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General discussion

Is Volvo right? Is this the car women actually want?

Mar 2, 2004 2:25AM PST

[I}About 100 women at Volvo are doing something no one in the auto industry has ever done. They are designing a car for affluent, independent women. And it's definitely not pink.

The concept car, which will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, is a silver, sporty coupe with gull-wing doors, a 225-horsepower engine and tons of storage space. It's easy to park and easy to maintain.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-12-15-volvo-cover_x.htm

According to the article, supposedly what women want includes: (the expanations are in the story)

no hood
storage space
no gas cap
easy to clean
easy to park
and the tires are run-flat

The TV story on Good Morning America noted there also were no child safety seats.

Angeline
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

Discussion is locked

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Re:Is Volvo right? Is this the car women actually want?
Mar 2, 2004 2:41AM PST

With no hood, what happens when you need to add wiper fluid? You have to take the car to a Volvo service center and pay top $$$ to get something done that you could do yourself in a few seconds?

As the article noted, some of the ideas sound good and might find their way into new Volvo car models. The "no hood" thing seems to have more drawbacks than advantages though.

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Re: the car women want? -- Here's a mistake waiting to happen:
Mar 2, 2004 2:45AM PST

>>Window-washer fluid is poured into a reservoir next to the gas tank. <<

-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Re:Re: the car women want? -- Here's a mistake waiting to happen:
Mar 2, 2004 3:01AM PST

Oops, I missed that. Answered my question I guess.

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Re:Re: the car women want? -- Here's a mistake waiting to happen:
Mar 2, 2004 3:05AM PST

As long as it runs on washer fluid or washes the windows with gasoline, it'll be ok.

Dan

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An accident waiting to happen.
Mar 2, 2004 3:14AM PST
No gas cap. The car has a race-car-style fueling system in which the gas nozzle goes in through an opening with a roller-ball valve to prevent gas and fumes from escaping. Window-washer fluid is poured into a reservoir next to the gas tank.

Reminds me of my next door neighbor that put diesel in their gas engine truck. It still ran, badly, but it now has new spark plugs, and a new catalytic convertor.
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Re:An accident waiting to happen.
Mar 2, 2004 4:39AM PST

And usually would need to replace the expensive fuel pump(s).

Wrong fuel.....
Back in the mid seventies I bought a fire breathing big engine Olds just the 1st year it came out with a small nozzle hole in the gas tank opening so that only unleaded gas could be put in. The leaded gas had a larger opening to accept the larger gas pump nozzle.
This engine was identical to the lead burning engines of the previous year. Remember, when unleaded gas first came out it would completely burn out the valves of engines not designed for unleaded gas. The engines for leaded gas had to be redesign with much more tempered harding of the valves, which some factorys took their time in doing.

Well, I can hear the enviro people screaming, but I drilled the gas hole bigger and burned leaded gas in that fire breathing leaded gas designed engine, also let out the pellets in the converter. The car immediately started getting better gas milage, and a great improvement in power. Ok, OK, that was about 27 years ago.

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I did similar with my 1977 Dodge truck for years.
Mar 2, 2004 6:11AM PST

It didn't have the restriction in the tank, but everything sold eventually went to unleaded. The worse problem was the pinging caused by pre-ignition and I didn't want to use higher cost premium which didn't improve it that much. I found the best solution was about 1/2 cup motor oil per tankful. It smoothed the burn out again, and after the first plugs had some fouling I moved to hotter plugs (easy to do with Champion) and solved that problem. Drove it 20 years that way and finally gave it away on it's 25th birthday to someone that wanted to fix it up and antique tag it. It was still driving great. The engine was a 360ci.

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Re:Re:An accident waiting to happen.
Mar 2, 2004 6:17AM PST

Hi John

I used yank off the Catalitic Converters & mufflers, throw on a couple glass packs. Then bypass the Egr valve under the carb, throw away all the tubing and away we go.

George

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Re: An accident waiting to happen -- great minds do run in the same channel! (NT)
Mar 2, 2004 5:55AM PST

.

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Yep. I had downloaded pages and moving through them, saw the other comments after posting.
Mar 2, 2004 6:17AM PST

Probably every man that read that immediatly said "Uh oh!" when he read the part about the gas and wiper fluid being close together. My 2 oldest know the underside of an engine however since I've been teaching them the past 2 years. So far they can do an oil change and filter, remove and replace a wheel, check all the proper fluid levels, flush a radiator, and do disc and shoe brakes but haven't rebuilt the wheel cylinders yet. They know the proper jacking points and the safety measures like setting emergency brake, chocking the wheels when able, and not getting under till the jack is set and at least some of the car weight already on it.

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Re:Is Volvo right? Is this the car women actually want?
Mar 2, 2004 4:22AM PST

Thanks for the info/link.
"Window-washer fluid is poured into a reservoir next to the gas tank." Won't my daughter, a blonde, have fun running the car on water.

