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I've been around Volvos forever. My dad owned a PV544 before I was born. My family members have had a whole range: several 544s, a 122, a 142S (long stick shift I loved), a 145, a 164, and a 244. I've owned several: my first a 1983 245GL; a 242GT a 245 TURBO and a 1990 744TGO (great car, sorry I sold it), but I always aspired to owning a 965/V90. I finally bought an off-lease '97 a year and a half ago. I fully expected to have to do brakes (Volvo, you know), but the endless repairs of little things is driving me nuts.
Firstly, the lock in the tranny shifter shattered - cheap plastic, easily removed and tossed. Can now shift without applying brakes or depressing button on shifter (yeah, I know N to R - crunch). I think I'll redesign it and take it to a machine shop.
Then the rear shocks!! What a weak rear end design (love the independent suspension). Needed to buy extra heavy-duty gas shocks (specially designed by Monroe for the 965) to absorb the loads not carried by the soft plastic spring.
This thing sucks fuel (around 500km/70litres)!! (I'm not even towing) OBDII says nothing's wrong.
A/C - new condenser, continuing small leak that can't be found...yearly fill up!
Leaking sunroof drain over me. Soaks the fuzzy stuff on the "A" pillar (and my lap).
Driver's seat heater non-functioning. Not a priority...so haven't fixed. Also, a bit timid around the SIPS.
Tons of spot rust around the hatch glass, just in the past year. Touch-up time.
Fake wood peeling off the door panels. Any suggestions what adhesive to use?
Plastic rock shield keeps falling off. Those short screws into the rad housing are inadequate.
On and on. I'm going mad and am almost ready to sell the car I always dreamed of having. The car does have some good points: lots of power, smooth tranny, nice interior.
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