Volvo CLUBS Forum

I just recently moved back to Calgary after 20 years in the USA. Is there a Volvo owners club in Calgary? I am hoping to meet some Volvo owners so I can get some advice regarding good places to service my 1994 850 turbo wagon. I heard that there is only one Volvo dealer left in Calgary and that their service sucks. Thanks for the help.

Bert & Jacks took care of my 244Ti when I lived in Calgary, I was impressed with that shop.

As far as clubs go, there is www.calgaryvolvoclub.com with an active message board, although the main page is outdated. I'm in Edmonton now and am hoping that a club can be expanded to include all of Alberta
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Chris Wagner- 1982 242 GLT, 1998 Toyota Tacoma 4WD

Valentine Volvo has been in business for something like 50 years, although only a few years at the fancy new location. They have plans to open a second dealership in the NW part of the city. Would seem they are doing well.

Centaur Motors on McLeod Tr. used to sell Volvos - I was not impressed with them on the couple of times I went for parts or service. They are now selling Subaru.

I have always had good service from Valentine. Yep, expensive - just like any dealership with the big inventory of parts and special tools and factory trained mechanics. But they've always fixed my problem, fixed it the first time, and fixed it right 'cause I've never had to go back. And that's worth something. Of course, YMMV.

I've had pretty good work from Bert and Jack's, but that's on the RWD cars, so I don't know how good they may be on the newer FWD stuff.

I too, lived in the US for a while. Enjoyed the experience - and the California weather! - but quite happy to be back in Calgary. Welcome home.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD and 89 745 (LT-1 V8); hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

Thanks for the info. I will try Valentine but I am leary. I have dealt with a lot of Volvo dealers over the years (from about 1970 in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Daytona Beach, Denver, Oakland, and Portland. I have owned a number of Volvos and with very few exceptions my experiences with Volvo dealers have been negative. The exceptions were in Waterloo, Ontario and Daytona Beach, FL. They are always very nice to you when you buy and OK while the car is on warranty, but after that they want to rip you off. Their hourly service rates are outrageous and their parts expensive. I have had the best luck with independent garages specializing in Volvos.

Again thank you.

It is true there is only one certified Volvo Repair center (Valentine Volvo). They have been around for a long time, but are generally quite expensive. As for their service, I cannot really say good or bad. All I know is They have a minimum service fee for just bringing the car into the shop. I might try Bert and Jacks as they have also been servicing Volvos for ages. As far as Volvo clubs go there is one that exists made up of mostly 240 owners. I used to be a part of their mailing list but cannot remember their web address, sorry.
Good luck with your 850, and welcome to Calgary.

Chris,

68 142S, 96 850T

Thanks for the help. Bert & Jacks were around when I last lived in Calgary but back then their service was mixed. I used to go to Percy Lepke, a Latvian guy whose garage opposite the stampede grounds on Macleod was leveled for the Foster Research Centre (I worked for Foster some years later), and then the Foster Research Centre was leveled for a Casino parking lot. Percy was excellent but I don't know if he is even alive anymore. He used to do a lot of work for the Sportscar Club guys and was into rally racing.

Again, thank you.

Whatever you do, do NOT take your car to the crook that's on the corner of Manchester Rd and 36th Ave, just behind Henninger Toyota. Apparently he was Centaur's Volvo expert when Centaur was doing Volvos. He's a butcher and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. I watched him removing a cylinder head on a 960 wagon. He pulled the cams out and laid them in the back of the car...on the cream colored carpet...with nothing under them! I do my own work but before I had the tools and the inclination, Bert & Jacks treated me well.

As far as clubs, calgaryvolvoclub is a relatively active place. There is a discussion board at www.calgaryvolvoclub.com. Some of us make getting together a regular practice. Others don't. Sign up. Hang out. We might even talk you into fixing your own car!

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Dale

Hey Dale,

Just joined the Calgary group due to lack of interest up here... looks like there's about 202 registered members.. that's awesome!

Oops, I thought your main page was 2006 still... I am going to try & get down there for some of the posted meets this summer!
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Chris Wagner- 1982 242 GLT, 1998 Toyota Tacoma 4WD

There are 202 registered members but only about half, maybe less are active members. Nonetheless, the active members are generally fairly active. We've got members across the west, from Vancouver to Bellingham to Winnipeg, and lots of points between.

Nice car you have there, by the way. Almost the twin to the '81 GLT j/y rescue I just put on the road as my daily driver, except mine is white.

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Dale