Back from goteborg!

[kayaking]

Wow!! Now I understand the feeling of receiving a new automobile the way they all should be delivered---as a special occasion and professionally handled by all at the fdc. I'll never buy another vehicle without doing the fdc program...it was great.

Logged 930 u.s. miles and enjoyed all aspects of the Cross Country. The fdc was able to add the rear skidplate, rear cargo side storage net, and rear cargo net before we left..(it was ready after lunch). We were picked up from the hotel (Radisson SAS Scandinavian...very nice  hotel)in a Volvo limo and shared the ride back to the fdc with another couple.

Upon returning the car in Goteborg, we had to drop the car at the "TK Gate" which is a 24 hour drop-off point on the Volvo "Torslanda campus", as the fdc was closed the Friday
that we wanted to leave the car due to a holiday. We then got a volvo-paid cab ride back into the center of Goteborg to the Elite Plaza Hotel...it is top of the line and very convenient to all stores and restaurants....Goteborg is real easy to explore on foot....(the Elite has great rates on Expedia)...it has been totally restored and is a grand style hotel with all the classic architectural beauty one could ask for...with all the updated creature comforts..I highly recommend it.

I took numerous photo's and will post some when they are ready. The roadside's throughout Sweden were in full bloom and weather was 70 and sunny every day..amazing.

I tested the car on a few dirt / gravel roads and felt confident with the ground clearance and turning radius when swinging off onto a rutty shoulder to spin a tight u-turn on these farmer's lanes.

One negative on the dashboard is the low-visibility of the external temperature gauge and clock during the daylight...and there is lots of daylight in Sweden right now!

P.S. they did not "give-out" the brass / leather key ring...I had to ask for one, as I believe they may be discontinuing it.

The new key has a pocket-knife style folding mechanism.

[barrysharp]

kayaking:

Welcome back http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Yep -- it's hard not to be COMPLETELY satisfied with the FDC experience.

Did you take the factory tour. I've been told there are times when Volvo isn't actively using the Crash Centre that they will include this facility on the tour. Were you in luck by chance ?

Yes I agree -- when the sunlight shines directly onto the instrument cluster it's almost impossible to read some of the displays. For most other conditions I can think of it shouldn't be a problem. Did you have the instrument illumination thumb wheel turned to provide max. This is something I find myself forgetting at times.

Now the wait for you new wheels, so hang in there. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jthorsen]

Hey Kayaking-
Sounds like we just missed you as we also returned our car to the "TK gate" on Friday!  And I have to agree on the weather...we had one day of rain at the beginning of the trip but it was primarily a driving day for us so it worked out fine.  Plus I got to test the XC70 out driving through a huge puddle of standing water. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Hmmm, I can't say I had any problem with the visibility of the temp gauge and clock, perhaps as Barry suggests you didn't have the thumb wheel turned all the way up?

We also received two of the brass/leather key rings unprompted...maybe someone was just forgetful the day you were there?

[kersti]

Welcome back, you guys definitely picked the best time of the year to visit Sweden. My mother has fond memories of that time of year with the wild flowers in bloom. Enjoy your new cars, I certainly am happy with mine.

Kersti

[AutoMonkey]

Welcome back and thanks for the trip report! Where did you end up apart from Gothenburg?

Next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time&#33http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif we'll be sure to go in summertime - not that March was in any way unpleasant, but it would be nice to experience some of those long, long days again.

AM

[Low Tide]

Glad that everything worked out for the two of you... amazing experience isn't it?

AM- you're a first time Volvo owner....do I suspect that the FDC experience has made you one for life?

WE too, are looking forward to our second OSD sometime in the future.... I'll go for someone (in the meantime) if they need company!

[AutoMonkey]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Low Tide @ June 04 2003,14:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">AM- you&#39;re a first time Volvo owner....do I suspect that the FDC experience has made you one for life?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Well, I guess I should wait and see how the car holds up: if it&#39;s in the shop every month, then that would certainly make me think twice. (Actually the car is at the dealer right now, getting the &quot;squeaky differential&quot; problem fixed).

But in terms of the buying process - what&#39;s not to like?

