Winter Bangernomics in a 740 Turbo intercooled Swedish Brick

[TinyCappo]

Really didnt want to run my cappuccino through winter apart from the rust issues and the fact that its lower than a low thing on a low day.

I had been looking around at other volvos for ages when this one pitched up on Ebay with a £400 BIN

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-VOLVO-740-TURBO-AUT...

The negative
little tatty round the edges got some corrosion on the roof which got some aluminium speed tape put round it fairly sharpish & the sunroof doesnt work and i have an ABS light on (ill have to drive it properly then very few of my other cars have abs and i dont like it personally)

The Positive
car had done about 1800 miles over the last 3 years but serviced fairly religiously sounds really smooth and gave it some beans upto work this morning and it surprised more than a few people uphills its auto wafability really is good its like being in a 23 year old armchair.



£338 a year fully comp 12,000 miles and business use to boot (it was cheaper fully comp than third party)!!!!

so thats winter sorted just need a garage now

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Fantastic!

I recently bought my first Volvo, an 850 T5. Marvellous cars!

[mickyveloce]

Don't tell everyone! I've bought a 99 v70 estate for winter duties and put my 2 precious Mercs away . It's great and massively cheaper than an equivalent condition Mercedes E class wagon ...

[TinyCappo]

Well So far its been a little crazy.

Turns out i have the top of the range engine 740 it has an intercooler the size of a Fridge a TD04 which is fun and realy responsive and 186hp....ish....motronic....

So far it managed 25mpg out of the first tank but 2nd time round its a little better with some decent fuel and a good dose of redex through to clean it all up.

I have been fixing things too rear aerial now works sunroof opens and closes (not like that is going to be used except in an emergency) heated seats the wires had stripped out a connector so now they work again they are great i had forgotten how toasty they were.

It has an odd fault in that every time the wife gets in it it breaks down....without fail. More on this later but since then there is a possibility it had been filled with Diesel due to a tank misfilling at a the Total petrol station in hindhead (as in the green pump is dispensing diesel not that i have been a pleb and filled it with diesel) So ill keep you posted but im looking for a few parts and preparing to be bent over by volvo if ebay and the owners clubs dont come up with some goodies.

Thanks
Ben

[morgrp]

Great car and a "must have" if you're a Volvo fan - I've yet to scratch my 740 itch - I got close to buying an ultra rare 740 GLT 16valve - but even for my skilled hands was far too bigger heap to bother with. If yours is 190bhp it could well have the optional "turbo plus" pack fitted - a rare thing indeed - standard turbo intercoolers were around the 170bhp mark. Service it - stick some genuine filters in it and some shell helix oil - it'll run a million times better I can guarantee that -

Oh and stick some pics up! - might be tatty but I'd still love to see the old beast

[stevep360]

I'm thinking of purchasing a very similar car for winter bangernomics too (and classic car insurance!) - how are you finding it? How is it with the auto box as that's my main concern!

Yours should be 182bhp as all 740 turbos fitted with the B230ET and Garret turbo combination (some later ones with the Mitsubishi 13c turbo and later 940 style front end were more like 165bhp). I'm not aware Turbo+ was fitted to 740s (I thought it was 940's only?) but I could ofcourse be way off the mark :lol:

Definitely get some pics up - I seem to remember seeing this on eBay if its blue? Did you have any issues come MOT time

[carob]

Just done the same for the winter, bought a as mint as they come 850 GLT for a bargain price.
It is amazing how much these cars have to offer for your money.

Looking forward to picking it up Monday with a full new MOT and just sitting back and knowing that the barge is going to eat its way through the winter.

Rob