<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:<BR><B>Yeah, in Volvo's price range, the overwhelming majority of the people do not like manual transmissions...it is a shame but their lack of demand makes Volvo not want to take chances...<BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Well, the thing is...most of the people who bought a brand new R at that time knew what they wanted. Many of them, I would assume, at least kinda customized their options and other miscs items when they walked in the dealer and placed the order.<P>My C70 was not off the show room or their stock, I waited 3 months for the car. I think I was the first 3rd batch of the C70s coming to the States. I was lucky enough to not bought the 2nd batch(I think) of C70s which had the leakage at rear quarter panel window.<P>So..the point is, if these Rs were coming in as on order basis, I don't see why they did not offer this to the North America market.<P>Your reasoning is valid for the 40 series, though. Yet, you would think more younger crowd will be buying that car than 40~50 year old consumers.