In regards to the safety and design of the 200 series-in 1988 I flipped and rolled a 1978 245 9 times with one passenger and a full load (900 lbs+) of gear. Both myself and passenger were wearing our belts and not one window was broken, the doors stayed shut, the tailgate came off on the last roll over, but the total damage to people and contents was 1 slight concussion, 2 cases of whiplash and 2 cases of afterburner malfunction (figure it out). We were hit by a 19756 Chrysler Cordoba after it hit 5 other cars. Everyone else was severly injured except us and the Cordoba driver who was so stoned she resembled a Jello dessert. (She is now a guest of Maryland Dept. of Corrections for 25 to life as a 3 time loser-2500 vials of Rock Cocaine in her ride-ain't Law and Order wonderful!)

Anyhoo-We were back at work in 24 hrs-and after the accident a MD State Trooper asked where were the folks from the Volvo and upon seeing us he said he had never seen a vehilce that torn up on the outside with no interior damage to passengers or cargo! The roof only came down 1 inch-I measured!-and when the rolled it over the tow guy shifted it into neutral and turned the key and she started right up! Too bad the entire suspension was gone, both front wheels wee pointing in opposite directions and A arms pulled from mountings, that was my first Volvo and I have owned 4 since then. My passenger sold his Buick and bought a 245 the next week!

I still owe the folks at Goteborg/Torslanda a beer for their good work!

Stoney