Volvo estate bug

[danthecapriman]

I’ve had a Volvo of one sort or other since I was 18! Except one short period of time a few years ago while I made space for a Yank tank import. Realised I couldn’t be without one though so got another.

 

First one I had was this 91 340. A very late 1.7GL manual. It was a one elderly owner car when I got it and had very low mileage. It was absolutely mint, I kept it years then my dad had it for a year or so before I sold it. I think it ended up scrappaged sadly.

 

 

I had a 79 244 2.1DL manual too. I got this one to save my Capri from a rusty death on winter roads. This was another giffer owned car and only had 62k miles on the clock. The paint was poor though the car was very solid and reliable. I kept this for years too eventually selling it to a member on here when I got a mk2 Granada. It’s in Scotland now and wears metallic blue paint with a silver roof.

 

 

I also bought this 87 740 2.3GLE auto while I had the 244. It was going cheap as the owner was only in the U.K. for a few years working. This really was hitting the sweet spot for me with Volvo’s! I absolutely loved this car! Really well made, lovely drive and never gave any trouble, it just suited me perfectly. I did loads to this car over the years to make it really nice. I had to sell it in the end when I brought my Yank over, I actually had a lump in my throat when I watched it drive away! Really really shit decision.

It’d done 185k miles when it left me but it’s new owner has been piling on the miles since. One year it’d racked up 17k miles! Must’ve been expensive!

 

 

Around a year later and still regretting the loss of the gold saloon I was chatting to my sisters boyfriend (now fiancé) about cars and he mentioned his grandad had an old Volvo. He’d passed away a couple of years previous and the car was left to rot on his driveway while the family cleared the estate.

Small world!!

It turned out to be exactly the car I was hell bent on finding to replace the gold saloon!

 

It’s an 88 740GLE 2.3 auto but an estate this time. Low mileage, currently on 93k and it was the company car of the owners son when new. Once it’d done its company car use it was bought outright by him and given to his father who kept it until his passing.

It’d suffered a bit in later years, especially during its time sat dumped on the driveway but I made my interest known and ended up being given it for free.

I’ve done loads to it since, it actually needed a lot more work than I’d expected which probably would have rendered it scrap to most other people, but it’s a great car under the grime and neglect so I persevered with it eventually getting it up to a good standard it’s in now. Still needs a few issues and cosmetics sorting but it’s a great car now and I’m well happy with it.

 

 

 

The US quad headlight conversion was done by me. I just prefer them and it makes it that little bit different in my opinion!

 

 

Id highly recommend Volvo’s to anyone. They’re very overlooked cars I think, but the older models are just starting to become more difficult to get now. I noticed it when I was looking for a replacement 740. At one point when I had the gold saloon they seemed fairly common and easy to be picky about with spec etc etc but it’s not so easy now. They seem to be thinning out quickly in number now. Maybe a good time to grab one?

[Unclefester]

I’ve had a Volvo of one sort or other since I was 18! Except one short period of time a few years ago while I made space for a Yank tank import. Realised I couldn’t be without one though so got another.

First one I had was this 91 340. A very late 1.7GL manual. It was a one elderly owner car when I got it and had very low mileage. It was absolutely mint, I kept it years then my dad had it for a year or so before I sold it. I think it ended up scrappaged sadly.

2C009E8E-2622-4495-B14A-75E95388B2A4.jpeg

I had a 79 244 2.1DL manual too. I got this one to save my Capri from a rusty death on winter roads. This was another giffer owned car and only had 62k miles on the clock. The paint was poor though the car was very solid and reliable. I kept this for years too eventually selling it to a member on here when I got a mk2 Granada. It’s in Scotland now and wears metallic blue paint with a silver roof.

559B0E2F-55DA-4839-892D-CA12DE7D1A40.jpeg

I also bought this 87 740 2.3GLE auto while I had the 244. It was going cheap as the owner was only in the U.K. for a few years working. This really was hitting the sweet spot for me with Volvo’s! I absolutely loved this car! Really well made, lovely drive and never gave any trouble, it just suited me perfectly. I did loads to this car over the years to make it really nice. I had to sell it in the end when I brought my Yank over, I actually had a lump in my throat when I watched it drive away! Really really shit decision.

It’d done 185k miles when it left me but it’s new owner has been piling on the miles since. One year it’d racked up 17k miles! Must’ve been expensive!

F4D2748E-E7F2-4584-9145-2A919B6B089B.jpeg

Around a year later and still regretting the loss of the gold saloon I was chatting to my sisters boyfriend (now fiancé) about cars and he mentioned his grandad had an old Volvo. He’d passed away a couple of years previous and the car was left to rot on his driveway while the family cleared the estate.

