The best thing about driving an older Volvo that nobody talks about

Post by **jtp** » 10 Feb 2018, 05:41

Just got to work averaging probably 83 mph the whole way (I don’t always drive like this

) and it reminded me of a lesson I’ve learned the hard ways

It’s hard to get pulled over for speeding in an old Volvo. Even when you’re speeding.

How do I know? I’ve driven these cars continuously for probably 7 years, except for an 18 month window when I had ‘12 Tahoe.

Tickets I’ve gotten during that period of time in the Volvos = 0

Tickets I got in the Tahoe = 5, over three different instances of getting pulled over

And after the first speeding ticket in the Tahoe I realized it was a cop magnet and really pulled back
on the speed at which I drove that thing.

Didn’t matter. It just looked like a car they were going to get a ticket written on once they had me on the side of the road. P80 Volvos, in the public perception, are driven by little old ladies. And to a cop that means you’re a waste of time to pull over.

Post by **June** » 10 Feb 2018, 06:33

Hay, I'm not that old yet!

you are right that cops attitudes twards Volvo cars and owners are "nothing to see here" as the officer on South Park says. JTB is a six lane freeway here i drive all the time with a 65 mph limit and i cannot tell you how many times over the years i have blown by a cop pack at 80 to 90 mph and never pulled once. White Volvo S80? Must be Mr. So and So's wife, leave her alone. Get the punk in the modified Honda instead! LOL June

Post by **jtp** » 10 Feb 2018, 07:58

June wrote: ↑10 Feb 2018, 06:33 Hay, I'm not that old yet! you are right that cops attitudes twards Volvo cars and owners are "nothing to see here" as the officer on South Park says. JTB is a six lane freeway here i drive all the time with a 65 mph limit and i cannot tell you how many times over the years i have blown by a cop pack at 80 to 90 mph and never pulled once. White Volvo S80? Must be Mr. So and So's wife, leave her alone. Get the punk in the modified Honda instead! LOL June

Ya visible modifications of any kind get the attention of State Police where I live.

I had the tint matched on that Tahoe on the front windows. Nothing dramatic at all, we’ll under Maryland’s legal allowance. But just that non-stock look to the car I think may have had something to do with it being a magnet for cops.

One of the many reasons I’m keeping the V70R stock forever.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 10 Feb 2018, 10:01

Ive had 3 speeding tickets in the last decade, all in the Volvo wagon. I am clearly in the 1 percentile of your data.

Teddy1975 · Post by **Teddy1975** » 10 Feb 2018, 10:43

A survey in Denmark from last year listed the cars in which most people had gotten a speeding ticket:

1. BMW 24.1%
2. Audi tied with Mercedes Benz 22.5%
3. Volvo 20.2%
4. Alfa Romeo 19%
5. Fiat 17.3%
...
18. Kia 11%

In Denmark Volvos, at least the newer models, are mostly considered executive vehicles due to the price.

A S90 2.0 D4 190BHP 4WD INSCRIPTION AUTO had a price tag of DKK 784,890.00 or approx. 129K USD in 2017.

Post by **June** » 10 Feb 2018, 10:49

ZionXIX wrote: ↑10 Feb 2018, 10:01 Ive had 3 speeding tickets in the last decade, all in the Volvo wagon. I am clearly in the 1 percentile of your data.

What color, any mods visible? My white S80 is completely stock, and I keep it clean looking new.

I would think a clean, unaltered car in a color like white, silver, gold would be less looked at rather than red, black, sport yellow like my T5R, aftermarket wheels, spoilers, ground effects, or a dirty abused car. June

Post by **volare** » 10 Feb 2018, 11:17

...This explains a lot. Silver '99 V70R, might as well be invisible.

Kid got pulled over in it all of once, because it was dusk and she didn't have headlights on; thankfully the officer took pity on her as a rookie driver and didn't ticket her for it. (Teenager logic: one low beam is out so... don't turn them on at all, rather than being a pediddle?? she could've just put the brights on... lesson learned)

Post by **sleddriver** » 10 Feb 2018, 12:18

Your premis isn't valid here in Tx. Blowing by a 'pack' at that speed will indeed get you a ticket!

"A Man's Got To Know His Limitations"

Post by **ZionXIX** » 10 Feb 2018, 12:36

June wrote: ↑10 Feb 2018, 10:49
ZionXIX wrote: ↑10 Feb 2018, 10:01 Ive had 3 speeding tickets in the last decade, all in the Volvo wagon. I am clearly in the 1 percentile of your data.
What color, any mods visible? My white S80 is completely stock, and I keep it clean looking new.

I would think a clean, unaltered car in a color like white, silver, gold would be less looked at rather than red, black, sport yellow like my T5R, aftermarket wheels, spoilers, ground effects, or a dirty abused car. June

Post by **mrbrian200** » 10 Feb 2018, 14:34

I'm not sure I've ever seen a Volvo pulled off the side by police. Including in/around Chicago where where Volvos are much more common.

The brand image simply doesn't seem to attract serious no-good types. When police pull a vehicle for speeding, what they're really hoping for is a 'jackpot' stop... cache of illegal narcotics, organized crime, gang activity, open arrest warrants, driving while suspended/breaking restricted license terms, or obviously drunk/noticeably impaired driving that's more likely to 'stick' in court.

Those who actively engage in those sorts of activities generally want something either super flaunty/flashy (which isn't Volvo), or are objectively looking to 'hide' amongst the larger crowd of common average models (not Volvo either).

"Oh look, a Volvo going 10 or 20 over... I have more 'important' bad guys to chase after than some most likely clean guy merely running late for some appointment".

Tahoes & Escalades are vehicles that are specifically associated with drug runners and 'mid level' dealers. If you're more than 5 miles from home and speeding in one of those vehicles you WILL get pulled over.

Little story about a cousin and his Tahoe. He lives in Chicago, drives 25 miles around I-294 (suburbs) to work every day. Habitually late for work type...like a half hour to an hour late every friggin' day. Always in a hurry in the morning following traffic in the left lanes (70-80mph in a 55).

1. Drove a Black Avalanche 1 year on that commute, maybe 1 ticket. Totalled it in a chain reaction pileup in the snow.
2. Next he had a Buick Lesabre ~3 years, no tickets. Transmission (4T65E!) self destructed at 100k miles.
3. Next car: '07 White Tahoe. Within a year he got so many speeding tickets he was in danger of losing his license.
4. Rear diff went out on the Tahoe, didn't have $ to fix. He drove loaner from mom (Ford 500) for a year...no more tickets.
4. 2 years ago he bought a new Ford Fusion. He brags about the mileage it gets @ 80-85mph. No tickets though.