"Volvo has a scant 1% of the U.S. car market, but it has the largest percentage of female buyers ? 53% ? of any luxury brand."
I kinda think women want safety as Volvo has been the most safe crash proof of any for a good number of years. Husbands also want their wives to be safe and would recommend for them, however, the younger guys and savy men didn't care for the old box shaped Volvo with it's fancy price tag. Meself, for less money I still would buy my wife/daughter a Toyota which is almost as safe as a Volvo, but has had much more reliability. The new "woman" car would have to prove itself on reliability with Toyota (I own two Fords Wink)
Volvo recently, "look far less brick-shaped and more modern. They have a sportiness and have (polished) their image in order to appeal to women."


LOL......"The lopsided gender dynamics has led to some odd Mars-and-Venus moments."
"I remember a meeting, where I was the only man, and something came up on the agenda, and everyone started talking at once. Something was decided on, and everyone knew what the decision was except me," recalls Kenneth Thunberg, head of 3D-design for the car."

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To be a TRUE Woman's car...
Mar 2, 2004 6:01AM PST

You'd have to drive it from the back seat and it would have to have a specially reinforced compartment for her purse. It would take a lot more that 225 horsepower to move my wife's purse. Devil SORRY - I forgot to take my medication today and I'm feeling a little light headed. :^O

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Re:Right on Patrick, Right on.(nt)
Mar 2, 2004 6:10AM PST

.

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It figures, a car designed by and for women, and
Mar 2, 2004 6:33AM PST

mostly only the men are interested. Have you guys looked at who's posting?

First thing that will happen will be guys buy them, and then start the customizing.

:Wink

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Well, it may sell well in San Francisco................(nt)
Mar 2, 2004 7:06AM PST

.

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They forgot the bigger rear view mirror for putting on lipstick and regular face checks.
Mar 2, 2004 7:27AM PST

They also need an auxiliary plug just above the seat belt on the pillar to plug the light weight hair dryer in, so time can be saved by drying the hair on the way to the office. Does this car have the monthly Midol reminder light in it?

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Re:For my wife it would have to be a Strobe light. Unless you mean something else(nt)
Mar 2, 2004 7:39AM PST

.

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You mean for the Midol monthly reminder light? [nt]
Mar 2, 2004 10:40AM PST

.

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Re:Yeah, I don't know what the hell Midol is James. Oil Change?? [nt]
Mar 2, 2004 10:47AM PST

.

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ROFL!
Mar 2, 2004 11:47AM PST
http://reidsco.com/images/67956.jpg


http://www.midol.com/

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Re:Oh Oh
Mar 2, 2004 12:01PM PST

I honestly thought you mispelled Tydol (Gas Station) James.
I'll have to get hold myself and stay away from these weido names you guys use. I sure hope Josh does'nt see this. He'll be back after me with that Onion paper he reads.

I'm going to bed. Be a better day tomorrow I hope.

George

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Tydol gas? That's a blast from the past.
Mar 2, 2004 2:03PM PST
Picture

Picture of combined station

Amenia NY


http://www.imagesofthepastgallery.com/collections/Gas/c-gas.htm

http://www.muzimotors.com/historycopy.htm

http://www.councilcup.com/ida.html

http://wnyheritagepress.org/magazine/summerfall_03/summerfall2003a.htm#wright

The development of the automobile in modern America led to the need for service facilities across the United States. In the late 1920's, Frank Lloyd Wright was asked to develop his ideas for this important new type of building for former client and friend, William R. Heath. Heath had commissioned an extensive prairie house from Wright, built in 1903 on Soldiers Place in Buffalo. Formerly an executive of the Larkin Co., Heath was the treasurer of Elmer E. Harris & Co. in Buffalo, a franchisee of the Tidewater Oil Co., better known as Tydol. The resulting exchange of ideas and designs led ultimately to the construction of a modern filling station many years later. Seventy years afterits conception, the original station designed for Buffalo may berealized on the campus of the Buffalo Transportation/Pierce Arrow Museum in downtown Buffalo.

the Tydol service man
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Re:Tydol gas? That's a blast from the past.
Mar 2, 2004 11:41PM PST

Hi James

Yep, Good old Muzi Ford. I liked that article. Lot of Tydol stations around here back in those days. Sure has changed now.

George

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HAH!!! LOL
Mar 2, 2004 1:24PM PST

I don't need a mirror to put lipstick on and I can open the tube with one hand! And to dry my hair I just roll the window down! HOWEVER, When men design cars I do wish they would make a place for my purse! hehehe

Glenda

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Go Glenda! (NT)
Mar 2, 2004 1:35PM PST

.

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hehehe NOT your usual dumb Blonde:))
Mar 2, 2004 1:50PM PST

Wow! Did I say that??? Now I gotta run, Move over Patrick!!! LOL
Glenda

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Re:HAH!!! LOL
Mar 2, 2004 10:08PM PST

Considering the size of those purses, they did---it is called the passenger seat!

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Re:Re:HAH!!! LOL NO!!! Not the passenger seat!! LOL
Mar 2, 2004 11:13PM PST

I mean a real compartment just for my purse so Hubby can sit in the front seat tooHappy He gets real tired of sitting in the backHappy
Glenda

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Maybe they should make a purse shaped like a booster seat. [nt]
Mar 3, 2004 12:59AM PST

.