheap.  302 Mustang motors are VERY common and cheap.  The trick is to put in motor that is the same year as the car.  My 1990 Miata has a 1990 Mustang 302 motor....passes Air Care, with ease.  But, these conversions can get expensive.  I've got the bills from the original owner (of my V8 Miata), and it cost him somewhere around $45,000-$47,000 in 1994 (including donor car)

You live in B.C.? I believe that in Ontario's Drive Clean program, cars with engine swaps are considered "hot rods" and are e-tested according to the same standards a 1980 model-year would have to meet.

Those Volvo/302 swaps are awesome. Never seen a swapped one in the flesh, but I can only imagine how cool it'd be.