View Full Version : Hans about to deliver
barrysharp
03-28-2003, 01:18 AM
FDC had a "Welcome Sharp" on a big flat screen TV -- along with other OSDers arriving today. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Hans went over the paper work. Only one error wrt to car's title not being in both my wife and my names -- got that reworked without problems.
Hans is now off to get car into delivery room. He's a very proficient person indeed.
Everybody at FDC is fantastic and wihout any rush at all. Will get accessories added after drop off rather than today. Hans said this would be better as they are busy today.
My son is wizzing around FDC taking still pics and video-ing everything he can.
Weather is very Seattle-like being misty at this time but will burn off in a few hours I'm sure.
Met Morrie (MGC) at hotel and quite likely will see him later this AM.
Tried the shower room but it was occupied http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif -- but did get pic from outside.
The wood steering wheel saga -- Hans said I could have had it installed if ordered at start of factory build. This was obviously a mix up IMO as I did spec the car originally with dealership to have this wheel. There's no way at this time to have wood steering wheel added -- Hans said maybe later when they get optional upgrade in place. It will require the complete gutting of the airbag system. The wood wheel is the three spoke version and is same one installed on the XC90s.
Now get this -- a lady who ordered her MY2003 XC70 from MY dealership in Jan 2003 had her car delivered just a short while ago and she had ordered the wood steering wheel without any problem and it's installed -- I've just seen it and took a pic as proof.
I'm going to get the shallower grocery tray so that I can fit a full size spare -- Hans said to just mention this when drop off and he'll swap it out for me at no cost.
The picnic table isn't very well designed and I'm going to return it for full refund -- will help pay for the othe goodies.
FDC sells fog light protectors for 10 dollars a pair -- a very good deal.
There's another OSDer I've just met who lives just a mile or two down the road from where I live in USA -- amazing.
The Radisson stay was without problems and is a very nice hotel. BTW Volvo doesn't pay for the breakfast -- is about 125SEK per person -- as much as you can eat.
Today -- Lunch is 11:15am and factory tour at around 1pm I believe.
Well, Hans hasn't shown up yet -- maybe my car is lost http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Whoooops -- it has just arrive.
.....later.
FDC has a phone that can be used to call home free of charges. In fact my son has just used it to pickup his voicemail.
Drove around the FDC track a few time. My car now has 7 miles on it http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Everything is going very smoothly.
slender
03-28-2003, 03:31 AM
Barry: Sounds like you are having a superb time and I`m following your adventure with interest. Take care when you get that fine motor vehicle out on Scandinavian roads. Oh, and spare a thought for us Europeans filling the tanks of our XC`s when you clock the UK fuel prices - $80 it cost to fuel my XC two days ago!! Worse than that, I`ve got to go and fill it up again today! Keep the posts coming, have a great time.
silverstar
03-28-2003, 08:40 PM
Barry,
Could you do me a huge favor? When at the facory could you ask them a question or two. I just ordered a 2004 XC70 and I'm getting mixed information here in the US about what's new on them. I keep reading on the forum about new steering and a sport package that includes DSTC, wheels, ZF speed steering, stereo and a couple of other things that I can't remember. My local dealership says there are no chages except for color, he said that was corfimed by Jason at USA HQ Volvo. At the same time Jason had no idea what the Xenia wheels looked either. The OSD center Sweden may have more information. If they do, it would be great if you could pass on any information.
Have a great trip! Cheers
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (silverstar @ Mar. 28 2003,17:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">At the same time Jason had no idea what the Xenia wheels looked either.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
silverstar you can get a good idea of the look of the new Xenia wheels in this thread (http://xc70.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=1301).
barrysharp
03-30-2003, 11:48 AM
Hi everyone:
Posting from an internet Cafe MIX http://www.bic.no/ in downtown Bergen, Norway. Today has been overcast with snow coming down off and on that has now cleared allowing a comfortable stroll about town.
My son and I are now in Bergen, Norway after having driven across the southern Norwegian mountain range. We did stop in Voss [ski resort] for the night before arriving in Bergen today [Sunday]. The XC70 has been thoroughly put thru its paces as far as I'm concern so far as we have driven thru rain, snow, ice and very high side winds at around 4500 feet elevations. The scenary has been absolutely fantastic and we've taken lots of digi pics and my son has had the digi camcorder rolling at all opportunities. Drove thru a mountain side via a 7 mile one-way tunnel unknowingly -- didn't realise until getting to the tunnel end and a huge metal barrier stood in my way and after a few momemnts it started to raise up into the air and disappeard into the tunnel ceiling -- thought I was in some sort of 007 movie http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif the thought of having to reverse for 7 miles was not too appealing.
