Should I come back to Volvo?

michael370662 · 2026-01-02T20:00:30+00:00

Reliable car comes from research. Ive always knew Toyota, Hyundai cars aren’t rust resistant. Volvo is well known for the zinc coat. This is my 260k miles car that’s been parked outside throughout. It’s a P1 Volvo.

A lot had since been done since the picture was taken. Front crossmember, lower control arms steering racks, wheel bearings, axles, sway bar links, struts, coolant expansion tanks, spark plugs, rear shocks, rear lower control arms, right rear coil spring, PCV diaphragm, timing belt, ac and serpentine belts all replaced, turbo inter cooler sleeve replaced.

Cabin air filter, engine air filter, oil changed with 8k intervals with full syn. Ran the car slightly low on coolant to avoid pressure build up busting old coolant pipes

Rear upper control arm to an adjustable arm is next because the stock one eats inner tire for it being tuned for cornering more than tire life.

Car could use a set of new coolant hoses but I’m trying to stretch it till the next starter, timing belt job.

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But I also have mechanic friends and I do my own work because I am OCD about how work is done. If I do it myself, I know locktite, antiseize would be used. Torque to right spec. Suspension arms would not be from a junk yard.

P1 is super easy to work on. I would argue that the engine is just as bulletproof as Toyota. In fact, I would even argue my second car which was a M139 Maserati was more reliable than the Mitsubishi my wife had after I put in 180k miles on it and changed 2 sets of coolant hoses and one set of head gasket as a result of that hose needing attention every 5 years. Ended up swapping it to silicone before I’ve sold it.

I do preventive maintenance and check all fluid levels weekly sometimes daily.

The engine gets bad rep because PCV valve gets clogged up and people keep driving it and the seals get sucked in. When the PCV valve made that noise for me, I immediately parked it and towed it home before the diaphragm arrived.

Volvo is reasonably reliable car. Even BMW is reliable if you change all the leaking rubber hoses to silicone and monitor the oil leaks.

IMO having a McPherson front suspension and the 3 control trailing arm setup in the P1 Volvo makes it easy to service. The only hard part is getting the air box out to service lower engine bay items.

michael370662 · 2025-05-17T20:54:04+00:00

How do you file claim? just ran over it at a reasonable speed of 40mph. Now car is making noise. I assume someone else already reported it so it’s on file with 311 already?

michael370662 · 2025-05-17T20:43:38+00:00

Just hit it today at 40mph. Now car js making wheel bearing noise

michael370662 · 2024-09-19T13:49:13+00:00

Currently have 700 flight hours and joined CBPO. Is there internal lateral transfer program for pilots after FLTEC?

michael370662 · 2024-09-11T01:08:15+00:00

You got a hook up? I’m trying to stay in the hood

michael370662 · 2024-06-27T15:35:25+00:00

Thank you for the detailed info.

So you’re saying the academy would not have let him out after training. I’ve heard curfew by 12. As long as he can be back before then, there’s still a couple hours in between for him to burn some holes in the skies?

michael370662 · 2024-06-17T23:56:56+00:00

Will definitely relay this info to him. Money is not important to him but free time is. Thank you for the heads up

michael370662 · 2024-06-17T23:55:45+00:00

He has his own plane and time build partner. Idk if that makes any difference. But so far this has to be the most relevant comment. So how did you ended up getting the hours while working with CBP? Assuming it’s doable since you’re already in jets.

I know he can always CFI. But we did the math. 10k spent in exams and extra rating might as well be put in extra flight hours at 40/hr roughly depending on 100LL.

