We picked up two 2005 Volvos last weekend ->>

XC90 V8, Ruby metallic, taupe interior, Touring, Convenience and climate >> packages with the BiXe headlights.>>

S60R, Titanium gray metallic, bone interior, automatic, graphite R >> wheels, climate package.>>

Notes on the XC90: sweet. Everything I could have expected. Not thrilled >> with the mileage, which has settled at about 11.5 around town. Got 17+ on >> a short highway trip. Part of the problem is that it's very resistant off >> the line - you can't feather the throttle and get anywhere, you have to >> go over a hump and goose it to move forward with any sprightliness. It >> feels a LOT like cars I've had with a "winter" mode that started in >> second gear to prevent wheelspin. Having to either creep up to speed or >> goose it to accelerate normally really hammers the mileage. I'm going to >> have it looked at to make sure there's not a tranny control problems.>>

Notes on the S60R: WHOOOOOO-HOOOOOO! What a rocket! Yee-haa! Mileage in >> my wife's hands is very good: 18-22. I've depressed that a bit on my >> drives. ­ The chassis settings are much more distinct and individually >> useful than the equivalents on my E500 (which were mushy, not so mushy >> and shake your kidneys loose). I like all three settings on different >> roads and with different 'tudes in place. Worst aspect: the damned thing >> has the turning radius of a Mack truck. You can't pull U turns from the >> turn lane even on wide dual-lane roads; even a very wide residential >> street requires a three-pointer; don't even think about swinging into a >> supermarket parking slot without advance planning. I think it must be the >> AWD interfering, but it's also something I'm taking back for a check. For >> a smallish, very sporty, middlin' high performance car, the turning >> radius is AWFUL. Even my Odyssey, no nimblefoot, could turn tighter... >> and the XC90 can spin in its own length, almost.>>

Lovely cars, though. Just lovely. Very glad to be back in the Volvo camp.>