Don't get me wrong. I like my 2011 xc70. But having just spent 5 grand getting the rear diff repaired, I am somewhat off modern vehicles. I was given a 2018 as a loaner, and I HATE it. Particularly the touch screen controls, but also the fact that the engine stops when the car does.

So I was thinking...

Would it be crazy to find a relatively simple decent car, something from the late 80's or early 90's, that is not in too bad condition, and use it as a daily driver when I get fed up enough to shoot my xc70? I'm thinking of cars with decent build quality, with a god parts supply. Rear wheel drive. Relatively safe (I don't drive a lot). Winter and summer driving (good heater and A/C required) Minimal computer technology....

I have decent shop space, so I can do much of the wrenching required to maintain the vehicle myself. I am a fair "shade- tree mechanic". And I am old enough to learn....

I'm not a regular Volvo driver - mainly because I could never afford them. So I am looking for suggestions from Volvo users regarding their thoughts on older models. And as to whether or not I am completely nuts......

 

Simpler times much less expensive work

 

Thanks for the response. The 240 might be a good choice. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

Mike,
Heck, I'm not only old enough to learn, I'm old enough to forget it is 10 minutes!.

But.... I have had a number of older cars over the years. I have a few observations.
Any old car has a lot of old parts. though the car may be fun ad even easy to work on, one thing is sure- you will be working on it.
Honestly, do you really want to consider getting hit in an 80's Chevy Cavalier versus your XC? The safety advances are tremendous. And I don't know about you but as I get older I notice that I sometimes "miss" a stop sign, forget to look over my shoulder when changing lanes, and a few other - sometimes scary - things. Thank God I have not been in an accident in 25 years, but I have more 'close calls' than I did when I was 20.Just this morning my antilock breaks saved me from rearending a fellow - my '68 Torino would've stopped on a dime (the one in his front pocket)..
Beside the advances in safety equipment, think how much stuff you don't have to fiddle with - auto wipers, auto HVAC, and all sorts of other stuff that lets you concentrate on driving rather than on fiddly little dash *****.

The old days seem great because we tend to forget the bad stuff. I am also a good shade tree mechanic - because I HAD to be in the '60, 70, s and 80's. Hey, my first serious girlfriend though I had a prosthetic hand until I explained that it was a 5/8 inch ratchet.

 

You raise a good point. If I want to drive an unsafe car, I'll take my '62 MGA, with its wooden floors, out for a spin. BUt a '91 volvo or bmw is not that car!
Certainly every new year brings some improvement in collision safety, which is needed, since newer cars with touchscreen technology are more likely to HAVE accidents. At least with me driving.
I don't think my car is even meant to be repaired. When a "lifetime" sealed bearing fails at 155,000 km, and the dealer want 63% of the trade in value of the car to fix it, that suggests to me either major design or quality problems with the car.
I'd like to think there is a balance point between life expectancy, serviceability and safety. But I really think we are beyond the balance point.
( as an aside, I wonder how long the starter will last on a car that turns itself off every time you stop )

 

No way it's about you and what you like **** what any body else thinks period enjoy your life

 

To me the whole point of forums such as this is to have access to people who have more experience and information than I do. I do what I think is best, but I try to have a well formed and educated opinion. If ya don't listen, ya can't learn.

 

I like old cars and I have several drivers. I am here because one of my cars is a 1998 S70, T5, manual transmission. 1998 was the last year for the mechanical throttle, there's no variable valve timing, and generally no car network which allows various components to become irreplaceable. The car does not really have a "central electronics unit". I view all these things as essential if you are going to survive with an old car. Unfortunately, it does have automatic dual zone temperature control. I would prefer not to have to live with that in a car's old age. The S70 is front wheel drive, FWIW and as such does not meet your requirements. On the other hand it's a fun car to drive.

Some bullet points:
*In 1996, OBD II was mandated, and that makes cars much easier to fix. You can find some volvo applications earlier than 1996.
*I like working on cars. Overall, I find that cars don't require much repair. They can violate this at times and get to be a pain. However, my problem is never what some mechanic did, or what he cost. I don't use mechanics.
*I find if you have 2 cars just alike, your troubleshooting IQ rockets to genius level. This would not be true on cars where what you really need some Saturday morning is a firmware update.

 

Thanks for the response. I don't have space for 2 more cars. I can squeeze one in. A second would have to wait until I shoot my xc70. So my troubleshooting ability will have to stay at the novice level for now...
Your comments about the technology are helpful. At this point I'm looking at a late 240, or a BMW 320. Both have (relatively) simple engines, and RWD. (and a/c, ABS, and basic airbags)

 

You'll find a lot of people who work on their own cars of that vintage, which helps.

 

Indeed. Forums have been most helpful for problems I have had to solve on other vehicles. In fact - essential.

 

The Volvo cars pre Ford era were, to me, the best Volvo's. At this point I think the newest Volvo I might ever own is the 96 Volvo 850 Turbo that I have, and my other car is the 95 T5r.
Like you, I have driven some S60's as loaners and such, the whole feel of the interior and the road feel is not what I like.
The very simple mechanical quality of the build and the interior controls and displays in those early years is a lot of what makes them a pleasure to drive.

 

I bought a 240, that is structurally pretty decent. The rest is "details"....