Unclefester

I had a nice 850 T5 CD estate a few years ago. It was a nice thing, not that hot in the bends.
 
Replaced it with an A6 2.8 Quattro Avant Sport. Which was ok in the bends but not as comfy, quick or economical as the 850.
 
I do keep thinking about dropping a silly V8 into a 240 estate, I'll do it one day.

I've had a 2005 v70 diesel for nearly 10 years now. The only non service item replaced was the clutch slave cylinder. 'box out though and tadts. There's even a topic on the voc where you post your mileage when it fails. It's probably the only car I've had where I could jump into and drive anywhere without checking anything or worrying about it. It does have only 120k on it though. I've been panicking for the last year or 2 about what I'm going to replace it with. There's absolutely nothing out there at the moment that comes close to being so reliable, capable or comfortable while averaging nearly 50mpg. Hopefully it'll just keep giving sterling service.

Well with the honda prelude going to a new home at the end of the week.with thanks to the members for marking that possible with help and advice. For the short time ive been here ive felt very welcomed and not made to be a outsider it's a gr8 community you have here. But a replacement will now be needed and I have a hankering for a volvo estate why i don't know maybe something in the water lol.

Is this a roffle sell out record? A convertible with no mot in winter?That is fucking ridiculous and fantastic at the same time, well done all involved!!!

I had a 94 850 2.5GLE auto estate for a while too, it was in that lovely metallic maroon they did with a tan interior. I got that cheap too as it’s owner was leaving the country. He thought the head gasket had gone as it had mayo in the dip stick tube! It hadn’t of course, it’s just on these engines the dip stick tube is right on the front of the engine and can get a bit of condensation inside which then looks like a failed head gasket!
I didn’t have it long though, as nice as it was it just didn’t have the feel of the older cars to me and I didn’t bond with it.
I sold it to a mate as he needed a car, he looked after it but couldn’t afford to run it so sold it to a mate of his who was a complete bell end and for some ridiculous reason used to delight in ragging it and red lining absolutely everywhere. Unsurprisingly he blew the auto box up in the end which was the end of the car unfortunately.
I can’t find any pics of it though.

Some beautiful cars there u have had sir and still do. really enjoyed the story and pics appreciate your time sharing.
 
Regards lewis

I’ve had a Volvo of one sort or other since I was 18! Except one short period of time a few years ago while I made space for a Yank tank import. Realised I couldn’t be without one though so got another.
 
First one I had was this 91 340. A very late 1.7GL manual. It was a one elderly owner car when I got it and had very low mileage. It was absolutely mint, I kept it years then my dad had it for a year or so before I sold it. I think it ended up scrappaged sadly.
 

 
I had a 79 244 2.1DL manual too. I got this one to save my Capri from a rusty death on winter roads. This was another giffer owned car and only had 62k miles on the clock. The paint was poor though the car was very solid and reliable. I kept this for years too eventually selling it to a member on here when I got a mk2 Granada. It’s in Scotland now and wears metallic blue paint with a silver roof.
 

 
I also bought this 87 740 2.3GLE auto while I had the 244. It was going cheap as the owner was only in the U.K. for a few years working. This really was hitting the sweet spot for me with Volvo’s! I absolutely loved this car! Really well made, lovely drive and never gave any trouble, it just suited me perfectly. I did loads to this car over the years to make it really nice. I had to sell it in the end when I brought my Yank over, I actually had a lump in my throat when I watched it drive away! Really really shit decision.
It’d done 185k miles when it left me but it’s new owner has been piling on the miles since. One year it’d racked up 17k miles! Must’ve been expensive!
 

 
Around a year later and still regretting the loss of the gold saloon I was chatting to my sisters boyfriend (now fiancé) about cars and he mentioned his grandad had an old Volvo. He’d passed away a couple of years previous and the car was left to rot on his driveway while the family cleared the estate.
Small world!!
It turned out to be exactly the car I was hell bent on finding to replace the gold saloon!
 
It’s an 88 740GLE 2.3 auto but an estate this time. Low mileage, currently on 93k and it was the company car of the owners son when new. Once it’d done its company car use it was bought outright by him and given to his father who kept it until his passing.
It’d suffered a bit in later years, especially during its time sat dumped on the driveway but I made my interest known and ended up being given it for free.
I’ve done loads to it since, it actually needed a lot more work than I’d expected which probably would have rendered it scrap to most other people, but it’s a great car under the grime and neglect so I persevered with it eventually getting it up to a good standard it’s in now. Still needs a few issues and cosmetics sorting but it’s a great car now and I’m well happy with it.
 

 

 
The US quad headlight conversion was done by me. I just prefer them and it makes it that little bit different in my opinion!
 
