Need a cheap 2nd car for a 20 mile round trip commute. I tend to set myself a budget of 500 - 1000. Almost banger money by normal standards. Fuel consumption not a huge issue. Seen the talk on this forum about the 9 series volvo being the last of the proper volvo's with easy mechanics. As HJ says in his car by car guide the saloon is almost unsellable compared to the hugely more practical estate.
Have seen a good condition 940S saloon auto on a J plate in red, with 114K and a far bit of history. Just £450 with a full mot.
A bigger car than i need and auto not really needed either, Not exactly easy on the eye either! but condition of car and pedigree of seller exellent. Must be worth a punt at this price. Even the heated seats work and new tyres all round. See my other posting re what to do with my Vitara as to why i want a comfy safe saloon!
Your views as always negative or otherwise most welcome
Anyone hazard a guess as to fuel consumption on this model with auto. The 940 is a 2 litre engine..
Thanks
Mark W
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You would be doing well to see 20 mpg with an auto on short runs. Other than that, your summary of the car seems quite fair. Remember that although the Volvo oily bits are of very high quality (check the timing belt, though) the rest of it suffers from much the same problems as any other car. This includes the engine management electronics which, although usually supplied by Bosch, must by now be getting towards the end of its fatigue life.
This happened to a good friend of mine with a 940 estate. The ecu failed - replacement cost exceeding the car's worth - but he chose to repair it with a reworked unit. This was because the car was so useful to him (he gets lousy fuel consumption too, but his at least is manual).
With "your" car, any failure like that would write it off. Comfortable, safe transport, though.
659.
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my 2.0auto 940 used to get 18-21 around town and 28 on a run
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£450 seems a bit high to me - loads of competition at this price. But having said that if it's from a good home and been well looked after you could do worse - it wouldn't hurt to put in a lower offer first. Any idea how long it's been up for sale?
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Thanks your replies so far, fuel consumption worse than i thought. One forgets how bigger cars of this generation, mpg was not so important.
For you ebayers amongst you
320183661944.
Note the sellers other items, he's a volvo specialist and who he is. About as good a pedigree as you will find on ebay especially when buying a car this cheap. Still inclined to think too big and thirsty. I like the implied safety as i do have 2 children to drive around at weekends as well as the commute. I have more thinking to do!
Thanks replies so far
Mark
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MPG 20-25 ...recently drove a New Ford Focus 1.6 39 mpg 2.0 35 mpg so yes there's a big difference but £10K buy's a hell a lot of Fuel and I wouldn,t trade the practicality and touch wood reliability of my Volvo (18 years old !!)
A 20 mile commute is only just going to get the car warm in any car i.e engine wear new or old. My Volvo 740 only reaches centre point on the themostat after 5 miles but those heated seats are very nice in this weather !!
These cars are just safe and reliable... if you want art buy an Alfa...
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£1.50 per day for the mot seems cheap enough for reliable motoring,no depreciation ,no dealer service or repair needed ,parts easily had and cheap ,comfort and safety set against 100gal of extra fuel per year per 10k miles
this car is old enough not to need a catalyser and has distributer and continous fuel injection so no ecu problems ,the body is galvanised and they were very well undersealed ,if it was a manual and nearer I would buy it for a spare yard car
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£450, but he'll take offers. Not too many takers for that, even with that condition. £375, run it for 11 months, put it through another MoT if it's been reliable, and then repeat until it's no longer economic to repair for an MoT pass. I reckon you'll get three years!
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My Volvo 740 only reaches centre point on the themostat after 5 miles>>
(read "thermometer" ?)
Then your thermostat is faulty. My 240 is reading 1/4 scale after 1/2 mile, and normal 1/2 scale after 1 mile, which is when I turn the heater on.
Big Volvos are only thirsty if you drive them hard. I get an easy and steady 32 mpg on a mixed 40 mile commute, rural roads and A road. On a motorway I can get 35 mpg.
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Good point but the Themostat is OK, one of my best friends is head mechanic at a large and decent Volvo dealership and he says they can be faulty but mine was OK back in August when it had it's coolant changed. Big change can be made by running the Heater from start up.
As for you mpg figures the "autos" are heavy on fuel and the old style box almost forces kick down. MPG in away are quite meaningless because I drive my car on a short journey and where I live is very hilly.
I don't disagree with your figures but it is very dependent on road conditions and speed etc.
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My 850 glt 170bhp saloon auto gets 23 ish seemingly regardless.
MD
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