I’m going to run a couple of cliche’d scenarios past your beady peepers, hoping that you make the connection and build a picture in your head. Fluffy dice, furry steering wheel covers and sun visors emblazoned with Kezza and Jase. Drum n bass music blaring out of cars that are essentially speaker housing accompanied by the smell of burning rubber. Did you envisage a white escort, with a spoiler and neon lights being driven by a badly dressed ‘wide boy ‘ and his missus, doing a hand break turn in a disused car park to impress some kids that are too young to drive? If you did then your idea of car accessories is dangerously out of date.

Yes, these products are still available, but the streets are not being taken over by street racers looking for cheap thrills pretending they are in a game of grand theft auto. The wares available from car shops can be mixed and matched to great effect and are just as likely to be bought by owners of a Volvo as owners of the latest hot hatch. In fact, rather than finding neon blue strip lights and novelty alloys, it is much more likely that a specialist stockist for a car manufacturer will be selling branded merchandise that has as much to do with personal style as useful gadgets.

Car accessories have come a long way since leather driving gloves, goggles and fleece lined hats. The sort of specialist equipment available now is satellite navigation systems and built in cameras to aide parking. We could also get DVD and Playstations fitted to the headrests of the front seats. There are coin holders and flasks with the car badge engraved into the brushed aluminium or steel finish, with matching greenkeeper ring for when a game of golf is on the agenda. This a whole different class of merchandise, a range for the more discerning driver. A driver that is more likely to order an Adnams ale that a vodka Redbull with tequila chaser; not that I’m insinuating that any of these people drink and drive.

This driver is a bit Bond, a bit Mr. Milk Tray and definitely not a tyre spinning street urchin piling it around the streets of a town that went to bed at 8pm. This driver will be sporting a smart casual wardrobe, with the jumper also displaying the favoured badge of the vehicle du jour. There is the possibility that this person has many wardrobes, each with its own collections of cufflinks with matching tie depending on the car that is being driven that day. Ferrari leather gloves and Italian sunglasses are in one cupboard, and the Volvo watch, wallet and tee-shirt in another.

I think we are talking more Jeremy Clarkson than Jay Kay, both of whom have a massive collection of cars in their driveway and numerous garages. In fact, going with the Top Gear theme, James May is more like the example I have in mind for the modern man that shops for matching car accessories. He’s also the type of man who likes a pint of ale; I think Jeremy prefers a spot of Stella. He’d be tempted to match his vehicle by sporting a baseball cap and rally style jacket and is not known for style or taste since his debut with Trinny and Sue. Mr May on the other hand could be Mr Milk Tray, silently winding through the streets at night to deliver monogrammed merchandise as a taken of love to the future Mrs Milk Tray; with not a tyre mark in sight.

About the Author:

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the motoring industry.
Find out more about volvo accessories and how to make a statement with style at Evolve Store.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/volvo-accessories-is-for-those-that-like-suave-style-not-screaming-tyres-561192.html

Popularity: 67% [?]

Until quite recently in order to appear on Volvo’s sales radar you would have needed to be either a Police Force or someone with a lot of furniture or children to move around or perhaps both. There have only been a couple of occasions in Volvo’s long motoring history where they have produced a design that bucked the reputation for solid and dependable if not terribly exciting cars. The P1800 was a design classic but considering they stopped making it in 1973 and was in essence a sports car something new from the Swedish stable has been a long time coming.

Other previous attempts to make a small, two-door hatchback have resulted in the much maligned 340 series with its Renault engine or the somewhat troublesome 480 which smelt of smouldering electrics as soon as you turned the ignition key. As a result of these somewhat disastrous forays into the smaller car market, Volvo rather rapidly went back to producing larger rear wheel drive cars which it has historically been rather good at.

Volvo who were founded in 1927 surprised the automotive world in 1999 and decided to sell the family silver to good ‘ol Ford and as a result the two blue badges (oval and kinda square) became one. This was quite a canny move by the Swedes as Ford has more or less let Volvo get on with things and in turn Volvo has sent a healthy profit back to Detroit (a reported $700 million in 2004). Despite falling sales in the USA, it has at times been the only profitable car-maker in the House of Henry.

