Where have the 700 owners gone? 700 owners thread.

[minesa240x3]

Well Prufrock I will be bringing my 740 as it's a special occassion.Normally I would bring the 940 Limo just because it causes a bit of interest as it's different.The 240 is a bit rough around the edges but I still love the 240 and always will.

So this isn't a rant just how it works for me in my situation and to enlighten people as to the many varied types of owners,Not a builders tug and not a trailer queen just cared for vehicles on a shoestring budget.
I would say that none of my cars has ever been good enough to win anything.Mechanically they are kept to as good a standard as I can afford.So sorry but non volvo bits are used.I know they are inferior and don't last but triple prices aren't easy to find.
What I look for in a car is reliability and ease of servicing for me.I have spent a lifetime of buying old clapped out bangers and bringing them back to a very usuable life.

I do polish and clean them and enjoy getting as good a finish as possible.Paintwork wise I just accept each one complete with it's faults.
I still get compliments after cleaning them.
All my money goes on keeping them reliable.

I would truly love to bring all three but thats not going to happen.

So thats me and my cars.The worst bit on my 740 is the nearside drivers door,The laquer is lifting big time and the cost of respray will be spent on essentials like cost of taxing and mot'ing three cars Lol.

I like the sound of a garden party round yours though.Maybe we should take the relationship step by step first though?We might start fighting at the national over just what a "REAL" 740 is?
Mine is a facelift model so it's unique as it's between the old look and the 940 taking over.Makes life very interesting when sourcing parts.

Well have a good weekend every body.
Regards Brian.

[Laney760]

Quote Minesa240x3 'I would truly love to bring all three but thats not going to happen'

I'd like to bring both mine, shall we hire one of those big car transporters between us that they deliver new vehicles on, be funny if we did and it was made by Volvo wouldn't it?

[minesa240x3]

Believe it or not I did consider it once.I couldn't persuade my boss that our low loader would look good with three volvo's on it Lol.The tractor unit is a volvo.Maybe I could tow the 740 and 240 with the Limo?


Regards Brian.

[sunnyvic]

Did i read it right your comment about older cars and 744s as best,what you trying to do start a class war,everyone to there own taste.Yes the 744 looks a nice car but where do i put the wardrobe,,when 744swere sold it was mainly to the semi wealthy who wanted to show of there choice of shopping car and Sunday car to put the chairs and table and Hamper basket so they could park up and whilst munching their cucumber sandwiches letting others admire there car,, it was a class distinction item.Whereas the 745 was hailed with glee that volvo had finally delivered another much wanted estate a car that you could place all previous items in plus the wardrobe,,everyone to there own choicethose of us that bought estates did so for a reason.I do agree that the 744 look sleek but to me a touch americanized.cheers sunnyvic..ps dont slap my wrist to hard Prufrock it hurts as it is and did i also read you would arrive in a 745??? a working mans car??? cheers regards sunnyvic VOC Disabled register

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by sunnyvic

Did i read it right your comment about older cars and 744s as best,what you trying to do start a class war,everyone to there own taste.Yes the 744 looks a nice car but where do i put the wardrobe,,when 744swere sold it was mainly to the semi wealthy who wanted to show of there choice of shopping car and Sunday car to put the chairs and table and Hamper basket so they could park up and whilst munching their cucumber sandwiches letting others admire there car,, it was a class distinction item.Whereas the 745 was hailed with glee that volvo had finally delivered another much wanted estate a car that you could place all previous items in plus the wardrobe,,everyone to there own choicethose of us that bought estates did so for a reason.I do agree that the 744 look sleek but to me a touch americanized.cheers sunnyvic..ps dont slap my wrist to hard Prufrock it hurts as it is and did i also read you would arrive in a 745??? a working mans car??? cheers regards sunnyvic VOC Disabled register

