We're here

[xcrubygal]

http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
we made it, great trip over
just sitting here waiting for our salesperson !
had a nice sunny day yesterday, cool and rainy today, but who cares !
can't wait to see "him"
cheers
 Ruby

[mrb]

It can't rain on your parade---I have a friend picking up her S60 there today--A tall blonde (Phylis Harrison)--maybe you will run into her.  Lots of fun for you today--best wishes--merv

[barrysharp]

Ruby:

Enjoy yourself -- both of you have a great time in Sweden and say "Hi" to Alexandra, Anita, Hans, et al for all of us. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kayaking]

Check out the accessories catalogs...enjoy the factory tour and enjoy driving the roads...post pictures..of course!

[xcrubygal]

Hi gang,
We got home about 9PM last evening, so feeling a bit pooped at this point today, but it was sure worth it !! What a wonderful experience  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif
I am so glad for this website, and all that you folks shared with me ! It made the experience so much better. We would have missed out on a lot if we didn't know enough to look or ask for it. Alexandra is as great in person as she is via e-mail, and she was very helpful ! I am SOOOO glad we got there early as the place got real crowded, and it was hard to get anyones time for questions etc.
I feel we were real lucky and got Hans as our delivery person, as he was wonderful to work with ! We were so happy that they did not drill the holes in our front bumper, and our temporary bracket worked ! The car was even more beautiful than I hoped, and we at least got to drive around the FDC in the dry. We had the wopnderful lunch, factory tour (no assembly line though http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif)  , Volvo City stop for some Volvo "beanie babies" , and off to Lysekil for 4 nights in the pouring rain).
We had a wonderful time exploring the west coast, and just loved Sweden !! Will write more about our adventures later.
We came back Fri afternoon, did the Volvo Museum tour (real nice place), and turned the car in with 511 miles on it. Samir helped us out as the rest of the gang was busy at a retirement party. Hans talked with us awhile and even made sure we got some of the party cake. The people at the FDC are wonderul ! We met some great people from around the States, and even one couple that had been working in London for 2 years, and were able to get their S60R at the diplomat discount !! Most of the gang was XC-90 folks since FDC was faster than getting it in the States !
Well am going to try to add a few pictures to the web-site, and will write more later after I get "un-jet'lagged  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
cheers
  Ruby
PS, ships 7/5 arrives at dealer 7/28 ! Can't believe it will happen that fast.

[barrysharp]

Ruby:

Welcome back. Sounds like FDC lived up to its reputation. You did well to have Hans deliver your car -- he delivered mine and he's excellent at his job. Alexandra is a wonderful gem also. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Get some rest and post back some pics when you have time.

[kersti]

Welcome back, I am glad you enjoyed our color choice and the FDC experience.   http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif  Eager to hear about your adventures when the jet lag wears off.

Kersti

[jst4fun]

great to hear experience was so good.

I'm leaving this thursday so I have two important questions...

1. why didn't you get to see the assembly line ?  i was really hoping to see it.  only open certain days? or closed for the month ?  

2. What did you mean that you were happy about " NO DRILL HOLES" in front bumper... YIKES.  Is there something I need to ask for to ensure they don't put extra holes in the most expensive car I've ever purchased !!!! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

thanks in advance for your help. and congrats.

[xcrubygal]

just4fun
Hope I didn't miss you. Holes were for the front license plate, which we did not want ! We hope to more to NC in the not too distant future and they have no front plates, so we wanted the bumper "hole-less".
Assembly line was off limits for the last few weeks, and no one told us why. Wonder if some not model/model change is in the works ? The factory shuts down for 4 weeks starting 7/3 so not sure what tour you will get ??
Finally feeling like me today. Tried to post some pictures, but were still too big so will work again tomorrow PM to shrink them some more.
http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
cheers, Ruby

[xcrubygal]

oops, meant to say some new model !
guess I'm not all recovered  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[jst4fun]

xcrubygal...

thanks for the reply. I really hope you're wrong about the factory shut down. My dealer rep (William) specifically confirmed that the factory tour was available for my pick up date July 8th.

I just sent an email to FDC to try and find out what portion of the tour will be available. Ugh... I will be sooooo pissed if it is not available. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif Maybe I should just call them today.

Anyone have any suggestions, please share them.

thanks for info on the license plate. I thought they were putting holes in the front for the big plate that would show when you put US plates on. I'm in CA, so I need the front plate.

thanks.

