700/900 veterens opinion on late 90s V70s

[mentepazza]

Get the 960!

[Dippydog]

I've never owned a 7/9 series car but I'd guess that the V70 is a little smaller in the load carrying stakes.My P1[registered Jan 2000]seems to me pretty well screwed together.So far the bits I've needed to change have been pretty easy to do.The 5 pot motor seems robust-although mine's only the 140 version-Headlight bulbs are easy to change although passenger side[in a rhd car]is a bit fiddlier due to the battery.Fuel consumption-at least with the manual box-is very reasonable,dual mass flywheel could be an extra factor come clutch change time.As others have noted the turning circle is crap but is a penalty of the driving wheels being at the wrong end of the car.They're very comfy though with decent enough handling even with the cheapo ditchfinder tyres I fit!

[mentepazza]

Don’t see much difference of turning between my 240 and my v70 1999.
The loading area of the 240 is Cavernous compared to the v70. Not much height.
Rwd 740/940 feels a lot different on the road. The awd feels awesome.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

I've never owned a 7/9 series car but I'd guess that the V70 is a little smaller in the load carrying stakes!

Before i moved here i got my 3rd 740 and very often my neighbour would ask me to transport something that wouldn't fit in his XC70! Given the XC70 is more or less a V70 with AWD, i think it's fair to say that comparing the space in his against the 745 is like comparing a childs size 5 shoe with an adults size 10 shoe.

There was certainly a big difference in what mine would carry comared to his!

[GreenBrick]

Oh, and I also agree that the 940 has a better load carrying capacity than the ph2 V70. I know as I had to cut down my load liner to fit the V70.

[lnparry]

Hi all,

I've never driven a V70 so can't compare with my 25 years of 740 / 940 ownership but I have heard many of the criticisms of the former previously so I guess there is some truth in them.

What caught my eye on this thread is that I have been pondering what to replace my current '97 940 with when we both become to old to look after each other. Hopefully this is still a few years away but that time will come. Truth is there are less and less 940s out there and eventually it will be hard to find a replacement to use as a daily driver.

When the time comes I suspect I will go V70 as it is a Volvo and that still has many advantages such as an active club, discount spares and a really helpful forum that I doubt the other marques can match.

Happy Volvoing,
LeeP

[lynns hubby]

We have had both 240s and 940s for the last 30 odd years but have now moved to an XC70. The drive is wonderful and far more comfortable. Its far easier getting in and out of the car as its taller (we are not as young as we were once)
That said we miss (as must the dogs) the amount of room in the back and the turning circle makes parking a little different than it was with the old RWDs.
I have not had to do too much maintenance to the old girl yet, but just looking under the bonnet and all the fancy stuff that comes with it is enough to send shivers down your spine.

[rwdkev]

Originally Posted by GreenBrick

Oh, and I also agree that the 940 has a better load carrying capacity than the ph2 V70. I know as I had to cut down my load liner to fit the V70.

I guess that says it all..........?

[Zlornick]

I passed on that particular v70. Too many variables. Think I'm going to hold out until after the holidays. Everything sorta stops here in the states for the last two weeks of the year or so, think the market will open up in January.


Thinking of looking closer at 240s. My first one was an '82 240 4speed manual with a turbo that was fun as hell. While I find the 740/940 interior much more comfortable there's still a lot of nostalgia for that vibe. Will keep ya posted.

Thanks for the perspective, folks!

[Zlornick]

Finale to my ongoing saga of replacing the crumpled 940 in a very small Volvo market:




I was just about to pull the trigger on a 98 v70XC when this came along just in time.

Lovely shape so far, bonus is that I don't even have to think about replacing the radiator in that v70xc. I'll be lurking over in the 200 series forum for now I suppose, asking such important questions like how do you move the drivers seat back to give me some more leg room?!?

Thanks y'all for your input and expertise!