First time Volvo owner in Auburn, WA
First time Volvo owner in Auburn, WA
Greetings everybody! Is there anybody here from my neck of the woods?
I'm Karla...just picked up an 1985 245 GL wagon on the 4th of July for dirt cheap ($400.) It runs, it drives, it's in relatively decent shape, but has some definite quirks...ignition buzzer on all the time (fixed), power windows don't work (fixed all but front passenger side), no trunk key, and a leaky little...umm...transmission fluid reservoir? Not entirely sure what the thing is called, as I can't seem to find it in my Haynes book, but its a little black plastic reservoir, directly behind the battery, that says 'Transmission Fluid Only.' It appears that somebody overfilled it...at least thats my hope. Few other little idiosyncricies, but nothing major (at least not that I have discovered yet.)
Anywhoo, picked it up with the ultimate plan of it being a first car for my son, who turns 16 next June (plenty of time to get it completely road worthy.) We have a independent Volvo specialist here in town, so I stopped in yesterday to see what he would charge to go through it and give me a list of what needs to be repaired, in order of importance, so I would be better able to plan this project out (single mom, single income...all that jazz :-) As I am explaining what the car is, he kind of glazed over and waited for me to stop talking. When I was done, he just shook his head and said 'Don't mean to disappoint you...but I'm not touching it. It's just too old.' He then kinda launched into a diatribe about how Volvo must have just sold out to the cheapest bidder, and everything is different, and there are so many random quirks...then told me I would be better off driving it down the street to the local junkyard and selling it as scrap metal! Very interesting fellow, he is...lol.
Needless to say, it's not going anywhere...at least not yet....lol.
As for me, I am a bit of a car junky...my daily driver is a '69 VW bug, and I am currently working on getting my '75 VW Riviera roadworthy. I work fulltime, and do dog rescue in my 'spare' time (primarily pit bulls.) I need another project like I need another dog, but it's what my son wanted for a first car, and I couldn't pass the deal up!
I'm Karla...just picked up an 1985 245 GL wagon on the 4th of July for dirt cheap ($400.) It runs, it drives, it's in relatively decent shape, but has some definite quirks...ignition buzzer on all the time (fixed), power windows don't work (fixed all but front passenger side), no trunk key, and a leaky little...umm...transmission fluid reservoir? Not entirely sure what the thing is called, as I can't seem to find it in my Haynes book, but its a little black plastic reservoir, directly behind the battery, that says 'Transmission Fluid Only.' It appears that somebody overfilled it...at least thats my hope. Few other little idiosyncricies, but nothing major (at least not that I have discovered yet.)
Anywhoo, picked it up with the ultimate plan of it being a first car for my son, who turns 16 next June (plenty of time to get it completely road worthy.) We have a independent Volvo specialist here in town, so I stopped in yesterday to see what he would charge to go through it and give me a list of what needs to be repaired, in order of importance, so I would be better able to plan this project out (single mom, single income...all that jazz :-) As I am explaining what the car is, he kind of glazed over and waited for me to stop talking. When I was done, he just shook his head and said 'Don't mean to disappoint you...but I'm not touching it. It's just too old.' He then kinda launched into a diatribe about how Volvo must have just sold out to the cheapest bidder, and everything is different, and there are so many random quirks...then told me I would be better off driving it down the street to the local junkyard and selling it as scrap metal! Very interesting fellow, he is...lol.
Needless to say, it's not going anywhere...at least not yet....lol.
As for me, I am a bit of a car junky...my daily driver is a '69 VW bug, and I am currently working on getting my '75 VW Riviera roadworthy. I work fulltime, and do dog rescue in my 'spare' time (primarily pit bulls.) I need another project like I need another dog, but it's what my son wanted for a first car, and I couldn't pass the deal up!
only a couple of quick ones I took the day we brought it home...plan on working on it a bit this weekend, so I am sure there will be more! (and yes, I know it all looks pretty redneck at the moment...lol)
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 481
Likes: 3
From: Lansing, MI
This is the point where you get your son to log in and search the archives, ask some questions and put HIS hands on the car. This is a chance for him to learn the car he'll be driving. This is where the fun begins.
Get to know the guy at the junk yard, he'll be a great help.
Have fun,
Ed
Get to know the guy at the junk yard, he'll be a great help.
Have fun,
Ed
Last edited by ed7; Jul 7, 2011 at 10:01 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kenaisteve
New Members Area
3
Mar 3, 2010 03:53 PM