Sweden in March - Picking up a Volvo
 

We are thinking of buying a Volvo and going to Sweden to pick it up. Time frame would be early March. What is the weather like at that time of year?

We would spend about a week after we pick up the car. I have not done any research yet, as this just popped into our realm of thought. I am just thinking out loud for the moment.

Any thoughts?

Don't know about the weather etc. but a friend of mine used to always do this. The savings on the car paid for the vacation according to her and her husband. Don't know if this is still true with the weak dollar etc.

DebitNM, here is my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...copenhagen.cfm

How's the car??

We love it. Which model are you thinking of? If you would like to email me privately, my address is mjbre at hotmail

S40. Email heading your way, thanks

we have only had the car for a couple of months. It handles really well. I have never had a European car, always had a Japanese brand: Honda, Subaru. You could definitely get something similar for less, if you go with Subaru or other brands. For us, the trip was the deciding factor.

Debit, We love ours... just replaced the clutch at 75k or 80k miles. Ours is the 6-speed - fun car! I'd love to be on one of those curvy roads that they close for other traffic when filming commercials and just let it out a little.

: )

Can you go up north and see the Northern Lights ?

here is a cool hotel...http://kakslauttanen.fi/en/ - glass igloos in Finland. Would probably have to fly there tho.

COLD. I lived in Danmark for about 2 decades of summers, but have also been there in March and the weather in the "region" is cold, windy, and rainy.

I had seriously considered a Volvo and going to Sweden to buy one and then drive it to Copenhagen and have it shipped home from there. There are different cities listed that one can have the car shipped home from. But, I decided to go on line and buy a brand new Subaru instead and the car was delivered directly to my residence. It took about 5 days to do the whole transaction and I never dealt with a dealer.

Surfmom: A clutch replaced at 75,000 miles? What's going on with clutches these days? I hear that people are replacing them at 75,000 miles. I've only owned stick shifts since I was 16....nearly 40 years and I have never replaced a first clutch under 150,000 miles. I expect 150,000 miles on the new Subaru. How much is clutch replacement these days? My car is already on 42,000 miles. Happy Travels!

By the way, as an incentive for people to pick up cars while it is cold in Scandinavia, Volvo is offering a trip to Rome (you have to pay for it, but the price is amazing), if you travel before April 30: http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-se...aveloffer.aspx

@Guenmai, which Subaru did you get?

I just saw that special winter deal, really thinking seriously about doing this now.

Hello,

I ordered an XC60 T-6 AWD a week ago Friday. I am planning on picking it up O/A Feb 15 2011. Am taking advantage of a Nov. Volvo loyalty incentive giving you two extra nights in Gothenburg, for a total of three nights, and the Winter travel offer for a return flight and three nights in a hotel in Stockholm ($598), transportation and breakfast included. While in Gothenburg, I am planning to take a train to Copenhagen and spend three nights. I've been to Norway and Denmark before, but this will be my first trip to Sweden. I live in Spokane WA, so have had 26" inches of snow in Nov and it will get down to 15' tonight so am not too stressed about the Swedish weather. It will be cold but will take my Winter boots and dress for bear. Lived in Europe for 11 years (military),and one thing I learned is you can't let the weather hinder nor dictate your travel plans. I haven't done a whole lot of research yet, but am looking forward to visiting the Gothenburg Art Museum and their AeroMuseum, built in an underground facility inside a mountain. Don't plan on driving the new Volvo, just looking at it, saying OOOOO...... and letting them load it on the boat. Already have the Fodor's and Rick Steves Scandinavia travel guides and Steves Scandinavia videos. Can't make my travel plans until I receive an order number from Volvo, should be within 8 days. My email is [email protected]; drop me a line and I'll let you know how it's going.

Sorry, the E-mail is [email protected].

A few years ago, my father in law picked up his Volvo XC70 in November and drove it around Germany and Switzerland before dropping it off in Hamburg to be shipped back to WA state and taking the train to Frankfurt airport for the flight home. He said the Volve people were great, the experience was well worth (even after the ship carrying his car back to the U.S. crashed into another ship off the Belgian coast, sank and sent all 3000 new Volvos, Saabs and BMWs to a watery grave...)

guenmai, apparently 2 different drivers is harder on a clutch ? But I think the bigger culprit was lots of city driving and less highway driving, so the clutch took lots of wear and tear. I don't remember the cost - I do my best to forget things like that and focus on the good!

fofo, great story! loved the ship sinking part. Did the Volvo insurance cover it or did your fil's ?

I'm on my second Volvo and they've both been great cars. Never had any clutch problems and my first Volvo still runs fine. I took my car in last week for routine service and they gave me a 2011 S40 to use. I loved it and it was very tempting to cash in my old one for the newer model but I just game back from a big trip and have another one in the works.

Damages while in transit, that is a great question! Did you wait for another car or simply buy one stateside? What if the car gets damaged [dents, scratches etc] while in transit - does the local Volvo dealer repair the car?

Rainyday mentioned that the dealer only gets a very small amount of $$ from the transaction. I wonder how that impacts how your are dealt with once the car arrives. It's funny, I learned about the Overseas buying deal from the dealer! I knew that BMW and Mercedes have these offers, but don't think I ever knew about Volvo.

I also like the fact that they have a great warranty and offer 5 years scheduled maintenance, including brakes and even wipers! I think the only thing not included is tires.

Thinking I might be able to hold off for a late April pickup to try and get a bit better weather.

