My wife and I met in my sophomore year of college. Our shared hobby was driving around the country seeing Grateful Dead shows. During our many shared miles in my Scirocco and her Pontiac T1000, we admired those dog ugly 240s on the highway. Somehow, we got it in our heads that Volvos were cool cars. Our friends rightfully teased us. What were we thinking?

I graduated in 1990. I had a good paying job, no kids, inexpensive tastes (when Old Style tasted good and I knew not a thing about Guinness), $200 dollars a month in rent, and lust in my heart for a shiny new burgundy 240 with black interior, manual crank windows, AC, radio, butt warmers, and a five speed.

Needless to say, though none of our friends agreed with our opinion of the 240's beautiful styling, they all wanted to drive to the mountains in it. Although we stopped following a band, we continued our travels. That car went coast to coast many times over the next few years. Then, we moved from the oasis of Normal, Illinois, back to the suburbs of Shkawgo. We married, my first son was born, and the 240 became a suburban mom mobile.

Around 130K, I began feeling a little uneasy about my wife driving in and around the city with our now two sons on so many miles. Plus, the car was getting hard to put into 1st gear. Ultimately, the AC compressor stopped functioning. When facing the possible expense, I decided (over my wife's objections) enough is enough. "We're getting you a new car, and I'll take the 240." Done; we junked my falling-apart pick-up, found her a '98 S70 with a five speed, and I got my first new car back.

This weekend, I was at a grad class in Moline. On the way home, I saw that it was going to turn 200,000 miles on this trip. I started thinking: Other than the scheduled warrantee maintenance, the car had only been in the shop once -- for all new bushings. One oil change was done by Jiffy Lube in Charlotte. Everything else (brakes / timing belts / alternator rebuild / etc.) was done by me (with a lot of help). The car broke down on the road once, when the alternator stopped working due to worn brushes. That was the only time it let me down... even then it wasn't too bad. My wife brought the S70, three jump starts to get home... no big deal.

What's coming up next for this car? Everything is solid, except that original clutch is about dead... actually it's probably a bad throw out bearing... I probably won't be able to do it my self... do I want to spend that much on a 200K car?... 199,995 miles... isn't Volvo of Lisle coming up here?

True story: On Rt. 34, my 240 turned 200,000. By 200,001, I was in the Volvo dealer's lot. mmmmmmmmmMAN! Those C70s are cool... look! The new 40 series; can't really fit our soon-to-be three kids in the back, but what a car to drive to work! Turbos everywhere!! Sunroofed T5s!!! I want one!!!! want one! want one!

Then, suddenly, something hit me across the head like a brick in overdrive: the prices. Hmmmmm. With a Cheshire cat smile, I shook my head and laughed at myself as I walked back to my not-so-shiny-anymore 240 with two pleasant thoughts. First, I was proud of doing a decent job maintaining a great car for 200K miles. Secondly, maybe a new clutch and throw out bearing aren't so expensive after all.

Here's to another 100,000 miles on a car I still haven't gotten around to naming.

Painting styled from a Svein Strande photo