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  #1  
Old 07-14-2010, 07:26 PM
Squabble's Avatar
W123 Obsessed
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Trumansburg, NY
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Can Anyone Tell Me About 1980's to early/mid 90's Volvos?

hey all, i'm looking into getting a real beater of a winter car. don't want to put another W123 through an upstate NY winter. i'm looking at the under $1000 range on craigslists and in papers in the area and really shooting for a $600 and under buy. i've found quite a few volvos, sedans and wagons, DL's, GL's, etc. in that price range and i'm wondering if they would be a good, reliable buy. anyone have an info or inside scoops? anything to look out for before / if i buy? thanks!

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  #2  
Old 07-14-2010, 07:54 PM
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Location: North central Texas
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Interior parts and engine bay wiring turns to compost. Other than that they are solid but expensive to maintain. Better off with an old 240 or 300D.
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  #3  
Old 07-14-2010, 08:05 PM
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BUY A VOLVO 240, TRUST ME, I know. A 240 will keep you alive, even though the haven't made them since 93.
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  #4  
Old 07-15-2010, 07:21 AM
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Location: Trumansburg, NY
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@ whiskeydan: running a diesel in upstate NY is a bit of a hassle. not only because of the very cold weather but also because there are only a small handful of places i can get diesel, and none are on my way to and from home to town. it's tempting though, they're so easy to deal with...

@ Mr. Over the Hill, The Clk Man: are you talking safety? they look like bad w123 rip off tanks, i could see that they'd be safe. heavy on the snow too, which is good.

but what about reliability?
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  #5  
Old 07-15-2010, 07:37 AM
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Location: Victoria Australia - down under!!
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!/ Most dangerous thing on the road is Volvo drivers !!!

2/ They are gutless!! Thats why they appear safe !! They make a 240D look like a real goer !!
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1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
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  #6  
Old 07-15-2010, 07:41 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Deltona, Florida
Posts: 2,360
The '86 DL I just sent to the junkyard was a money pit.
Timing belt
alternator w/ constant grounding problems
shocks
ball joints
The whole laundry list. Eventually the electric system went totally to crap. Headlights, AC, interior lights stopped working.

The engine is bulletproof but the associated equipment, air valves, vacuum system don't last long.

If you realy have your mind set on a volvo maybe a GL?

Go to Matthews Volvo Site and look around there. http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/

If it was me I would look for a 300D.

Danny
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  #7  
Old 07-15-2010, 07:50 AM
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Rogue T Tolerant
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: North America
Posts: 1,675
Ithaca is ripe with Volvos, especially those darned 240Ds.

From a distance I mistake them for old Mercs and get all excited.

Might as well get a 240D Volvo and a 240D Merc.

The Volvo 240D is a diesel engine right?
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  #8  
Old 07-15-2010, 09:48 AM
is thinning the herd
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 3,339
Not sure on the 240D, but I know DL does NOT mean diesel. I thought it did and went to look at a like $400 one and was disappointed.
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  #9  
Old 07-15-2010, 09:59 AM
Craig
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They are not diesels. I actually like the earlier volvo series; the 164, etc. I friend had one in college while we were all still driving domestic junk, I though it was a cool little car. IMO, the 240D looks too 80s (square).
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  #10  
Old 07-15-2010, 10:00 AM
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Location: Victoria Australia - down under!!
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Adam,
Down here a 240D Volvo is a gasser. The "D" indicates its the base model.

Over the past few years I have seen a few old Volvo's that have been left on the side of the highway. They become "throw away cars" ~ when they stop you throw them away, not worth fixing. Time to find another that works.
Even the kids on farms dont want them as paddock toys, ~ too gutless. More of a grannies car.

At least a Mercedes 240D has an excuse for being slow (its diesel) !!
__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving
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  #11  
Old 07-15-2010, 04:47 PM
I'm thinkin, I'm thinkin.
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Arlington, Texas
Posts: 440
If you go for either Volvo, check the trunk area well for rust. Notorious for that from what I remember, particularly if you're looking at an "upstate" car.
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  #12  
Old 07-15-2010, 08:58 PM
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Location: TheFlyingDutchManInHollywood
Posts: 6,849
Just replaced the timing-belt on my '89 780; they are very easy to work on if you do your own work.

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