Another 240 Bites the Dust

I was just watching CSI: Miami, and what's the first thing I see? A wrecked
240 wagon. Why do the movies and TV feel so free to wreck these cars?
Whenever I see a 240 wagon in a movie or TV show, I know the chances are good
it won't live to see the closing credits. Drives me nuts! I think of all the
hours, days, weeks, months I, and others I know, have spent seeking out great
240s to buy, and here's the show biz folks, pulverizing them for fun. Makes me
boil.

 

Well, on the bright side, Monk's nurse's car is a good character!
That said, Monk busts a signal lens by driving into a pole in one
episode, and in another, it needs $700 of repairs (motivation for
Sharona to ask to be paid).

Don't shoot me, but I don't get upset when common cars get crashed. But
when I see something like a Type 3 Ghia or a split-window VW Van, or a '59 Impala
get trashed, it upsets me.

 

Sometimes those rare cars are just models.... Or they utterly don't work
anymore, and the body may have TONS of filler on it and a lot of fresh
paint.

 

Sometimes they do serious damage even if they don't crash them. For
instance, the production people for Oliver Stone's JFK approached my
Chevy club for cars to use in the movie. They took the club president's
'59 Corvette, and decided not to use it in the movie. They mounted a
camera dolly on it instead. By drilling four half-inch holes in the
hood. In the hood of a show-quality 1959 Vette. We couldn't believe
it. After that, the club made sure to tell people that if a movie
company wants to use your car, offer to sell it to them at the price you
want, or walk away. Don't listen to them, don't believe what they say
about insurance, etc. They will walk, and go use somebody else's car.
Let them.

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

I hope so. Remember that beautiful gold 240 wagon in "The Hand That Rocks the
Cradle"? I've always wanted a 240 that color, and I nearly had a stroke when
they crashed it in the movie. I can watch a movie where 1000 people die
without me batting an eye, but if they shoot a single hole in a 240, I start to
scream!

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

Interesting that it was an Oliver Stone movie. My first book was a biography
of Jim Morrison and his wife, Pamela. When Stone did his truly horrible movie
of The Doors, in addition to making a lot of broken promises about how he'd
portray Pamela, he borrowed all kinds of Pamela's personal belongings from her
parents and never returned them. I'm talking about personal letters, drawings,
photographs -- things that are totally irreplaceable taken from the parents of
this woman who died at 27. Your story simply confirms for me that Stone has
absolutely no sense of personal responsibility or obligation to the people he
exploits. He takes what he wants, and **** those stupid enough to let him.

 

Never seen that movie... sounds a little too high brow for me. I don't think
the 240 that the main actors wife drives in the movie "Goodfellas" ever
bites the dust, and there is scene where it tears away from a stop.

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

If "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" is too highbrow for you, I can only imagine
you spend a good deal of time sitting in a box in the garage scratching behind
your ear with your foot.

 

I've posted this before but I have to repeat it as I have never before
(or since) seen such in-depth cinematographic adulation of the 240:

If you are in the mood for a very weird (and occasionally disturbing)
movie featuring a Volvo I strongly STRONGLY recommend "Spun" which is
out on video now. It's not for everyone but it has the very best Volvo
cinematography of any movie anywhere ever. The brown, early 80's (or
late 70's) 240 GLE should get a credit as it is for sure one of the
main characters in the film. In the first 15 minutes you get shot
after shot of the car, its interior, its moving parts in action, even
close-ups of the engine starting and shutting down. It's the kind of
photgraphy normally reserved for the kinds of cars in The Fast and the
Furious or something.

And if you can see the lighter side of Americans addicted to
methamphetamines you may enjoy the rest of the movie too. I recommend
the DVD so you can get clear still-frames. Cast includes (forgive the
spelling) Mena Suvari, Britney Murphy, Mickey Rourke, John Leguizamo,
and stars the guy who played the lead in Rushmore (I think).

I'd give the movie 3.5 blurps out of 5 but if you want to watch it
just for the Volvo I give it 5 BIG BLURPS!

blurp

 

Thanks for the insult there, just the thing I need to read to end my day
after 8 grueling hours of nightshift.

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

Who insulted you? How? And how is your work schedule relevant?

 

"I can only imagine you spend a good deal of time sitting in a box in the
garage scratching behind your ear with your foot."

I found this rather insulting, I just had never heard of your movie, and
joked about that, perhaps, it was too highbrow for me. You really don't need
to insult people; and how is my schedual relevant, it's not all that
relevant, but when you're exhausted, and already kinda pissed off you don't
need any more BS at the end of a long day, especially from someone you don't
even know, or who doesn't know you.

Don't be a bitch, it's just easier that way, for all of us. I've seen other
people on this newsgroup pissed off with your comments, so consider thinking
about what you write to people... Just because you'll probably never see
anyone here in person doesn't mean you have the right to type whatever you
want to them, keep it cordial.

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

Maybe you should go back and read it again. I didn't insult you, I insulted
the movie, which is quite lowbrow.

Now this was insulting, and unnecessary. Shame on you.

I've seen other

Consider reading and understanding before acting like a complete jerk. I made
a comment about a movie. You followed up by calling me a bitch. I don't think
I'm the one that needs the lecture on being "cordial" here. You owe me an
apology.

 

That´s just because Volvo has always been concidered as a "safe car". Even
the early models are quite much safer (and so theyre cheaper too), than
other brands.
So in order to get a safe car for the movie crasch, they look for an 70-80
model to crasch.

Arne C

 

<snip>

She earned a permanent entry in my killfile some time ago...

The first and only individual in this group so far.

Ask her nicely to apologise for her rudeness and she'll not only
deny that she was rude but usually be even ruder in her response.

A killfile entry is highly recommended.

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

This one didn't look all that old to me (I mean, considering 1993 was the last
year they were made). What I really love is that they lifted up the front
passenger seat to reveal a groovy storage space underneath. Why doesn't my 240
wagon have that feature? (Oh, I know -- because no one needs a plot twist to
justify my bizarre murder.)

 

Second that.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

Yes, it's been pretty vicious the way I've been hanging around here talking
about my Volvo. The nerve! And to think I would try to interfere with that
perfectly nice gentleman who called me a bitch! Well! I never!

Get a life, gentleman. Just one between you would be sufficient.

 

And you proved them right!!!

Harold

 

Subject: Re: Another 240 Bites the Dust

Really? Please explain.