- Pay less money than regular US sales price
- None of that &quot;what do I have to do to get you into this car today&quot; nonsense
- Free trip to Sweden
- The FDC Experience

So far, despite the minor squeaking problem, I am delighted with the car - so is my wife. (Not wanting to get too off topic here, but at the FDC, Leif described the dual climate control as the &quot;marriage saver&quot;. True, we no longer have to debate about how hot/cold the car is - but we do have to argue about who gets to drive the car when we go out in it&#33; http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/happy.gif )

AM

[mrb]

Welcome back--good to hear the excitement in your report-am looking forward to our trip June 29--
I know that you will be reliving this trip for many years--merv

[William]

Congratulations on your new Volvo and trip to Europe.
Enjoy many miles and smiles.

Drive Safely,

William

[kayaking]

Some more details on where we went:We logged about 930 U.S miles driving to Halmstad (stayed one night there), through to the Vxajo region and the glass districts of Kosta, Orrefors, and on to Kalmar. Then up to Vasterik (stopped for a rest by the sea there), then proceeded to Norrkoping and spent the night there). Next day drove to Stockholm, staying in Saltsjobaden at the Grand Hotel (wonderful&#33;&#33http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif. Toured Stockholm on foot and water taxi and at the &quot;J&quot; club in Nacka Strand--excellent. After two nights in Stockholm...drove back via Boras and Jonkoping to Goteborg...stayed two nights at the Elite Plaza (great&#33;&#33http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif and explored Goteborg...loved it in Goteborg...great architecture, shops, and food, and of course met some local people at the restaurant who were very friendly...Of course driving the xc70 was a dream....loved it&#33;&#33; It handles great in tight places too. It is extremely comfortable on the road and can&#39;t wait to drive it again here in the states, where unfortunately, the roads here in NY are far worse than in Sweden...so I need a smooth riding car that still has a good feel of the road.

Factory tour was great as were the two videos they showed us about Volvo history and the XC90...did not see crash test area and unfortunately many of the larger robotics were not &quot;in action&quot;. But, I&#39;d hop on that trolley again in a minute.

I want to post some pictures from &quot;aol you&#39;ve got pictures&quot; how can I do this?...photo area requires &quot;jpeg&quot; or &quot;gif&quot; images..any advice?

jthorsen...yours will probably be on the same ship if you are from the new york region

[jthorsen]

Hey Kayaking, it sounds like we just missed each other at the Grand Hotel as well. &nbsp;I kept looking for another car with the red tourist plates and only saw one the whole time, and it was a little Peugot or Renault. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

We stayed at the Grand Hotel 5/24 and 5/25. &nbsp;I would heartily recommend this hotel to anyone...it is in a very beautiful setting right on the water and with the train station literally right across the street that takes you right to Gamla Stan. &nbsp;This made it very easy to get to downtown Stockholm without driving. &nbsp;The beds left something to be desired but we&#39;re quite spoiled by our Sleep Number bed. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

We started out in Gothenburg and drove to Jonkoping, which was a cool little town right on the lake. &nbsp;(We stayed at the John Bauer Best Western which was very nice.) &nbsp;After being up for 30+ hours at this point we collapsed at about 8pm and fell into a VERY deep slumber. &nbsp;So much so that the next thing we knew the phone was ringing...

&quot;Yes, this is the front desk, are you going to be checking out today?&quot;
Me: &quot;Yes, we are...&quot;
&quot;Well, it&#39;s almost 1pm...&quot; &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif

We slept for 17 HOURS&#33;&#33;&#33; &nbsp;Talk about catching up on your sleep deficit, I think we erased it in one fell swoop&#33;

From there we drove to Stockholm for a few days and then down to the island of Oland, which was fantastic -- very picturesque with wild orchids and ruins and windmills everywhere. &nbsp;We could have easily spent more time there. &nbsp;We stayed at a cool little inn (more of a B&amp;B really) called Villa Del Sol. &nbsp;

Next we headed to Copenhagen for two days with a stop at the Boda factory to blow some cash. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif &nbsp;Copenhagen was probably the highlight of our trip. &nbsp;The city itself is very cool and one of the days we took a drive to see the Fredericksborg, Fredensborg, and Helsingborg castles which were all remarkable. &nbsp;After this it was back to Gothenburg to drop off the car and catch for our flight home&#33; &nbsp;All in all, a fantastic time&#33;

I&#39;ll have to scan some pictures in and post them on the site...we only took one or two of the car b/c as much as we liked it there was much better stuff to spend film on&#33;

My car is on the Tai Shin, I believe, which docks in Baltimore so it probably is the same boat...it should arrive at my dealer on 7/2 and I am eagerly anticipating it&#39;s arrival&#33;&#33;

-Jon