Come on ladies and gents. This was about a 2003 Volvo versus a 2003 Acura. Asian over Swedish is a bit ambiguous.
I love my 1987 Volvo -- matter of fact, I forgot to tell a story:
In 1987 I was a passenger in my best friend's mid 80's 240. We were driving about 50 miles an hour behind some friends of ours in a Mercedes sedan. They stopped suddenly to a halt, we weren't looking ahead and by the time we hit the brakes we slammed them in the rear at about 45 miles per hour.
That was the first time in my life I didn't wear a seatbelt. I was in the front passenger seat and was able to protect my face with my arm as my head and elbow smashed into the windshield.
I cracked the windshield, but did not have a mark on me. The 4 of us climbed out with his front end smashed in and the trunk smashed on the Mercedes. We all walked away without the scratch. The Volvo was claimed a total loss.
No injuries in either car.
That being said, I love my 1987 740. Prior to this car I owned a 2001 Honda Accord EX. To this day that Honda was the finest car I have ever owned. I sold it to save money to buy a house.
While restoring my Volvo, I am driving a 2000 Hyundai Accent. While dependable, I would rather have an accident in the Volvo versus the Accent.
That also being said, my Honda was a car that I drove to 75,000 miles before I sold it and I never planned on spending a dime on that car until 100,000 miles.
I'd love an Acura, but I don't want to have a note right now. It would be great to drive, but my 740 is a dream to work on. I get satisfaction with its simplicity.
Now, recent Volvos I fear aren't the everyday DIY stuff. I fear in 20 years they won't be the fixer uppers that our 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's models are.
2 cents.