Are turbo volvos reliable ?

[CharlesStevenson]

I know that this question is sooo influenced by the previous owner(s) driving technique and maintenance schedules, however, are volvo turbos reliable?

I ask since we intend to change our 2.3 carb 740 for a 940/960 and note that most for sale local (Northants/Beds/Cambs/Leics/Herts area) are with turbo.

My preference is for a 2.3 inj non-turbo but am I missing out on an alternative reliable version. My concern simply put is that even with the turbo on the 2.0 isn't the estate a lot of car to pull and therefore by now, most turbo engined cars may well need major overhalls, possibly being the reason it is for sale.

Also I'd be interested in a bigger engined non-turbo such as a 960.

I was intending to spend somewhere from £1k - £3k for the vehicle based upon age/condition/history.

Ideas, comments , suggestions greatly appreciated.

Rgds

BTW if anyone knows of a 2.3 inj estate, auto, with a sunroof for sale, I would be very interested, I am flexible as to location since I could arrange collection if needed.

Rgds

The simple answer is yes, they are. Turbos do fail but in fact, when they do, they are not difficult to fix, it just sounds bad: "You need a new turbo, sir" but if you have your local independent take it out and send it off to Turbo Technics in Sheffield to be fixed, I´d say under 600 quid in total.

In Sweden, at least, post 1995 there were no non-turbos. If you want a petrol car, I´d go for the low pressure turbos 1 because they are not as much of a "performance" car as the 165 bhp full turbos are and 2 because I cannot think of an engine better suited to an automatic, becuase of the turbo boosting for very early on, it is almost like a diesel with lots of low rev power.

When I just now did a search in Autotrader, there were 150 940s, there must a nice one there. For 3k you would get a post 1995 car, go for that as they superior with better sound insulation and suspension and have driver airbag as standard.

Also, the Wenthworth as they call them, did not have a sunroof if I remember correctly but did have air con. I would seriously put it to you that the ECC fitted to some 900 series cars is worth every penny. This a fantastic unit and works wonders, even in serious heat. My daily runabout is the 1995 LPT Polar which has both ECC and sunroof, but if I had to take one away, it would be the sunroof.
George

[link:www.ttsservices.co.uk/my%20volvos.htm|http://www.ttsservices.co.uk/My%20car.JPG]

'95 940 Polar LPT (B230FK/AW71; 130k)
'92 940 SE Turbo (B200FT/M46; 150k)
'87 740 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler (D24TIC/ZF22; 210k)

[CharlesStevenson]

George, once again I thank you for imparting your knowledge.

I note yr comment ref the LPT, sounds the way to go.

Post '95 would be good for the upgrades you mention.

Ref the s/roof, the snag with that is our current car has one and my wife prefers this open on tilt nearly all the time otherwise she feels somewhat car sick.

I agree, however, that the ecc would be a very useful accessory to have.

Because of where we live I couldn't find that many on autotrader when I last searched a few days ago but I'll carry on and see what turns up.

As I mentioned, I'm aware of what seems to be a 2.0 turbo for sale with a known history, other than the lack of sunroof it would seem to suit us; it's the '93 L that I copied the link for. I'll track its price and see what happens

Oh BTW do you know if any wentworths ever came with 2.3's, the pic he's emailed looks more like a 2.0 than 2.3 (too big to attach)

Thanks again

Regards

Charles

I would not do it as I find them ugly but there is the possibility of adding an aftermarket one if you find an otherwise perfect car. The Wenthworth seems to be off e-Bay if that is the one you were talking about. My autotrader search was national, somewhat unrealistic I agree.

I think all Wenthworths are 2.0 litre. I never understood this, in the UK the 2 litre are very popular but the tax is not cc linked, a 2.3 has the same tax as a 2.0 but here in Belgium, tax goes on cc and one would save several hundred pounds a year on a 2 litre over a 2.3 and yet, 2.0 litres are nowhere to be found.

George

[link:www.ttsservices.co.uk/my%20volvos.htm|http://www.ttsservices.co.uk/My%20car.JPG]

'95 940 Polar LPT (B230FK/AW71; 130k)
'92 940 SE Turbo (B200FT/M46; 150k)
'87 740 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler (D24TIC/ZF22; 210k)

[keith.talbot]

Ah - George

You have not experienced the delights of UK company car taxation.
Circa 2000, when I chose my first and last company car, I had the option of a "fuel card" - free petrol ! However, the inland revenue then viewed this as a taxable benefit worth £2000 per year. This tax had a threshold at 2000cc. A 2300cc Volvo would have carried a tax burden of £3500. The difference got higher from then, until the whole thing was swept away by emissions based taxation. Between 2000 and 2003 when the lease expired and I bought my S90, the taxation trebled for me !

Hence people buying 2 litre volvos, or in my case, a 2 litre Renault Espace. Which only got through 4 engines in the 90K miles I had it....


Keith

I see..

George

[link:www.ttsservices.co.uk/my%20volvos.htm|http://www.ttsservices.co.uk/My%20car.JPG]

'95 940 Polar LPT (B230FK/AW71; 130k)
'92 940 SE Turbo (B200FT/M46; 150k)
'87 740 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler (D24TIC/ZF22; 210k)

[ivor940]

If you want a 2.3, consider importing one from Southern Ireland as our tax tates mean a 2.3 is not popular (EUR 749 per year). I have seen 95 full spec 2.3 estate on "BUYANDSELL.IE" for EUR 2000 ( approx STG 1333 )There is also not much salt used here but there are potholes (susp bits can need fixing)

ivor940
94 940 2.0 SE Turbo Estate 5 spd 143k

VOC member

[Grizlyadams]

Yes they are reliable, my 945LPT has 236K on the clock and runs like a dream, i mean how many other car can you modify with 200+k on with no ill effects! The last owner had the turbo replaced at 190k and a new gearbox, but apart from usual dealer service thats all shes had. The hard life of a rep (its a 1996 car) just killed the drivers carpet and thats all! I love volvo turbo's, get an late spec LPT with some toys and turn the boost up, you will love it :-)

Griz