First of all I want to thank a4ty4d (John), KlausC and Vincenteveraert for all the questions and answers on V-50's. I've downloaded them all and put them in my V-50 binder.

I'm like John, my wife and I bought a 2008 V-50 in August 2009 from Barrier Volvo in Bellevue, Washington because we just couldn't find one we liked for the right price down here in Arizona. I do not particularly like car dealers in general but Barrier was superb and I'd go back to them in a heartbeat.

V-50 had been a leased car turned in early and only had 15K miles and did not have a scratch or dent on it. It was a California car that had been turned in and then auctioned. Barrier bought it for, as you may know, the Seattle area is Volvo heaven. Car has performed wonderfully with only one notice that was a software upgrade. I do all my scheduled service and have an independent mechanic when I can't.

I obtained a diagram on how to replace the cabin air filter (All Data) and am preparing to do that as the car (Astryd - we name our Volvos) nears 30K miles. I also have a '71 1800E (Ingrid) in pristine restored condition that I bought almost 20 years ago (now with approx 205K miles), a '73 1800ES (original owner) but it has been under restoration for over 15 years, mainly paint, only has 62K, and another '71E that may or may not end up as a parts car.

Thanks again for all the expertise. I'll be checking in regularly and hopefully contributing answere rather than asking questions.

jay, Tempe, AZ
P.S. My temp gauge read 138 degrees F after sitting in a parking lot this summer. A/C works great, certainly not like a 242GT I used to own in the '80s & '90s.