Project Memoirs: Mini on the Move.

[eddyramrod]

Rover SD3s are good for long term relationships as you inevitably have to spend a year waiting for a garage to get their fingers out and weld the bastards up.

EFA

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I take exception to the Pinto Capris were never fast

 

 

Alfasud Sprint Veloce and 1600 Scirocco. Both would outdrag a Crapi 2000.

 

Alfetta GTV and Beta Coupe 2000's weren't even in the same  ball park.

 

A 2000 with a 1600 rear axle could be a worthy adversary, but in '89 I had a V12 XJS. The year after, a 928S Auto.

 

2 litre Pinto eh? Righto Lads.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'd have a solid 1300 over a rotten 3000 anyway!

Well, this is it. None of them are fast now, a new 320d will crucify a 3000S but you have to think in terms of The Stranglers and not That Twat From Kaiser Chiefs.

 

My ideal Capri - apart from an RS3100 - would be a Mark 2 1600S in Signal Orange. Woof!

[fordperv]

Have to agree dan great bit of advice, definately buy on condition not spec, personally i would prefer a pinto car over a 2.8i or 3.0, if performance is your goal a healthy 2.0 with a cam and a little tweaking will wipe the floor with a 2.8i anyway! i just cant believe the prices of capris recently you couldnt give them away a few years back

[danthecapriman]

Well, this is it. None of them are fast now, a new 320d will crucify a 3000S but you have to think in terms of The Stranglers and not That Twat From Kaiser Chiefs.

 

My ideal Capri - apart from an RS3100 - would be a Mark 2 1600S in Signal Orange. Woof!

My ideal Capri would be one that is assembled and has paint...

 

Sorry, I had to say it!

Pisses me off immensely about how mine has ended up. I should have been driving it around as a minter this year but instead it's still a pile of parts and a part completed shell.

Oh well, I've still got it and it'll get done eventually.

 

I love Capris so much I can't imagine not having my mk2. I can't think of any other car I can say that about.

[BorniteIdentity]

As alluded to in the NEWS 24 thread, I'm currently embroiled in the textbook AS purchase of a car.

 

1. I don't even want the car; and have never sought or coveted one
2. It was a 10 day eBay auction that I bid on with 9 days to go
3. Advert has just two pictures, none of which show the car in its entirity
4. NO MOT
5. "WILL PASS EASY M8"
6. Despite multiple attempts to contact vendor, radio silence ensues
7. Outbid with 1 hour to go
8. UnOutbid with 15 minutes to go as shill bidding vendor bottles it
9. Win car despite not actually wanting it - just one part of it
10. Vendor remembers how to correspond and is now in contact every 24 seconds.

 

Can anyone tell me what I've actually gone and done bought? I've had a 360, 340 and 343 in my time but never a 2xx.

 

I'm only after the number plate for my dear old Dad - after that I'll be moving it along.  Amusingly you CAN now remove a plate from a car sans MOT as long as the car is testable and the SORN is unbroken an constant.  I can't wait to tell the dude that once the deal is done.  Even if I sell it on for £600 afterwards with a ticket I'll be happy.

 

Anybody know about these boats??

 

[stillOrange]

I do have much love for them, that's all I know.

 

Well purchased.

[danthecapriman]

That is f*****g lovely!

 

They are really good cars. I had a 79 244 (saloon) big bumper model and it was a great drive, nice big hefty old saloon car.

Yours will most likely be a 2.0 looking at it?

That has the same engine as my 740 (but the smaller version being 2.0), it's a 'red block' B200 engine. These engines were the ones all the best Volvo's had, very tough and reliable.

It won't be the quickest car ever as they are pretty big and built like tanks but for what it is it'll be fine.

 

They rust worse than 700's though so look out for rot on the rear chassis legs/floor sections, around the rear wheel area and below rear seat base.

Check the spare wheel tubs, one on each outer most edge of the boot. They stick out a little bit below the rear wings and they rot out.

Also check the boot rear panel between the rear lights. They start rusting below the rear bumper which spreads upwards. Just lay under the back of the car and look up under the bumper.

 

There's very little that's complex on these, they're a piece of piss to work on and last forever. The engines are almost Pinto style easy to work on! Plenty of space around them too. They aren't the best on fuel though...

Comfortable cars too, they've got great seats and are well made and laid out. I loved mine! I'd be keeping that if I were you!

 

Edited to add;

It might feel older than it is! These are the same basic cars as the earlier 244/245 with the big bumpers, which came out in 76.

These are essentially an updated 144/145... which came out in 68 (I think).

