I Miss My Old Car...

Updated: 09 Dec 2024

I hate to say it, I really do, but I deeply miss the old girl. She was real. Mechanical. Simple. Fun. My new car if you’re wondering is a 2000 Volvo V70 XC SE. My new V70 just feels disconnected. I’m not a part of it like I was with my 850. It may have more power. It may handle better. It may have all wheel drive. But something is just not there.

I blame it on one thing the most: electronic throttle. I hate it. It’s slow. It’s laggy. It’s terrible. When my foot goes down, I want power! I don’t want: “Okay, foot is down on the pedal. What am I supposed to do again? Damnit, what does that mean? Oh yeah! It means open the throttle!” When it does finally work, it’s glorious, sure. I’ve never driven anything with a turbo before this or with variable valve timing that kicks in like this (yo), so it’s loads of fun when the power is there but something still isn’t right. It’s just so weak feeling when driving normally even though it accelerates much quicker it’s no big deal for it. I never feel like I’m pushing it. Encouraging it. And it doesn’t feel like it wants me to push it. It’s just there.

The new wagon.

I know it may sound odd, but I want something slower. I want something that wants to be pushed. That wants it’s little 5-cylinder to roar and roar. I want another 850. But it’s all for the best that I did get rid of it. The 850 likely had a blown head gasket because of it’s clogged PCV system which I hadn’t gotten around to fixing, leading to oil leaking into the coolant. And out of the rear main seals. And the oil filler cap. But hell, I miss it so much. Sorry for the rant. But I’m sort of regretting my decision…

Comments

Really? So not everyone in florida drives corvette convertibles?

Not everyone. Only about 75% of the population. Another 10% are Lexuses. Another 10% are lifted trucks. And the rest is a mix.

I think it looks great..

Oh I like the way both of them look. My new wagon is very pretty and my old one was absolutely beautiful. But I miss my 850. I love the color white and I miss it’s boxier shape. The 850 was a car from the 90’s that was stuck in the 80’s and I loved it.

I know what you are talking about often i take my dad’s ford mondeo 2007 for a spin and all the electronics are so boring like the wheel turns smooth without any effort, the power isn’t there when u need it (i know turbo lag but u know what i’m saying), and it doesn’t feel like you are driving it. But i still have an old 1992 vw passat b3 that thing is a legend 1.8l 66kw n/a petrol engine and it’s fun to drive like u feel every bump, steering doesn’t feel smooth u need to fight a bit, instant throttle response ( but not much power but who cares it’s still makes me smile :D), and it’s a car that u can trash (like do 1st gear burnouts nothing too crazy), and parts doesn’t cost a lot.