1987 Volvo 740 GL review from UK and Ireland

The car's original starter motor, was replaced at around 126000 miles, with a reconditioned unit (the original was subsequently found to have an earthing fault, so oops... but very useful to have a spare I guess?)

The entire exhaust system, (luckily for me non-catalyst) has been replaced as each section rotted or failed. From manifold to tail pipe. The rear tail pipe box was installed about 2 years ago. Sometimes I imagine, I can hear a slight rasping to the exhaust note, but it certainly doesn't get me any unwanted attention & the car recently flew through it's annual MoT.

Soon after I 'inherited' this car, I replaced all 4 unmatched tyres, with a cheap matched set. Cosmetically looks better & helped some with road holding.

Rear brake discs & brake pads were replaced in 2002.

Right side tie end rod replaced (twice in 2 years, for MoTs)

Slight crack in radiator, was cured with an instant sealant. Seems to be holding up well enough & not loosing coolant.

Timing belt remains an outstanding issue.

Tin worms have taken hold, in right side doors, along lower trailing edges, will require some cosmetic tidying up soon.

Some of the rear cabin roof liner (always a problem with cars from the 80's) sagged, but sagging cured with about a dozen upholstery pins. Better than a botched gluing job and looks neat.

Electrical gremlins fouled up head light dipped beams and dashboard courtesy lights by not coming on. After much tweaking of fuses, light bulb holders, wiring checks & swearing, the local auto electrician resolved problem, but reckons fuse box it slowly burning out?

The heating system's hot air out put, has dropped off, quite dramatically. I suspect a blocked heating matrix. Fan & air circulation is fine, so might tackle this job end of summer.

For such a heavy, large, old car I think it's quite nimble, but don't push too hard through corners. It always feels slightly top heavy & wallows.

Can more than hold it's own in rush hour traffic, but I imagine fuel injection would have sharpened up it's reflexes. Mine is carburetted, but the lazy 2.3 engine is pretty flexible, to more than keep up.

Brakes on this big car are among the best I've known on any car.

The cabin, with it's 80's crushed golden velvets & browns and blacks is still very tidy and neat. Big, comfy seats, feel like I'm driving a lounge suite, but space enough for 5 large adults (I'm in great demand with family & friends, for drop offs & pick ups at local airport) The boot, also clean & neat, swallows T.Vs, appliances, luggage etc. It's the envy of colleagues with equally large, but more modern sedans. Ski hatch in rear seat back, is very useful. I recently purchased & replaced a garden washing hoist 2.5 meter steel pole. In the hard ware store car park, a smirking guy, in his hot hatch, parked up next to me, seemed pretty impressed, the above pole disappeared into the depths of my car's boot. With lid firmly down.

Front end and side views through glassed areas is very good, but rear screen seems very odd? Almost chopped too short for such a large car? Hence I guess the extra pair of glass quarter lights, built in along each side of the rear parcel shelf. Rear seat head rests obscure rear view vision.

I hate parking it's bulk, at the local hyper stores etc, so I tend to seek out nose in nose out parking bays. The cowards way, but Keep It Straight & Simple.

I enjoy it's long distance, sure footed, high way cruising. Eats up the miles effortlessly. Makes for very relaxed driving. It's a real boulevard cruiser.

Incidentally, the 740 makes a brief appearance in the early 90's remake of 'Cape Fear' with Nick Nolte, Robert deNero & Jessica Lange. Blink & you might miss it, but Nick Nolte definitely drives a white one in the movie.

Power assisted steering, electric front windows & door mirrors, manual sun roof and good sound system are nice extras. As it has a new year's MoT ticket, I'm gonna keep my green battle ship for the next 12 months at least. Maybe better the devil you know? I dare say, I'm it's last owner, so it seems a shame to scrap a very usable, very neat, very functional car, just to be a slave to fashion, and buy some or other anonymous Euro or Japanese jelly mold on wheels? See you in the fast lane.