Seriously?

[loki_the_glt]

It's highly likely that the car is "doing the rounds" among a small group of individuals, with the price increasing with every "sale"; usually each additional owner leads to a reduction in the car's worth but this one appears to defy economic logic.

I think I've mentioned it before, but in the days before the internet cars were often traded around "dealers" (and I use the term in quotes) with each adding a chunk onto the asking price until a punter (aka a mug) bought it.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Othen

It looks like that Japanese import car isn’t selling as well as the dealer hoped, it is for auction now:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-240....m46890.l49292

It is at £3,000 at the moment with 9 days to go. It will be interesting to see what it makes, I’d have thought £3,000 would be cheap and £5,000 expensive.

:-)

I have just noticed the Japanese import car is for sale on the chap’s website for £7,000! That is more than just a little bit optimistic I think:

https://robburkecars.co.uk/product/1...ar-on-its-way/

I still wonder why people think 30 year old cars are worth so much.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I have just noticed the Japanese import car is for sale on the chap’s website for £7,000! That is more than just a little bit optimistic I think:

https://robburkecars.co.uk/product/1...ar-on-its-way/

I still wonder why people think 30 year old cars are worth so much.

In general i'd say they're not, not yet anyway. However when you consider the much tighter emissions regs in Japan, lack of salt on the roads etc and the fact the Japanese (in general) look after their cars much better than we do, you'd effectively be buying a 60k mile car that looks and drives like 3 years old. To all intents and purposes, compared to a native UK car, that's what you'd be getting.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

In general i'd say they're not, not yet anyway. However when you consider the much tighter emissions regs in Japan, lack of salt on the roads etc and the fact the Japanese (in general) look after their cars much better than we do, you'd effectively be buying a 60k mile car that looks and drives like 3 years old. To all intents and purposes, compared to a native UK car, that's what you'd be getting.

... actually I quite like the Japanese import 240 - the only real downside would be a KPH speedometer and odometer (and I suppose no history).

There is a big gap between the £7,000 asking price and the £3,200 current bid. If I didn't have the RB I might have offered up to £3,500 - but I don't know that the dealer would have sold at that price.

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Othen

I have just noticed the Japanese import car is for sale on the chap’s website for £7,000! That is more than just a little bit optimistic I think:

https://robburkecars.co.uk/product/1...ar-on-its-way/

I still wonder why people think 30 year old cars are worth so much.

That car ticks some boxes. The problem to my mind is the cost and time of keeping it in such apparently good condition. Therefore surely it is not going to truly hold its price. Not the same as value.

If I were willing to cash in a bit of the pension fund, it would yes be worth so much. But on the basis of having the enjoyment of it. Devil may care re financial value.

.... I will not be buying. A car is not high enough on my priorities ... well not at the moment ....

Stephen



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[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

... actually I quite like the Japanese import 240 - the only real downside would be a KPH speedometer and odometer (and I suppose no history).

There is a big gap between the £7,000 asking price and the £3,200 current bid. If I didn't have the RB I might have offered up to £3,500 - but I don't know that the dealer would have sold at that price.

The KPH speedo could be easily changed Alan as i'm sure you're aware. However it might be easier to just add conversion marks for the relevant speed limits - 50kmh, 64kmh, 80, 100 and 110kmh for the 30, 40, 50, 60 & 70mph speed limits but the other problem might be lack of rear frog lights. I don't think they were mandatory in Japan until much later so weren't fitted to start with. That said, being a Volvo they probably had them anyway.

He also has a couple of nice 4.0 XJ40 Sovereigns for £7-8k, for me that all depends on Mr Camelot and tonights draw!

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

.... the other problem might be lack of rear frog lights. ....

Interesting Dave.

The rear lamps now you mention them, are they the same overall shape as UK models? Would spares by a problem? They look good, very good look, but to own them in the UK ...... ??

I like the car.

Stephen



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[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

Interesting Dave.

The rear lamps now you mention them, are they the same overall shape as UK models? Would spares by a problem? They look good, very good look, but to own them in the UK ...... ??

I like the car.

Stephen



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They certainly look the same, i can't see a rear fog switch in the upper centre console but it might be just out of shot on the view showing the light switch and steering wheel/instruments.

If it doesn't then like many other JDM imports, it would have to have an aftermarket rear fog light for the MoT no doubt on an aftermarket switch in the dash somewhere.

Spares shouldn't be a major problem although i know later 940s had a specific front pipe/catalytic converter for the JDM models, different to UK models. Also with my other passion, the Rover 800, many parts for that were bespoke for JDM models including oddly, the headlamp lenses. Whether the same applies to Volvo or not i don't know but they have a slightly different beam pattern so just scrape a pass on the UK MoT usually.
Other oddities are the CCU which has a different part number (although the basic unit is identical) to the UK versions, that would be a software fix if it presented any problems or on an early enough car, a simple swap to a used UK spec CCU if you could find one.
The other one i probably wouldn't change is the front number plate plinth on the 800 to mount the square Japanese number plates. Square UK plates are available that fit nicely and give a slightly different front end view.

[Laird Scooby]

Just found this in a thread in the 7/900 area, for £8k you could have another JDM import but a model above top of the range :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164747291407

It's about time Camelot did something and gave me a serious win! Especially with so many lovely cars around!

[Stephen Edwin]

Dave

As the lamps wrap around they also appear to slope rather nicely on their leading edge ....

Stephen



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