If the cost of repairing the subie tranny is a problem, then the Volvo is
definatley not for you. While car payments are a bother, if you have good
credit and can get a good low interst deal, many new cars will end up
costing less per mile or month than a 10 year old one. Epecially one with
high maintenance costs. A large factor is what are you willing to do
yourself. A $2,000 repair is $200 a month for a year. The Sonanta keeps
looking better and it is now assembled here.

Dennis

>From: Brendan Slevin <brendan@BELLATAZZA.COM>
>Reply-To: Brendan Slevin <brendan@BELLATAZZA.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Well shoot.. .
>Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:31:09 -0700
>
>Ok, Totoro is still up in the air waiting for parts and reassembly.  And
>now. . .
>
>Our Subaru's auto transmission is toast.
>
>Blah.
>
>We were driving back from Umpqua hot springs yesterday evening when the
>trans started slipping in fourth, occasionally grabbing. Fluid was normal
>so
>I put it in third and kept going.  Made it about 20 more miles and third
>started slipping.  Checked the fluid again, still good.  Lame.  So
>basically
>we drove to my work (about 50 more miles) in second gear. I parked it and a
>friend picked us up and then let us borrow her car (a pretty sweet Land
>Rover Discovery.)
>
>So now my wife and I are driving borrowed cars until we can figure out what
>to do.  We don't really want a car payment but it seems as though it's time
>to be adults and get something a bit newer and more reliable.  We were
>looking this morning at a 98 Volvo XC70 that we really liked, until I
>started reading about some of the i$$ues they can have.  Any suggestions?
>
>Oh yeah, one (1) 1991 subaru 2.2 free with purchase of car.  Offers
>welcome.
>Needs to be gone soon, very tempting to take some cathartic blows to it
>with
>whatever heavy object is near.  :-)
>
>Brendan
>www.bellatazza.com
>I have measured out my life with coffee spoons. -T.S. Eliot