October 22 2023
#471
Gentle reader,
The title, while true in 2004, does not apply almost twenty years later. However, you longtime readers will remember my series (which I have not finished yet) about real cars I have owned in miniature. My current and lifetime (I hope) car is one of these which I purchased in 2014.
The four images above are of the very first (teaser) brochure Volvo of North America put out about the forthcoming V50 wagon. It replaced the smaller and less capable V40, which in North America could be had ONLY with an automatic transmission. Volvo fixed that with their new P1 cars: C30, S40, V50 and C70. All of which could be had with either a 2.4i naturally aspirated engine or the turbocharged T5 which is larger at 2.5 liters and far more powerful.
Below are scans of the entire 40 page North American Volvo brochure for the inaugural year 2005 V50.
The two pages below have central pictures which are split in the scanning process. While I could have merged them, they would be too wide for most readers to see, especially if they are reading this on a cell phone.
These two pages are also split, as you can see.
As are these backlit images designed to dramatically show the waterfall stack.
While I like that everything inside the V50 which looks like metal, IS metal, that "wooden" piece must look nice as well.
Above is shown the optional child seat.
I seriously think more US drivers would buy wagons if they only realized that they are just as versatile as crossovers and SUVs. But far more cool.
Seeing the audio choices, I wish my V50 had the 6 CD changer and more speakers. But, when one buys used, one has limited choices.
That tiny turbine wheel is why the T5 engines have almost zero "turbo lag".
See the width difference between this and the photo below? My scanner insisted upon "thinking" the one above was two photos, and scanned it that way. Obviously, this is another pair of images which are together in the brochure.
Above, is another example of my scanner, an Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner, decided the surfer was a separate photo. I was able here in Blogger, to put them back together.
Mine does not have this roof spoiler. I have a friend who has one for sale, but so far, we have not gotten together to seal the deal.
I initially had scanned just this page to put on Facebook Volvo groups I belong to. To show that Volvo calls light grey, silver.
Below are some photos of mine, after I had given it a good cleaning. When the crappy Michelin tires it came with wore out, I outfitted it (and since, our other two cars) with Pirelli Cinturato P7 all-season tires. They are THE highest rated all-season tires on Tirerack.com. They transformed my V50 from a fun car to an awesome one!
Did you know that Ferrari was not able to trademark the Prancing Horse emblem? They could not. In fact, Breda, an Italian train car builder, uses it too. Above is a "Prancing Moose" which is a company of Volvo lovers. Volvo invented the "Moose Avoidance Test" in the name of safety. Other car makers have tried to make their cars pass the test as well.
I removed the factory fog lights and replaced them with HELLA driving lights.
V50 and the other "Sleeper" we own, it quickly became Nancy's car: A 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T Performance. It too has a six-speed manual transmission.
Above is a replica of the ATS' window sticker. We paid $7,995 for it ten years later!
Above is a data sheet I made up comparing the two cars. I did not have the window sticker at the time I created it, so the ATS' retail price is $5,000 too low. Very impressive performance for a compact station wagon, wouldn't you say?
We love our cars and hope to keep them running for the rest of our lives. The ATS, which I say stands for Awesome Transportation System, is a fantastic car, but not as smooth operating as the V50. So, I have no problem with Nancy enjoying it.
Thanks for taking the time to read my humble blog. Feel free to comment below or on Facebook.
Scott Robb
October 2, 2023
#471
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