Bye Bye Volvo

[Volksy]

My trusty S70 was loaded on to the back of a Transit this afternoon, it's fate unknown - The bloke was most concerned about not catching the bumper on the bed, so hopefully it won't have gone straight to the frag

 

I've had it two and a half years, which for me is about the longest I've ever kept a car. And it was a dependable steed. Sadly it's huge thirst round town, and an impending MOT - which will have at least required a set of tyres, and new wheel bearing, exhaust hanger & and few minor bits, meant that it was no longer a viable option for me. I also have to now commute about 25 miles each way to work etc etc.

 

I will miss it, dearly, when I'm in a better financial position I would defo have another - I'll miss the stereo the most I think!

 

So it's replacement? I trekked down to Birmingham yesterday to collect a '96 Corolla 1.6 CD, taxed and MOT'd, full on giffer 'CD' spec, and the somewhat unloved four door Saloon version . It's the same as one I hired in NZ many years ago, and to be honest I quite like it!

It's uber dull, but in really good nick, drove perfectly back to Leeds last night, using just over quarter of a tank of fuel. The insurance is half the cost of the Volvo and I should get triple the round the houses mileage from it. It's becoming a bit of a Corolla Crew round here, with the earlier model one that my mate lends me from time to time.

I'll get some pics of them together later today.

[CreepingJesus]

My trusty S70 was loaded on to the back of a Transit this afternoon, it's fate unknown - The bloke was most concerned about not catching the bumper on the bed, so hopefully it won't have gone straight to the frag

 

If he's been trying to keep it good, then I have a feeling he's had it in mind to get top whack from a Volvo specialist breaker. I'm beginning to think that's where all the x70's have gone: I'll be damned if I can find one in a breakers up here! x40's by the dozen, and a good helping of x60/80's and older stuff. Just not what I need!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

CD is posh- my mum used to drive an 1.3 XLI estate!

 

Fantastic car that was- although the 1.3 needed a ridiculous amount of revs to get going, which meant that the car soon developed a healthy appetite for oil. Apart from that, however, it was brilliant. The build quality was easily superior to what I've seen from Stuttgart's finest. (alright, I have no experience of the pre-W123 stuff).

 

Such a shame to scrap a good car for the sake of a few consumables. Had you tried offering it here before calling in the Transit man?

[Lankytim]

To be fair, I think S70's are about as easy to shift as.... something thats not very easy to sell.

[Volksy]

Very true, everyone wants the Estates, the Saloons are pretty hard to shift, which I think will lead them to become pretty scarce.

 

I didn't offer it here, as it was a pretty quick decision to sell, I start a new job tomorrow and needed to free up some cash to pay a couple of bills and start a new insurance policy for the Toyolet. At least I now no longer have to deal with A.Drain Fluxitallup...... (who wanted £2300 to insure the Toyolet )

[HillmanImp]

I saw the Toyota tonight as went to a mutual friends in Wakefield. I walked in and pointed out that if anyone is leaving there is a taxi waiting outside for them.

 

However it is a proper giffer spec car. No beaded seat. looks in great condition. I mean really good.

[Volksy]

To be honest though, I paid £400 for the Volvo two and a half years ago, got £220 for it today, not bad depreciation really.

 

In my ownership it had the following spent on it:

 

Front Wheel Bearing - £90

Front Pads - £20

Oil and FIlter - £40

S/H Turbo - £80

 

Now thats what I call Bangernomics!

 

The Toyolet has a hard act to follow, but so far it seems good, no interior squeaks or rattles, at all. Slight whine from the alternator/PAS pump, a small oil leak, and the CD player doesn't like my CD's. So no biggies there to be honest

 

by night it does look like a 90's minicab, and by day like it should be driven by my Nan, so pretty incognito too.

[Felly Magic]

The CD player may just need a lens clean

[HillmanImp]

No, the cd player works fine. It just has good taste in music.

[Volksy]

'Glass Houses' M. Imp

[Volksy]

I managed to find some photos of the Toyolet today - from the original advert.

 

I've done 1500 miles in it so far, and apart from the battery not holding a charge it's been pretty good. Seems to cope with the commute pretty well, it's a bit low geared and noisy for me, as I'm used to something, more wafty shall we say.

 

The interior trim is quite garish, who would order that new I do wonder, but other than it being a magnet for dog hair, it's very tidy inside and out.

 

 

 

 

 

[Joseph]

The Corrola is tidy looking, despite it looking a bit like a base-spec minicab (sorry!). At least the scrappage scheme didn't claim it!!! As to the S70 well, I am a Volvo fan and I do like these big Swedes, but I think that they will become rare through a lack of demand. They are really only sought after if they are low mileage, good condition R; T5; or Diesel models, sadly...

[AnthonyG]

Funky interior.

[Skizzer]

I paid £400 for the Volvo two and a half years ago, got £220 for it today, not bad depreciation really.

 

Oi Volksy - you've been letting your heart rule your head again! That's rubbish depreciation - it's lost 45% of its value in less than three years! What everyone on this site needs is a bit of common sense for once blah blah blah

 

(Repeat to fade)

 

[HillmanImp]

despite it looking a bit like a base-spec minicab (sorry!)

 

I could be wrong here but I think it might be top of the range this or I might have dreamt it.

 

It is a perfectly good if not very blan...........snore............snore............snore...........snore............snore............snore...........snore............snore............ snore...........hey baby, want to kill all humans...........snore............snore............snore...........snore

[Volksy]

I think it is the high spec for the Saloon, I know there was a GTi in the hatch version...

 

It seriously is the dullest car I have ever owned, it's just so bloody 'efficient' - the zanussi paint doesn't really help matters either. But, it's exactly what I need at the moment, finances are tight, I've a long commute, and if it blows up, then I've not really lost anything.

I gave it a new oil filter yesterday, as it was leaking, and pissed about with the speaker wiring to make the front speakers work.

 

No drunken bints have tried to jump in it on a Saturday night yet, used to happen all the time with my mates white Montego....

[Parky]

I had a hatch version of one of these, the 1.6 16v Executive in Badermatic flavour. Not the most exciting car of all time but mega reliable, beautifully built, and cheap. Owned it for three years, and my Dad had it for a further four during which time it had seven home oil changes, a fan belt, a battery, and two tyres. Cheapest car I have ever run.

 

Do miss it on motorway journeys as it was long geared and used to cruise around 1700rpm at 70mph which was comfy. I'd have another tomorrow!

[Volksy]

it was long geared and used to cruise around 1700rpm at 70mph

 

The manual 1.6 16v does 3500rpm at 70mph.. It's a bit frenetic!