Volvo 740 Estate for sale

[garethj]

It's been a busy few weeks - I've managed to get a different job which is hopefully better but miles away through heavy traffic. As I'm not doing the school run any more it's time to swap four wheels and 7 seats for 2 wheels. So the Volvo is for sale.

 

In brief

Volvo, T&T. £500

 

In more detail

1989 Volvo 740 GLE Estate

 

 

2.3 litre k-jetronic engine with 4 speed manual 'box and very high geared overdrive. MoT was passed about 2 months ago and I think it was a bit early so about 11 months MoT left, tax until February. 171,000 miles. Stamped up service book, cambelt done about 20,000 miles ago. Towbar, leather seats, heated mirrors, electric windows, central locking, 7 seater version (although only 1 seatbelt in the rear). Proper Volvo moulded floormats which are like a big plastic tray that catch the dirt which you can empty after. Other luxury features include a load bay cover, radio cassette player and a heater which is better than our new S80.

 

This is more than 20 years old so it's ok for classic insurance. There's no catalytic converter or Lambda sensor so no faffing about with engine management. No ABS so nothing expensive to worry about there either. Solid rear axle and rear wheel drive would be GR8 4 DRIFTIN, unfortunately the suspension is soft so in truth it's just GR8 4 SPEEDBUMPS.

 

Very comfortable for wafting along, motorways are brilliant because it's so high geared and it's really quiet upto 90mph, only a little wind noise when you go faster but it'll cruise at 100mph for hours if you want to cover the ground.

 

On motorways it does 38mpg at 70mph, 35mpg at "I'm sorry officer, I didn't realise" and 24mpg around town.

 

 

The fuel gauge doesn't work, I'm pretty sure it's the sender. Sunroof works but needs aligning so I just leave it shut. Heated seats don't but the heater is blowing warm air after a mile.

 

Since I bought it, it's had most of a new exhaust, oil and (Volvo) filter, plugs, distributor cap with rotor arm and that's about it.

 

Snow socks last winter meant it never got stuck

[Lankytim]

Man, that's nice. I have a new lpg kit for one of these. Is love to combine the two!

Where is it?

[garethj]

It's in Flitwick, sunny Bedfordshire, M1 junction 12 or 13.

 

There's even a railway station so you can let the train take the strain coming down, and waft back

[Shep Shepherd]

I like that one. A lot. TV3, perhaps?

[Lankytim]

What's the headlining like? Any marks on the body?

[garethj]

Ah, an experienced Volvo owner!

 

The headliner is still up there, no sagging. It has a few small tears but it's better than most of the others I saw.

 

There's a crease on one rear wing, a little bubbling around a wheelarch or two but nothing that's got worse since I've had it. Underneath is as clean as a whistle.

 

I'll get some photos taken and post them up.

[garethj]

A few more photos. Typical wheelarch, it's not a minter but nothing that needs attention really

 

Driver's seat. No rips where you park your arse

 

Crease on the rear wing. Birdshit will be cleaned off before sale, subject to negotiation

 

Crack on the rear end of indicator lens as I carefully swung the front end into a post Note the wheelarch, which matches nicely

 

Headliner is like this. A few little tears like this, but not sagging. The foam behind is good

[dollywobbler]

Looks a great ol' bus. The mpg figures you claim look ridiculously optimistic to the casual observer, but my 740GLE auto could easily top 30mpg at a cruise. Remarkable given the slab-like aerodynamics! One of the most relaxing and comfortable cars I've ever driven.

[garethj]

Looks a great ol' bus. The mpg figures you claim look ridiculously optimistic to the casual observer, but my 740GLE auto could easily top 30mpg at a cruise. Remarkable given the slab-like aerodynamics! One of the most relaxing and comfortable cars I've ever driven.

It's crackers - when I started driving it I got 23-24mpg no matter how gentle I was with the accelerator. But that's through town and on B roads so no constant speed.

 

Show it a motorway and it's completely different, the aerodynamics are rubbish but overdrive top gear is monster high. I've done a few trips to Wales and back, 200 miles each way, it's quality wafting and almost as economical as my 1300 Polo.

[garethj]

Washed the birdshit off and parked up wi' ma homies for da croooz

 

EDIT: NOW SOLD

[scooters]

That is lovely. Were I still slogging to harpenden is have it in a shot. The lack of lambda sond is a major bonus as any issues are likely to come from it. Overdrive is a major bonus vs 5th. If you still have it in 2 months.....which you won't....I bagsy it!

[stuboy]

very nice..

 

used to drive a 740 gle estate auto.. lovely but it was juicy