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This car has been maintained "by the book". A local dealer apparently has records dating back to October of '93. It's not a turbo, never wrecked, interior clean. They're asking just under $7000 for it.
Question; should I take the plunge? I'm currently driving my '92 240, which is my third brick...
Thanks for any advice.
Markus
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Hi
I upgraded from an old '80 244 (320,000kms) to an '94 940 GLE (120,000km) a month ago. It's a good car, quieter, with features I didn't have before - auto, P/Steer, CD stacker, ABS etc. It is far quieter, and a little softer riding. Besides, it has no rust, and everything works! - and nothing needs fixing - yet.
But, I don't feel the leather seats are any better than the old ones, except they don't look like they're falling apart.
But, I don't think it handles as well. Some corners I knew I could line up at particular speeds in the old car, feel a little fidgety in the "new" one. I'm not sure if it's my car, or whether others feel the same. On the highway, it's great, though, possibly a bit more stable than the old.
regards
Alan Clarke
Nambour, on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
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Well, after having the car check out fairly clean at an independent mechanic (University Foreign in StL) (why, oh why, did I not insist an a compression check?) I went ahead and bought the car. Was not successful in forcing the dealer lower than their first counter-offer, which was 6600.
Hey, this thing drives so much like a "nice" 240! Hmmm, I think I read that somewhere on this Forum.
Can anybody recommend a place to buy rear lift gate struts on the internet? Also, genuine volvo oil filters?
I'll be watching and monitoring this forum a lot now to see what others have to say about maintaining these cars.
Those who posted, Thanks for your input.
Markus
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FCP Groton (www.fcpgroton.com) sell tailgate struts for 945s for $13 each. Don't know how good the struts are as I haven't needed to replace mine yet. FCP also sell Mann oil filters, which may be the same as OEM. Anyway, I am always seeing posts from other Brickboarders saying how good Mann filters are, and I never use anything else myself. If you actually want the blue Volvo filter, you may have to go to a dealer.
--
'95 940 Wagon, '85 240 Wagon (RIP), '91 740T Sedan, '90 BMW 325i
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If it's over, it's not much over the going price, say for a 100-120k, '94 940na. Expect to pay the dealers "docking" fee too. If you like it then get it*, but there are many more out there at that price or close to it. I think the history is great: uncover problem areas, change history for the timing belt, hoses and rad...
*Consider taking the car to Volvo independent for a $100 inspection, like I did for my son's 940T. Screw the dealer. Yeah, yeah, I know cars, I thought. Maybe the turbo made me do it. The inde uncovered a laundry list of issues that I didn't!!! And a "How in the hell did the dealer pass inspection with, an inop. brake light, no license plate lights and a leaking exhaust". The list contained all minor things to me plus there was a nice warning about the oil swelled oil cooler hoses (turbo only) ready to burst. It was worth the offer of $500 off the asking price. Excluding tires, there has been about $400+ worth of normal wear parts invested with shade tree labor only.
Let the board know how it goes. Good luck
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Tom F '95 945na, lien holder on a '95 944Ti, RIP '78 244
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I got my "California" 94 with 137k (mostly highway) mi for a lot less than that, BUT - I'm now spending a fair bit on fixing the reasons why it was cheap. Things to check:
-A/C function...should blow cold in any outside temp, and check that the airflow comes out of the proper vents. Check also that the A/C and airflow behave when accelerating hard (eg: climbing a long grade)
-Power windows (all of them) go all the way up and down with reasonable speed and no sticking or chattering...ditto the power antenna.
-Find some gravel or dirt (low traction) and check ABS function
-ensure the trans shifts smoothly and goes into OD/4th OK, then achieves converter lockup at around 45MPH. Test the manual OD lockout switch on/off.
-trans has a "shiftlock" - can't shift out of Park until the brake pedal is depressed. Also has a manual override switch. Check everything here works.
-count on the front suspension needing bushings - especially the lower control arms/rods. Not that expensive, but you won't get proper wheel alignment and stable steering if they are shot.
Overall I'm happy with the 940 - it's quite a bit more civilized than the 240's, but at the expense of general responsiveness. It feels heavier and somwhat numb. And performance (non-turbo) is, to be charitable, anemic. Kind of a Swedish Buick. But as solid a Volvo as they ever built, so.....
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Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD)
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