hey guys!

I guess I need an advice from someone more experienced with used volvos than me!

I'm a total newbie here in the forum and a noob in volvo questions!

but still I kind of like these "old" bricks very much! I was on my way to buy an Subaru Outback (4wd), but they have all bad head gaskets/timing belts and you cant find many good opinions online.

so im on my way now to buy an 1993 Volvo 940 with 145.000 miles for 1800$ or an 1990 Volvo 740 turbo with also 145.000 miles for 1200$...!

the 940 seems to be in a good shape, the 740 turbo is maybe a little bit more worn and at least 3 years older than the 940!
the 940 had an new timing belt 30.000 miles ago, the info about the 740 doesn’t say anything at all!
both have no records about repairs and replacement parts... so I have to believe that everything is fine!

my question is which one is the more reliable car for the next 6 months and about maybe 30.000 or 50.000 miles?!?
I don’t care about more than this time or mileage because I am leaving the states again for some months and I will resell it in October this year again!

which one would be the better and most persistent car for a long distance journey to Canada and back to D.C. for example?

and which one would have a bigger residual value?

and one other thing are there some 4WD models around 2000$ available? or are they just build since the the end of the 90's and thatswhy still too expensive?

thanks for all answers
yves

 

Well, the 940 is newer, and is basically a later and improved version of the 740. Also a 940 NON turbo is better than a 740 Turbo in my book-better economy and overall easier to live with. And the 940 will have more value since it is newer and more modern car.

And there are some cheap AWD out there, a Subaru Legacy comes to mind before the Outback which started in 1996. Especially one with a stickshift, not a bad way to go... The autos are less reliable and cost more to fix. I personally wouldn't consider Explorers and such which could be had for your budget.

 

I know about the early subarus, they are much better than the once they build between 1996 and 2001!!!

but tell me where to find them, all have the ****y 2,5 litter 4zyl. engine with automatic transmission!

I allready checked all local and nearly all online surces to find something nice!

its just impossible to find one with the smaller eniges (2.0 or 2.2) and manual trans around DC and 200 miles periphery

 

I'm not too sure where to find good vehicles around d.c. metropolitan area butI usually go to
www.cars.com
www.autotrader.com
and surf from there.


Have you heard of woodbridge auction in VA?
Whenever I search cars online from two above sources, I get several cars for every type of cars that I search from woodbridge auction.

I would go with non turbo.

Especially with old cars, you don't want to have turbo with automatic transmission.