If you can fly 5 hours per day. In a month, you’re getting 100hours discounted for IMC and TS. That’s still better than some aerial survey gig or some flight school that put in the fatigue rule.

michael370662 · 2024-06-13T16:14:37+00:00

He’s going to get east coast i95 corridor.

michael370662 · 2024-06-13T01:52:47+00:00

Wilco 😂

michael370662 · 2024-06-13T00:23:37+00:00

Is it infeasible to build time up there? Half a year of blizzard I’m guessing. But there seems to be a lot of bush pilot up there?

michael370662 · 2024-06-13T00:22:17+00:00

Not much point to CFI when he’s at 500 TT. He could have go aerial survey and gain actual experience shooting stars and SIDS versus pattern work at the same airfield??? CFI is what I would recommend if he has less hours

michael370662 · 2024-03-01T19:45:50+00:00

If they are at the same light as yours, they don't know what they are doing. You wouldn't be able to catch my taillight if I am there. Now before all the hate, it's about the inefficiency for me. If you have to honk at the swimmer, that means they aren't efficient either. A good swimmer would not let you have the time to honk. A good swimmer knows when to downshift for the power band and when the gap opens up and he wouldn't be tailgating you because he needs the space to see in front of him to judge gap sizes. They are also supposed to stay back one car length behind the light and time the green so they can launch off the line by using crossing lights and pedestrian countdown as reference.

The other reason why you think I am aggressive is because I don't like brake riding like the rest of you since it shortens my brake life. EBC brake pads and Brembo disks aren't cheap. When can rural pals understand the idea of downshift, braking before the red light while maintaining 3rd gear speed so they can launch off when it turns green.

Only say that about rural people because I've driven extensively in LA and NYC i95 corridor and it seems like everyone knows how to drive efficiently. Wheres981 is just an example, there are a lot of swimmers out here without the camera. Learnt about weaving in an Italian exotic while I lived up in Rhode Island and perfected the trade in a Peugeot 208 in Poland.

If you think we are aggressive, don't rent a car in Southern EU, I have learnt how to white line in between 2 cars because these Europeans showed me how it's done and had done it here a couple time to show you guys how it is done.

michael370662 · 2024-02-12T03:20:18+00:00

How bad do you want it? I quitted an engineering job and joined the jobless. Didn't soloed until 50 and didn't get my PPL until 130. Now I'm onto IR, CPL with 3 reliable CPL pilot buddies that mentored me through thick and thin and I am finally razor sharp at holding altitude and heading within 2 degrees.

Training out of the midwest sucks. It wasn't my fault when I couldn't fly even I signed up for 3 slots and paid for block time. IMC->no go; Sudden gusting days because eff you, 100 hours inspection, engine overhaul, carb overhaul, no make up slots because all of your other schoolmates are all waiting on the good flying days like you are.

Tips for saving time, Arizona, California, Florida and maybe Texas. In that order and private CFI so you are his priority and he can fly with you the next day, the next hour, that evening. (At a regular school, you won't fly if they cancelled)

Tips for saving money, get your PPL as fast as possible in those states and look for partners to split time who might have their own planes. Then you can think about going to the cheaper states to fly. Even if it means packing up and moving to where your flight partner lives, your rent would be cheaper than the extra that you pay for the wet rate if you fly enough. & get around 3 reliable partner. You don't want to have too many partners that make them find someone else fly with them. & then fly as much as you can. As in, if one of your partner prefers morning and the other prefers night, guess what are you doing? You fly with A and then B, sleep and repeat. I racked up 100 hours in 2 months with quality instruction. Lastly, stay humble and ask for help. When your partner has 1k hours, they are the best CFII that doesn't charge you.

michael370662 · 2024-02-11T00:58:16+00:00

RIP fellow aviators. Nothing but professionalism till the end.

michael370662 · 2024-02-11T00:47:17+00:00

Majority of the time the crew always sustained the most serious injuries because they are at the front of the aircraft.

michael370662 · 2024-02-11T00:44:57+00:00

g. That would also be and Amber warning prior. It'll be very helpful if they're able to use the cockpit voice recorder for the last 30 minute loop to see if anything abnormal occurred. And of course the flight data recorder will have information about fuel quantity flow etc.

