Back To The Barn (A more expensive kind of shed)
Discussion
Some of you may have seen my 'super cheap' thread all about my shed exploits entitled 'Back To The Shed' covering every car I've bought for under a grand. This thread will cover all the cars I have bought for more than a grand... although still not exactly expensive or luxurious cars. In fact most are old and tired motors that happen to hold some form of residual value.
Although I have plenty more to add at a later date, here is the first instalment.
Having sold my Volvo 740 Turbo wagon around 6 months ago (See Back To The Shed), I was missing having a large house-brick in my life, and now we're in lock down I'm finding time to clear out the garage to make space for more cars. Unfortunately I realised that as I am sans-estate taking the junk to be disposed of won't be as straight forward.
Of course, simple man maths took over and I calculated this would be the perfect time to buy another car, and specifically a Volvo.
I've always had a hankering for an 850R, but the automatic aspect and FWD have always put me off, whilst undeniably fantastic cars, it still didn't quite match what I wanted. I also intend to use this car to tow with, so ideally AWD would be a feature.
My Dad had a Gen 1 V70 2.5 20V, then a Gen 2 V70 2.5T AWD, so I had an inkling of what to look for.
A few hours on eBay had me discounting lots of cars, and the T5 and Rs were all out of my price range for a 'hack'.
But what did I find? An ex-services Gen 3 V70 T6 AWD! At a bargain price too. Still in its livery and lights etc, although the car will be dekitted before it can be released to me unfortunately. And it's a long way from Warwickshire in Merthyr.
The car is an odd spec being ex-services. No body kit, crap wheels and a black cloth interior, but that doesn't bother me much as it'll be used as a hack. What's better than winning the traffic light grand prix with a fridge freezer in the back?? 83,500 miles, full service history, only ever needed tyres or brake pads for MOT. Plus, as it's not an ex cop car, it's not been used for punting Corsa's off the road.
So, here's The Doctors Express in all her shabby glory!
Although I have plenty more to add at a later date, here is the first instalment.
Having sold my Volvo 740 Turbo wagon around 6 months ago (See Back To The Shed), I was missing having a large house-brick in my life, and now we're in lock down I'm finding time to clear out the garage to make space for more cars. Unfortunately I realised that as I am sans-estate taking the junk to be disposed of won't be as straight forward.
Of course, simple man maths took over and I calculated this would be the perfect time to buy another car, and specifically a Volvo.
I've always had a hankering for an 850R, but the automatic aspect and FWD have always put me off, whilst undeniably fantastic cars, it still didn't quite match what I wanted. I also intend to use this car to tow with, so ideally AWD would be a feature.
My Dad had a Gen 1 V70 2.5 20V, then a Gen 2 V70 2.5T AWD, so I had an inkling of what to look for.
A few hours on eBay had me discounting lots of cars, and the T5 and Rs were all out of my price range for a 'hack'.
But what did I find? An ex-services Gen 3 V70 T6 AWD! At a bargain price too. Still in its livery and lights etc, although the car will be dekitted before it can be released to me unfortunately. And it's a long way from Warwickshire in Merthyr.
The car is an odd spec being ex-services. No body kit, crap wheels and a black cloth interior, but that doesn't bother me much as it'll be used as a hack. What's better than winning the traffic light grand prix with a fridge freezer in the back?? 83,500 miles, full service history, only ever needed tyres or brake pads for MOT. Plus, as it's not an ex cop car, it's not been used for punting Corsa's off the road.
So, here's The Doctors Express in all her shabby glory!
That looks amazing
Mark Benson said:
I snorted tea. 
Dare I ask how much?
Good, I try to throw a little humour into my posts where possible.Dare I ask how much?
I paid £2500 for the car, and there is an additional fee on top for dekitting, so in total it's cost me a tiny smidge over £3300. The only other T6 V70 I could find was a few years newer, but higher mileage and is listed for £13,995.
I forgot to say as well that the insurance is insanely cheap. I was expecting it to cost me nearly a grand maybe as I'm not ancient (33) and only have a few years no claims as I've only driven classics until 3 years ago, so accrued no No Claims until then, although accident free.
Amazingly though the insurance is £8 a year LESS than my 90bhp Peugeot 208 1.6HDI I bought for £200 and a bag of flour! Go figure...
Mark Benson said:
That's very good value. I like the fact it's bare bones basic but still packs a punch - a tip car you can have fun in.
That is exactly the reason I bought it. I really struggle with boring cars. Crap cars can still be fun (Hence my Back To The Shed thread), but boring cars are just boring.Only reason I have my Peugeot 208 was because I was fed up of my cars picking up dents in the work car park, and the clutch was on the way out on my V8 5 Series, so I needed something ASAP... and at £200 with 12 months MOT it was hard to say no.
