Question on Repair Costs

Huh. My 1990 Volvo 240 has cost me less for repairs in an average year than my previous car, a 1988 Ford Bronco II, did. Thus far I have spent zero time standing next to it on the highway. But then with only 158,000 miles on it, the Volvo is just breaking in- compared to the Bronco II which was breaking down by this point in its career. I fully expect another 100,000 miles out of the Volvo, which ought to easily me to the end of affordable gasoline and beyond...

Subarus seems to be fine cars, but they are not inexpensive to repair either. And they are not really suitable for most folks to do much shade-tree work on, unlike the 240s and 7xx Volvos.

yea, the are still a asian product...cheap, thin metal, cheap lightweight fastners...but, overall, the quality is getting better and better as the priduction moves out of asia....just look at some of the ratings the asian cars get ocassionaly

Well, how about the luxury of not having the car disintegrate under me. The latest in the saga of my '03 XC is when I stopped at the Grocery store yesterday, I pushed the lock button and then closed the door and as always, looked at the small light on the fender for the flash to show that the alarm was armed. There was the light, hanging by it's wire aboout two inches from the fender. The clip that's supposed to hold it in just snapped off. Got back in the car and called the dealer.... $48.Bucks???? You MUST be putting me on!!! AnyHoo, a couple of little squares cut from an industrial grade, double-sided tape worked wonders, Ka-CHING. I should have done that to the side trim that fell off of the passenger side front door. Oh, and as far as putting the price on so-called luxury, they could probably crank those cars out all day long for $20,000 and still make money on them.