Volvo the next chapter

 John got on the phone yesterday with the dealership.  So long story short we arrived at the dealership at 7:30 am.  It’s very early, am I right?  They did a computer duomp and found an incident in the log but couldn’t find the actual problem.  

So they did a software update and my 4 year service on my car that has less than 11,000 miles on it.  They said that would fix the problem.  John talked to the service manager and found out when the technicians were available.  So the game plan is for me to drive straight to the dealership if the break issue pops up again.  Since it seems to be an intermittent problem I am betting on John being right that it is either a sensor issue or a broken wire.  Only time will tell.  

I have found out that 59 degrees is too cold on a low spoons day to eat outside.  I finished my chicken before my body said no more food for you. 

I drove the car home after lunch.  I spent the rest of the day solving craft supply issues and knitting.  Of course I did cook a new favorite dinner. A mixed vegetable and duck egg omelette.  Of course I managed to mess up the flip and feed the stove top some of our dinner.  

You Want What for your Volvo?

 My Volvo started flashing an urgent warning light on the dashboard on Thursday afternoon.  So today I called my local Volvo Dealership to get a service appointment.  I can’t believe for an urgent brake problem they booked the appointment out 3 weeks.  My almost 4 year old car does not even have 11,000 miles on it yet. 

I then  asked if the car was still safe to drive. 

They replied that they were not sure.  

So I will be without a car for 3 weeks. Between the Snowbirds erratic driving and the college students it is a better choice not to take any unnecessary risks.  I have not been without a car at my beck and call since I was 16, so last century.  So I will make sure my Lyft app is updated.  I will renew my Shipit subscription.  Sit down with calendars out so John and I can mesh our schedules. Do much for independence. 

This will require more planning than I am use to for things like shopping.  Going out to knit with friends.  Running the odd errand. 

If you can’t already tell, I am quite miffed at my local Volvo Dealership. I really wish we had a second Volvo dealership in town.  We don’t trust the brakes enough to drive to Phoenix. This is the only time since so last century that it took more than a few days to get my car serviced for an urgent problem. If I had an urgent problem with my GM, Toyota, VW, Mazda or Honda all the dealerships got me in the same day I called or the next day.  I really don’t know what the deal is in making me wait 3, yes 3 whole weeks for service.  Are they trying to say that they are too elite to service what they sell? 

My question is, does anyone else have this problem with their Volvo dealership or is our dealership just especially not good at their basic function. The function being to service what the sales department sells in a timely manner.  

This leads to the next question to ask when buying a new car. How soon can the service department get me in for an urgent problem. How long does it take to Schedule routine maintenance? 

With this lack of getting timely service for my Volvo, I probably would not buy one again.  This was supposed to be my dream car.  It’s turning into more of why did I think this car was so special? Why is the dealership almost as snobby as the Lexus dealership?  For heavens sake it’s just a car.  

My Car

 My car did something amazing today.  This is the first day that I have driven my car in the rain. Yes, I know that I have had the car for about 18 months, but there is this thing called COVID19 that has kept me home an awful lot.  

Now back to my car. As I left the house it started to rain. Me being in a funk for most of the time I have owned the car, I have not read the owner’s manual.  The 1st car that I have not read it from cover to cover. So as I was trying to remember what the salesman said about the wipers and how to turn them on, they just started up on their own.  They stopped too.  Then started again,. Kept up with the rain by going faster and stopped again.  I thought that this was so cool.  I could keep my eyes on the road.  

Tucson drivers freak out in rain. They forget how to drive and that they must slow down.  I am not talking about the usual snowbird stuff like stopping dead in the middle of the road in the right or center lane blinking for a left turn expecting everyone to stop for them.  When it would be safer to move over to the left lane and make a u turn further down the road.  Then making a right turn on the right street.  Tucson drivers just don’t get much rain to practice with.  

I really want to thank the Volvo engineers ho came up with this idea and then implemented it.  It really is a very cool feature.   Thank you.