A big Swede joins the fleet (and another Frenchy)

[R9UKE]

Afternoon chaps.

 

Just thought I'd share a few pics of the latest member to join the fleet. I spotted the ad on Gumtree 20 mins after it was posted... At £250, I had to be quick

 

I bought this car a couple of years ago when my wife lost her company car during the period of her maternity leave. It's been sitting around since we got her company car back as I had become quite attached to it, going so far as to name it Moby. As is the way with cars that sit about, it now needs a bit of work if it is to run as a daily driver again, and the new baby ran off with all the money. As such, the car is SORNed, has no tax and no MoT.

 

With a moderate input of cash it could once again be a good reliable work horse (it has never failed to start for me), but perhaps selling it off as parts or scrap would be more profitable. I just don't have the heart for this.

 

Reliable it may be, but pretty it is not. Most notably there is a large dent in the rear wing, there's some rust in the usual places but it's not out of control. The interior (blue) looks like it has done 180000 miles but is still servicable and is cigarette smoke free.

 

During the year I was driving it I installed new plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm. Also fitted were new front brake disks, pads and piston seals and a new handbrake cable on one side.

 

There is a towbar fitted and the tyres still have good tread left on them.

 

For what it is worth on a car like this there is also a folder full of old reciepts and service documents.

 

£250 ono

 

 

 

 

 

 

I turned up with a battery, despite having been sat motionless for the past 3 months, she started and ran beautifully. Had a good chat with the owner, real nice guy who had a TVR Griffith hiding in the garage. Without the funds for two toys he was keen to see the Volvo go to a good home. This I promised, and left with Moby just £200 lighter.

 

Looking at the service history file, the car was bought off Shell Petroleum Ltd in 1994 by the people who owned it until 2006. It was serviced every year at Volvo dealerships up until 160k miles. Over the past 6/7 years, it's taken life easy mileage wise. The last MOT expired in April, however, it's done 1000 miles since it was issued. The back box is buggered, and there's a dull thumping noise coming from somewhere which gets faster with speed. Apart from that, the old girl is relatively fresh. The interior has a homely smell of a slightly damp kitchen, the car starts and runs with no issues whatsoever, and the thing just looks so cool.

 

The original radio isn't working, nor are the heated seats, everything else is good.

 

Will chuck her in for MOT soon!

 

 

In addition, there's another Laguna V6 on the books.

 

Thanks to the numerous people who mailed me to let me know about it on Gumtree (ain't too often something like this appears on these shores)

 

I had to have it. A 1998 RTi V6 manual with 121k miles and a bit of tax and test.

 

 

 

 

 

It had a rocky first few days here, to be honest I hated the thing. The rear wheel bearing is barely hanging on, the back box on this is also buggered, the gearbox isn't great AND the thing is a thirsty bastard. I'm not one to complain about fuel consumption but this is taking the piss. Sits at 15.9 MPG around town, there's a general smell of petrol when idling - definitely something wrong. BUT... it's a Laguna V6, had to have it.

 

In order to justify keeping it, I've had to apply Autoshite economics. I've sold that full leather for £120 and replaced it with the light grey half leather from an RXE I had which was scrapped. Those Laguna II alloys will be for sale for £100 soon and then the car will have cost me £180. Maybe then I can begine trying to like the thing.

 

[Lankytim]

Yum! Two great motors there, The later alloys on the Laguna make it looks like the later model at first glance. Love the alloys on the 240, too. Corona I think they may be called? From the early 80's, anyway.

[Spiny Norman]

Couple of good buys I'd say, not a huge fan of Lagunas in any guise I'm afraid but that old Volvo looks like a decent old bus, love the heavy ribbed upholstery you used to get on those. Can't go wrong at those prices.