They are all basically the same car just updated and facelifted every now and again.

[BorniteIdentity]

That is f*****g lovely!

 

They are really good cars. I had a 79 244 (saloon) big bumper model and it was a great drive, nice big hefty old saloon car.

Yours will most likely be a 2.0 looking at it?

That has the same engine as my 740 (but the smaller version being 2.0), it's a 'red block' B200 engine. These engines were the ones all the best Volvo's had, very tough and reliable.

It won't be the quickest car ever as they are pretty big and built like tanks but for what it is it'll be fine.

 

They rust worse than 700's though so look out for rot on the rear chassis legs/floor sections, around the rear wheel area and below rear seat base.

Check the spare wheel tubs, one on each outer most edge of the boot. They stick out a little bit below the rear wings and they rot out.

Also check the boot rear panel between the rear lights. They start rusting below the rear bumper which spreads upwards. Just lay under the back of the car and look up under the bumper.

 

There's very little that's complex on these, they're a piece of piss to work on and last forever. The engines are almost Pinto style easy to work on! Plenty of space around them too. They aren't the best on fuel though...

Comfortable cars too, they've got great seats and are well made and laid out. I loved mine! I'd be keeping that if I were you!

 

Edited to add;

It might feel older than it is! These are the same basic cars as the earlier 244/245 with the big bumpers, which came out in 76.

These are essentially an updated 144/145... which came out in 68 (I think).

They are all basically the same car just updated and facelifted every now and again.

 

Bless you, Danielson.  

 

I'm quietly confident it's nowhere near as nice as it looks in that picture.  It was very likely taken from the one angle that flatters the car, in flattering "golden hour" light.  Probably a year ago.

 

Nonetheless, if I can get the plate off for minimal fuss - get a fresh ticket on it with some T-Cut hopefully someone will want to take it on.

 

Who knows, I might bond with it!

[Eddie Honda]

Needs an alarm. Like Landies, they seem to get twoc'd

 

[cms206]

Never had a 200. Major want for one.

 

112%/10

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[BorniteIdentity]

Needs an alarm. Like Landies, they seem to get twoc'd

 

 

I bloody love that scene when Paddy comes mincing in with "Imagination - Bodytalk" playing.

 

"GET BACK YA BASTARD"

[320touring]

Never had a 200. Major want for one.

 

112%/10

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

That's a buying sign right there;)

[Angrydicky]

Its original reg, which it'll be going back to, was H612 EJU. It's had the current reg since it was one year old though!

[320touring]

Its original reg, which it'll be going back to, was H612 EJU. It's had the current reg since it was one year old though!

Now CMS knows the reg he is duty bound to buy it;)

[AMC Rebel]

I had two of these (one I drove and one for parts) in the early 90s.  Mine were 1981 (parts) and 1984.  By the time yours was made they had ironed out a lot of the rust issues (they fitted plastic protectors to those spare wheel wells for example).

 

I also drove my Dad's 1980 and 1982 company ones from new.

 

They are not a car for hooning around in, but they go and stop well enough and ride well for a car with a live rear axle.  The rear track is narrower than the front for reasons I don't fully understand and that can feel a bit odd.  At the time they bragged about it having the same turning circle as a Golf - but the Golf had a crap turning circle.

 

Having had one, they are not something I'd rush back to, but I have fond memories.

 

I think the reason people are thieving them is for the rear axles which are strong and can be welded for drifting.

 

As said upthread they are reliable and easy to work on.

 

They have triple circuit brakes too.

[HillmanImp]

Has it had the rear trailing arm bushes replaced and a full service? Its not really made clear in the advert.

 

 

Volvo 240 gl in great condition. In 2016 I had the rear trailing arm bushings replaced (pretty big job) as well as a full service before being SORN and stored.

 

Its SORN and doesn't have an MOT but will/ SHOULD pass without issue. 

 

Issues:

Has a dent in the top of the passenger door.

Not really been driven properly since Nov 2015 when it failed its MOT due to the rear upper trailing arm bushings. I eventually got the work done and a good and full service by a volvo specialist.

It has been driven around the yard throughout that time when it was stored. 

Has been sat a while, but will start with a jump. 

Steel wheels are tatty. small hole in the exhaust (last part near the tip, cheap to replace but not very loud as it is)

 

Good bits:

Replaced windscreen for NOS a couple of months ago. Good condition all round.

Turns over first go and ticks over like a sowing machine. 

Comes with a full set of original plastic wheel trims in excellent condition.

