 About To Get A Wagon! Need Advice: 240, 740, 760?, Want to get an 80s wagon - but which one |
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| About To Get A Wagon! Need Advice: 240, 740, 760?, Want to get an 80s wagon - but which one |
 Sep 15 2008, 09:35 AM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 15-September 08 Member No.: 48,168 Status:  Location: Ontario, Canada Drives: 1979 245  |
Hey everyone - I'm looking forward to volvo ownership :-) I'm currently on the prowl for a wagon, probably an 80s model. My needs are: carrying stuff and sometimes passengers. Having a nice rear area for our dog. Towing a small utility trailer (I make and deliver rain barrels, and also pick up and repair bicycles).
I also like the idea of the fold-down rear seats, just in case I need to ferry a bunch of friends off somewhere. My needs have pointed me toward volvo wagons, and i have seen a few listings but I wanted to run my needs by the experts so that I know I'm barking up the right tree... I'm hoping to get some advice on which wagon models are best as far as reliability. I'm not worried about comfort as much as I am about the ability for the engine to keep "going and going". So functional and safety oriented longevity is important to me - interior "extras" are not :-) I am hoping to test drive a 1989 760 this week - I have asked the owner about which engine is in it, but I'm really just starting to get into the research. So far it seems like the most reliable are the 4cyl ones? Any advice is appreciated! I am looking in the 1000-1500 range, so I'm expecting to come across some wear and tear service, I just don't want to drive it for a month and have to replace head gaskets etc. I'm also a fan of simple engines with not too much computerized wizardry that can go wrong. I am a bit of a tinkering nerd, but any car I've had so far has been beyond my interest. However a car with an engine that I could work on would probably be rewarding for me. SO if there are any tips on "tinkerer's delight" models, I'm all ears regarding that too :-) Thanks so much! Here is a picture of the car I might look at... (IMG:http://images.craigslist.org/010205010403011613200809113bb25d12fe6614ff910065ec.jpg) |
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Sep 16 2008, 03:49 AM
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#2
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 Veteran  Group: Admin Posts: 7,248 Joined: 1-March 05 Member No.: 3,464 Status:  Location: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Drives: 1996 Volvo 855 T5 FWD, 1989 Honda Civic 2-Door |
I'd go for a 940 wagon.
:) |
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Sep 16 2008, 10:17 AM
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#3
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 15-September 08 Member No.: 48,168 Status: Location: Ontario, Canada Drives: 1979 245 |
haha - i have a problem now - this 79 245 is speaking to me...
(IMG:http://images.craigslist.org/0115040103050116042008081220f14d38b1bfa15b1b006ffa.jpg) QUOTE(seller) hi in fact it has the factory trailer hitch. i have owned it for 4 years during which time it has always been parked underground until this june. prior to that it was winter stored for 10 years. i have put $4000 into the car since 2004 on the following: * full exhaust * brakes * suspension: shocks and mounts * timing belt * fan, water pump & alternator belts * carburetor tuned & reseated * cam seal * exide battery with ample cold cranking amps (the exact # of amps escapes me but it has NEVER let me down) * motor mounts * ignition points, plugs, wires, distributor * tailgate pistons replaced * very quiet michelin tires on original rims with original hubcaps i always use original volvo parts when servicing this vehicle. oil changes every 3 months or 5000kms. that wagon LOVES the winter even if you choose not to plug in the block heater! whoever buys this car will get a great deal - i love that wagon and i have taken extraordinary care of it. i am selling it as is but it will require little for safety. this car has the original am/fm cassette player and the analogue clock on the dash still keeps perfect time! my wife and i are volvo enthusiasts for sure. the reason we're selling the wagon is that a friend of the family sold us a 740 turbo. we only drive on weekends (except the occasional grocery store run) since our parents live out of town. the paint isn't a nice as the 79 which btw has only been painted once - the original colour of course. the body has a few spots of surface rust but nothing perforated, so no worry for safety. i have kept on top of any potential problems by covering them with heavy grease to keep salt and moisture out. i know it needs a fuel sender. the original one is still on there and i think the seal is failing causing it to run a bit rough but until it is fixed it can be controlled with the choke. it's a 2.1 litre carbureted inline 4 - the classic 240 engine that has a reputation for going a million miles. i have an alternator and freshly rebuilt water pump that i can include as part of the deal if you're interested. thanks. I have a bad feeling that I may become prone to collecting volvo wagons... :o |
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Sep 17 2008, 03:26 AM
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#4
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Veteran Group: Admin Posts: 7,248 Joined: 1-March 05 Member No.: 3,464 Status: Location: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Drives: 1996 Volvo 855 T5 FWD, 1989 Honda Civic 2-Door |
Sounds NICE.
:) |
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Sep 17 2008, 09:04 AM
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#5
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 15-September 08 Member No.: 48,168 Status: Location: Ontario, Canada Drives: 1979 245 |
Agreed - I am seeing it Monday and the wait is killing me. I'm hoping to bring a friend of mine along who is a bit of a car nut - currently rebuilding a jag from the ground up.
I will still test drive the 760 turbo today, but I think it has not been as well cared for. |
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Sep 19 2008, 09:09 PM
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#6
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 Veteran  Group: Super Mod Posts: 3,344 Joined: 9-August 07 Member No.: 31,123 Status: Location: Brooklyn, New York Drives: 1996 Volvo 850 R,1968 SS clone Camaro,1963 pan/shovel chopper, 1949 Panhead bobber, 1967 Triumph Bonneville, 1967 Honda 175, 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa, 1996 Impala SS big-block, 2004 Mercedes E500 (the mrs.), 1934 Dodge, |
245 245 245 245!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana: i guess that means i'd go for the 245. either one is good, but 245. just look at the expression on the face.
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Sep 22 2008, 08:04 PM
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#7
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Veteran Group: Admin Posts: 7,248 Joined: 1-March 05 Member No.: 3,464 Status: Location: Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Drives: 1996 Volvo 855 T5 FWD, 1989 Honda Civic 2-Door |
Hehehe...
GREEK and his usual-self. Love ya, bang... :) |
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Sep 23 2008, 12:10 PM
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#8
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 15-September 08 Member No.: 48,168 Status: Location: Ontario, Canada Drives: 1979 245 |
Drove it last night and it is sweet - sadly, it also needs a windshield for safety :-(
I am looking into costs but it looks like the windshield, fuel sender and safety will be $450-$650 on top of purchase price of 1000. In my mind, having it on the road for ballpark 1500 was my goal so I think I will go for it. my girlfriend loves it too, which is a necessity i I thought she might be afraid of manual clutch but she is cool with it. Looking forward to getting my hands dirty when necessary - i have a feeling this will become somewhat of an obsession! If I am going to have the fuel sender replaced, is there anything else that I should have done while that area is being worked on - other wear parts that should be looked at under the same labour charge? THanks guys! |
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Oct 13 2008, 04:58 PM
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#9
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 15-September 08 Member No.: 48,168 Status: Location: Ontario, Canada Drives: 1979 245 |
oops - meant to say manual choke, not clutch...
anyway, I went for it - got it for 900 and put about the same in for safety - needed minor brake pad work and ball joints plus of course the windshield. It took some time to get used to the choke, but I'm doing alright. The garage said they don't see any problems that suggest fuel sender so I didn't have that done yet. But I had an issue today that brought that back into the foreground - stalled and wouldn't start. I had to pour some gas into the fuel line running into the carb and once it was running, we topped up the tank and got home OK... but there is definitely something interrupting the fuel supply. Will post more in the 240 forum now - just wanted to thank you guys for chiming in here pre-purchase! |
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