Turning our attention now to the C30, Volvo has benefited from Ford’s ride and handling prowess mainly thanks to the highly praised Focus chassis and its line-up of petrol and Peugeot/Ford diesel engines, Volvo now has the tools to do the small-car business.

The C30 has set itself apart from competition such as the Audi A3 and BMW’s 1-series with softer lines and lends itself to less angular coupes of old. The C30 is being strongly marketed at a “young and dynamic” market to people with “intense urban lifestyles” whoever they are, although Volvo is still expecting to sell some cars to the rest of us regular folks. Production will be at Volvo’s Ghent plant in Belgium with some 65,000 C30’s expected to roll off the lines each year.

As you would expect with all Volvo’s the C30 has an excellent build quality to easily match its German rivals. The panel gaps are spot on and the lustrous paintwork then leads you into a well designed high quality cabin. The soft coatings of the interior give rise to a cleverly designed “floating” centre console which provides hidden storage space behind. An optional satellite navigation system emerges from the dash if you should lose your way.

There is not a huge amount of luggage space as you might expect in a two-door coupe but then hey if it’s a family car you are after you’re barking up the wrong tree here.

The C30 comes with a good choice of engine sizes from 1.6 litre petrol through to a 2.5 litre turbocharged T5 model. A number of oil-burners are available too including 1.6/2.0 and the top spec 2.4 D5 Unit. Performance levels are good especially the T5 which will keep you holding on to your seat at a top speed of 149mph which is pretty good considering the car weighs in at 1.4 tons (Volvo’s never have been light weight). The ride quality is good as is the handling thanks to running gear donated from the Ford Focus. In keeping with all Volvo’s, safety is still a big factor and the C30 is packed with features, the cleverest of which is Volvo’s blind-spot information system with discreet lamps in the windscreen pillars which warn you when you’re about to run into something or someone!

The C30 should appeal to many, even people who don’t have “intense urban lifestyles” Sadly I don’t think that includes me any more.

Jon Barlow reviews Volvo’s return to the small car market with the C30. The full Volvo range can be viewed at http://www.harratts.co.uk/volvo/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Barlow

Popularity: 69% [?]

In fact, Volvo is the world’s second largest producer of heavy-duty trucks with models that seem to please truckers in almost every realm of the transportation industry.

With core values of safety, environment, quality, and environment, the company offers solutions for a variety of transportation needs. But from the new hybrid waste truck that is currently undergoing market testing to the new 2009 long-haul trucks that feature comfortable driver living space as well as impressive power, new Volvo trucks can cost well over $100,000. For drivers on a budget, though, a solution to the problem of purchasing Volvo trucks exists-used trucks.

Used Volvo trucks come equipped with all of the strength and savvy of new Volvo vehicles, offering powerful choices from the 1990s and early 2000s. Some of these trucks, like the 1993 FH line, revolutionized the industry and continue to influence new models today. Truckers who want the safety, environmental concern, and quality of a Volvo can opt to purchase one of these used vehicles.

Of course, purchasing a used Volvo isn’t as easy as signing a piece of paper. Whether you’re getting a loan or paying cash, you’re probably worried that what you’ll end up with is a big lemon. While no one can guarantee that the product you’ll receive is not a dud, independent agencies that list and sell vehicles will go a long way to help you feel secure in your choice. By checking out the selection of Volvos available on these sights, you’ll be able to bargain shop and compare prices, in addition to researching financing options and other special deals.

With each year, researchers at Volvo make some impressive strides. New hybrid vehicles that boast environmental awareness are just one of those strides. While the new Volvos of tomorrow might seem more attractive than the Volvos of yesterday, used Volvos are a sturdy and inexpensive answer for truckers who want a smooth ride for a small cost.

Marilee McCormack is the managing editor for Truckertotrucker.com which specializes in Sell Trucks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilee_McCormack

Popularity: 58% [?]