I GOT THE FEVER

The same thing happened just about this time last year. The feeling was so strong that I had to vent by writing, GOING TOPLESS.

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/04/going-topless.html

Sure, it’s a year later, but nothing has changed. Oh, the economy is worse, everyone seems depressed, there is a different president, and there is a new landscape developing in the auto industry. Despite it all, the fever hit again this year. When it hits, it’s strong. The fever makes me want to drive. It’s spring fever!

The fever hit today at lunchtime. Like a penned dog, I had to run out the door and into my car. As soon as I heard the rumble of the engine turning over, I felt a little better. But, it wasn’t until I cranked open the sunroof and accelerated, wind blowing and engine revving, did the fever calm. On a nice warm day like this, there is so much to see. They stay bundled up through the winter, but on this first warm day, they all come out to play.

Everywhere I looked, they were beautiful. I saw the first one just as I turned the corner. It was a Mazda Miata with its top down. Down the hill and through the light, it was a shiny new Lexus LS. It was time for discipline. Focus on the road, and be safe. No good! There, right in front of me was a glistening new Cadillac STS. The fever was everywhere, and in everyone, all ages and sizes.The best was yet to come. Chugging casually along the boulevard, it was a beautiful vintage Buick Roadmaster, out of mothballs to celebrate. Everyone shared the fever.

Despite all of the distractions, I made it back safely to my parking lot. With the fever now somewhat under control, I was able to absorb with polite reserve the new talent in our parking lot: a Scion XA, a Toyota Versa, a Mazda MX-5, a Scion TC, the Hyundai Santa Fe, and a Honda Civic, all of them special in their own way. All of them would be fun to drive. All of them could quell the fever.

I love to drive, especially this time of year. I live vicariously through every car of interest that passes. It’s springtime, and when the fever hits, it makes me want to test drive a BMW Z4, or see if I am up to the challenge of a Dodge Viper. Actually, almost any vehicle will do. I just want to drive. I got the fever!

I Love My Volvo?

They were as common as fleas on a dog here in Maine back in the go-go 80’s. Herds of sturdy, businesslike, sensible shoes, 240 series Volvo sedans and their even boxier wagon siblings. At the time it seemed almost plausible to believe that these 240 wagons had actually been shipped direct from the factory in Sweden with a matched pair of slobbering black labs onboard as standard equipment. It was rare indeed to spot one of these rolling boxes without a pair of pooches and of course the obligatory I (heart) My Volvo bumper sticker prominently displayed out back.
I Love My Volvo? Yes sir. This generation of Volvos inspired a level of devotion, dedication and commitment that eclipsed mere owner loyalty. Even today just ask any dyed in the wool Volvophile about these beasts and you’d better be prepared for a long impassioned soliloquy. “Best car I ever owned!” “300,000 miles and still runs like a top!” “Safest car on the planet”…and words to that effect. Well that last bit was probably at least close to true. The 240 series Volvos were notably safe for their era with deep-dish steering wheels, crumple zones; three point belts and even those wacky ladder-style headrests (was the idea not to block the rearward view from the eyes in the back of your head?). So I’ll admit that they were safe. And I’ll also agree that the occasional 300,000 mile 240 is not unheard of. But that’s where the story begins to unravel a bit.
If you accept the proffered 300K-mile number at face value it’s darned impressive. But, being the car curious fellow I am, I’ve pressed a few of these Volvo-heads for more details than they’re comfortable revealing. I tend to ask unwanted follow-up questions like, “How many transmissions have you gone through in those 300,000 miles?” answer: “I’m not sure if it’s five or six…but IT’S A GREAT CAR!” What about the brakes? Turns out they’ve needed to be replaced about every third oil change or so. Oh yeah, and the headliner has been sagging like that since about 75,000 miles and the sunroof leaks when it rains but THIS IS THE BEST CAR I EVER HAD! Electronic gremlins? Plenty! Oil leaks? You bet. Engine rebuilds? That has to be expected on fine cars like these. By now you get the idea. It’s fascinating when you think about it. By any objective measure these Volvos were mediocre at best and a good case can be made for the fact that they tended to break down and fall apart at an alarming rate. So whence this the fierce owner loyalty? Where does the love in “I Love My Volvo” come from?
As “exhibit A” in this mystery I offer the human mind, which where love is concerned, seems to be hardwired with a “don’t confuse me with the facts” software package. These Volvo Lovers are not interested in frequency of repair statistics or any of your other worthless technical details. They’re minds and hearts are set. They’ve simply decided that their car is the best darned four wheeled conveyance ever built and it will take a lot more than an endless stream of blown head gaskets, loose tie rods, squealing brake pads, dead batteries and clouds of black smoke spewing from the tailpipe to change their minds! Love is blind! Pass the Bondo! I love my Volvo! Makes sense to me. Hey I think the original Dick Teague designed AMC Pacer is a great looking car!


Keep the sticky side down,

Tim Sample

THE HEALING HAS BEGUN

I may eat my words, but the healing has begun. Spring is here, and so is the rebirth of nature, along with traditionally, the auto industry. After a long, hard winter, everyone is ready to hear the birds sing, see the flowers bloom, and experience the thrill of driving a new car. This year is different though. Everyone knows that the auto industry is facing the biggest challenge of its history, especially the domestic manufacturers. But as the crocuses win the battle over winter, so is the auto industry recovering, ever so slowly, but surely.

People are buying cars, or at least they are in Maine. My unscientific survey shows that at least seven people that I know have bought cars just in the past several weeks. Others, including me, are seriously thinking about it. Beyond Maine there is movement too. According to Autodata, March sales of new vehicles were down substantially from a year ago, but were up nearly a million more vehicles in March than in February of this year. Spring fever always brings more sales, but Autodata reports that this year’s February to March increase was up 24.5%, the largest rate increase in seven years. While the March sales drops for most foreign and domestic manufacturers were large as compared to last year, the drops were actually less severe than expected, and Wall Street began to respond with perceived optimism.

There will never be a better time to buy. I wrote of some of the reasons in my earlier blog, LET’S MAKE A DEAL.

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/lets-make-deal.html

But now the timing is even better. Inventories are still bloated. Money is available to lend, and at record low rates. There are some interesting new choices available from virtually every manufacturer, but you and I need to move soon. The healing has begun. As sales begin to blossom, inventories will decrease. When the recovery takes hold, there will be only token rebates, no good deals, and there will be waiting lines for all of the best models, all priced at a premium. The healing has begun. Don’t miss the party.