varaidzom

I have an S40, my husband had an S80 (2.5 D) which was as quick as lightning and the most comfortable car ever. We ended up sending to auction as it was slow to pick up, but it would still 100 m.p.h without a problem. We replaced it with an S60 which is just amazing. They are all automatics, mainly because we are lazy and after paying for numerous items with manual cars that were not Volvo's, we decided automatic was better. From our view point, they have not cost us the world for repairs, as ours hardly need them. If you keep them serviced regularly, even a basic non-Volvo service you will be fine. The only expenses you will tend to get are the tyres especially on automatics, given that you can only control the car with the brakes, as there is no clutch. We have never had any breakdowns and we have had them since 2003 which for us is more of a cost saver than anything. They are reliable - I don't have to think about something possibly going wrong apart from a flat tyre. In terms of fuel consumption, they generally are brilliant for motorways, as I often get 40mpg and then it goes down to 29mpg for urban use. I know this because it has an indicator for this. My S40 also comes with 3 modes for fuel consumption - Economy which is the standard one, Sports which keeps the car in the equivalent of 5th gear and makes is superfast and Winter to get me through the ice and snow without a problem. Our S80 had to have some timing belt or something like that replaced at its MOT and that set us back about £275 including labour which is a lot to cough up, but is better than £875 for a Chrysler. So to answer your questions: Economically friendly - average, depending on the model and its features. My S40 takes 60 litres which at today's prices is just under £50 to fill it up and that will last approximately 450 miles. The S80 Diesel has a capacity of about 100 litres but that will last approx 1000 miles (we once did Doncaster - Loch Ness - Doncaster - Birmingham on a full tank). The S60 takes 70 litres. If you do a lot of long distance driving its very economical, if not, you may need to rethink. Automatics - I like them. No need for clutch control, hill starts, etc less strain as the car decides the gear changes itself. A smoother drive without the jerks, quick take off, but if you like the feeling of control, then stick to manual. Repairs - They are generally not built to need a lot of repairs provided you service them regularly. If you need one, then that is bad luck, especially when they insist on Volvo parts. They may have a reputation for wrecking other cars, but that is only because the body work is ace, and I know a few people who have survived or been involved in motorway crashes in a Volvo and they were fine, but they totally wrecked the guy in the wrong eitherway. That is not to say they are the safest, it is just my experience of them. And I am not a car salesperson, it just so happens we have had them for ages, and are still sticking to them, and I also lived in Sweden for 4 years where they come from. Hope this helps

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We have just come back from a month long holiday in the US, and we drove from Houston, Texas to LA. We found that it was cheaper to rent the car from a UK company, as they sort out your taxes, etc for you and all you need to do is pick up and drop off the car. The website is goamerica.co.uk. You also have to keep in mind that a drop-off charge applies if you leave the car in some cities which is capped at $500. Otherwise it well worth it. It cost us £500 in total and the fuel is cheap. A Chrysler 300 or any van costs about £20 to fill up.

I have used this site and recommended others, and we have not had this problem at all

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Hi I am doing some research on why GM food and technology is unpopular in the UK. Some think that this negative perception is a result of the lack of communication between government/industry and the public. To complete the form, please reply to the post and put in your responses. Your participation is very much appreciated. What does the term “genetically modified” food (GM) mean to you? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. What do you think are the reasons for developing GM food? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Does the UK need GM food? Yes No Why? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Which regions do you think will benefit from GM food? Europe North America South America Africa The Far East South Asia Australia Do you think that it is necessary to have GM food? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. What are the benefits of GM food to you? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. What the disadvantages of GM food? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Would you buy GM food and why? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Where do you get your information on GM food from? A friend Family member The Media Government Industry – Agricultural organisations Other: Specify…………………………………………………………………………. If you wanted to find out more information on GM food, where would you get it from? A friend Family member Media Government Agricultural organisations Other – Specify: …………………………………………………….. Who do you trust to give you information on GM food?............................................... Would you buy GM food if there were no other alternatives? Yes No Do you check food product labels? Yes No How often do you check food labels? Everytime Frequently Occassionally Sometimes Never Why do you check food labels? Salt levels Sugar levels Fat levels Calorie count GM ingredients Organic ingredients Fair trade What is your highest level of education? PhD Masters Bachelors Diploma A levels O levels Other Do you consider yourself to be religious? Yes No Gender Male Female Age 0 – 16 17 – 25 26 – 45 46 – 55 + 55 Thank you for your time

Hi I am putting this up on behalf of a friend. They are doing a dissertation on green fast food, which includes organic and health fast food such as sushi bars, Subways, Smoothie Bars, etc. Please could you spare a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and return it to [email protected]. The questionnaire can be downloaded here - http://www.mapunde.com/Questionnaire[1][1].doc http://www.mapunde.com/Questionnaire[1][1].doc - You will have to copy and paste this link into the address bar. Thanks in advance

We rented from Lewis Wadsworth, and they were crap too. They refused to give prospective tenants contact details in case they would not be able to make it, and so we had to cancel a few outings waiting for someone who would never turn up. At the end of the term, they came up with some crap about how the carpet was filthy, when we got industrial cleaners to come sort it out.................................................................