Driving out of Voss this morning was fun in sub zero temps and snowing like crazy -- XC70 didn't bat an eyelid and made me feel very safe and comfortable. I did what some other forum member had posted a few weeks back when on a quite side road -- ice and snow on uphill road and gave engine a fair amount of gas -- XC70 just moved forward without any fuss.
The rain-sensor wipers should be called rain/snow wipers as they work equally well in snow as well. I'm very pleased with the rain sensor wipers at this time and have certainly relieved me of having to fuss with wiper control stuff.
BTW Hans who delivered my car at FDC was very very helpful and has given me some useful cost saving tips. Full size spare and Tellus alloy wheel for $180, swapout my grocery tray for one like they get in NZ & Aus (no charge), laser cut extra/spare new keys and extra remote for $40 -- and the list goes on. Hans said to list all the items during the drop off process and he'll see to it that all is taken care of http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
We will probably drive down south thru center Norway over next two days but then may change our minds as we're kinda winging it along here and having much fun.
XC70's computer readout for MPG is reading 23.7 from when we left FDC and we've been driving in all sorts of conditions.
The engine breakin is going fine with rpms being varied between 1000 and the occassional 4000+ for kickdown/overtaking opportunities.
We used the Nav System to navigate ourselves from the FDC to about a point some 120 miles north of Goteborg. I went off course by mistake shortly after leaving the FDC as I wasn't used to the system and the system re-routed me to get me back on course thankgoodness. My son was pleased as the re-route took us down town Goteborg and thru some interesting parts of town. I must say, without this Nav system and having gone off course I think it would have been a difficult chore to figure out things. The Nav system simply took over and made life easy and allowed me to enjoy some of downtown Goteborg that I would not have seen had I stayed on course. I love it when the Nav system says "In 800 yds keep to right and then turn left" http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
No second thoughts about this XC70 abound in my mind -- its a great automobile.
OSD is a great experience.
later...
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (barrysharp @ Mar. 30 2003,08:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Full size spare and Tellus alloy wheel for $180, swapout my grocery tray for one like they get in NZ & Aus[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Great report, Barry. Full size spare + alloy wheel for $180? That's a snip!! One thing you might do - not until you get home - is post the part no. of the NZ/Oz grocery tray, I would think that a number of people here would be interested in obtaining that part.
hordtheviking
03-31-2003, 07:16 AM
Barry, Glad to hear that things are going so well for you and your son, sounds like a great trip. When I was a kid the flights on SAS to Scandinavia used to always land in Bergen to refuel as they couldn't make it all the way to Stockholm and it is a very pretty place.
Enjoy that new XC 70. Our "baby" left Gothenburg yesterday
hordtheviking
03-31-2003, 07:18 AM
Not sure what happened there, the board has a mind of it's own. Anyway ours left the land of the midnight sun yesterday on the SS Tai Shin and with any luck is in Belgium today, can't wait to really get to drive it. Have fun out there.
Barry,
Congratulations! I'm sure you're enjoying the XC70 as much as we are! I really wanted to pick up our car in Sweden, but unfortunately I just couldn't get the time off of from work here in Germany and our trip there would have been and "up and back" with no time to really explore the region, so we opted to just have the vehicle delivered to us here in Stuttgart. Scandinavia is definitely one of those areas I hope to visit though before we depart Europe back for the States next summer (2004). Please post back when and where you post the digital pics - can't wait to check them out!
Ciao! Gary
Barry,
Sounds like you and your son are having a wonderful time! Can't wait to see your new pride and joy with all of its toys come June! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Have a great time and take plenty of pics for the rest of us green-eyed non-OSDer's. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif
barrysharp
04-01-2003, 02:41 AM
hi from Evje, Norway (somewhere in middle south Norway). My son has been driving XC70 for past day and a half and simply loves it -- he says "Dad you've made a good choice" http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
WE drive slowly back to Sweden today and take ferry to cut out having to travel thru Oslo.
Will visit Goteborg and try finding Volvo shop that sells the plastic headlight covers for Steve and budrichard. Steve-budrichard I can get fog light covers at FDC for about $10 a pair -- much cheaper than elsewhere -- do you want me to get a pair each for you. I'll get two sets of headlight covers for you both.
