What Not

Find the answer published at What Not on October 22, 2009!

Think you know your cars?  Then try the October Mystery Car Contest and find out for sure.  The first person to guess the most Mystery Cars correctly will receive an additional $500 off the purchase of any new or used car in our inventory at Leikin Volvo!

• Click here to view the Mystery Cars Contest.
• Email your answers to mysterycars@andyrupert.com.
• Contest submissions will be graded in the order they are received.
• Contest ends October 31, 2009!

H/T Hemmings Auto Blogs

In an attempt to help you to understand the benefits of buying a car from Leikin Volvo, we have put together a Volvo Benefits Quiz.  But be careful … you might learn something!

1. Which 2010 Volvo models get 27 mpg or better?

a. C30
b. S40
c. C70
d. V50
e. V70
f. XC60 FWD
g. All of the above

2. Which 2009 Volvos are rated Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety?

a. C30
b. C70
c. S80
d. XC90
e. All of the above

3. What does the Volvo Safe+Sound coverage plan provide for new 2009 and 2010 models?

a. 5 years or 60,000 miles of warranty
b. Free Factory Scheduled Maintenance
c. Wear & Tear coverage (brakes and windshield wiper blades)
d. All of the above

4. Certified, Pre-Owned Volvos are covered for how many years from the initial in-service date?

a. 3 years or 36,000 miles
b. 4 years or 48,000 miles
c. 5 years or 60,000 miles
d. 6 years or 100,000 miles

5. How much does it cost to add HD radio to a new Volvo?

a. Nothing
b. $250
c. $500
d. $750

6. Which is the best looking salesman at Leikin Volvo?

a. Andy Rupert
b. Greg Schneider
c. Jim Vanek

Answer Key: (1) g, (2) e, (3) d, (4) d, (5) a, (6) ???

__________

As you can see, Volvo is producing an excellent vehicle.  They are safe, comfortable, long lasting, and are backed by the best warranty in the business.  Keep that in mind as you think about your next car.  So, give us a call at (440) 946-6900 and we’ll show you why Volvos are worth your consideration.

While cleaning out the basement this morning, I came across a lost picture album.  It’s the one my maternal grandfather had put together for me a few years ago.  In this picture, a high school friend sold me his 1976 Honda Civic for $50.  The car was originally green, but the previous owner had spray painted the car red.  It didn’t look too bad until I wrecked it into a parked car a few weeks later.

You can also see the 1970 Ford Turtle Top van behind us. That was a great vehicle for trips. It was tall enough for me to stand up in without hitting my head. That was a cool thing to have back then. And we could put a clothes wrack up inside for long trips instead of packing lots of suitcases. But the best part of the van was the transmission. The three speed on the tree coupled to the big six cylinder was just a lot of fun.

The other car is a 1971 VW Beetle (I think) which was owned by my brother. As I recall, it had an clutchless manual 4 speed transmission. First and second gears were located in the forward position. Once you had used them up, you would pick up your foot off the accelerator and pull back the shifter for third and fourth. It was a fun car for a while until my brother found out the spark plugs were ceased into place.

And while I’m reminiscing about old cars, here’s a shot grandpa took of our 1969 Plymouth Satellite station wagon. It was the coolest car my dad ever bought. It had two tone exterior, a 318 V8, mag wheels, roof rails, and a see-through external fuel filter. How cool is that? This is the car I drove into an attorney’s fence while practicing driving in our church’s parking lot. He wasn’t too happy, but $200 later, he agreed not to press charges.

During a recent meeting, the manager announced that our 2009 Volvo C30 would be put into demo service and that somebody needed to drive it.  I tried not to let the inward smile leap onto my face.  Cough! Cough!  “No, I’m okay. It’s nothing.”  My mind was racing through the possibilities.  Would one of the other guys beat me to it?  And what about the gas I had just put in the XC90?  I’d have to think things through.

Above any other concern was the fact that the C30 is a true four passenger two-door.  During the week, that’s not a problem.  I usually take only our three kids to school before heading to work.  But what about Sundays?  It’s been nice to put the family in the 2005 XC90.  That has enough room to comfortably seat all five of us.  But what would happen if I brought home the C30?  Would we be doomed to leave the haatch in the driveway and take the old minivan?

I kind of hinted at the possibility with my wife a couple of days ago as she was going out the door.  “Y’know, I was kinda thinking about bringing home the hatchback as my demo.”  Her nonchalant answer gave me hope.  All she said was, “Whatever.”  If she didn’t mind, it might just work.  But do I really want to take home a 2 door?  Do I want the hassle of getting out of the car so the kids can get out?  And what about that review I was putting together for the XC90?  Hmm…

The decision was finally made Friday afternoon.  My manager agreed to let me take the car home.  It had only 248 miles on it when I started driving it, and I have to keep the miles under 1000.  That means I’ve got about a month to drive it, which is perfect.  That will take me through the slippery, leafy fall here in NE Ohio and maybe even and early snow.  I’ve read good reports about the good handling in snow, but it would be good to experience it first hand over an extended period of time.

The first C30 to grace the driveway in Painesville!

What really made me want to drive the car were the comfortable seats, nice looking design, and sporty handling.  Did I mention the turbo-charged T5 engine?  This little beauty produces 227 hp and when connected to the 5 speed automatic is supposed to take only 6.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60.  It’s not an S60R, but I’m thinking this ought to be fun!

The first test will be this evening on the way to my son’s Webelos campout. There are plenty of curvy roads between there and Painesville which should prove to be a good first test drive. Can you tell I’m looking forward to it?

h/t Gordon Dixon

Believe it or not, this is a Brazilian sports car.  Mystery Car 59 is a 1967 Puma GTE.  This was a very popular car in South America which was based on the Brazilian VW Karman Ghia and the DKW GT Malzoni.  It was produced by Genaro Malzoni and Jorge Lettry and was produced from 1967 through 1997 in various forms and in various locations.

__________

1 Jalopnik: 1970 Puma GT

2 VW Trends: Puma Prowess

3 Brazilian Volkswagen Puma Sports Cars and North American Puma Registry

4 Wikipedia: Puma (car)

The other day, I watched a funny video on YouTube. A comedian named Tim Hawkin put together a video of popular songs of the past shortened to one verse each. After hearing his version of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” I began to think of ways to sing about GM’s recent woes.

Click here to experience the results.

In the November edition of Automobile magazine, Jamie Kitman reminisces about family vacations in Land Rovers. The piece is an entertaining read and the conclusion quite humorous.

Tata may also want to consider restoring some of the noise. The new Defender is so quiet, I could actually hear my bickering children. Perhaps that’s why my parents used to take us on vacation in Land Rovers.

Jamie Kitman in The Noise of the Realm: Land Rover Defenders and the Family Vacation, Automobile Magazine, November 2009, 28.