Winnipeg, Canada

It’s been a week since I picked up my new car, a silver Volvo C30 (replacing the trusty little black BMW 318ti* which has carried me safely for nearly 1/2 million kilometers since 1995). Designed by Montreal-born Simon Lamarre (with a nod to the 1970s P1800ES and 2001’s Safety Concept Car) this stylish Swedish hatch seems nimble, safe, and comfortable (good ergonomics, great leg-room, excellent seats) with relatively good fuel efficiency (I had hoped for a hybrid or turbo-diesel, but unfortunately car model and engine choices in Canada are more limited than in Europe).

Weather in Manitoba this week has offered its seasonal challenges and a suitable test for the new wheels—I’m happy to report successful starts on mornings as cold as -35 Celcius (I haven’t used the installed block heater yet) and good performance in sill-deep snow….

*As the old 318ti needs an expensive timing chain to keep it on the road, it’s up for sale at European Domestic Service Centre in Winnipeg (good parts for a song—the Recaro seats and alloy wheels would make nice retrofits for someone restoring an older 3-Series BMW). Interested? Contact me here.

Images: a 1971 Volvo P1800ES and the new C30 share similar posteriors, high shoulders, and glass hatches.