A family that’s been a part of our family for generations
First, we were told it started with Pete. But after a little digging, it turned out it all began back with his parents when he was a child! Turns out, mom and dad had driven Volvos for years, and were dyed-in-the-wool fans. There was no doubt Pete had an appreciation for Volvo, but once he purchased a 1975 240DL from his parents, his own love affair began.
“I put 150,000 miles on that car and finally sold it. I wish I hadn’t!” Pete told us. Life went on, and he married a lovely wife. It was the ‘80s, they were both driving sports cars — and then they found out she was pregnant. “Not good,” Pete said about the sports car situation. But he knew exactly what the next move needed to be. Before you know it, they were in a brand new, 1989 240DL and it stayed that way for another 250,000 plus miles. “We picked our son up from the hospital in it and it was also his first car,” Peter told us.
One year, the Jacksons took an 8,700-mile trip across the country in that car, visiting all the parks and national sites from Michigan to California. “The kids still remember that trip,” reminisced Pete. Then there was the 1998 S70 his wife drove. Once, she was sideswiped in it traveling with a neighbor’s child in the car. “Everyone was all right, of course,” said Peter. “It’s just one more thing that sold us on Volvo.”
Seems all this appreciation for the brand is in the Jackson family DNA, because Pete’s 18 year-old son and 16 year-old daughter are also nuts about Volvos. Currently, Pete drives a 2001 V70-T5, his wife drives a 2000 S80, his son drives a 2001 C70 Turbo, and his daughter drives a 1995 850 turbo (she asked for a Volvo to be her first car!). He attributes much of the relationship to Maple Hill Volvo, and his service from mechanic, Dave May. “He has been outstanding and has worked on everything from my 1975 240DL until today,” enthused Pete.
When asked why he is so happy with Volvo, Pete stated, “A lot of it is Dave at the dealership — I have the utmost respect for him as he’s taken great care of us.” He also described the vehicles he’s driven in glowing terms, “I cannot believe how solid they are. They’re as solid at 150 or 200 thousand miles as they are the day you buy them.” The fact that they hold up to the salt and damp of Michigan winters only punctuates that fact. “Driving something else? Not ready to go there,” laughed Pete.
We’d like to thank the entire Jackson family for sharing their story. And for other Volvo enthusiasts who have a Volvo Family story, we’d love to hear from you.
