I was driving a Volvo when I went over the side of a mountain when I was 16. Anything else I probably wouldn't be writing this.
I can believe it.
I completely gutted an XC70 at the JY when I was after the turbo. I completely disassembled the whole front clip; pulled the engine, and disassembled as much as I could.
Tangent: i frequently do this at the JY. I'll pick something I've never worked on or even driven before, and disassemble every single nut and bolt to figure out how manufacturers do stuff. It's where my appreciation for Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo came from.
If you're interested, BMW builds ok vehicles post-2002, and amazing ones pre-1996, Mercedes and Volvo? Never 'seen a bad one.
I was amazed by the architecture of the XC70. The level of craftsmanship and engineering in the frame alone was a modern marvel. It could readily fool you for a coach-built car. The frame was frame-ception. Twin wall aluminum, a frame within a frame with literally flawless tig welds. 17 anchor points locking the front diff and somehow still transom mount I5 to the body and frame.
That was a weird day. Volvo was a head on into a pole. Non lethal. Driver looked unharmed, no blood stains on the seats or airbags. Bumper could still be unbolt (couldn't remove, inner bumper tig welded to inner frame, outers bolted through inner and everything sandwiched together.
Next car I went to after the Volvo was the double fatality Pontiac I fount part of the passenger's still bloody skull plate in. Front impact into a pole. Same spot the Volvo was hit. Three engine mounts, engine in dash, transmission in seats.
Oh. And the airbags didn't deploy.
They got halfway out and failed to inflate.
F*ck you general motors. They were kids.