Wanted Tell Me About: Volvo 740

[Ghosty]

Did your HGF Rover have low miles when you bought it? Low mileage is no guarantee of a looked after, mechanically sound car.

 

55,200.

 

Six-cylinder - noted! That certainly has potential and buying from a Shiter might be a good idea.

[Bear]

This 1990 740 GLE auto could be made available if it was of interest to you.

 

 

This has been a truly awesome vehicle since the DS went home. I've done 14 hours, driving Leicester to Grantham, to Stoke, to Middlesboro, to Shiremoor and back in one day with it, it's been on motorways, backroads, towed a trailer and has generally been comfortable. It's tried to decapitate me a few times, is kinda scruffy, but underlines all the great qualities of 740s. While using it I've debated replacing the tailgate and bonnet a few times, as there's a proper 740 one on eBay in the right colour, but... I dunno. The charm lies in that these things really don't matter.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Just what I needed to hear I know they go forever, I'm just trying to kick the old man out of a delusion (refuses any car based solely on mileage over ~90k).

Who is buying the car, you or the old man? If the former just get on with buying what you want. If the latter leave him to it.

 

As for high mileage, Im piloting an ancient citroen with almost 300k.....as always buy on condition not mileage its meaningless

 

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

[Ghosty]

Who is buying the car, you or the old man? If the former just get on with buying what you want. If the latter leave him to it.

 

As for high mileage, Im piloting an ancient citroen with almost 300k.....as always buy on condition not mileage its meaningless

 

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

Me but with money liberated from Old Man's A4. Old Man won't give me the money unless it's something he deems worthwhile (ie the moon on a stick/high mileage = everything needs replacing so less than 100k pls). Right PITA but I'm working on it.

[Ghosty]

This has been a truly awesome vehicle since the DS went home. I've done 14 hours, driving Leicester to Grantham, to Stoke, to Middlesboro, to Shiremoor and back in one day with it, it's been on motorways, backroads, towed a trailer and has generally been comfortable. It's tried to decapitate me a few times, is kinda scruffy, but underlines all the great qualities of 740s. While using it I've debated replacing the tailgate and bonnet a few times, as there's a proper 740 one on eBay in the right colour, but... I dunno. The charm lies in that these things really don't matter.

 

I'd probably replace the bonnet if I got it. Hmmm.

[overrun]

Me but with money liberated from Old Man's A4. Old Man won't give me the money unless it's something he deems worthwhile (ie the moon on a stick/high mileage = everything needs replacing so less than 100k pls). Right PITA but I'm working on it.

Fuck him off and buy whatever you want with your own money.

Problem solved.

[Bear]

I'd probably replace the bonnet if I got it. Hmmm.

 

 

I've found some between £40-90, occasionally in the right shade of grey. Considered it, then realised it makes absolutely no practical difference to how awesome the car is, and does make it less likely that people will park close.

[Pete-M]

A 740 wagon with an LS1 in it would be amazing. Live axle, V8, sleeper. Yum.

Kits to do that are readily available.

[Pete-M]

Knew of the best towing cars I ever used was a nearly new 760 Turbo wagon. That thing could tow.

[Lacquer Peel]

My girlfriend showed me an insurance black box that plugs into an OBD port

[Guest Hooli]

Probably the easiest way for it to get power if the fag lighter is in use? (as most are for twat-navs/fone chargers etc)

[cms206]

Hallo, you're through to the SVM.


Get a flat face 2.3GLE auto estate. They're shit on fuel but unburstable. Don't expect all electrics to work, the brakes are a fucking nightmare and for fuck's sake make sure it has "MADE IN BELGIUM" on the chassis plate.

2.0's are interference and a bit shit, 2.3s aren't quick but they are hardier. Don't ignore coolant issues. AW-autos are shite as well, always insist on ZF 4HP 'boxes. Manual's aren't bad but the autos make more sense and the economy saving is minimal.


