1987 Volvo 740 GLE review from Belgium

Clutch, master cylinder, clutch spring

Water pump

Replaced sunroof and headliner

Rear breaks.

This is my second Volvo 740 estate, the first one being a petrol 2.3 injection automatic, and this one being the 2.4 turbo diesel with 4 speed manual with overdrive. My first 740 did 560000 km and is still going strong. My new car is even better, with a fuel economy out of this world for a car its size, age and shape. Lots of room, speed and comfort. With the turbo, its fast too.

Volvos, and in particular older Volvos, need to be looked after. Notice and fault, and it needs to be fixed. This is why some Volvos run and run and run and run and run and...; and some break down all the time. Look after it and it will look after you, ignore it and it will let you down. Equally, only buy cars that have been looked after. The tell tale signs are obvious: clean interior, clean engine, service book. But even a good car will cost money, so get a repair manual, some good tools and a reliable and cheap mechanic.

Driving a Volvo, in particular the older rear wheel drive ones, (100/200/700/900) is a lifestyle, and a very comfortable one too. Either you like it or you don't, it's a bit like Marmite.