Lola outside the Milwaukee Art Museum.
This car is a joy to drive. She’s not especially racy. The engine is a 4-cylinder made for smooth, stable cruising. She will get up to speed with punch, and over long distances will comfortably cruise at over 80 mph. She’s most comfortable at around 70-80 mph on the highway. She’s also nice through town.
Although Lola is a wagon, she is smaller and more narrow than modern cars, so she’s easy to navigate and park in an urban area. The huge rear window helps.
Driving this car is a little like being in a magic bubble. People are nicer around this car. No one tail gaits Lola. It is a routine occurrence, as I am driving to or from work with my mind on other things, to look over at another car on the highway and find the people inside waving and smiling, or giving me a thumbs-up with giant grin. Children point, and men and women nod and smile. Although I’m not a chatty person, I find it cheerful to answer little questions when I park at the grocery or hardware store. “It’s a Volvo.” “1973”