 
Id highly recommend Volvo’s to anyone. They’re very overlooked cars I think, but the older models are just starting to become more difficult to get now. I noticed it when I was looking for a replacement 740. At one point when I had the gold saloon they seemed fairly common and easy to be picky about with spec etc etc but it’s not so easy now. They seem to be thinning out quickly in number now. Maybe a good time to grab one?

Volvo eh? The SVM know a bit about Volvos...
That 960 should be no worse on fuel than a 940 2.3LPT regardless of transmission but will likely be Swedish built so check the front floor pans and under the battery tray for grot. Same places go on 740s but Belgian built Volvos like the 740s,early 940s and 850s are overall less susceptible to tinworm. 850 wings rot though but phase 1 V70 ones don't.
Generally electrics etc. Are fairly robust but Volvos last long enough to wear out the things that other cars don't so fuel pump relays, distributor Hall sensors and solid state Ignition Control Modules can and do give problems. Later cars are better in this regard but add complexity. ABS modules go senile on 900s and 850s and all suffer from the infamous odometer cog of cheese. On Redblock powered cars (240/740/940) HGF is possible due to the gasket wearing out but access for spannering is ridiculously easy on these and even then big FWD cars are generally easy to repair and maintain.
It sounds like I'm being quite critical but really on a big Volvo so few things give actual trouble and all the common problems like those above are well documented and generally easy to sort.
Pick of the bunch for me is an '87 on 2.3 litre 740 auto estate but really any of them should give many years of trouble free service.

37 tickets in an Hour..

I can be bothered young Fester.
I'll leave it for tonight, but deffo contact him tomorrow.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-v70-T5/254099549012
 
Looks  good for the money.
 
 
My cheap V70 T5 (not quite as leggy as the one above) is soldiering on happily embarrassing much newer cars and not wanting for anything. Comfy, fast and practical. 

Well with the honda prelude going to a new home at the end of the week.with thanks to the members for marking that possible with help and advice. For the short time ive been here ive felt very welcomed and not made to be a outsider it's a gr8 community you have here. But a replacement will now be needed and I have a hankering for a volvo estate why i don't know maybe something in the water lol.

Would still be a bargain at double ze price with ticket looks like it'll roffle out though!

It wouldnae be £230 if it had a ticket.. 
But I could likely fire it in For an MOT and get work done..

Fingers crossed one.comes up think it would suit my needs

If this had a ticket I'd be at yer hoose the noo

I sold my V70 2.5 turbo a few months ago. It was a P reg phase 1 auto.
Although the car I replaced it with is perfectly fine - a 2003 Volvo C70 2.0 GT turbo auto, I do miss the old V70 and I'm keeping half an eye open for another one.
Fester, if you do opt for a V70, those built after 1999 will probably have the electronic throttle module. They can be a problem and are expensive to fix.
Having said that, my C70 has one fitted and is no problem whatsoever, but I think the problem was recognised and fixed by the time my car was built. If I'm wrong with that info, feel free to correct me people.

I ended up buying a 940 about two months after joining here (Funny how it all works out) Mine gave me a fair bit of grief to start off with as described in my 'Web Of Shite' thread but now it's up and running well I've become very fond of it, great cars.

My 740 was a fantastic thing, I'd still have it but running costs at the time were prohibitive and it had no end of wheel and tyre issues. It's with a bloke in Newcastle now.

Oooooooof.
 
Would you be upset if someone fitted a Chevy V8 to it?

I do miss my V70 tdi, and the V70 T5 we had in 2016. Both cars I wish I’d kept. Super reliable, comfy, barge like creations that always pleases.

Well with the honda prelude going to a new home at the end of the week.with thanks to the members for marking that possible with help and advice. For the short time ive been here ive felt very welcomed and not made to be a outsider it's a gr8 community you have here. But a replacement will now be needed and I have a hankering for a volvo estate why i don't know maybe something in the water lol.

An 850 on the drive aswell in that picture...is a possible sign that the 960 has probably been looked after.
 
I imagine the 3.0 engine would be a bit gutsy on fuel. My S60 T5 is a bit gutsy on the fuel consumption front, but 260bhp is impressive in 3rd gear at the correct time...& addictive sometimes, the sound of that 5 cylinder howling..lovely. However, I still would not mind smoking around in that 960, comfy comfy big cars Volvos.
 
P.s...My S60 is my first ever Volvo that I have owned & I have to say, every time I drive it, I like it more & more.
 
If getting a V70 (phase 2 model) estate,
Late 2004 (05 model year facelift) are the ones to have, & if you want performance & sleeper looks...the 2.4 T5 is the one to have, especially in Manual flavour...the Auto's are a more common however, I believe that the auto boxes are a bit ropey as they get older.
 
I was originally looking at Focus ST's when my Volvo popped up on my radar.

Ooh I want that Torslanda, I need to do some sums.

Looks nice with the wheels big difference. Really dont want another auto i need some stick.