Manual, with no crunches whines or unusual sounds. Car runs lovely. 

Had rear upper trailing arm bushings replaced in 2016 and had a full service. Has been driven maybe 60 miles after and then was stored. None leaking and working sunroof. Grey cloth interior no rips, looks mint everywhere.

Reg number has been valued at £900

A little over 110000 miles

 

I have quite the horn for this. Might have to have a word with a friend about a possible joint purchase (that way its off Mrs Imps radar and I can just 'borrow' it every now and then) if you do decide to get shot of it as he needs a car and I well fancy a (new to me) old Volvo.

[danthecapriman]

^^

Buy it! They are great cars.

 

Funnily enough today while I was at work I spotted one of these sat on a driveway, a 1981 DL in a horrible beige/brown vomit like colour. Looked like it's been sat a while but seemed solid and tidy still.

 

The banger racers like them too...

[Eddie Honda]

They have triple circuit brakes too.

They actually have dual-triangle circuit. If one of the two circuits fails, then you still have two front brakes and a single rear.

[somewhatfoolish]

There's very little that's complex on these, they're a piece of piss to work on and last forever. The engines are almost Pinto style easy to work on! Plenty of space around them too. They aren't the best on fuel though...

 

Don't they have alaruming rear brakes? I've got a vague suppressed memory of drums inside discs with attendant horror and complexity.

[danthecapriman]

Don't they have alaruming rear brakes? I've got a vague suppressed memory of drums inside discs with attendant horror and complexity.

Yes, rear discs with the handbrake shoes inside the hub part which acts as the drum, the 700 Volvo is the same.

 

Can't say I've ever had any troubles from them though. The Calipers can be a twat to bleed sometimes.

[Guest Hooli]

Don't they have alaruming rear brakes? I've got a vague suppressed memory of drums inside discs with attendant horror and complexity.

 

Same as a lot of cars, it's a sensible system & easy enough to work on.

 

 

200s are a few million times better than a 300 or 400 Ovlov, 200s are a proper car.

[Eddie Honda]

 

DINLT! (Having had both and driven all) The DAF 77 is a world apart from the FWD wrong 'uns.

[Guest Hooli]

I suffered a 345DL for a few months. It was utterly appalling, the only good point was comfy seats.

[BorniteIdentity]

I suffered a 345DL for a few months. It was utterly appalling, the only good point was comfy seats.

I'm happy to give you chapter and verse on my time in a Volvo variomatic. After those stories, nobody ever complains about trivial head pain like migraines and brain tumours.

 

Seller still being a bit elusive. Going to request his number from eBay and doorstep him i think.

[Guest Hooli]

I'm happy to give you chapter and verse on my time in a Volvo variomatic. After those stories, nobody ever complains about trivial head pain like migraines and brain tumours.

 

Seller still being a bit elusive. Going to request his number from eBay and doorstep him i think.

 

 

Mine was a manual so I got the excitement of the pedal box falling apart mid roundabout so I couldn't get 3rd & understeered off into a ditch amongst other enjoyable* moments.

[danthecapriman]

I loved my old 340! I won't hear a bad word said god dam it!

Mine was a late 1.7 GL manual, it was a mint one owner car with low miles. It went well enough and was much better built than an equivalent Escort or Astra size car by miles and it was RWD not front drive crap.

 

I don't think they're anywhere near as good cars as the 200/700/900 Volvo's though. The big ovloV models always were brilliant cars with a quality the lesser models didn't have. The 340 wasn't as nice to drive as the 200 or 700 either. Still love them though.

[eddyramrod]

I was nursing a horn for this red one until I discovered it was Learner-boxed.  I still miss my round-headlight 244GL auto...

[BorniteIdentity]

I've finally made contact with the owner of the Volvo.  I think he was secretly hoping I'd not go through with the deal, as he seems to think I've got it for a very good price.

 

I don't agree at all.

 

Apparently both parties being unhappy with a deal is a good indicator that the right price has been agreed. (Genuinely).

 

Hoping to pick it up by the weekend, so I have something else to fuck me off and leave oil all over my driveway.

[Timewaster]

My dad had an 87 240 with a bazillion miles on the clock and dragged a caravan all over the country with it.

 

He used to give me a lift in to work sometimes when I was a yoof. Having spent the previous night drinking alcopops (which was the style at the time) the jiggley swaying at the junction as the engine cold idled would turn my stomach.

Also the heated seats were toasty warm when they were on, they were blocks of ice when off.

Despite my obvious driving God skills every 17yr old is blessed with, he never did let me drive it.