Advice on buying a Volvo

The V6 was pretty bad, the newer inline 6 engines though are pretty solid, they're essentially the same as the fairly well proven 5 cylinder. The old B30 inline 6 was good as well, though it had notoriously awful fuel consumption.

The turbo isn't really much of an issue, yeah it takes a bit of extra maintenance, but at 255k mine is still trouble free, and the Mitsubishi turbo used on it has virtually no lag at all. I've formed the opinion through experience that any engine is better with a turbo on it.

INLINE 6 - predecessor to the I-6 they make in their top end cars today. Totally bulletproof.

I got 12mpg city on my 164E. Heh.

No doubt the inline 6 is a great motor, but I've thought it'd be really cool to build a turbo version of it and drop it into a nicely restored 780, can't think of many cars I'd rather own. It's too bad they didn't make a 960 Bertone coupe.

"James Sweet" skrev i en meddelelse news:M9eXb.306337$xy6.1493836@attbi_s02...

What extra maintenance is required with the turbo?

Per Hauge

Yes, Guys! I still love my 780. The one I got 18 months ago. I found my electrical problem. Rear audio amp circuit.

I have the audio consult assembly out, now. I may replace the radio/casset player with the one I took out of my

765. I may put in a whole new system. I am not driving it in the winter, only playing with from time to time.

If I were to change the engine, in mine. I would put in a Mitsu Turbo, instead of the Garrets one, that is has. I like the mitsu in my 89-765's for it's performance, better. It does work good in the 89-780, but, I would not want it in the Wagon. I wonder how they will last, seeing how my Bricks were built one month, apart. The 780 in Italy in April 89 and the 765 in March in Sweden?

Do like the B230FT for many reasons, finding parts, the size and ease of working on it.

A bill @ Home in Wisconsin, USA Maroon 1989 760 Turbo wagon! w/134k miles ;-} Black! 1989 780 Turbo Coupe w/140k miles 8-} Blue Mule 1987 245 non-Turbo w/205k miles :-)SOLD

For SURE that would have been a nice car. Imagine the bi-turbo T6 motor (essentially a modernized version of the engine in my car) in a 960, boosted to over 300hp... Or a "980" Bertone.... 5 Speed transmission, wider tires... Oh my would that be a car and a half.

There was a turbo version available in europe, IIRC.

There is such a thing, it's used in the S80 T6, mounted transversely though, I've heard of it being dropped into a 700 series but I would guess it's quite a project with a lot of mixing and matching of parts.

Yes, I know the engine exists, that's why I suggested it. I think the re-wiring would be a headache... that and the gearbox is meant for a FWD car. I think just reducing the compression and adding a turbo to the older

I bet the block is the same, the fuel system would need to be changed for a turbo as well anyway so the wiring really isn't an issue, if I were to do it I'd use the Megasquirt open source injection system, it's not a beginner project but it could be done and is in the queue as something I'll attempt some day.

Hmmm.... sounds like a neat project, for sure.

Ack, I think one turbo is enough for me, the bi turbo setup has some advantages but I would not look forward to a $2k parts bill when they fail.

The '00 has brake maintenance problems and some electrical gremlins. The '00 S40/V40 is considered one of the worst Volvos. The '01 has these weaknesses fixed and is one of the best Volvos. I would check with a Volvo mechanic before buying an '00 S40.

What would an endless thread be without one more message?

I was new to Volvos 4 years ago when I bought my '83 240 Turbo and have been in love since. The other day we were sitting around contemplating the cost of ownership and were thinking that, as much as we love her, it may be time to give Lilly up in favor of a newer car. I remarked to my wife about this thread and the incredibly positive response the 900 series was getting. I had driven an 850T wagon about

8 years ago as a rental and liked it for all the reasons mentioned below.

We sat down and started adding up the costs (not including inevitable costs like fuel, oil changes, etc.) and found that in 2002 we spent $1530CAD on repairs and in 2003 $1503CAD (or about $1100USD). Is that much? It's worthwhile mentioning that each of those totals is made up of about 8 different items and no repeats. In the same period my father (who drives a 1997 Mercedes) only visited the garage twice...to the tune of $2400. And my boss (1997 Eagle Talon AWD) spent $2100 in 3 trips. So, with that in perspective, I don't feel I'm spending that much. Their cars are about 15 years newer but are still costing them more.

Would I spend much less if I dropped $5000CAD on a used 940 or 850? I know there is no car that exists without the repair costs, but the balljoint that cost me $110 in parts/labor/tax for my 240 would cost what in a 940? I'm due for a water pump gasket replacement and an inner tie rod replacement, about $350 is the estimate for all that. Can you even get anyone to look at your 850 for that money?

If so then maybe the time has come for me to trade up.

blurp

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 19:18:54 +0000, the illustrious Henry favored us with the following prose:

the 850. Other earlier years gave many the blues.

a mother. Of course, it has had every maintenance item done on time. The Space Shuttle Columbia was not any better serviced, yet there was the regrettable failure of the Columbia. Of course that was due to unforeseen circumstance. Nevertheless, that does serve to portray the incalculable well, in context.

indicative of the collective experience.

and judged by a person knowledgable, fit.

driving home today and had the misfortune of being behind one of those large tanker trucks... it was making 60mph on a 70mph stretch. I waited till the traffic cleared and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The 850 exploded with acceleration... by the time I was passing the cab/front of the giant truck I was making 100mph. I had an open stretch ahead, and held the pedal to the floor. The speed climbed surely and softly to 110mph, 115mph, 120, 125, 130... I let off the gas as the trees were going by so fast they were blurring into a collage of green. The car was quiet and easy at those speeds.

the 850. Other earlier years gave many the blues.

a mother. Of course, it has had every maintenance item done on time. The Space Shuttle Columbia was not any better serviced, yet there was the regrettable failure of the Columbia. Of course that was due to unforeseen circumstance. Nevertheless, that does serve to portray the incalculable well, in context.

indicative of the collective experience.

and judged by a person knowledgable, fit.

driving home today and had the misfortune of being behind one of those large tanker trucks... it was making 60mph on a 70mph stretch. I waited till the traffic cleared and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The 850 exploded with acceleration... by the time I was passing the cab/front of the giant truck I was making 100mph. I had an open stretch ahead, and held the pedal to the floor. The speed climbed surely and softly to 110mph, 115mph, 120, 125, 130... I let off the gas as the trees were going by so fast they were blurring into a collage of green. The car was quiet and easy at those speeds.