_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Hey guys. Need a car to use till i get the E30 finished, and also have a new job lined up that requires a wagon/van/ute. Have found a nice Volvo wagon on trademe. (Aware 'nice' is a matter of opinion haha). http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=294746975 except for being an automatic, this one ticks all the right boxes for me: Euro (if a wagon), RWD, Wagon/Van or Ute, around $1500 and manual. While a work vehicle, i do still want to enjoy the car in regard to looks and the experience If any one has owned a Volvo like this (or the equivelent sedans etc), is a Volvo specialist or whatever, what are the trouble areas i should look at when i go to check out the car? what milage to things like turbos need to be rebuilt and diffs pack up and that sort of big ticket stuff happen? have heard Volvo engines will go for hundreds of thousands of miles. Also, out of interest, whats aftermarket coverage support like in regard to suspension? might give it a drop and maybe some wheels later down the track. Doesnt really factor into my decision to buy or not, just interested Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Imo, you should just buy a cheap common as hell car and keep throwing cash at the E30. I'm sure parts for the Volvo are quite expensive? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30plz 1 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) 1/10 on vehicle choice, that is horrible sir. Find a cheap van and spend it on the E30. Edited June 7, 2010 by skrillz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Lol at Volvo-hate. My top three cars i wanted to buy when getting my first car was an E30 Touring, a Lada 2104 Touring, or a Volvo Touring. ended up with 3x E30 sedans, and the Lada. Ive never aspired to own a car that everyone drives. Id rather pay more and have a less common car.. the more questionable the styling, the more i like it ha Awaiting Volvo love Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 I used to have a 95 850 touring wagon and the parts were horendous to buy!! Most had to be brought in from Australia/UK and it seemed every WOF i was throwing $$ at it... I will most likely never own a Volvo again, though i still liked the shape and it did look good dropped on fat rims. Imo you'd be better with a Toyota daily and then throw your spare change at the E30. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mark247 39 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 If it means anything, I think volvo wagons are awesome. That fact they are ugly bricks makes them cool in my mind haha. Scrap the e30 and do up the volvo ( youtube search volvette ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JiB 0 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Volvo's awesome...But so bad on gas and parts it's not even funny. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 If it means anything, I think volvo wagons are awesome. That fact they are ugly bricks makes them cool in my mind Agree, I love the Volvo Estates that raced in the BTCC which is why i bought the 850...still cost a sh!tload to maintain and run though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Also, out of interest, whats aftermarket coverage support like in regard to suspension? might give it a drop and maybe some wheels later down the track. Doesnt really factor into my decision to buy or not, just interested The only aftermarket parts i had were a Pod filter/Cold air box, king springs, 3' muffler and i could not find at the time ANY aftermarket rims, so bought some 2nd hand 17x8 Volvo rims and put lower profile tyres on and imo looked dropped standard good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 what are parts costs compared to BMW parts? Are they generally reliable? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellicose 9 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) Lol at Volvo-hate. My top three cars i wanted to buy when getting my first car was an E30 Touring, a Lada 2104 Touring, or a Volvo Touring. ended up with 3x E30 sedans, and the Lada. Awaiting Volvo love LOL I've always had a soft spot for Lada wagons and Volvos, not wagon tho'. Would have to be a 850 T5R. The wagon you linked to is a VERY expensive way to get an is front lip Edited June 7, 2010 by bellicose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 what are parts costs compared to BMW parts? Are they generally reliable? Off the top of my head i had to replace a wing mirror at approx $300 and rear bumper $7-800 all second hand and the black lip trim on bodykit was always coming off, it was mainly small mechanical things that all $$$ed up and has put me off them. So i guess in the bmw ball park(parts wise) but EVERY wof having to spend a few hundy and running cost's... