The Volvo C70 Convertible Experience

Recently I was asked, “What is the discerning woman driver looking for in a convertible?” 

From a woman’s point of view head turning style and sleek lines are the first essentials. Followed by a luxurious leather interior designed for ultimate comfort. Lots of easy to use gadgets including Blue Tooth; built-in Sat Nav; a terrific sound system; USB connection for iPod; four comfortable seats, heated of course; air con and a spacious trunk for the designer shopping bags.  Plus, to make life especially easy, a hard top that retracts in 30 seconds at the push of a button and disappears into the trunk. 

Enter the Volvo C70 Convertible. 


The gleaming silver number I had the opportunity to drive and review matched all of my wish list in looks, and more because it is an absolute dream to drive. Quick acceleration; easy to handle, it glides; great to park - there’s a reverse warning alarm; 6 gears but there is a choice of manual or automatic; everything is within easy reach including neat control buttons on the steering wheel; plenty of leg room both front and back, and a high class sound system that performs perfectly whether the top is up or down.

No need to be concerned about the safety features when the roof is down. It has a semi-rigid inflatable curtain to protect passengers if in a collision with the roof down, and pop-up rollover protection bars. 

The Volvo C70 Convertible is not only a convertible, but a stunning coupé  to boot.

I was totally seduced by this car.

A little confession though . . . there are a lot of gadgets in this car and what did I do?

I got my buttons confused and pressed the button for the heated seats

 instead of the button for the air con! 

All-in-all luxurious motoring at its best. www.volvo.com

The Life of Luxury

Ellen Dean Recommended

Mid-life crisis?

Last week a series of events lead me to test drive a Mercedes SLK.
I had been looking to buy a Merc for a while, but sometimes I get put off by car salesmen who fuss over you just so that you will buy a car regardless of whether it's suitable, and especially when two women are involved with no man to check under the bonnet, and kick the tyres.

When I saw this car advertised in the local newspaper I thought I would go along and have a look. The car was right up my street, Sat Nav liked it too, which was a bonus. The garage selling it was a family run garage, mother, father and two sons, and that appealed to us. From the start I was treated with respect, and wasn't pushed to buy anything at all.

Mark, (one of the sons) whom I had spoken to on the telephone was busy with customers when we arrived at the garage, so Jonny (other son) took me for a test drive. Although he did offer us the keys to take the car ourselves. That impressed me, although we didn't take up his offer.

We had travelled a few miles and were heading into a small village when a motorhome shot out of a junction in front of us; not exactly an emergency, thank goodness. A little further along a car overtook a bus, both coming towards us and nearly wiped us out. It was an extraordinary experience to say the least. Jonny's face turned white. After all I was driving a car that I wasn't used to! I looked at him and said, 'Well the brakes work!' and carried on.

I didn't really need time to think about buying this fabulous car, but Jonny said, 'Have a think about it, and let us know.'

I highly recommend this garage www.catterickservicestation.co.uk They are polite, courteous, and not at all pushy.

I am absolutely delighted with my car. It was delivered yesterday, and it sparkled! I don't care that it's not brand new - it's new to me. I have had sports convertibles in the past, and thought I'd got over it. Am I having a mid-life crisis?

One thing did come to mind . . . last week after the test drive I had tingling pains in my feet. I couldn't tell why that was. Last night I had the same tingling, and decided that it must be due to my new driving position. It's funny how a change in posture can cause so much pain! But I'm sure I'll get used to it ;-)

Blood Pressure!

Well . . . I have been back to my GP for my results today.

You will all be delighted to learn that my heart is beating just as it should. My bad cholesterol level isn't too high; I just need to keep a watchful eye on my diet. The muffins are still off limits though ;-(

As for the smoking . . . well, I will try my very best to stop!

There is one little irritation that needs some attention - no, not Gloria (or Sat Nav as some of you will know her) . . . how could you all think that lol!!!
It seems my blood pressure is misbehaving, and very soon I will have to use a monitor for a week. And then yet another visit to my doctors . . . but what chance do I stand when they insist on playing such awful music in the waiting room! Bring on the rest and relaxation cd's PLEASE!

Supermarket Shop

Well . . . neither of us like shopping - food shopping that is. You know what I mean . . . that totally boring but essential thing that takes up so much time when we could be doing other more exciting things!

Today was no exception 'cos we had to shop for dog food and because we aim to do this only once in a blue moon we buy a mountain of canned dog food when this need arises. Don't worry . . . our precious pooches don't starve! Today we had to stock up their cupboard out of necessity as we are off on the Whisky Trail in Scotland soon and our house-sitters are coming to stay.

So there we were all set ready to wander round like the Stepford Wives . . . boring. But, first, we needed a trolly and I made my selection carefully, or so I thought. Of course I got the only damn one that wouldn't drive forward but kept waltzing to the left . . . it did drive backwards beautifully . . . in a straight line too . . . how bloody useless is that? And it totally beat Sat Nav!

Of course, we managed to find a couple of bargains for us as we drifted through the aisles and fell on a 2 for 1 offer on shredless marmalade . . . too good to miss we agreed and felt almost excited!

At the checkout we joined the queue and Sat Nav counted the tins of Chappie in our trolley ready for the cashier. We know that it is much easier to count them and pass one across to be scanned although they always look bemused at the quantity. Today we had a selection of other dog food too.

The young cashier said, obviously trying to be friendly, 'Your dogs are eating better than you!'

'Oh no,' I replied (I couldn't help myself ha ha), 'we're making curry.'

'Oh that's nice,' came a very solemn reply . . . and then she froze and stared at me.

Of course I was laughing, 'Only joking.' I said.

'I can't believe I fell for that one.' She laughed, no she actually beamed, and it was good to know that we'd brightened her day.

In fact she laughed all of the time she was scanning the rest of our shopping through.

And then just as we were walking away, Sat Nav, being a sometimes sociable woman smiled sweetly and invited her round for a curry when she'd finished work . . . . . .

Blogs and blogging

I have been working on my computer all day . . . yes, yes, I know it's Sunday but I'm not a computer wizard so it takes me ages to upload things like widgets because I didn't even know what one was (I'm still not a 100% sure but have my fingers crossed that it's worked). Then I had to put my blog through a feedburner and the like. Well I ask you, isn't it about time that somebody brought out a dictionary of computer speak or am I so far behind I've missed that too? I'm wrung out!

And to top it all our little chicken Favour died at lunchtime. We rescued her from a chicken concentration camp a couple of years ago so she's been living a very free life, until today. Yesterday she didn't come down from the roost at all, but Sat Nav gave her food and water aplenty and we weren't concerned. In fact, we thought she was rather clever deciding to stay on the roost in the stable while the village was crawling with visitors especially arrived for our village sports day. She waddled along this morning for a late breakfast, fell over and that was just about it. She will be a big miss.