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Bought a 1991 740 Turbo Intercooler wagon back in 2005 just for kicks. Paid $1500 and the car had 130,000 miles. Great paint, clean interior, maintenance records since purchase, one owner, etc. Thought I got a great deal.
I don't drive this car every day. I usually take it out on weekends and for long trips where I need more space for passengers and "crap" than my 244 affords me.
I have put 75,000 miles on the car over the past 6 1/2 years, including a roundtrip from the San Francisco Bay Area to Canada, and a roundtrip from the SF bay area to Mexico and back. Also drive it up to Lake Tahoe about 10-12 times a year during ski season. So it will sit for several days at a time and then I will put 500+ miles on it in one weekend.
Sitting at 206,800 miles and change. Did nothing but oil changes and the usual 30-60k mile service (plugs, wires, filters, etc) until last year. In the last 18 months, I have replaced the following:
-Cat converter and cat back exhaust
-Alternator
-Radiator
-Trailing arm bushings
-Air mass meter
-Motor mounts and tranny mount
-Tranny output bushing (AW71)
-Tie-rod ends, ball joints, and front control arm bushings
-Front wheel bearings
Total cost was about $2800. I did the alternator and radiator myself, but paid an independent Volvo/Merc shop to do everything else as I don't have the tools or space to hang an exhaust, etc.
So I've got $4300 into it at this point. My question is...is it normal for these cars to require several expensive repairs in a short period of time, and will this continue, i.e. should I try to sell it and cut my losses now, or can I maybe get it up to 250K without another round of costly repairs? I figure 75,000 miles for $4300 bucks (not including fuel or insurance) is pretty cheap but if I have to keep throwing money at it like this I'll sell it and look for a newer, lower mileage brick.
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