(very) budget Volvo

[DRFC17]

Me and some mates are taking part in a charity rally from Kent to Bratislava this summer, and are then planning afterwards to to use the car for more road tripping.

The problem is that it's a banger rally, so our spending limit is £500.

We've settled on an old Volvo estate, due to their size and tank like nature, but we're wondering where the best place is to source a cheap, half decent one and if there is any model that is head and shoulders above the rest.

Cheers.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

The 850 T5, every time.

Check out Gumtree and T5D5, volvoforums and vpcuk for examples. You will be able to get one in your budget.

[Rockatansky]

You could have my '97 V70 T5 for that, but I'm a fair way from Kent (Edinburgh). Not sure on how I'd feel about it becoming a 'banger' rally entry, but a sale is a sale I suppose...

As per previous post, keep an eye on the forums and you should find something suitable in budget.

[Nickyboy]

Paid £600 for my T5 estate with a mere 130k and years Tax & MOT

[morgrp]

850 yes without a doubt, t5 no - too expensive.
go for a 2.0 20valve and sod the estate and go for an undesirable saloon in undesirable SE spec - you'll find they are all owned by old people and all are MEGA cheap to buy - the other advantages are the 2.0's sound even better than the t5, love to rev (to around 7000rpm!) and they are good on juice on the long run and are even more robust than the turbos

[morgrp]

There you go lovely low mileage example - and I'm even being generous with the spec - you'll not find a T5 as nice with so few miles for the money and hey, it even looks like a T5:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3812217.htm

Just make sure it's a 20v. The 2.0 10v models are gutless

Edited by morgrp on Monday 16th April 01:07