All that said I paid £150 for the council estate and I reckon I've spent peanuts on it and it keeps going, it's not needed welded in the time I've had it, it's had front discs and pads and a back box from memory and ALL the dash gauges work. That said I've had about half a dozen of the sods and it is the ONLY one I've owned where it all works. 


940's are crap, they don't drive as well and tend to rot worse in my experience. Swedish built 700s and 900s (760s and late-model 900s mostly) all rot much quicker than Belgian ones for some reason.

[Negative Creep]

I'm going to buck the trend and say the 2.3 GLE estate I had years ago wasn't very nice. Good seats, load capacity and visibility, but slow, thirsty and horrible to drive. The stereo was also really annoying low so I kept smacking my knuckles on it when I went for 1st, 3rd or 5th.

[Ghosty]

Cheers Andy - that's all good advice, and as I've already said that's exactly the spec I'm after.

There's one I'm looking at locally that is in the ideal spec. Did a VIN decode on it though some Googling and it does seem to be Ghent made and correctly gearboxed.

[danthecapriman]

I'm going to buck the trend and say the 2.3 GLE estate I had years ago wasn't very nice. Good seats, load capacity and visibility, but slow, thirsty and horrible to drive. The stereo was also really annoying low so I kept smacking my knuckles on it when I went for 1st, 3rd or 5th.

Non believer! Burn him!

[Ghosty]

Having successfully shut Old Man up, I've PM'd the seller of this SVM approved vehicle to go and view it. Only on the other side of Manchester...

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172808575051

[rantingYoof]

Headlamp wipers.

 

 

*swoons*

[danthecapriman]

Having successfully shut Old Man up, I've PM'd the seller of this SVM approved vehicle to go and view it. Only on the other side of Manchester...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172808575051

Looks a very nice car. I shall await the collection thread!

[Ghosty]

Aye, I'd bloody like it too. Seems a good one past the listing being poor - found another ad elsewhere that said it has anti-puncture bands inside the tyres too, like it's properly giffered. It even has a local reg! Also despite appearing silver it's 'green' on the V5 so I suspect it might have the green velour interior. Towbar for AS assistance, dog guard (that I'd sell off, the nice steels/trims... its ideal. MOT has a couple of corrosion advisories but it's a 30 year old car and that's to be expected.

[Mally]

I'll just nip over and jump the queue then. I like sheds with tow bars.

[danthecapriman]

They aren't steel wheels, they are alloys with massive centre caps.

Indeed. They're standard GLE 14'' alloys, they're called 'Dersus' alloys. The centre bit is a big stainless trim.

[Ghosty]

Oh! Good to know. Thought it was a steel with a trim ring.

Viewing 3pm tomorrow. It's even closer than I thought it was too, Hazel Grove.

The seller has the same first name as Old Man too

[Shep Shepherd]

Looks like a good one, and very original. I hope that you make it yours

[3VOM]

 Towbar for AS assistance....

 

As you are a bit* younger than me, I think I'd better ask if you have a towing category on your licence.

[Tamworthbay]

Talking of black box insurance, I don't believe it's a valid way of recording safe driving.

 

A system that punishes you for actually accelerating is just going to encourage the sort of idiot who pulls out in front of you, stares in the mirror at you trying to avoid them & then toddles off at no more than 47.2mph along a NSL.

My niece got nobbled when she had to brake very hard to avoid a car that pulled out on her, her premiums were increased on one incident and they didn't give a shit when she phoned and explained. I think it's a con to look like they giving lower premiums.

[Tetleysmooth]

Are you brave?

 

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/116272889/volvo-740gl-saloon.html?link=%2Fsearch%3Fkeyword%3Dvolvo%2B740%26sectionId%3D2164

[Guest Hooli]

My niece got knobbed

 

Do you know how many times I read it before I didn't see it as that?

[danthecapriman]

Do you know how many times I read it before I didn't see it as that?

Must admit, I did a double take. Did I just read that right!?

[Lacquer Peel]

4 cyl petrol, disappoint. Looks grand though.

[Mally]

Are you there yet?