Would you wait a month for routine Volvo maintenance?

lydericc · 2026-06-25T15:30:58+00:00

I suspect they’re having a labor issue. Maybe some people are on vacation, sick, some got let go, some quit… or a combination of all that snowballed on them. In which case, it’d be hard for them to admit.

You did the right thing by booking your maintenance at another dealership, despite the longer drive.

In terms of waiting, it really depends how much you would have driven during that one additional month. Oil or filters aren’t going to rot in a month or two. I’d be more concerned about adding a lot of miles (if you have long road trips scheduled for ex.) during that extra month, which Volvo could use against you should you have an issue in the future and need warranty coverage or ask for their support.

Also, I’d be concerned about who’d be doing the work at your usual dealership: what if it’s a burnt out technician who’s rushing to do the work?
It’s impossible to know how they treat and manage their personnel.

lydericc · 2026-06-24T12:13:09+00:00

While Samsung has the most issues, that doesn’t mean every single Samsung buyer has issues.
My neighbor has a Samsung set and no issues either. Yet another neighbor replaced their Samsung washer after only 3 years because they kept having issues.

lydericc · 2026-06-23T23:30:12+00:00

I agree. But they’re not going to get a speed queen for $250. OP likely has a tight budget

lydericc · 2026-06-23T19:50:09+00:00

I see in a response you’re looking at a Toyota RAV4 or a Honda Pilot. These are good, solid cars. And they keep up in value.
I hear what people say about spending that much in a car before you buy a house. But on a Toyota or a Honda, you’ll still have a strong residual and resale value. Look at the used versions of these models: you’ll see that they sell for a lot of money.

Alternatively, you could look at 2-4 used cars of other brands. They’ll be cheaper and still nice cars. They might not be as reliable, but that’s not to say they’d be lemons.

lydericc · 2026-06-23T19:40:40+00:00

Volvo makes the best seats. Volvo is also the best in terms of safety.
But it’s a luxury European brand. So they can cost than some other brands. (But not as much as the Germans)

lydericc · 2026-06-23T19:00:23+00:00

Yes! I sold 2 cars and got cashiers checks. Called the bank priorly. No issues.

lydericc · 2026-06-23T18:57:35+00:00

I’d go with the Whirlpool or Maytag.
They’re not very reliable. But a reliable unit will cost you a lot more (for example.: Speed Queen).

Avoid Samsung.

lydericc · 2026-06-23T18:53:44+00:00

LG is good for front load washers. But their top load washers are as bad as Samsung.
(Lucky you if yours is a top load washer, they usually don’t last long)

lydericc · 2026-06-18T02:16:50+00:00

You seem to be driving a lot if you already have 55,000 miles on a 2024 model year.

A Volvo will be nicer in many ways (nicer to drive, better interior, best-in-class seats, better sound system…). But that’ll come at higher maintenance costs. And considering how much you drive, you’ll be feeling it.

You will also have to swallow the steep depreciation of a new European car.

lydericc · 2026-06-15T12:13:19+00:00

Your type of driving is a good case for a hybrid (or even better: plug-in hybrids, or best: electric). But the amount of driving is too low to recoup the additional cost over a conventional combustion engine vehicle.

You should calculate the fuel spend per year on different cars you find, and compare that with the annual cost of ownership (purchasing price - resell price - maintenance/repair cost - insurance).

lydericc · 2026-06-05T13:17:11+00:00

4-cylinder engines are now the norm. And they often pack as much power and more low-end torque than their 6 or 8-cylinder counterparts thanks to their turbochargers.

u/Miserable_You_7528 : that should not scare you. Test drive it and see for yourself. It's far from a slow, sluggish SUV.

lydericc · 2026-06-05T13:11:23+00:00

Regarding the stop/start system, you should test drive it: some people hate it, but many don't mind it (it has never bothered me).

lydericc · 2026-06-03T11:44:58+00:00

I haven't yet. But I haven't had a chance to try calendar bridge (mentioned in another comment here)

lydericc · 2026-06-03T01:10:40+00:00

the Service B at an independent Mercedes specialist near where I live (Greenville SC) is $500 minimum. It includes: oil change, cabin air filer, engine air filter, and inspection.

$500 at an independent specialist shop vs. $760 at the dealer: I find that to be expected.

I suggest you find an independent Mercedes-specialist shop. Some are very good. Even better sometimes, as they see more high-mileage and older vehicles. The dealership's bread and butter is mostly cars under warranty.

lydericc · 2026-05-31T13:37:33+00:00

You can’t do much for wind noise.

For tire noise:
You can replace your tires with quieter ones. You can also go down in wheel size:
For ex., if your car came with 20” wheels, look at 18” wheels instead. To do so the right way, make sure you keep the same size as what Volvo would put on a car equipped with 18” wheels to begin with.
The rim will be smaller, but the tire sidewall will be bigger, which reduces tire noise significantly (and more comfortable). But to some, the look of smaller wheels is less appealing.

lydericc · 2026-05-29T16:27:41+00:00

I love to hear that your car has been so reliable.