Small world!!

It turned out to be exactly the car I was he’ll bent on finding to replace the gold saloon!

It’s an 88 740GLE 2.3 auto but an estate this time. Low mileage, currently on 93k and it was the company car of the owners son when new. Once it’d done its company car use it was bought outright by him and given to his father who kept it until his passing.

It’d suffered a bit in later years, especially during its time sat dumped on the driveway but I made my interest known and ended up being given it for free.

I’ve done loads to it since, it actually needed a lot more work than I’d expected which probably would have rendered it scrap to most other people, but it’s a great car under the grime and neglect so I persevered with it eventually getting it up to a good standard it’s in now. Still needs a few issues and cosmetics sorting but it’s a great car now and I’m well happy with it.

81BDD190-05A1-4676-92D7-4FC6798211C5.jpeg

23A96F1E-AC61-4423-B4BC-047354A22932.jpeg

The US quad headlight conversion was done by me. I just prefer them and it makes it that little bit different in my opinion!

Id highly recommend Volvo’s to anyone. They’re very overlooked cars I think, but the older models are just starting to become more difficult to get now. I noticed it when I was looking for a replacement 740. At one point when I had the gold saloon they seemed fairly common and easy to be picky about with spec etc etc but it’s not so easy now. They seem to be thinning out quickly in number now. Maybe a good time to grab one?

Some beautiful cars there u have had sir and still do. really enjoyed the story and pics appreciate your time sharing.

 

Regards lewis

[danthecapriman]

I had a 94 850 2.5GLE auto estate for a while too, it was in that lovely metallic maroon they did with a tan interior. I got that cheap too as it’s owner was leaving the country. He thought the head gasket had gone as it had mayo in the dip stick tube! It hadn’t of course, it’s just on these engines the dip stick tube is right on the front of the engine and can get a bit of condensation inside which then looks like a failed head gasket!

I didn’t have it long though, as nice as it was it just didn’t have the feel of the older cars to me and I didn’t bond with it.

I sold it to a mate as he needed a car, he looked after it but couldn’t afford to run it so sold it to a mate of his who was a complete bell end and for some ridiculous reason used to delight in ragging it and red lining absolutely everywhere. Unsurprisingly he blew the auto box up in the end which was the end of the car unfortunately.

I can’t find any pics of it though.

[aldo135]

I've got a 740 but it's "resting" at the moment! Might be tempted to sell but it needs a bit of work that I will get to eventually... Had an 850 for a while too which is back with RML now. Both are great cars, though as Dan says the 850s do feel a lot more modern. Good luck with the search

[Pete-M]

Which engine out of interest? Asking for a *cough* friend

There are kits to fit the Chevy LSx engine and box.

[Pete-M]

I had a nice 850 T5 CD estate a few years ago. It was a nice thing, not that hot in the bends.

 

Replaced it with an A6 2.8 Quattro Avant Sport. Which was ok in the bends but not as comfy, quick or economical as the 850.

 

I do keep thinking about dropping a silly V8 into a 240 estate, I'll do it one day.

[paulplom]

I've had a 2005 v70 diesel for nearly 10 years now. The only non service item replaced was the clutch slave cylinder. 'box out though and tadts. There's even a topic on the voc where you post your mileage when it fails. It's probably the only car I've had where I could jump into and drive anywhere without checking anything or worrying about it. It does have only 120k on it though. I've been panicking for the last year or 2 about what I'm going to replace it with. There's absolutely nothing out there at the moment that comes close to being so reliable, capable or comfortable while averaging nearly 50mpg. Hopefully it'll just keep giving sterling service.

[Unclefester]

If it was only a estate

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/volvo-740gl-1989-88000mls-only/1328262631

[garethj]

I've been muttering about selling my Phase 1 V70 diesel for a while as I've owned it for about 3 years now - that's about 3 times longer than I normally keep cars.  The trouble is that there's nothing around that does 50mpg, carries all the stuff I could ever need and is so reliable.  I bought it with 135k on the clock and it's now got 190k and still just gets on with driving to work every day or family holidays in Wales or France.

 

It's got climate control, heated seats but that's it for options, it doesn't even have front foglights.  However it's the manual gearbox that made me buy it, makes a difference for mpg and is quite a nice gearchange when hooning about.

 

My eldest turns 17 next month and they won't insure him on it.  Looks like that will force me to sell it

[Guest Hooli]

IMG_20181020_1317167.jpg

 

Could I tempt you with a hugely expensive classic

On car and classic\ebay at 1750. Shiters price 1500

 

That's lovely!

[Shirley Knott]

That's lovely!

 

Agreed, a steal at £1500 I recon too.

