My Big Swedish Box - Now With TURBO POWER

[phil_lihp]

Evening all,

 

I'm enjoying my Mazda 323 courtesy of Chester's finest used car dealer, however it was only ever a stop-gap and much as it's a superb car it's already proving to be a bit too small for my needs.  Although it's just me, I often end up carting a number of people/bikes/kayaks/assorted crap around and have owned a long line of small, cramped hatchbacks so I really fancy a moderately large, comfortable estate that doesn't drink terrifying amounts of fuel or break down every 5 minutes.  I've got about £500 to play with and it needs to have an MOT of sorts as I don't have time or space for a project right now.

 

I've decided that what I want, what I really really want, is a Volvo 740 or 940, either a 2.3 LPT or perhaps a diesel.  I just got outbid on a fairly close '95 940 2.3 which needed an exhaust and some brake flexis for a new MOT which seemed do-able, I've got my eye on this one now:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191313144094?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

The colour's quite upsetting and I don't know what price it'll fetch but it's close enough and I'll have a punt if it doesn't go out of budget.  

 

I am struggling to find anything else to fit the bill within budget and distance, as usual, the moment you want something, they all vanish.  I do like the 760 that's on eBay right now but the fuel consumption is just not something I could live with.

 

Anyone got any suggestions or advice or even something to sell?  I'm in Devon and haven't time for a really long distance collection unfortunately, much as I would normally love to, so it really needs to be within the south of England.  I really need something in the next week or so as I need to cart 5 people on a 200 mile round trip in a couple of weeks and the Mazda is just too small for that.

 

It's a lot to ask but you never know.

[Shep Shepherd]

^

That's my favourite Volvo colour of all time!

[phil_lihp]

It could grow on me.  Shame it doesn't have a nice brown/beige interior, I'd forgive a car an awful lot if it had that.  

 

I've noticed a few early V70s in budget but am put off by the issues they seem to suffer from, not least oil leaks, something you'll know all about!  Late 80s/early 90s seems to be my comfort zone as far as complicated electronics vs. reliability goes.

[Richard]

The colour's quite upsetting

 

The colour seems to appeal to women, quite a few have said they like the colour of my 850- no woman has expressed a positive opinion about any aspect of any of my cars before. If it's like mine it will have a BLUE interior.

[Wilko220]

What are the decals about?

[phil_lihp]

No idea, but they'd be coming off very quickly if I get my hands on it.

[skattrd]

Isn't there an ex-Scooter/Cavcraft V70/850 T5 for sale on here for that sort of money?

[Shep Shepherd]

It could grow on me.  Shame it doesn't have a nice brown/beige interior, I'd forgive a car an awful lot if it had that.  

 

I've noticed a few early V70s in budget but am put off by the issues they seem to suffer from, not least oil leaks, something you'll know all about!  Late 80s/early 90s seems to be my comfort zone as far as complicated electronics vs. reliability goes.

 

I've come to the conclusion after buying (and bonding with) The Wentworth that RWD Volvos are the Volvos for me. I'd be quite happy to have another V70, but I consider their long term sustainability to be suspect compared to the 100/200/700/900 Series cars; although someone saved it from the scrapyard, I don't expect TV2 to celebrate its 20th birthday as a roadworthy car.

[skattrd]

Found it, http://autoshite.com/topic/17855-volvo-850-t5-auto-for-sale/

 

Ok, so its not rwd or hugely close to SW, but it's not that far up Englandshire and it's a T5

[eddyramrod]

740/940 estate FTW, for what you need and what you can pay there isn't any other serious contender!  If you were really lucky you might find a 240, don't discount them: they are huge too, and in all of them you have room to lie down in the back (ask Andy CMS!).  They are also all available as 7-seaters, should that become important.  Ideally you want an older (pre-1990-ish) 740 that's been looked after, it is still possible to find them.  Good luck!

[eddyramrod]

I've just looked at the link for that blue 940... it was registered on my birthday!  Looks good value, if you can live with the excess pedal count.

[phil_lihp]

3 pedals = good in my world so that's a bonus for me, not a fan of autos, never driven a particularly good one though - only lazy, sloppy ones in US rental cars and nasty, slow, jerky things in small loan cars over here.  I wouldn't entirely rule out an auto in a brick though if the car was otherwise ideal and have PM'd Andy about the T5.  

[DSdriver]

I had a 740 estate followed by a 940 estate, did over 100k in each and they both already had that on the clock when I got them. Apart from electrical gremlins - one kept stopping unpredictably which was eventually traced to the fuel pump relay overheating - they were boringly reliable, fast, comfortable, and what could not be accommodated inside always fitted on a full-length roofrack made out of an oversize pallet.

I eventually decided enough was enough, that I needed a bit of excitement in my life, which is why i bought the DS Safari - which has also proved to be boringly reliable, not quite so fast and even more comfortable plus its more economical as it runs on LPG, zero RFL and classic insurance. It also makes people smile wherever I go. 

