Volvo drivers are
people who value quality and safety over ostentation. They are often liberal,
well educated, and upper middle class. Although the cars are pricey to buy and maintain, Volvo drivers see them as works of
art--well-made machinery that protects their passengers, other drivers, and even pedestrians from the hazards of the road. Volvo drivers appreciate the cars' understated comfort and the manufacturer's concern for the environment. Even so, Volvo drivers have become easy targets for disparagement among those who think that a
car that isn't flashy isn't worth owning or who envy the financial means of those who can afford them. Phrases like "tree-hugging, latte-sipping, Volvo-driving liberal elitists" seek to belittle
people who care about their safety, their environment, and the value of Scandinavian engineering. An important point is that Volvos are not
yuppie cars. Yuppies like flashier, head-turning cars that announce their owners' wealth. Volvos are preppy cars, generally favored by suburban WASPs, although the S40 is
popular with younger, urban drivers. Like their drivers, Volvos are
conservative and understated. If the cars are well cared for, they can last forever, so Tripp can drive Daddy's 10-year-old Volvo off to college.
