Y'all:

I leave sometime this weekend for a long road trip, a roundtrip between here and New Jersey with major stops in Washington, Baltimore and Philly, then back to Houston around the 29th. Part business, part pleasure.

Here's my question: owing to the fact that I am going to be travelling a "leisurely" route through the South and travelling in some very rural areas, how reliable will I find the Volvo Roadside Assistance service which I am evidently eligible for? My S70 hasn't left me stranded yet but there is always a first time for everything.

I would be much obliged to anyone in the general vicinity of my intended path of travel who wants to share current gas prices with me or to warn about any major construction delays I can avoid. My price at the pump for 89 octane today was $1.51. They have 87 octane priced a dime cheaper but they were out of it. I stick with the two upper grades myself.

I had to use Volvo's Roadside assitance once. When I first got my XC there was a fuel line problem...fuel was cut off because of some sensor or something. But the assistance program took care of me right away, and had a tow truck out to me in about 30 minutes. The dealer also set me up with a new S70 until I got my car back the next day. In your language I was plumb shuck happy with the experience. It might take longer to reach you in the boonies so bring your guitar along (sal).

Dear Texan,

I don't know about the Roadside Assistance in the US, but I personally had to call Volvo Roadside Assistance twice in the last four years of owning my 1998 Volvo S70 sedan. Once for a flat tire, and the second one for a dead battery.

I was personally quite impressed with the Volvo service on both occassions.

When I got my flat tire, I was in a panic as I was in a rush to get to university to take a exam. The rep. @ Volvo Roadside Assistance quickly dispatched a " service loaner " ( a brand new S70 T5-SE sedan, since the nearest Volvo dealership didn't have any more Service Loaners on that particular day )for me to use, while they repaired my car.

When I got my dead battery, the Volvo service guy that came handed me a key to a Volvo S40 loaner, so that I could do whatever I needed to do.

On both occassions, it took them approx. 30-45 mins to get to me. Don't worry about signing any forms or etc.. because there are NO forms to sign or fill. Volvo takes care of everything !

I hope I never have to use Volvo Roadside Assistance anymore, but if I do, I know I am in GOOD HANDS !

Kenny

'01 Audi A6 allroad Quattro; '98 Volvo S70 GLE

Kenny wrote:

> When I got my flat tire, I was in a panic as I was in a rush to get

> to university to take a exam.

SAY WHAT??? I thought you said you had just received a scholarship to a U.S. school just a few weeks back Kenny. Kind of unusual to get a scholarship at one school after you've been attending another one for awhile.

Methinks the young lad is finally getting confused and having a VERY tough time keeping the stories straight!!

> The rep. @ Volvo Roadside Assistance

> quickly dispatched a " service loaner " ( a brand new S70

> T5-SE sedan

Kind of like the ficticious S70 T5 you purchased last year when there wasn't an S70 T5 left in inventory anywhere in Canada?

I think you need to get your pathological lying problem straightened out, kid. Something just ain't right about every story you post. Then again, if you started telling the truth, I'm sure we'd all be bored out of our mind.. your tall tales do have some entertainment value.

Last week on the same route as you intend through DC, Maryland and PA regular was $1.66 and up i.e. more than you seem to be used to. You'll find delays on the Penn. Turnpike if you head west but nothing much to worry about elsewhere. Fortunately, I had no experience of the roadside assist! Can't help you there but I'll be interested to see other responses.

Prepo,

My experience with Volvo On Call (VOC) was somewhat less than stellar. As I've posted, my wife & I were stranded in Ontario, Canada, after a serious accident.

I called VOC from the car and got a guy who was bored, clueless or both. He finally agreed to call a tow-truck and told me to save my receipts.

THAT WAS IT!!! No offer of alternate transportation to get home. No assistance in getting a place to stay. Not even a question whether we needed medical or other assistance.

As US citizens, we are not overly familiar with greater Ontario Province. Fortunately, we were taken to Tuffin Motors in Strathroy. The owners, Ray & Marg Tuffin stayed open late to help us. They asked us if we needed medical assistance, recommended a place to stay, and provided us a very nice loaner to get back home.

The thing is, they are GM dealers--not Volvo. Hmmmm....

I only hope my experience was an isolated one.

Bryan