[xcrubygal]

Hi gang,
I wanted to let you know that I have now uploaded a few of the shots from our trip ! Sorry I loaded them in sequence but they didn't stay that way. Here is the link http://www.xc70.com/pics/thumbnails.php?album=120
We had such a wonderful time !! I would never buy a car any other way  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/exclamation.gif  We got to Gothenburg Sunday AM, and had a nice gentleman take us to the Hotel. After leaving a cold rainy north east, the sunny 70+ day in Gothenburg was real welcome. We could not check in at 11AM so we left our bags, freshened up and took off to see the botanical gardens. They are really special, and a must see. About 4PM we went back to hotel (SAS Radisson Park Ave.) and checked in and they even gave us a welcome gift of choclates, and a welcome to Sweden, congratulations on buying a new Volvo letter. Very nice hotel.
It was cloudy MOnday AM, but after a FREE wonderful buffet breakfast at the hotel, we took off for FDC in a V-70 wagon, what else ! Driver was great, and gave us a good "tour". He says it's fun to drive all the happy new owners to FDC  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif  We were 2nd to get our car, and lucked out getting Hans. He remembers you Barry, especially the wooden steering wheel, which he still feels bad about ! We did the meatball lunch, partial factory tour, VOlvo CIty for a couple goodies, and off to Lysekil in the rain. Glad it was only ~ 1.5 hrs, as jet lag hit us a lot worse 2nd day than first. I would stay 2 days before getting the car next time !
Lysekil and the whole Bohuslan region are just spectavular, especialy for folks like us who love the ocean, rocky coasts (like Maine), quaint villages, fishing/sail boats, seafood, sea breezes, peace and quiet.... can I go back !!!http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
We toured the west coast, went to Lidkoping and saw the Lacko Slott, Rorstrands porslinfabrik (2nd oldest porcelin factory in Europe), and especially liked the Kinnekulletaden area and it's medieval churches ! We got to the chuches in the late afternoon when the golden sun was perfect for photos. Finished off that day with hamburgers and mashed ! potatoes. What a treat.
We spent another day and toured Smogen (had great salmon and shrimp sandwinces, and Fjallbacka (had good glass (ice cream). We took the scenic route back to FDC, with a stop at the Volvo museum (free pass from FDC), and it was a class act too ! Try lunch there at Pizzeria Carola, the food is good, reasonable and huge portions. With all the hiking believe it or not I lost 3 lbs. on the trip, despite the great Sweedish food.
My husband has decided that my XC-70 is for sale as soon as it arrives home, so we can turn around and do this again. I am so happy he had such a great time, as it was the 1st time for him out of the USA. He wonders if we can start a business of doing this FDC for others  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
We turned the car in with 511 wonderful miles on it. Only one scary moment on the back roads with a large truck in my lane.. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif  Glad no harm was done except to our nerves.

If anyone is wondering if FDC is for them. I join all my predecessors in saying an unequivival yes  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

thanks for this wonderful forum and all the folks who take so much time sharing with us. When we get a moment soon my husband and I want to write up a FDC check list, so you don't miss anything there. You ahve to ask for key fobs now on the new key style (they only give them out for traditional key style), have to ask for Museum voucher, Volvo CIty 10% discout coupon etc. You folks ahve already put together an impressive web-site collection.

enjoy the photos, and thanks again for helping make this trip so special for us
cheers  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
 ruby

[barrysharp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (xcrubygal @ July 05 2003,08:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">enjoy the photos, and thanks again for helping make this trip so special for us
cheers http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
ruby[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hey -- thats was a great trip report and your pics are wonderful. That XC70 red is gorgeous and the sun really does pick out the metallic glint -- very very nice -- and the rear spoiler looks very hansome. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Thanks for taking the time and effort to post back. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[AutoMonkey]

Ruby -

Thanks for the great trip report and pics&#33; - brought back a lot of memories for me, as it looks like you went to many of the same places as us. Did you go inside Lacko castle? - it was closed when we were there, so we only saw it from the outside. We also liked the old churches - there was an octagonal one near the main road from Lidkoping to Trollhatten that I particularly remember.

Glad to see you had some wonderful weather - those rocky landscapes in Bohuslan are really something, aren&#39;t they? Next time we do this (and there will definitely be a next time http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ) I think it would be nice to go in the summertime.

This probably goes without saying, but the car looks fabulous too - congratulations&#33;

Thanks again, and I hope the long wait for your new wheels isn&#39;t too painful&#33;

AM