My latest and my old Volvos

[keithC70]

I bought my first Volvo a 240 GL in 1976 and have been driving them ever since, as does my wife, and both daughters of course.

I always do my own servicing and use Volvo parts but now I'm less able, I sometimes have heavy work done by independents. (mainly on that XC90)

My latest car, a 198k '04 V70 D5 G/t was very cheap because the owner had been advised by a Volvo dealer that the gearbox needed replacement. I simply changed the ATF and am still driving happily after a few thousand miles.

This dealer, in Oxford, had carried out the servicing and had failed to change the cambelt despite being overdue.

Yesterday I decided to look into the dreaded ECM6805 problem which the seller had also reported to me ( a very honest person). I got out my Pela pump, piping, and gauge and started checking - all looked well.

So this morning I changed the fuel filter - absolutely black! - I bet it's original. I've never seen one like that before. So much for Volvo service!

Now it takes off like the proverbial with no engine service message! I think I'll be getting considerably less than the 50mpg I've been getting so far but will have a huge smile on my face.

Here's a list of all my cars; anyone still own one or know where they are? Every one of them was well serviced by me and all were working well when I sold them except no 13 which I wrote off on the M4.

Volvo 240GL 1 GWH 4 N
Silver Estate 965 GLE 2 RDN 265T
Gold Estate 965 GLE 3 SFW 433 W
740GLE 4 C 251 LRR
940 SE 5 J 271 MUE
960 6 K74 PLN
940 Estate 7 R 584 DTG
S80 T6 8 W 644 PRB
V90 Red 9 R 185 CKN
S90 Black 10 R 173 DGS
V90 CD (Blue) 11 P 166 NLT
C70 T5 GT 12 OU 52 OXK
V90 CD (Silver) 13 R 743 TUD
V70 T5 SE Auto 14 LJ 52 WKF
940 HPT 15 R reg
S80 D5 SE Auto 16 CV 03 GFA
V70R 17 R 613 VLB
V70 tdi Auto 18 R 414 PPE
V70 D5 SE Geartc 19 KU05YFA
XC90 D5 SE G/t 20 YR53GZG
S60 D5 SE Man 21 PK 05 BEO
V70 D5 SE G/t 22 LD04YYR

+ Wife’s cars

740 GLE G664LDT
240 SE N205VWN
S80 D5 Lux OV55KNH

If you are still running one, let me know how it's going!

Keith

[outnumbered]

Crikey that's more cars than i have had hot dinners

[Phaedrus68]

Jeaney mac! Never owned any brand car other than Volvo?

My experience of the one Volvo main dealer that I've dealt with was atrocious. Other than buying parts that must be genuine (the guy on the parts desk is outstanding in terms of customer service and focus), I won't use them again.

I aspire to doing as much work myself on my V70 as I can - any competent DIY mechanic should, when clearly there are many bogus supposedly "trained" Volvo mechanics.

[keithC70]

Other cars, well yes, my first was a half-egg shaped fibreglass three wheeler ( Gordon Keeble?)

Then, Ford popular, numerous minis, BMC AvEnger, Jag 3.8 mk II, tXJ6, 2.8, Ford Cortina GT, Renault Fuego, S Class Merc 500, Saab 9000, 2 beetles, an d an S2 lotus Élan.

When my children were young and I had a mortgage I kept two of the Volvos for 10 years each; C251LRR I bought at 70k and ten years later sold it at 265k still going strong on original clutch! And K74 PLN I bought at about 120k and sold 10 years later at 225k

Since retiring and having time on my hands I have been changing my car regularly just for fun - hence the number of Volvos!

[jasmith44]

Sounds like you really enjoyed them.

[4candles]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

Jeaney mac! Never owned any brand car other than Volvo?

I flirt with most premium marques, (and anything that shows me white triangle,,,)

Jags, Audi,Rangies, BMW,

I got this Volvo cheap (it was still too much) , and its my second, had a 360 GLT a lifetime ago, rated it highly on a driver basis, low on street cred....
It had the best "don't take me round corners at this fkn speed" seats,really soft and spongy...

[Phaedrus68]

Originally Posted by 4candles

"don't take me round corners at this fkn speed"

I had a 1990 Toyota Corona saloon (in 2001 or so) that had suspension like that - you know the type of suspension cars had in 70s cop shows on TV, where the car takes two minutes to settle after coming to a stop, like a boat coming off the plane... Bends took planning, like bringing a ferry into a port.

I've loved some cars I've owned, and hated others - for differing reasons. Fave car so far is my current V70. Loved all the bikes I've owned.

[johnwilky]

We,ve had

Two new 340's one fell apart with rust !
A 240 second hand which had over 200k on it when we got rid.
A brilliant second hand 740.
And atm a S80 auto 2.4 95 k just undergoing some needy repairs and the dash has gone tits up.
Was going for an S40 but not in the same league as the S80 hence the repairs instead of buying the S40.

[rich1068]

Funny how you remember cars and reg numbers. Just checked on Hettie. Sadly no longer with us.