As the garage door turns... (FIREMISSION)

[Jake]

Is there even anyone here that has a clue about volvos?

One of my friends at JMU had a 1979 245DL. It ran fine after all those years (including the automatic trans) and only died when the radiator (or a hose) popped a leak and she drove on the Beltway without coolant and cooked the motor. Was a cool car, smelled like pancake syrup when the heat was on. Everything in the "My Volvo" rap is true.

Granted, the V70 is a different beast. So no, I don't have a clue.

[WRXtranceformed]

I have heard from a mechanic friend that especially older ones are prone to lots of problems and are in the shop frequently. I don't know if this is always the case.

[CaptainHenreh]

Yeah, I had an old RWD volvo and really liked it until the heatercore cracked and put coolant fucking everywhere. But what can I say with 289,000 miles on it?

But I have no idea if these FWD volvos are worth a crap.

[JustinG]

But I have no idea if these FWD volvos are worth a crap.

Think you just answered that question....

[HAULN-SS]

Diesel and/or turbo puegot?
I dont know why but I always liked these. They must be cheap too, because several people in my family always had a couple extra sitting around.

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[ScottyB]

outbacks are cheap and tough as nails. lots of suby fun-time parts swap over to them but they are slooow. turbo imprezas in that range are either beaten or projects, or both. so, another outback or 2.5RS could be a possibility.


4th gen maximas are solid all around. they aren't too complex but are plush enough that you'll be OK on road trips. the VE30DE is a gem and will take whatever you throw at it. FWD, though.


94-95 fox body? yeah, they're totally primitive but you can hoon like a pro in one, and whatever you don' t like, someone sells an updated part for a day's salary. last years of the 302 in the newer body style. worth the price for the noise.


high mile viggens are in your price range now. cowskin thrones, monster hatch space, torque steer the likes of which has not been seen since the 3rd age. plus that fat turbo midrange. might need to double check the maintenance records on what you buy though, heard of problems with sludging and clogged pickup screens. one of the best blue colors ever put on a car


SVT Focus is my favorite underrated car. cosworth engine, 6 speed, great suspension. get the euro appearance package with HIDs/leather/color options. limited edition numbers for the extra cool factor but not so rare you can't get lots of fun parts. built really well for tracking (powerband, huge brakes, weight) but tons of space for DD crap. then again you just had a focus, so maybe you're tired of them.


i LOVE 318Ti's if you can handle the looks (i love it). slow as all hell stock but RWD and hatchy space. easy to swap a big six in one and slay fools at the track. super cheap nowadays and share mostly everything with other 3 series. You and Chan could join forces.

[Sijray21]

i suppose this could go for Channing as well:

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other ideas: (all within your price range and relative requirements)
Lexus IS300
Lexus SC300/430
Lexus GS400

[CaptainHenreh]

high mile viggens are in your price range now. cowskin thrones, monster hatch space, torque steer the likes of which has not been seen since the 3rd age. plus that fat turbo midrange. might need to double check the maintenance records on what you buy though, heard of problems with sludging and clogged pickup screens. one of the best blue colors ever put on a car

Anyone know anything about these? Links to resources? It appeals to me, don't even need the Viggen, I think 200ish horsepower would be fine.

I want to know what can go wrong. RJ says 'It's just like VW only quirky' but I think that's just grumpy old man hate.

[ScottyB]

Anyone know anything about these? Links to resources? It appeals to me, don't even need the Viggen, I think 200ish horsepower would be fine.

I want to know what can go wrong. RJ says 'It's just like VW only quirky' but I think that's just grumpy old man hate.

can't say i know alot, but i entertained the thought before i bought the RS.

the engine is the strongest built of that era saab, but can have sludge issues and timing chain tensioner problems (See here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15">http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15</a><!-- m -->). i'm sure you'll see little nickel/dime things at that age too.

very little aftermarket for a turbo car IMO. the torque steer can be cured mostly with steering rack bushings. everything else seems mostly stout. retarded speed once on the highway due to boost limiting in 1st and 2nd (sounds alot like your old car). apparently the power was conservatively rated and is something like 230H/260T

i can't say i have any good sources outside saabcentral which is the most active saab board.

edit: also poked around on GRM - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/saab-9-3-any-good/5885/page1/">http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/saab-9-3-any-good/5885/page1/</a><!-- m -->

[CaptainHenreh]

I'm sure you're very sensitive to sludge issues. I think it's worthy of more research. They are very reasonably priced. Torque steer does not bother me too much, 90% of my driving is 'unspirited'.

I ass-u-me that a Saabshop could identify common issues?

[ScottyB]

I'm sure you're very sensitive to sludge issues.

ah...you could say that. :lol:

any saab shop worth their oshgoshbeegoshes should better know what to look for, considering how long they've been around for and the issues aren't getting better with age.

[Apoc]

Old Saabs were great. My wife had an old 900 in college and that thing was indestrubctible. She's from Vermont and pretty much everyone up there drove them in the 90s and beyond because they were impossible to kill and always started in the cold.

Is that model before or after they got bought up and went to shit?

[ScottyB]

Old Saabs were great. My wife had an old 900 in college and that thing was indestrubctible. She's from Vermont and pretty much everyone up there drove them in the 90s and beyond because they were impossible to kill and always started in the cold.

Is that model before or after they got bought up and went to shit?

just before IIRC.

[ViPER1313]

Want to buy my friend's 93' Firebird? LT1 + 6-speed + new black paint, car is immaculate. It makes all the right noises too.

[Apoc]

Want to buy my friend's 93' Firebird? LT1 + 6-speed + new black paint, car is immaculate. It makes all the right noises too.

Does it come with the white t-shirt and a pack of smokes?

[Evan]

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[CaptainHenreh]

edit: also poked around on GRM - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/saab-9-3-any-good/5885/page1/">http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/saab-9-3-any-good/5885/page1/</a><!-- m -->

Reading that, it didn't seem too bad. Obv, I'm looking for one with service records, and I'd want a Saab mechanic to look at anything I was thinking about buying, but I didn't see any serious red flags in that thread, save for the DI cassette (STUPID IDEA) and the sludge issues.

eta:

When we were looking for my wifes car I took a piece of coat hanger with a loop on the end. I would put it down the dipstick tube and scrape the bottom of the oil pan, if anything was stuck to the hanger we walked.

Seems like good advice.

[Evan]

more fun, low miles but a little non stock
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[ScottyB]

Want to buy my friend's 93' Firebird? LT1 + 6-speed + new black paint, car is immaculate. It makes all the right noises too.

i could see one of these being hilarious fun, aside from changing out the optispark when it poops out. i thought the firebirds looked the best during that generation too.

[CaptainHenreh]

more fun, low miles but a little non stock
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1883412183.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1883412183.html</a><!-- m -->

Interesting. Email to that guy en route to get full mods list.