Hi Vic,
we've had the 745 in the family 25 years (a quarter century-crazy!), and the 745/765s target market were the"Terry and June"types living in surburbia, middle management, professionals (doctors etc - I have a road test report on the 745 aimed at just that market).
And by this time (the 745s launch in 1986), the fleet market was growing rapidly with"user-choosers", a slice of market that Volvo wanted.
And because the 745 is still seen as a vehicle of utility by many is why I think the 744/764 will lead the 700 series into the classic status it deserves. The 900 range will take a lot longer as it is also a vehicle of utility (but more so), but has a certain modernity (read blandness) in looks.
What owners think about their cars is largely irrelevant, it is the wider market that determines status.
And yes I'll be at the national in my "C" plate 745 - I don't think there's an earlier one in the UK (or even anywhere else).
My 745 is not a perfect, immaculate car, it has been cared for all it's life but has worked for a living, commuting, holidays etc. And I've yet to spend any money on cosmetics (I have two classic Mercedes to feed too!): mind you it's remarkably good for its age and 162.000 miles from new, and very original, no accident damage ever (largely original) and still very shiny paint.
Only used it yesterday to carry one of my classic bicycles (a 1978 Holdsworth Mistral) to a ride with friends in Woodhall Spa.
Here's two images of the car on my driveway.
Prufrock.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by minesa240x3

Well Prufrock I will be bringing my 740 as it's a special occassion.
So thats me and my cars.The worst bit on my 740 is the nearside drivers door,The laquer is lifting big time and the cost of respray will be spent on essentials like cost of taxing and mot'ing three cars Lol.
I like the sound of a garden party round yours though.Maybe we should take the relationship step by step first though?We might start fighting at the national over just what a "REAL" 740 is?
Mine is a facelift model so it's unique as it's between the old look and the 940 taking over.Makes life very interesting when sourcing parts.
Well have a good weekend every body.
Regards Brian.

Hi Brian,
I'm a little unclear about your"REAL 740"comment, but see my reply to Vic for my position, which I have stated quite clearly in the past and that is I'd rather see a 740 on the road being used than not on the road - which is why I should summon the motivation to get my 1986 744GL (one previous owner 60k from new) on the road.
I am being ambitious but I'd love to see 30 700s at the National, and I'll wager there's 30 on the forum whether they be frequent or rare visitors.
Hope everyone's having a great weekend...I went for a lovely bicycle ride yesterday wth six friends, we were celebrating the 69th anniversary of the Dambuster's Raid in a small Lincolnshire town called Woodhall Spa. We did 20 miles on some unpsoilt lanes, and as we were packing our bikes in our cars we were rewarded with a Lancaster flypast over the Dambuster's Memorial - here we are in front of the Dambuster's Memorial (the oldest bike in the pic is my friend Sascha's 1929 Raleigh).
Prufrock.
P.S I had a relative who took part in the raid.

[stephend]

And a very smart C-reg it looks too, Prufrock!

My 745 is still trundling on. It's certainly 'cosmetically challenged', but it's mechanically sound [crosses fingers!] and solid as a rock underneath, according to the nice MoT man. Regularly driven the length of the country, often heavily loaded, and, um, not slowly. Practical, comfortable, and worth every penny I've spent on it!

[Prufrock]

Being very picky my 745 has a small shopping trolley dent in the driver's door and two shallow creases near the back of the roof (a result of the 1980s hurricane!).

I'll fix the driver's door at some point, but the roof creases are"patina"and tell a story - at least that's my take on it!

It needs a new headlining; my Wife and I will tackle that this summer, it'll be a headlining and not a soft furnishing despite Lesley (my Wife) being a textile designer!

It had a very minor advisory on the last MoT, not a"worry"item, the car should be good for another 26 years.

Prufrock.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by stephend

And a very smart C-reg it looks too, Prufrock!

My 745 is still trundling on. It's certainly 'cosmetically challenged', but it's mechanically sound [crosses fingers!] and solid as a rock underneath, according to the nice MoT man. Regularly driven the length of the country, often heavily loaded, and, um, not slowly. Practical, comfortable, and worth every penny I've spent on it!

They are the ultimate recycleable cars (as are all the RWD Volvos), hope we meet at the National.

Prufrock.

[sunnyvic]

Ha ha ha ho ho ho ha ha please stop me from laughing did you did say you had 6 ha ha ha freinds i thought we were all on here,,where where did you ,oh i must stop laughing oh prufrock i have now got the stich ,where did you you borrow them from ha ha ho ,,Prufrock just a joke you know we all like you..dont take it to heart.head lineing a bit like dwm maybe zebra,,..or tiger
regards sunnyvic