Needed a good economical commuter - found a 1 owner 224k car on craigslist - was hooked once I drove it. Tons of records and starting in 2007, the PO started fixing things. Body - great, interior - fair (new headliner though - woohoo!) - but comfy, engine/tranny - fluids looked good. It has a wicked bad vibration - old motor mounts will be replaced this weekend. Else going through the car and fixing/cleaning things up (changed engine oil to amsoil, lubricate locks/exercise switches,etc, checked tranny fluid). I am impressed - simple reliable machine (my other car is a 1997 E320 - computer on wheels), sounds like a tractor when starting, and a comfy cruiser for the commutes. Nice tank of a car. Originally looking for a beater commuter - this one is not and well worth it to me to keep running.

Also, simple to work on. So much room in there.

 

welcome to your new home greggster! good buch of guys in here!

 

I love the hell out of my 740...their easy to take apart, I tore out the whole interior of the this except the dashboard n cleaned everything in my bathtub...lol...the leather seats come very clean wit the rite stuff (Tuffstuff)....the engine is very easy to work on, so much space...one word of advise... change the timing belt....be good to ur Volvo n it will be good to u....

 

I'd consider changing the O2 sensor if you don't have records of a recent swap. They're often overlooked and when bad the gas mileage suffers. Motor mounts and tranny mounts are usually only good for 50k or so...

 

Thanks for the suggestions - I have the receipts from the PO - need to go through them and detail whats been done. Its actually quite the nice ride for 225k - while I am thinking front wheel bearings and brakes are on he list - will look at the O2 sensors. Seems the cooling parts are recent - again can verify from the paperwork. Mounts - I got FEQ from Autohausaz - they were the cheapest - not sure how long will last but they got the oil pan off the frame. Trans mount is next, the center shaft support is shot, needs new tires and I think front brakes/bearings, adjust valves - then start cleaning the interior....

Timing belt was done 15k ago - think its ok to leave for a while? The PO made special mention of that..

Else compared to a Mercedes W210 - this car is so simple, I feel its a lot more reliable also w/o all the gismo's and electronic transmission and computer that can have a bad electron day and throw a code.

 

Volvo's are the best! I have a 1987 240 with 315,000 miles on it. PO NEVER changed the oil, I switched it to a synthetic blend and there hasn't been a single thing I've had to take it into a mechanic for (replaced the timing belt last weekend), except for cat converters (it goes through them every two years).

Best of luck, and by the way, there is nothing about your car that you can't find out either in this site's threads or somewhere else online free.