HEY, i FOUND A 2003 xc70 SETUP as a Taxi further north in Norway in middle of nowhere -- Ashgold with a WOODEN STEERING WHEEL. I took several pics to prove what I saw http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
later....
coastal
04-01-2003, 07:44 AM
Here's another Nowegian XC Taxi http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
From Ove, the car's owner:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Here is my nearly one year old XC, the only XC-taxi in Bergen. 2-4 taxies total in Norway I think. Maybe the next is XC70 D5 I hope, but it's expencive. Next year i save for a new XC. This one has travelled 110000 km in 11 months now, and in excellent shape. Thanks for the great web-site! Hope you can use the pictures...[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_01%7E11.jpg
http://www.xc70.com/pics/albums/userpics/normal_02%7E7.jpg
http://www.xc70.com/pics/thumbnails.php?album=16
barrysharp
04-01-2003, 08:30 AM
hey this is very cool http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif as Im posting while on a ferry boat going from Norway to Sweden on an enormous ferry boat -- has 9 decks and my XC70 is on deck 3 with all the lorries below the water line http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif
when we drove car onto ferry all the ferry workers including captain crowded around us and wanted to know all about the OSD and the car -- they just about crawlwd all over it. one of the ferry workers wants to buy either an Audi AWD or the XC70 and wanted my advice --- Hmmmm, the XC70 of course and he seemed happy with my reply. He really like the Plat Green and said loking at my car with the various options said the same car in Norway would cost around $80,000. I told him to move to USA http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Taylor/coastal: The XC70 I saw dressed up as a Taxi must have been one of the other three. The one I saw was sitting in a parking lot in Odda (a zinc processing industrial town about 150 km south west of Bergen). I was such a surprise to see it. Didn't notice if it was D5 or petrol engine. I wonder if Ove has moved to Odda as your pic looks just like the one I saw. I'' post the pics of the taxi I saw when I return to USA.
The XC70 has driven really well in all sorts of weather conditions. We feel very safe in it and I feel it's very sure footed. My son drives it kinda fast but still I feel good and safe. Hey, I found that if the arm rest is lifted up and back that the grab handle is a very welcomed bar to hold when hurtling along winding roads in Norway. The Norway countryside is absolutely marvelous and prestine -- very much like NW America away from the cities.
We had a near miss when a Moose actually charged put from the side on our way northwards out of Sweden last week. Thank goodness it moved off quickly by the time we got to it -- it did make us a lot more aware of the Moose signs from that point onwards.
This ferry ride is about 2.5 hrs long and time for me to now go and have some dinner with my son who's looking somewhat hungry.
later....
kersti
04-01-2003, 03:44 PM
Barry you will make my friend that came to Sweden with me very jealous, he wanted to see a moose so badly. The most we saw were deer and one squirrel. My friend also loved driving my car, I think I am going to have to hide the keys. His jeep is getting old and he keeps referring to his new red car. I am glad to hear you are having such a fabulous trip and even got some rain and snow, I am so envious. I wish I had asked about the standard size spare when I was there, it didn't even occur to me. My experience here at the dealer, was always..CAN'T DO! I wish I had pursued possibilities more with the FDC. If you can pick up another set of fog light covers, I will be happy to pay you for them and shipping.
Kersti
barrysharp
04-02-2003, 01:04 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kersti @ April 01 2003,14:44)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If you can pick up another set of fog light covers, I will be happy to pay you for them and shipping.
Kersti[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Will pickup a set of fog covers for you at FDC as they are very much less expensive there -- plus they will have Hans's finger prints on them http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
stevel0923
04-03-2003, 07:39 PM
Love the writeup Barry! Thanks for picking up the headlight/foglight cover. They wanted $68 bucks for the foglight cover at a Volvo dealership in Paris, France. NO WAY!!!
Just send me email on the final cost plus shipping to L.A., California.
barrysharp
04-03-2003, 09:58 PM
wiz:
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">One thing you might do - not until you get home - is post the part no. of the NZ/Oz grocery tray, I would think that a number of people here would be interested in obtaining that part. [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The NZ/AUS type grocery tray part number is 8650397. This is the tray that will allow a full size spare tire to replace donut spare while also allowing the floor panels to lay down properly. The tray depth is less than for the one used in conjunction with the donut. I'll post this info in the main forum also.
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