 

I actually really wanted a 240 but ended up with a 940 as they were cheaper. Fast forward 6 months and my 940 owes me about £1600, I probably should have just bought a 240 in the first place 

 

TBF the 7/9 series cars are still very nice indeed, mines one of the 2.3 Turbo jobbies with the later/stronger M90 manual box, it's got heated seats and stuff which is a plus... The only issue I've got with it is it's too nice and having just clicked over 88k I've now found myself trying to keep the miles off it and not using it in bad weather. If I could do it all again I would have bought a cheaper/rougher example that I wouldn't mind using 'in anger'.

[Floatylight]

I've been muttering about selling my Phase 1 V70 diesel for a while as I've owned it for about 3 years now - that's about 3 times longer than I normally keep cars. The trouble is that there's nothing around that does 50mpg, carries all the stuff I could ever need and is so reliable. I bought it with 135k on the clock and it's now got 190k and still just gets on with driving to work every day or family holidays in Wales or France.

 

It's got climate control, heated seats but that's it for options, it doesn't even have front foglights. However it's the manual gearbox that made me buy it, makes a difference for mpg and is quite a nice gearchange when hooning about.

 

My eldest turns 17 next month and they won't insure him on it. Looks like that will force me to sell it

Sorry - thread hijack -Have a look at Veygo for learner insurance, someone on here recommended it, costs about a fiver for 2 hours and is app driven.

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Ghosty]

Heated front seats are standard equipment, because Sweden.

Whether they work is another matter entirely, the drivers one on my 850 is broken. Only that and the cheese cog though, everything else works. Not bad for 190k.

[danthecapriman]

If I could do it all again I would have bought a cheaper/rougher example that I wouldn't mind using 'in anger'.

We both know that’s not how it works!!

I bought all my Volvo’s with the intention of having an old interesting proper car that I could use daily in any weather. While that’s true of them, every time with every car it’s ended up becoming a project that it needn’t have been and I’ve ended up treating them more as a classic than a car! I just can’t help myself!

 

 

If it was only a estate

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/volvo-740gl-1989-88000mls-only/1328262631

Don’t write off the saloons...

They’re still surprisingly big, I could get more into my 740 saloon than my mates dad could squeeze into his V50 estate. The only downside is lack of headroom.

There seem more nice condition saloons around than estates too. If you don’t really need a big estate the saloons are great.

[bramz7]

I haven't ever owned a Volvo despite coming close several times.

 

It's an itch I need to scratch now and it's getting quite irritating. I'd love an 850 really.

[Tetleysmooth]

Worth an enquiry if its not too much trouble sir if u can be botherd.

 

Message sent, awaiting reply.

[Shirley Knott]

We both know that’s not how it works!!

 

 

True.

 

I do this with almost every old car I buy unfortunately, the last old one I had was a really early '89 MX5 that had never been welded. I got to the point where I barely dared use it making the whole thing utterly pointless! The Volvo was meant to be my ticket out of that mentality...

[Unclefester]

I've sent a message about the saloon. See what happens bloody London again last time I bought bought a cavilear 1.7td last year lowerd on its ass with stretched tyres destroyed my back lol

[danthecapriman]

I've sent a message about the saloon. See what happens bloody London again last time I bought bought a cavilear 1.7td last year lowerd on its ass with stretched tyres destroyed my back lol

Eeeww, London! That’s a fair drive back for you.

It’d have to be something nice for me to go to London for and I’m not that far away. Bloody place.

[Unclefester]

Eeeww, London! That’s a fair drive back for you.

It’d have to be something nice for me to go to London for and I’m not that far away. Bloody place.

Not ideal but nothing uo this way hate London myndad stays in Essex hate that place too. I get paranoid leave my Scottish home lol

[volvoman]

WOW...look at all these lovely Volvos.

 

Volvo...................................it a way of life (not just for the Scotts either). Once youve owned one, there is no going back!

 

Ive had a Volvo estate in my life since the late 80's. I had a break from owning em a few times (bought ford/vauxall shite) but soon came to my senses, an returned to the "Swedes".

Estates/Wagons have always been more desirable than the saloons, but dont be put off by saloons, there all good.

2.3 red blocks are better than the 2.0's. T5 2.3 Turbo engines are the ones to have for sure. The straight 6 cylinder engines are nice too, but dont go for the 2.5 170 BHP lump, when you might just as well have the 3.0 204 BHP (non turbo too). I would avoid the early 760 V6 french engines though...Ive never had one, but by all accounts, they are pants. Leather interiors are better too.

 

200 series - A real Volvo, can be "boat like" in the bends, but a classic. GLT's are the best.

 

700/900 - More of these beauties around, a lot have been modded(for the Drifter boys). 2.3 red blocks/turbo are best.