Got a call from the auction house a few days ago to say the Volvo has now been dekitted, so I will get a transporter to collect it I think as it doesn't have MOT, so difficult to bring back at the moment.
If it wasn't for the lockdown I'd find a local MOT station there to book it into and get a train over to drive it back... Hope to have it back with me by the end of the week.
If it wasn't for the lockdown I'd find a local MOT station there to book it into and get a train over to drive it back... Hope to have it back with me by the end of the week.
The T6 is finally here! Took a while to get a competitive quote for moving it the hundred or so miles... The delivery driver was very polite, and took him less than 24hrs to arrange collection and delivery, although he had clearly not understood social distancing as as soon as he was out of the tow truck he tried to fist bump me... I refused and I got a gentle punch to the elbow instead... bit odd, but there we go.
I've done a quick walk around video which I will try to put on my YouTube channel (I know, no links...)
A quick look in the history shows it was run by a guy called 'Doctor Foster'
However, a quick look around shows it's in generally good nick, although a lot of the trim will need replacing when I can find either a good donor or get over to Lake's.
Interestingly 'dekitting' seems to have only involved peeling off the graphics and removing the lights, all the wiring etc is still there. I think I'll probably remove it at some point once I have her on the road.
I'll look at it in more detail soon, but here's a few snaps to whet your appetites for a fast iceberg.
I've done a quick walk around video which I will try to put on my YouTube channel (I know, no links...)
A quick look in the history shows it was run by a guy called 'Doctor Foster'
However, a quick look around shows it's in generally good nick, although a lot of the trim will need replacing when I can find either a good donor or get over to Lake's.
Interestingly 'dekitting' seems to have only involved peeling off the graphics and removing the lights, all the wiring etc is still there. I think I'll probably remove it at some point once I have her on the road.
I'll look at it in more detail soon, but here's a few snaps to whet your appetites for a fast iceberg.
Edited by Jonny-Jimbo on Friday 1st May 20:52
RC1807 said:
You can link / embed YouTube now, so pleas do so.
I wonder what you paid for in the de-knitting then, since most of it's still there? Peeling off graphics would have given you something to do. Spoil sports.
Anyway, look forward to your embedded YouTube video soon.
They would have done the bare minimum to sell it legally to the public in a road worthy condition. It's not worth the time to strip out the gear and wiring as it doesnt again you anything. I wonder what you paid for in the de-knitting then, since most of it's still there? Peeling off graphics would have given you something to do. Spoil sports.
Anyway, look forward to your embedded YouTube video soon.
It's not like it's worth anything second hand as all these cars will be converted at great cost with all new gear from the factory.
Mark Benson said:
Jonny-Jimbo said:
Plus, as it's not an ex cop car, it's not been used for punting Corsa's off the road.
I snorted tea. 
couple of years ago when the service Volvo was responding to an emergency and the Corsa driver stopped entirely blocking the exit from a roundabout they were trying to take. The walkaround video is now on my YouTube channel (along with a video from a while ago that I found buried in my computer of me and a mate thrashing someone else's E-Type around the lanes...)
My channel username is 1959BB. If you search for that you should find it, along with a host of other videos from 10+ years ago that were filmed on a broken potato.
My channel username is 1959BB. If you search for that you should find it, along with a host of other videos from 10+ years ago that were filmed on a broken potato.
A few 'friends' on other platforms have made comments that this can't be a T6 because it has no mad body kit, and is to subtle etc. Just to allay any fears, here's a photo of the engine. Definitely a T6, as Volvo didn't do any other straight 6's as far as I am aware... Not at this age anyway.
However, of course the first issue has reared it's ugly head. The battery has a drain on it, which I'm hoping is down to the huge amount of ex-services equipment still in the car. The boot is pretty much full of random wires and relays that are still connected, so I hope stripping that out will solve that problem.
It looks like the pads are low as well, so I'll try to get a set of pads in soon and then take it for MOT.
However, of course the first issue has reared it's ugly head. The battery has a drain on it, which I'm hoping is down to the huge amount of ex-services equipment still in the car. The boot is pretty much full of random wires and relays that are still connected, so I hope stripping that out will solve that problem.
It looks like the pads are low as well, so I'll try to get a set of pads in soon and then take it for MOT.
Cracking car. I very much miss having a Volvo in my life.
I purchased a Mk3 Ford Mondeo a couple of years ago that had been the CID car on the Bill. Interestingly it still had the blues in the grille wired up. The car died before I ever had a chance to remove them. I very much doubt you'll suffer from tailgaters in that car!
I purchased a Mk3 Ford Mondeo a couple of years ago that had been the CID car on the Bill. Interestingly it still had the blues in the grille wired up. The car died before I ever had a chance to remove them. I very much doubt you'll suffer from tailgaters in that car!
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