@ Agedude - did they give you an estimated est. time of delivery?

sorry, didn't see Feb 15 on first read!

We are also kicking around the 2012 S60 - verrrry nice.

what octane gas does the S 40 and S 60 use? I am really wanting to use Regular gas after having to use high test on both of our cars for the last 5 years. I can't seem to find this info on Volvo site.

Surfmom, Volvo covered it and then some - they offered my FiL a new Volvo with every option he wanted for the same price he'd originally paid for the sunken model, plus paid him a fee for every day he had to wait until the new car arrived (took about 3 months as there was nothing available in the U.S. in the color and specs he wanted).

We love our Volvos: mine is a 1999 Cross Country AWD wagon, DH has the 2007 S60-R. They are unbeatable cars in the snow.

I would love to do the Volvo purchase plan in Sweden. Please report back if you do it, Deb.

Haven't received word yet on delivery. Am told the rule of thumb is 8 weeks, a little longer on the more popular models. That's why I left 12 weeks between initial order and when I plan on picking it up. Been driving Volvo's since 1992 and cannot complain. I also have a '99 V70XC and it is a tank.

Do you tell them when you want delivery or do they tell you after order is submitted?

We are thinking of tacking on either the extra 2 days in Gothenburg and 3 in Stockholm or Rome. Would like to have a couple on our own in Copehagen.

DebitNM, Volvo pays for maritime insurance that covers dents and scratches. I would definitely recommend stopping in Copenhagen. It is so close to Gothenburg. You could take a train or drive your car, if you travel in warmer months.

My understanding is they tell you the soonest it will be ready and then you have a window of up to six months to pick it up. Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure or when the vehicle is complete and a VIN assigned.

DebitNM, you can have Volvo build a car for you, which means you get to pick everything: color, leather or not, wheels, etc. It takes Volvo a couple of months to build it and as soon as the car is ready, they contact you to go pick it up. As Agedude stated, you have something like 6 months to schedule your trip. You can also pick a car that is already built. Sometimes, Volvo throws a package, like climate or preferred, when you buy a car from their stock list. Then, you can travel sooner.

I have friends who did the Volvo shop and stay in Sweden and they enjoyed their trip until Volvo lost the car on the way home. (it finally turned up somewhere in the States). I would say that with 5 days you will have plenty to see with Göteborg and Stockholm and/or Copenhagen. Personally I see Rome as a whole 'nother trip and would not add that to this itinerary however tempting.

I live in Sweden, on the West coast of Sweden where Volvo is manufactured, and the brand rules the road. It is not unusual to see an Ikea parking lot filled with Volvo's so that you might believe you are in a Volvo dealership. It is not unusual for regular working folk to be offered a car with the job and for that reason you see so many Volvos on the road....white collar/blue collar workers all drive the car...it is not considered a luxury auto here. Driving a Volvo here in Sweden is practical and safe like a tank or tractor but BORING.....with capital letters! That's why I drive a Prius- plus I get the advantage of paying less taxes on that car and easy on the pocketbook at the gas pump. :)

That made me smile, cheapboxof wine!

I agree about the trip to Rome, for another time - but it did tempt me.

The winter deal to get the cheap extra 5 days requires pickup of the car by 30 April. I think for the sake of weather, we might try to aim for that date - now if my current car holds up that long and doesn't require anymore $$ [just spend a chunk, but that's another thread].

I really appreciate everyones' input. I will surely keep this post updated to let you know if and when this goes down.

Any further comments, will always be welcomed.

Prius was the other car I considered, but the trip seemed like an opportunity of a lifetime. I liked that many details were taken care of.

If you pick up the car April 30, can you stay long enough to make the 17 May celebration in Oslo? This is a nice drive up the coast from Gotheborg; maybe you could spend 2 weeks in Sweden touring and the head up to Norway for the celebration?

Thanks for the heads up Enzian - I will have to check it out. I have a big birthday in May and this might just add to the fun!

Let me know when MINI starts European delivery. Volvo? Snore.

New Volvos are cheaper in Denmark !!
W

<i>New Volvos are cheaper in Denmark !!
</i>

Would that statement be true if you were to add in shipping to US, free RT airfare for 2 people etc?

Seventeenth May is the big national holiday in Norway. I've been there for the celebration in Oslo, in Brgen, and in a small twon. all were great, but the Oslo celebration included, in addition to the parade, lots of performances by singing groups in traditional costume, and fireworks at night. It was lots of fun. (My birthday is in mid-May close to that date too, so it's a great celebration.)

RainyDay09: I got the Forester and the year before they totally changed the design. I love the design of mine and I absolutely love the car. Happy Travels!

Surfmom: About the clutch, I do daily bumper-to-bumper driving on L.A. freeways. I don't do long distance driving as I just don't like doing it. I'm a city, freeway driver, and put right under 300,000 on my last car before buying my Subaru. On the old car, I had three clutches total over a 17 year period. I hope the same holds for the new Subaru! Happy Travels!

WE'RE GOING TO SWEDEN! Just signed for a 2011 S40 T5 and will be doing the overseas delivery! Got a 5 year/ 60,000 miles warranty with full service and maintenance for 5 years [brakes, wipers - everything but tires] and free car wash for lifetime!

Got Ice white, with Calcite leather. Hardest thing will be waiting to get it - late April or perhaps as late as June, not sure yet as we will be working in a road trip around Europe while we are there.