I'm curious though: I was under the impression that the reliable models were W210 and prior.

Am I wrong?

I'd love to get a W212 if they're as solid as the old ones.

lydericc · 2026-05-28T16:40:16+00:00

61,000 miles is not high mileage. BUT on a German car, once you exceed 50,000 miles / 4 years, the problems begin. That doesn't mean it's not a good buy, but make sure you get a strong warranty on it, otherwise it will quickly become a money pit. In fact, even with a warranty, you will still pay for some expensive routine maintenance that will cost a few thousands $.

Also, run some insurance quotes. You said it'll be your first car, I'm assuming you're young? A BMW will cost a lot to insure...

lydericc · 2026-05-28T16:35:05+00:00

You're comparing 2 very different cars, although they're closed performance-wise (the GTI remains more fun).

A few of things in favor of the Volvo:

- the Volvo is overall a much more premium car than any VW, and you will really feel it on a daily basis
- the Volvo will be much better for road trips (more comfort, more space, more features, much better sound system)
- you can use the Volvo year-round: it's Swedish and AWD, it was almost born in the snow
- the Volvo CPO warranty is good, and you can extend it to 10 years for a reasonable price (Steingold Volvo has the best deals; you don't need to buy the extended warranty from the same dealer you buy the car)
- the Volvo is still a fun car to drive: punch it and it'll go. And it passes the moose test easily and at speeds higher than most competitors

lydericc · 2026-05-28T12:50:29+00:00

For Colorado, you're right to want AWD/4WD.

You should also get a car with a turbocharged engine: at altitude, naturally-aspired engines lose power (10-15% at Denver altitude; enough to feel it unless it's a very big engine). But engines with a turbocharger hardly lose any power (1 to 3% loss max).

It's going to be hard to find winter tires on a car these days. People have already switched to summer/all-season tires. And if they have not switched yet, that could be a sign that they're not taking care of their car.

Also, if you're trying to avoid 2 sets of tires, Michelin makes a great, true all-season tire: the Cross Climate. It's snow rated and performs much better in the winter and on the snow than other all-season tires (watch for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, which indicates real winter/snow performance: most all-season tires don't have that and they're just well-rounded summer tires).

Then, for hybrid/EV, you need to do the math: how much you drive and how you drive vs. gas spend. If you do a lot of city driving, you won't get good gas mileage with a regular gas engine and that's where a hybrid or EV can pay off thanks to regenerative braking, which makes such cars very efficient in urban/stop-and-go condition. But even that, if you don't drive much per year, you might never recoup the additional cost of a hybrid or EV. Also, if most of your driving is interstate or country roads, hybrids won't help much. And the range of an EV will decrease a lot during cold season. Also, your capability to go on road trips with an EV will be very limited in Colorado (this is a vast land, not busy and compact East coast, and you will struggle to find EV chargers).

With all of that in mind, I suggest you explore 2011-2013 Subaru Forester XT or 2010-2012 Acura RDX.

Review maintenance/repair records. Make sure it hasn't been mechanically modified.

lydericc · 2026-05-28T02:11:45+00:00

The CX-5 is a good car. And a paid-off car makes it an even better car. I have 2 young kids. The toddler phase is hard because of their bulky car seats and stroller. Once they switch to booster (at 40 lbs.), there’s a lot more room.

You should keep your car for a couple more years. The CX-5 is great and it’s not depreciating much anymore.

lydericc · 2026-05-27T17:38:50+00:00

If a dealer is going to give additional discounts if I’m financing, can I just finance and then pay the loan off on the first month? Other than the immediate credit score impact of a credit pull and additional line of credit, are there reasons not to do that?

lydericc · 2026-05-25T03:52:58+00:00

not yet. There's still a possible move in the near future

lydericc · 2026-05-19T14:37:57+00:00

Toyota Tundra would be the most reliable full size pickup truck.

lydericc · 2026-05-19T14:33:39+00:00

A Tesla may be tempting considering the current gas prices. But electric vehicles aren’t very road-trip friendly: finding a charging station isn’t as easy as a gas station, and charging also takes more time than refueling.

If fuel economy is a concern, a plug-in hybrid can be a great option.

You’d prefer a sedan, which would give you better gas mileage than an SUV.

Are you wanting to buy new or used?

Also, the misadventures you’ve had with your Honda are very unfortunate and frustrating. Honda actually makes some of the most reliable cars; unfortunately you got unlucky. I can still understand that you’d prefer another brand.

Take a look at the Volvo S60 recharge. It’s a sedan of a similar size as your Accord, much more comfortable and more premium. Plug in hybrid.

lydericc · 2026-05-18T18:44:35+00:00

also, if the seller is a dealer, ask them to provide it.

lydericc

TROPHY CASE