 

850 - FWD...get a T5 engine (the cops loved these as their pursuit cars). an what about watching these estates race in the BTCC(back in the day) those estates pissed off a lot of other race teams too.

 

V70- FWD - again, best engine is the T5, a bit more refined than the 850 T5, the V70 delivers the power sensibly, the 850 is a little more aggressive. My 850 T5, even though its an auto, can smoke the tires up real easy!

 

Rare Volvos - 760 Turbo Intercooler, 2.3 red block, (190 BHP). 940 Sport 2.3 red block(190 BHP) 740/940 16V 2.3 red block (non turbo, 155 BHP). These 3 versions are the most desirable, if you can find a good one, then buy it, if its not too much money!!!

 

850R's and V70 R/V70 R AWD's are the most desirable, these can be seen for sale at obscene prices though.

 

The 960, 6 cylinder, 204 BHP estates are really smooth to drive, they are very comfortable, they drive better than most of the other Volvos mentioned above........................but they do like to drink the petrol some!

 

My 850 T5 (chipped) was more economical on fuel, than my 960 6 cylinder wagon..................But the 960 was sooooooooooooooo smooth, and the driving position was perfect for me.

If petrol costs dont bother you...............then for me, the RWD 960's are the winners. The CD specs on these are the most well equipped out there(pre 1998)...if you think cruising along in a 740/940 is nice, the 960 does it just a bit better.

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

London cars are generally very good, rust wise though.  Particularly if they've lived there all their lives.  My Disco was from the smoke and it's survived way, way better than a countryside/ coastal area.

I'd definitely travel there for the right car.

[volvoman]

If it was only a estate

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/volvo-740gl-1989-88000mls-only/1328262631

 

I looked at this car advert this morning. I would personally avoid, but thats just me. (no offence to the seller).

 

Ask yourself a few questions here - its obviously a dealer/trader/breaker (look at the background photos).

I would look for a car, that someone has owned for some time, history means a lot when buying a car.

I bet he only has the green slip (maybe im wrong here) an its just at his mates yard?!

Dont be in a rush to buy, think of how far away a car is to travel to get to.

 

I took a bloody long time to find the right 850 T5 estate for me, i was looking for ages. I also took awile to find my C70 coupe too.

I spent years looking for the right 960 estate, but again, thats just me...I never jump at the 1st car i see.

Take you time, one will come up for you........................an it will probably be a lot closer to home too.

[Unclefester]

Thanks for all the advice and information search on hold as been let down by the buyer of the Honda prelude

[Minimad5]

Volvos are spot on.

I'd personally stay away from little engines and Naturally aspirated (Personal preference)

 

850 - Turbo, be it petrol or Diesel (Derv is a VW engine)

If you go for the Diesel, check it's had both Timing and Fuel pump belt replaced recently, also OEM engine mounts are £££.

 

 

S60 - 2.0T seems a tad lacking, so 2.4T , R, T5 or D5 - Engines I'd go for.

Do the glove test to check PCV is alright, & if possible take someone with you, who has Vida.

 

V70 - Same as S60, unless it's really early (Which if Diesel may have the D5252t VW engine)

Geartronic gearboxes require flushing before 100,000 or so, as they can suffer premature wear / death, as allegedly 'sealed for life' box.

Also check vac pipes are on engine mounts, common bodge, and go for the 163Bhp (black rocker cover) Euro 3, no DPF.

Actually pull that cover off & look for Diesel, if so you need Injector seals.

 

S80 - Avoid the T6, gearboxes are like chocolate.

 

760 - Would love another PRV V6.

... the list could go on

[Crooner]

Grrr. I bought this late 2017 from a chap in Bedford. It had been used daily by the owner of a post office who used it for a journey of less than one mile a week to the cash and carry. So it was in regular use, but really stiff and clogged up. I spent a bit of time cleaning and sorting out a load of running and other faults. I even sent it in to a proper old school crypton tune centre to try and get it running nicely. By the end it was running nicely but no matter how I tried I couldn't get any more than 13 mpg on my commute. Oh how I miss it, but couldn't justify the juice. Paid £1500 and sold it for £3250, so it did me well as the one old car I can genuinely turn round and tell SHMBO that I turned a profit on.

[0ldCh0d]

I posted this in the low cost, big liability thread....

 

XC90 T6.....currently £100- & nearby, however....it appears to have a chocolate auto box problem...

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-XC90-T6-Auto-spares-or-repair/183660089984?hash=item2ac2fe9280:g:xCsAAOSw8zNcUIKC

[0ldCh0d]

Just to add to this Volvo thread...a picture of my S60 T5...lol.

 

I don't know why the picture is not the correct way up????....stupid phone!