Buying advice please

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by aardvarkash10

depreciation is a killer on brand new cars. Not on "recents" though (3 - 7 years).

Again, lets talk in practical generalities, not extremes. Old cars are comparatively unreliable, comparatively thirsty, comparatively reliant on our acceptance of thier various faults and shortcomings. The existance of this very forum attests to this reality.

If you want reliable low operating cost transport, an old Volvo is not a great choice.

On a smile per mile basis, they are excellent value.

Again, I must disagree, 'aardvarkash10'. You are, of course, correct that depreciation is less on 'recent' cars than it is on brand new ones, but it is a whole lot more than most old ones. I have no idea of new car prices and residual values in your neck of the woods, but allow me to put your contention into perspective.

Let us assume that someone buys a brand new car for £30,000 and keeps it for three years, during which time they do 30,000 miles. It is reasonable to assume that the car will lose two thirds of it's value in the first three years, making it worth just £10,000.

In this admittedly simplistic example, the depreciation amounts to £6,667 per year or 67 pence per mile.

Now let us assume that someone else buys the car for £10,000, keeps it for four years and does 40,000 miles in it. It is not unreasonable to assume that the car will lose 80% of it's remaining value in those four years, making it worth only £2,000 at the end of the period.

Thus the second owner's depreciation is £2,000 per year, or 20 pence for every mile driven.

By your own admission, we are now considering cars that are 20 or more years old. Allow me to illustrate my point with an actual example.

My last 740 cost me £1,750 at 10 years old. I ran it for 18 years, during which time I did 74,762 miles, and only sold it as an MOT failure for £60.

My own actual depreciation was therefore £94 per year or just over two pence per mile. The car COST less than one year's depreciation on a 'recent' in the example above.

The car was highly reliable, and I could (and did) drive it anywhere. During my ownership, it went 'home' to Sweden many times - the Swedes did not consider my car at all unusual.

I suggest that experiences such as mine are by no means untypical, and if they do not match yours that you may have been unfortunate in your choice of used car.

I do, however, agree with you regarding 'smiles per mile'

I rest my case!

Regards, John.

[Laird Scooby]

I think what's being missed here is the fact the car is relatively cheap and the OP doesn't want to land himself with a monstrous bill for getting it running right and/or a fresh MoT.

That could potentially make it a very expensive idea! There are lots of Volvos around without any faults for not much more money so the OP is wise getting second opinions on whether it could be a viable option.

[TonyS9]

I second the old car unreliable myth, 940s are very reliable, people talk about FPRs and fuel pumps, but these faults are still rare. My 940 still has less failures than any car I compare it to, and I give it a hard time.

MPG really isn't that bad. I get about the same mpg as a friend who follows the same route in work in a 10yo shiny Golf GTI, same weight, smaller engine driven gently to work. Sure diesel will be better, but the maintenance/repairs/unrelability on modern diesels with high pressure electrical injectors and pumps easily outweights the fuel saving from what I can see.

Having said that I do look after it myself, and normal mechanics are not used to such 'maintenance'. Parts are cheap, but mechanics are very expensive.

[Stephen Edwin]

I think that, as if often the case in this type of thread, most people or everyone are of very similar opinions, expressed from slightly differing angles.

[Nine40]

As its going to be a long term car for me i decided to take the plinge and buy it, it could be risky but im expecting to do have work done on it. After having had a 240 se for 14 years i can do a few things and save a bob or two!! It will be with me saturday evening. I could have spent more money got better one or waited for a car nearer to me but this one appealed to me and im going to have fun tinkering again!!..

Thanks for all your input guys and especially to 360beast who has supplied the replacement for split pipe.
I dont know how to put photos up, its a white 940 wentworth auto. No doubt youll get fed up with in the near future with asking questions :-)

[Laird Scooby]

I'm glad you made a decision on it and to be honest, i had a feeling this car had "grabbed" you.

Good luck with it, hopefully it's just that hose and the usual service items and it'll be running fine - don't forget to clean that PCV system as well!

[slowprop]

Originally Posted by Nine40

As its going to be a long term car for me i decided to take the plinge and buy it, it could be risky but im expecting to do have work done on it. After having had a 240 se for 14 years i can do a few things and save a bob or two!! It will be with me saturday evening. I could have spent more money got better one or waited for a car nearer to me but this one appealed to me and im going to have fun tinkering again!!..

Thanks for all your input guys and especially to 360beast who has supplied the replacement for split pipe.
I dont know how to put photos up, its a white 940 wentworth auto. No doubt youll get fed up with in the near future with asking questions :-)

Great news. I only bought my 940 a month ago. So far it has been enjoyable. I bet you will enjoy yours.

[griston64]

Welcome to the 940 tinkering society

I really don't have much of a clue but I'm learning ( I think ) as I go along

You will find this forum invaluable

ps check your HT leads Better still just change them for some Bourgicord ones

[360beast]

Originally Posted by griston64

Welcome to the 940 tinkering society

I really don't have much of a clue but I'm learning ( I think ) as I go along

You will find this forum invaluable

ps check your HT leads Better still just change them for some Bourgicord ones

Where did you get your leads from Mark?

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Where did you get your leads from Mark?

I got them from Parts For Volvo's online Luke. Make sure you call first as they list both Bourgicord and Bosch and my Bosch ones had pretty much disintegrated

Made a huge difference