FS: 5.0L V8 Volvo 745 Sleeper Wagon--now $4900!
 

We got a new TDI VW Passat, which means my search for a Benz 300TDT has ended, sadly, without a Benz, and I have now embarked on the even sadder but necessary mission to sell my Volvo.

It's an '89 745 GLE with a Ford Mustang V8. The car is in superb condition, has lower miles, a new motor, runs and drives beautifully. Email me if you're interested.

Pics and more info coming at http://members.cardomain.com/v8volvo

A friend of mine in the Detroit area is driving an '89 740 sedan with a carbureted 302 stuffed under the hood. I just saw it for the first time a few weeks ago while up visiting family. That V8 fits quite nicely, doesn't it? Do you have any cooling problems? His is marginal on 90 degree days.

How do you like the Passat TDI? I'm seriously considering acquiring a TDI wagon to replace my 87TDT wagon. I spent ten minutes perusing the tdiclub.com website, and some of the discussions gave me pause regarding VW quality. What are your experiences?

- JimY

The fit is very nice. I've had my car sit in 93-degree heat for 40 minutes idling while waiting in line for an emissions test (which it passed with flying colors), and it never showed any sign of overheating. I used a diesel radiator and Cadillac V8 fan, which both have worked great. Mine is EFI, which I think is better in every respect than the old carbied ones.

I love the TDI--it is extremely powerful yet economical, and drives beautifully. My main beefs with it are that it's fwd (okay, but I like the feel of a rear-driver), it's very expensive because you have to buy new (no used TDIs on the market), and even new ones are nearly impossible to find. As far as quality, basically I think it's an extremely well-DESIGNED car, but how it's put together at the factory is a different story. On our car, with zero miles on the clock, there was way too much oil in the crankcase and the timing belt is singing because it's too tight.

I find some faults with the design. I wish it had a timing chain instead of a belt, for durability, and if a manual trans was available I would have bought it. Also, VW does all it can these days to shut the owner out of the engine bay. So a wrench-turner like me cannot even check auto-trans fluid level and quality--there's no dipstick--without a VAG_COM OBDII scan tool, a lift, and other special VW factory tools. More business for the dealer, more teeth grinding for me. Even changing the oil is an ordeal for a private owner. I have resigned myself to keep my hands (wrenches) to myself on this one and let the dealer handle it. I have enough project cars without this brand new one.

Also, there really is way too much electronic crap in the car. You cannot rev the engine from the engine bay. In fact, you can't even rev it in Park with the accelerator--the engine controller gets "confused" because it can't fathom why press the diesel pedal without trying to go anywhere and with no load on the motor, and the engine starts to misfire like crazy. Unnecessary complication. Also, the electronically adaptive auto trans is very annoying. If you climb a steep hill and use some power to maintain speed, it mistakes it for performance driving because of the large throttle input, even if you were in fact driving liesurely up the hill, and then delays shifts way too long even though you are driving gently. :mad:

Sorry if that is a bit of a rant--I like control, and this car is challenging me. It's a great car though, drive one.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've been in plenty of Passats, and it's one of the very few moderatly priced new cars that holds any appeal for me. Not all plasticy like the Japanese brands.

VW must not offer a manual transmission with the new motor; I'd guess it has too much torque. I was in Italy a few weeks ago and all the VW taxis had the five-speed automatic tranny - very unusual in taxis over there.

I'll saunter on down and drive one when I get the chance. I really need to decide whether I want to keep or sell my '87 wagon...

- JimY

v8volvo,

Working on the TDI is not as bad as it first seems. It's acutally quite easy if you:

1. Buy a VAG-Com from http://www.ross-tech.com
2. Purchase the Bentley manual as soon as it is available for the Passat PD TDI.
3. Use the resources available to you at TDIClub (you'll have to wade through some BS, but there are lots of great people and info there).

You're better off to keep your car away from the dealer, as many VW dealers don't have a good track record with the TDIs. Also, be sure to run the proper VW505.01 oil.

Enjoy, it's a beautiful car.

You don't say how much for your Volvo wagon ?

:-) neil

That's because I'm not entirely sure yet... I don't want to start too high and scare away buyers, but since we have well over $17,000 in the car I was figuring to ask about $11,900 to start with. If you are interested email me, even if the price seems a little steep for you, and I can provide more info. If there is no interest in the car at that price we will be flexible.

C'mon guys, let's see some motion here. $11,900 OBO! Try building one of these as good as this one for that much--you never will, plus it will take tons of time and effort. This one is ready to go!

More pics will be up at the site in the next few days, check it out!

Took a bunch more pics and added a ton of info/detailed description to the website. Check it out!

Some pics...

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...44_12_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...44_18_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...44_27_full.jpg

Yer killing me here. If I didn't think I would need to fill the tank every couple of days, I'd love to have this. Unfortunately, with 110 miles to cover every day, I should really be trying to buy your Passat......

Yes, the Passat is really incredible. It has unbelievable power for a diesel--much more torque than the 2.8L V6 you can get instead--and it gets 40 mpg. I couldn't be happier, other than the aforementioned aggravation of the auto tranny. Now it's got about 500 miles on it, getting through break-in. Things should only get better. :D

The Volvo's certainly no fuel-sipper, but it does have EFI and very good gearing, which help a lot, and a 15-gallon tank. It turns only 1900 rpm at 60 in fifth gear, which makes cruising relaxed, quiet, and relatively efficient. The engine certainly has way more than enough torque to pull an even taller ratio than that. :cool:

To the top...

Anyone interested?? This thing needs to go! :eek:

Ttt...

Price reduced!
 

We are annoying the neighbors by parking four cars on the street. Not enough space to keep them all much longer, so something needs to be done. :( We're reducing the asking price on the Volvo to $10,500 OBO to speed things up, so if you were holding back before, no need to now. All reasonable offers will be considered, so let me know if you are interested.

bump...