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Top Secret 2 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Do it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pjay 8 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) iLike them: Motivational 740 video: and 940 jumping 100ft: 940 sedan w/ LS1: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/vehicles-sal...eed-6500-a.html Edited June 7, 2010 by Pjay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 have plenty of parts at work . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 ^ahhh excellent! does BimmerSport pricing apply to non-BMW parts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 yup:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forrest 35 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) i do still want to enjoy the car in regard to looks and the experience OH YIP In a Volvo 740?... computer says no +1 to buying a rice burner Edited June 7, 2010 by Brams Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 as i said, its a matter of opinion. you either love the box styling to the likes of Volvo and Lada Tourings or you dont. Im one that does Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E36ShoppingTrolley 7 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 to be honest... the only way id ever buy a volvo was if i was looking at crashing into something Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 except for being an automatic, this one ticks all the right boxes for me: Euro (if a wagon), RWD, Wagon/Van or Ute, around $1500 and manual. While a work vehicle, i do still want to enjoy the car in regard to looks and the experience A volvo might not be a bad choice, but it's definitely not the best choice. Slow, old, heavy, rare (less parts than jappas), big (but not van or ute big), slow, bad on gas and slow. Go for a cheap ute/van. More space, better on gas, way more reliable probably. Everyone knows a hilux/L200/L300/other variant of cheap 90s utility vehicle will fit your needs perfectly. It just might not fulfil your desire to have a volvo at some stage in your life. Up to you obviously, but I'd rather have an L200/L300 I could drive, park wherever and not have to worry about ever again over the volvo that I'd have to try and get parts for. It's amazing how much you can get in a ute and with such ease. Getting sh*t in/out of station wagons isn't as easy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 Just get a Magna Wagon in Manual, too bad it's fwd but really who gives a flying f**k, you're just using it to haul sh*t round. Australian made, so All are pretty much NZ new, tonnes of parts, can be scored for screw all. and you don't like it so you don't spend unessary money on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cale 36 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 That interior Volvo interior is awful. Almost as bad as the exterior. I like it. If you're prepared to cough up the cash for parts, drop it, get some wheels, tints and put up with a noisy as **** engine, for the wrong reasons I should add, it would be sweet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 A volvo might not be a bad choice, but it's definitely not the best choice. Slow, old, heavy, rare (less parts than jappas), big (but not van or ute big), slow, bad on gas and slow. Go for a cheap ute/van. More space, better on gas, way more reliable probably. Everyone knows a hilux/L200/L300/other variant of cheap 90s utility vehicle will fit your needs perfectly. It just might not fulfil your desire to have a volvo at some stage in your life. Up to you obviously, but I'd rather have an L200/L300 I could drive, park wherever and not have to worry about ever again over the volvo that I'd have to try and get parts for. It's amazing how much you can get in a ute and with such ease. Getting sh*t in/out of station wagons isn't as easy. Having not test driven but looked at facts on paper, they arent thhaaat bad. It has a better power to weight ratio than, for example, 320i, which in itself is more than adequate for a DD. they dont weigh any more or less than any other same size wagon, and probably include vans in that too. they are only a smidge over 1.4tonne, and thats including 3 rows of seating, generous fuel tank, full electrics etc. Height offered by a van is not a priority so much as the floor area, and i like wagons more than vans. i just feel safer in them. So that leaves SUVs which im sure are no better on fuel than the Volvo, nor any easier to get stuff in our out of. Therefore, in my book, the only thing going against the Volvo is parts pricing, but with the reputation Volvo has for reliabilty from this era, i really dont think thats going to hurt the wallet too much. After all, im used to BMW pricing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) That interior Volvo interior is awful. Almost as bad as the exterior. I like it. If you're prepared to cough up the cash for parts, drop it, get some wheels, tints and put up with a noisy as **** engine, for the wrong reasons I should add, it would be sweet. You know its a turboed 2.3L Twin cam right? even if it is a 4pot auto. lol ..but it is the same auto as E30 Edited June 7, 2010 by _Ethrty-Andy_ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites