1986 Volvo 740 GLE review from Australia and New Zealand

Where do I start? Strangely, I still like the car despite the following...

Rear door handle bracket broke $28.75.

Substantial front passenger floor water leaks required re-sealing of windscreen & removal of planium chamber, lifted carpet & pad & exposed a rusted floor panel $420.00.

Water still leaked, returned for further fender removal and re-seal $175.00. Car still leaks to this day if left parked in a downpour. I gave up and just live with it.

Indicators failure - electrical fault $66.00.

Partial exhaust system @ 191,000 km $265.00.

Strut bar and replace front end bushes $182.50.

Boot/trunk lock failed (containing a week's worth of freshly bought groceries - managed to pull out the ice-cream through the ski sleeve) $95.00.

Car broken into, RH rear 1/4 glass $162.60 (used glass!)

Wiring harness work (car could have potentially caught fire under the dash according to car electrician who showed me a bundle of half melted wires) $don't ask.

Radiator & cooling system work, steering rack ends & boots (clunking sound in front end since purchase, although this hasn't fully fixed the noise), intermittent dramatic loss of power, replace speedo, replace blown in-dash lighting & regular service $1249.00 @ 210,000km.

Alternator blew although car still drove for a day before it failed!

Continual rear lightbulb and day running lamp replacements.

Only one battery in 5 years, due to infrequent use of car at 208,000km.

Power antenna only goes up 1/2 way, however this doesn't worry me.

Front passenger power window weird - use the passenger door switch for down, the driver's control for up.

Headlining was replaced by previous owner.

Sun visors stay up with adhesive velcro dots.

Never a problem with parts despite being on the other side of the world, and then some, from Sweden.

Car still looks better outside than in. Many brittle plastic fittings have broken off and dashboard cracked in harsh sun of Australian climate despite always being garaged.

Great seats, turning circle and visibility.

Reliable engine and starting despite above dramas.

Fuel economy bad in city with aircon on. Exceptional economy on highway with aircon off in cooler weather. Aircon always frosty even when 38 degrees (aprox 100 F) & 85% humidity outside.

Braked heavily once to avoid an accident at aprox 50km/h and the car floated off to the left as if on a cushion of air, barely missing a shop front and terrified shoppers.

Have spent a lot maintaining, however considering modest purchase price and the fact it is almost 20yrs old, still cheaper than paying off & maintaining a fully computerised $50,000.00 car. I have spent so much on it now, I am reluctant to sell it as it is now running fine. I moved from a tropical climate to a cold climate and the car generally runs better. No cup holders resulting in some thermal mug disasters on passenger seat.