[eddyramrod]

My mate Dave (the one who bought my MR2) drove my 740 auto and promptly went out and bought a 940 manual estate, later replacing it with a manual 740 estate, so you can find them (as you've proved above) and look, he went for a second.  RWD Volvos in general are, as many here will testify, addictively brilliant.  The mileage on the blue one isn't high as Volvos go, I think you should be bidding.

[DSdriver]

They seem to start feeling their age at about 220k miles, get creaky and rattly and plastic bits under the bonnet start falling apart.

[phil_lihp]

I've just looked at the link for that blue 940... it was registered on my birthday!  Looks good value, if you can live with the excess pedal count.

 

Happy 19th birthday!

 

Well, I'm currently high bidder on the turquoise terror so we'll see what happens Wednesday night.  I've also registered tentative interest in Andy's 850 T5 as a last resort, being that it's a bit of a trek.

 

Also got this in the watch list as it looks ace, although it's a bit pricey for me and it's an auto.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281429838803?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[eddyramrod]

Happy 19th birthday!

 

Thank you, but that was some time ago.... April 16th 1996 was my 37th, at which time I was driving this...

and this...

 

I think it was quite soon after that the Skoda went to scrap.  Driving there it comfortably outran the Capri!

 

Buy the blue one.

[hairnet]

fly to scotland buy a mafia one drive it back

[cms206]

There ARE bargains to be had - I picked up a manual '97R 940LPT Classic with 8 months test and 4 months rent for £300 back in January. I'm 6ft3in with a gammy knee and find it a little tight for space 'cos I'm a stupid shape but the autos are plenty roomy enough. The 2.3s are less stressed than the 2.0s. Will put more bumph on them up tomorrow when I'm not in bed with SWMBO glaring at me for recommending Volvo estates to strangers on the internet again rather than partaking in the old one-two-buckle my shoe.

[forddeliveryboy]

They seem to start feeling their age at about 220k miles, get creaky and rattly and plastic bits under the bonnet start falling apart.

 

 

Yep, too true. Merc 124s (yawn, yawn) go at least another 200k before getting to the same stage. Petrol ones are genuinely less refined than the diseasels, though.

[danthecapriman]

I love these old bricks. They are very good cars and can be had cheaply still. They are also old enough to be interesting but still usable every day with no issues.

Don't write off autos though, they are very good. In fact id have one in preference to a manual! My last one was a 2.3GLE saloon and the auto box was silk smoothe, very relaxing to drive, especially over long distances.

Go for a 2.3 over the 2.0 though if possible, they just feel more capable even though the size difference isn't that much.

The 240 is equally good.

 

I'd have another tomorrow if I had the space!

[Bren]

I wrongly assumed this thread was a request forUlrika Jonsson.

[oman5]

My daily is a 940 turbo diesel. They are superb cars. not sporty, not hugely fast, they just do what they do...and keep doing it.  I think the petrol engines are more durable than the diesels, which can have their own set of problems if neglected/abused.

Mine's on 246k and fingers crossed seems in rude health. They really are one of the best value and most long lived bangers out there, aside from being slightly thirsty in petrol form there's no real reason not to get one. 

[Tetleysmooth]

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209778&page=2

 

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209778&page=2

 

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209778&page=2

 

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=209778&page=2

[Minimad5]

I was looking at that one ^
Wonder why it hasn't sold already

[rml2345]

What can I say that hasn't been said? 2.0 litre ones are a bit pants and need a manual gearbox to get the best from them but reward that with high twenties fuel consumption.

The main issue with old Volvos is that they last long enough to wear out the stuff that doesn't wear on other cars but serious problems are thankfully quite rare. I did 14 thousand miles in a 25 year old 740 and the only unexpected failure was the distributor packing up. Niggly problems abound but they are generally well known and easily sorted if you're bothered by then.

They're one of the easiest and most relaxing things to drive whether in manual or auto flavour and probably all the car anyone ever needs.

Also, they make superb tents.

[RobT]

I found the slushy auto in the 740 to be well suited to a big barge, so don't rule it out Phil.  Or, do you fancy reliving some of that 220 magic as there was a 420 Tourer on ebay a few days back (can't access Ebay at work so no linky).

[phil_lihp]

Nice idea Rob but too small unfortunately, much as I do like the tourer shape and that is of course the best engine to have in one. 

 

And yes Tetleysmooth, I did see that green one on the forum and on eBay, I'd have been tempted but he's messed around with it chopping springs etc. and therefore ruined it in my eyes, I don't go for modifications generally.  Shame, it looked nice before he messed around with it.  I'm sure it'll be to plenty of people's tastes but not mine and I don't have the time or facilities to put it 'right'.

 

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone, shouldn't have expected anything less on here of course.  I definitely think the 2.3 LPT is the way to go as a good compromise so will see what comes of the turquoise one on Wednesday when the auction finishes.  Anyone got a rough guess as to what it's worth?  I think I'd be OK with up to £500 on it but not sure if that's fair.

[cms206]

Worth a look... HPT 760 Turbo wagon with a year's ticket in Somerset.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-VOLVO-760-TURBO-AUTO-SILVER-/161413368078?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2594fc890e

[phil_lihp]