• Hello Guest, welcome to the initial stages of our new platform!
    You can find some additional information about where we are in the process of migrating the board and setting up our new software here

    Thank you for being a part of our community!

need a new volvo soon...

WagonWagon

New member
Joined
May 22, 2004
Location
Maine
Currently driving a 89 240 wagon, 5spd with 210k miles on it. If i had my choice, i'd keep it. Unfortunately, my lill sis is getting her lisence soon, i go to college 9 hours away, and my mom wants a new car. Thus, i get my moms car for use or trade in $$, my lill sis gets my 240, and my mom gets a new car - everyone happy.


I've been reading a lot about other volvo's...my family has owned swedish cars all my life, and i'm hooked on them. I want another stick...i tried driving an auto for a year and when i switched back it just confirmed that i love driving stick.

I'll have about 5-7k to work with..my moms car is an 850glt in nice condition, but its an auto. I'd really like another wagon in a stick...but as far as i can tell, 900 series dosen't come with a stick or is very rare, 800 series is hard to find a stick and is front wheele drive (unfortunately), and the 700 series is getting kinda old...woulnd't be much of an improvement in reliablility for a 9hour drive.

What do you guys recomend looking into for a stick wagon with a 5-7k budget? I've got all summer to look for the most part, but i've kinda narrowed my options down quite a bit. Either way, i'll be getting a volvo wagon...just would like it to be one i want.
 
with a 5-7k budjet you could probably get a decent 700/200/900 and restore it into what you want... just an idea, as most older cars are gonna need some work, if you take care of te typical wear areas like brakes, exhaust, BUSHINGS, and other suspension stuff, a good tune up and you can have a pretty close to new/better then new automobile...

good luck with the search!
 
personally i'd keep the 850glt... but thats just me.

I like Jonny's idea about going w/ something and restoring it, but you'd have to be careful that you don't end up spending the money for upgrades/performance stuff on misc fixes that just happen to pop up. Such as replacing seals on the engine and random dealer parts that crap out about 3 months after you've had the car.

The other thought is if you looked real hard I bet you could come up w/ a V40 close to 7k (then again I haven't even looked @ the V40s)
 
wagon with manual

For that price range you could get a nice manual trans wagon. The 700 series 4 cylinder both turbo and naturally aspirated had manual trans available upto 91. The only cars I've seen manual newer than that are GLT 850s and the newer S70 T5 models seem to have a few manuals around. But they are alot more money. I agree with the suggestion above. Use the 5-7k to get yourself a nice turbo manual wagon 740 and enjoy. You'll probably need to fix up a few things and with that much money you may even have enough left for upgrades like IPD sway bars.
There are manual trans 90-91 models but they aren't that common. I'm sure if you look patiently you'll find a really nice car.
Best regards,
 
thanks for the input

I found a 1991 740 turbo wagon 5spd for sale yesterday at the shop my family has been servicing our cars at for the past 15 years or so, and can get it for 1600 or so. I think i'm gonna go ahead and do it, the body is in good shape, paint is good, interior is gonna need some work, and the engine has 280k. I think i should jump on the chance to get the combo of car/style/engine/tranny while i can, i know its a hard find, but it'd be nice to finally drive somthing i'm interested in fixing up.
 
Awesome man... i JUST bought a 90 744ti today for 1600CAN its an auto tho..but meh! i can't wait to get the ball rolling on this once it gets dropped off tomorrow!! good luck with yours man!
 
well, i might end up keeping my 240 5speed afterall...


I went to look at the 740 turbo wagon today, and well, its kind of a mess. The body has a good size dent in the hood and rear passanger door, there is a little surface rust around the wheel wells, hood, and by where the roof racks meet the hood (not too bad overall though). The tires are pretty much out of tread, but it does have nice turbo wheels. The windsheild has a small chip where a rock hit it, some of the molding is a little shakey, and both bumpers are really oxidized so that they look grey. All the lights will have to be replaced, and the grill and roof racks need to be repainted.

As for interior, its gonna need new seats all the way around, the leather is ripped up pretty much everywhere, and a few of the interior molding pannels will need to be replaced.

I don't know if i'm being overcritical on such a rare car, but for 1800$, i can see myself wanting to put atleast another 2k of repairs into it. On top of this, the engine has 275k miles, but otherwise should be mechanically sound. I dunno, i got burned trying to buy a fix-me-upper before, so i'm reluctant, when i already have a car in great condition. Argh...dont know what to do, gonna have to think it over
 
find one thats in good condition to begin with. this was always my major failing I always bought some peice of shit and then I had to fix absolutley everything on it before I could start doing mods even.
Try to start out with something decent to begin with as a good base to begin doing mods to :)
 
Agreed. I started out with the POS for $400, and at this point, you don't even WANT to know how much I have in it. Granted it's done, but even before the paint, just the basic complete mechanical rebuild, new interior, and MINOR upgrades was over $5k. Find something with at least a straight body and decent interior. That way you can at least look respectable, do the mechanics yourself, and start having fun.
 
alright, thanks for the replys, they've helped me out

I'm gonna stick with my 245 5spd for now, its only got 210k miles, and the body only needs a little rust work. Interior and stereo are enough to keep me satisfied. Until i find a nice clean turbo...thanks
 
Guess it's a bit harder out there than in 'wonderful' sunny California. It's worth it though in the long run. There's actually been a couple 245T's on ebay lately. Think one just went off yesterday for around $2k.
 
My 2 cents worth.

My 240 died about a month ago - it could have been rescued but my Volvo specialists had doubts over previous owners maintenance routines - and that raised doubts over whether my plans for a ported head and Eibach suspension would be wise - based on the potential for disaster further down the drivetrain.

The car was scrapped - although I did rescue the wheels - a nice set of Virgos - including spare. I bought a 740GL with the B230E engine from the specialist for ?1430 including a roller load cover. It is 1987 model with at the time a 146800 miles on the clock.

3 weeks later it had covered another 2500 miles, survived a front end shunt - with only a smashed headlight and side light - bought at a scrapyard in Germany for 50 euros. The car got me and my better half to Switzerland - from the UK heavily loaded - at speeds between 70 and 100 mph - that is right 100mph fully loaded on the German autobahn for a 17 year old 740!!!!

The car is incredible tight for its age. It came with every MOT certificate and Full service history - specialist for the last 60000 miles but that doesnt really change things. Last week I saw 115mph on the autobahn in Germany - although she didnt like doing that for long.

I bought the 240 for ?600 and it acted like a ?600 car.

The moral of the story is pick a good car. Whatever their age a Volvo will deliver but be prepared to pay more then you would for another marque.

And before anyone panics - the car will be going in for a Full Service once I have done another return trip to the UK (1400 miles).
 
One option that I have done with my 92 740 Wagon, is I up shift it manually, from 2nd, not 1st.. I only down shift into 2nd when I am sure that speed is slow enough, and only for cornering. Mine has the OD button on the shifter and I use that all the time. You can set the rate of acceleration to a reasonablr rate, and upshift at 3-4K. I like stick trans better, but this works for me right now. The engine seems to not mind, and I don't like the low RPM it auto shifts with light throttle pressure.
 
Back
Top