In a message dated 7/17/00 3:34:09 AM, andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
writes:

<< The 3.8 GM V6 is a heavy lump, and in my Caravellr one produced nasty
scrub-understeer. Best avoid if you like good handling.

Andrew
 >>

Andrew,

Thanks for the sobering voice of experience.

I am fond of Volvos.  After having V-gons for a while, I longed for Volvo's
set-it-and-forget-it maintenance regimen.  Also, I thought their tractor-like
character (especially the old pushrod engine) would be ideal.  Of all the
compromises, the one I could not justify was the increased mass that would be
hanging WAY out in the ass end of such a beast.  I thought of the time my
buddies and I tried to tow an engineless 240 with Volvo V-6 dumped into the
trunk for good measure.  Everything was great until we hit the city limits
and tried to go over 40MPH.  If you have ever heard the expression "the tail
wagging the dog", well, change dog to alligator and you will have an idea of
what we experienced.  Mercifully, we had not finished our first 6-pack of
road trip refreshments so, we were still prudent enough to dump that V-6 lump
in a nearby buddies barn.

I guess the grass is always greener until you actually trod upon it.

Rich