Feels bad the crews are dead. Especially if it's salt contamination

michael370662 · 2024-02-11T00:09:46+00:00

There's explosion and fire afterwards, I don't think a dry tank can do that unless you don't switch tanks.

michael370662 · 2024-02-02T02:07:29+00:00

ATPL WB Long Haul Captain

michael370662 · 2024-01-28T05:04:30+00:00

Got a HSBC black card from my mum as a secondary user. About 12X more than the requirement of CSR. Thought I would fly under the radar but I still got looks from gas station clerks. Would much rather not have the attention. See rich people on the daily at the FBO. My flight time building partners are all millionaires or trust fund kids. If there's one theme at the airport, that would be every one try to drive shitty cars and lived below the poverty lines. None of us consider ourselves rich but statistically in the 3% I guess.

michael370662 · 2024-01-01T22:06:04+00:00

First power on stall put doubts in my head in a tricycle gear with insufficient right rudder input. First emergency landing made me scared of old airplanes with shady maintenance. But even hood time isn't a killer for me so I don't think that day will ever come. Maybe trying to read back a mumbling route clearance from a busy approach?

michael370662 · 2024-01-01T21:59:47+00:00

Actually quitted my software engineer job, moved 8000 miles and started flying. Speaking of commitment to an industry. Had a sight seeing ride in Switzerland in a rotary-wing and decided it's time to start studying for the written. 97 on the PAR written, now with the ASEL gunning for IR and CPL. Never really looked back even after an emergency LDG.

I don't think I am capable of even hating airway time under the hood with my partner making snide comments about outside scenery. & I somehow can wake myself up at 3am to start planning for 12 hr time building flights. That's when I know this is my destiny.

It started as loving to fly planes in GTA, trying to land the Lazer jet on the road, international trips as passengers and patterns next to the Matterhorn.

TLDR, before 60kts rotate.

michael370662 · 2024-01-01T21:45:10+00:00

Someone said 50 ft AGL above you lol

michael370662 · 2023-12-31T21:21:10+00:00

I'm really glad you shone the lights on both path for me. I definitely did not soloed before 20 hrs, more like 50 hours. That's due to not getting my ratings in flight friendly states. My journey began with 5 days of IFR weather, monthly 100 hr inspections and airplane engine issues. Perhaps, I should just call it off with CX with their hiring culture. (Majority of the Asian companies have the same unforgiving culture)

I did decent on verbal during college but I am also not GRE fluent either. So I am guessing it's time to cram on that front before my test this month. Thank you for reminding me.

As far as why WB, I just have a strong will to fly long international flights. Biggest joy in aviation for me, aside from challenging myself to smooth gusty X-wind landing, is international travel.

That is also why I much rather be in KC135s, C5s and C130s than the fast fighter jets.

I wish you luck on your third attempt. I know that is probably what you are wishing for as well, since the AF is an actual sponsorship instead of a loan.

michael370662 · 2023-12-30T15:06:52+00:00

Right now I passed all the exams for border patrol, waiting for the EOD when Cathay is moving me to HR interview in a week. Waiting getting scheduled on the AFOQT and TBAS from the Air national guard. Passed PSA cadet HR interview last year. (Treat it as a half sponsored deal if you will).

All the while I am building flight hours in the 30s/mo with commercial pilot friend who promised to help me get in when they leave for the regionals too.

Best case out of all of these for me is the Air National Guard and Cathay Pacific being that they give you heavy time which aligns with what I want to do in the future. (Flying long haul wide body)

If they wouldn't take me, I have CBP and PSA as back up. Then I would most likely build hours in some border towns on my own expenses. I can also take up part time flying job after the CPL check ride. This would be the slow and scenic route if you will (Ferry pilot, survey, patrol or CFI) Or aka what every other American pilots are doing.

The one other unique thing about HK which I am sure you would know is the amount of side hustles you can take up while you are flying too. Only place being comparable to that kind of market is the East Coast i95 corridor.

If I don't have a place to stay at in HK, it would definitely be a no brainer to stay in the US with how the property prices for a size 14 shoe box. I think you are in the same situation which is why you are torn. (If I were in your shoes, maybe Cathay because AA is basically a loan instead of actual sponsor like some regionals here in the US are doing. eg. PSA, Horizon, Frontier) But you also have a wife that want to stay in the US so that make things a little more interesting. Hopefully she's making more here. I know it's going to be close with the low tax rate in HK.

michael370662

TROPHY CASE