I'll try this once more, my last post didn't really get me anywhere. Here's the problem. I'm in the market for a newer volvo, probably a 960 or 940 turbo. I currently own a 90 760 V-6, (yea the infamous v-6) with 180,000 on it. I flat out love the 760 but my concern is what kinda life beyond the mileage that it already can I expect out of the car!!! I've never had a lick of trouble and it the car's so freaking quiet and smooth and powerfull that it aint even funny. Bottom line do I sell it or keep........HOW MUCH LONGER DOES SHE HAS???? Thanks in advance!!!

My **educated** opinion: you do NOT want a 960.

After reading Tom's latest story, I would no sooner buy a 960 as I would knowingly (and I'll be polite here) stick my hand into a running garbage disposal.

In fact thanks to Tom's posts at least one other "regular" here noticed symptoms and obtained compression test results that suggested that HIS 960 was itself on the verge of a "Spontaneous Massive Existence Failure" itself.

If you want a 940T that's not a bad alternative. My local Volvo dealer got a nice low mileage '92 745T in as a trade last week and it didn't even make it to the lot, one of the techs grabbed it. Those in the "know" seem to prefer the old B230FTs to the "new" alloy engines... the best years for the B230FT were '94 and '95, they have oil cooled pistons and reinforced blocks. FWIW.

I've been looking for a 945T myself for over a year, most of the ones I've looked at appeared to have had barnyard animals or homeless people or (worse) smokers boarded in them. My conclusion is that NICE 940Ts aren't disposed of, they tend to be kept by their owners. So good luck; and if you run across a nice light silver one with records and it's the wrong color, or wrong number of cylinders or wrong number of doors please post it here because I'd like it!

Thank you!

-Phil Punxsutawney

A Volvo ('98 V70T5M, 87k)
A Honda Odyssey
several others running and not running

If it is paid for, and you like it do you realy give a damn how much longer the current mechanicals will last? If the structure of the car is good even if it wrecks its engine tomorrow, a trip to the local Volvo agent for a factory recon engine will be a lot cheaper than purchasing a new, or nearly new car.

Basically this one has stopped depreciating for starters.

Regards


Pete

Jason -

Somehow I sense your frustration. If you have the B280 engine, BB posts over the months have mentioned that it seems a quantum leap ahead of the B28 variety.

Open your Car Payment Money Market Mutual Fund on Monday, start making car payments into that. For instance, $20,000 over 36 months at 15% would be $694 a month.

When the time comes, make your deal. If, on the other hand, you are having a bout of the "I Wants" for a 960, go read the posts from Mustafa Al whatever, (Tom Irwin) about the expensive loss of his 960's due to its 2nd engine failure.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Therefore the question is: HOW MUCH LONGER DOES SHE HAVE????

And Pablo is correct, it will depend on a lot of variables about which we know very little. This is for certain, there will be parts that are going to wear at that mileage and beyond, so I would expect your costs to begin to rise, but, of course,nothing is for certan. Usually, people who don't have a great deal of disposable income will wait until they are faced with making that decision, rather than trying to second-guess it. In other words, when your costs paid and costs facing you are greater than you want to spend, then it's time to look for a new car. This might also partially dictate what car you will get because of availability. On the other hand, if you simply want to trade to a newer/different car, then your question is irrelevant.
--
John Shatzer, '92 965 @100K; one of a few still in captivity.

OK Here's an educated guess: How the fuq do we know your driving habits, maintainence routine, oil brand and change frequency.....you hit a pole tomorrow, part it out. You do meticulous service 300,000 plus,

Is the car paid for? The wife wants to keep it? I'm not sure why you want someone to make a decision for you.

There is a key word in here: YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well the end result WOULD, be MY DECISION!!! As far as oil changes, thats done every 3000 miles and I use castrol GTX. I do quite a bit of hwy driving with the car and yea its paid( how could one sell something thats not theirs)....but thats besides the point. This is a discussion forum about the 7 series Volvo's. Because of that its often nice to get insight from other people about how well particular Volvo's hold up in the long run. Seeing that I don't currently have 200,000 plus on the car I was only wondering if there are any mishaps that this particular motor is prone to in its later age. The V-6 is a whole nother animal campared to the 4 cyl, and with all the years of experiance that brickboard has behind I assumed someone could advise on the road to take!!! Lets not forget though, IT IS MY DECISION!!

People sell cars all the time they haven't finsished paying for and don't "own".

Hwy driving is good! Short trips are really hard on any engine and yes really hard on the PRV V6. (used to have one of the B28F persasion, sold it at 186,000 miles and it still ran fine.)

No this isn't a 7 series Volvo discussion forum, it's a Volvo RWD technical forum.

I think your "educated responses please" and repost is somewhat begging for abuse. I do think you have a valid question, but post ALL the facts about the car, driving habits etc....then ask the question. I mean you didn't even mention if you had it from new, I can assume it has the original timing chain, water pump, how often have you checked the rear wheel bearing seals (for examples)...just the facts sir.

You post a chatty question, you gets a chatty answer!

No one knows how much longer your engine has. The B280F was a better engine than the earlier b27/b28, so you might be worrying about nothing. I've heard of those older versions going close to 200K, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to make it well past 200K on yours.

The 960 is expensive to fix.

The 940 Turbo probably isn't that much "nicer", but you can find newer ones with a lot fewer miles. If I were in your situation, I'd keep the 760 and start looking for that perfect 940 Turbo, like a '95 wagon with under 50K. Since you have a nice car to drive now, you can take your time in finding the right replacement.
--
Michael -- 1987 244 GT | Volvo 240 Links