Advice on old Volvo 940

[Lukas]

Hi!

 

A friend of mine offered me a Volvo 940 GLE from 1991 with 280.000km on the clock, new shocks and springs (Bilstein), a limited slip diff at the rear, new brakes, rust removed and newly painted. It´s a 2.3 with manual transmission.

 

This is the car:

 

 

What to you think about it? I would like it a lot as a daily driver this summer, it´s RWD, it looks cool and it´s very well equipped (black leather, electric sunroof etc.). But I am concerned about the high mileage, or is this not such a problem on these Volvos? Anything special about them, do they have common problems? What would you say, should I buy it or walk away?

 

I have to apologize, I am an OJC-holic, I don´t know anything about old Volvos yet. So please, enlighten me!

 

Thank you very much!

 

Lukas

[Lankytim]

If its been looked after OK then the milage shouldnt be a problem at all. Being a 1991 GLE it may even have the very nice but rare 16v twin cam engine in. Vrooooom!!

[maxpower]

i wouldn't worry about the milage being 200k plus on a volvo.. they go on forever. i checked high milage volvo club and you cant even join until your car has done 300k so if its been looked after shouldnt be a problem.... personally i would bite his arm off for it

[dollywobbler]

I had a 740GLE auto that had done over 200,000 miles and been uncared for and thrashed for a lot of them. Had a few issues but still started every time, towed cars and caravans and provided RWD fun!

[scoobypete]

The 850 i had was on 245k when i sold it last year and is still going strong

[r.welfare]

Agreed. The 1990 740 2.3 GLE my brother had a few years back had done at least 230k miles - we couldn't quite work out how much as it had had a few replacement instrument panels (common fault for that year of car).I think the later LPT'd motors can sometimes blow a headgasket but that's about your lot. Simplest cambelt change ever on these.

[Milford Cubicle]

They can certainly take the mileage, I've driven Richard's 940 and it felt pretty solid, if vague - I think they're like that from new though.

[Lukas]

The 940 GLE has an aircondition, but does it have a pollenfilter too? If it has one, I will buy it as a summer-cruiser. If it doesnt have one, is it possible to retrofit one?Thanks four your advice!

[meggersdog]

Can't seem to find any info on pollen filters for 940's but you could try here http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=7324 for retro fit

[Milford Cubicle]

Couldn't you just fit a fine mesh over the air intake?

[Lukas]

Hahaha!

[Vin]

280,000km is (Excuse me; looks in diary at km/miles conversion chart) is...173,880 miles. Papa Vin was recently given a scruffy N reg (95) Estate as a 'courtesy' car whilst he had the dash pod replaced on his S80.It had 180,000 miles, was a 2.3 auto and went very well. Thirsty though.

[VWPowered]

Couldn't you just fit a fine mesh over the air intake?

or retro fit

 

[Josh_Cohen]

Thats awesome buy it I had an 8 valve volvo 940 with 260,000 miles on it it was amazingly reliable if you don't buy it you'll kick yourself LOL

[Dukestar25]

Lukas wrote:

What would you say, should I buy it or walk away?

Buy, buy, buy!!! with only 170k on the clock it's only just run in. Looks in good shape too. I love this generation of Volvo and my old 740 saloon was a pleasure to own (except when it needed refuelling) these big old things can drink impressive amounts of go-juice so if you can afford that, go get it

[scooters]

buy it - at 170k it is barely run in - these are fantastic cars and seriously underated - I would always carry the following parts:1/ spare crank case sensor2/ a complete set of spare fuses and relaysI love 940s and have owned several - very sensible, comfortable and tough cars the only thing and I mean only thing you have to watch is the cleanlieness of the electrical connections, give em all a scoosh of cleaner - it is a testement to the indestructibility of the 940 that these faults are only becoming apparant and usually in cars over 250k (in miles) - most cars would have been scrap at under half of that

[Lukas]

Took a testdrive in it today. I have to say the 2.3 engine is phantastic! At low revs, it pulls strong almost like a Diesel and sounds very nice at higher revs. Ok, it´s not a sports car, but the engine is strong enough for this car. The seats are phantastic, big and comfortable, but the interieur looks horrible. Black plastic everywhere, the doorcards look like they came from a schoolbus. If the Galloper sells, I´ll buy it and use it as a daily driver until autumn. The owner told me it´s horrible to drive in Winter, absolutely no traction uphill on snow, even with new snowtires he struggeled a lot in the last months... L