1989 Volvo 760 Turbo Estate 2.3

Summary:

Second hand bargain - but don't tell anyone!

Faults:

Apart from the usual wear and tear items such as the odd exhaust, we have only replaced the driver's door lock and a fuel pump relay.

Just recently the electric seat doesn't always work - probably another relay!

General Comments:

Superb car, fast, well built, comfortable and totally reliable. Fantastic on motorways, will cruise all day at 80mph, where permitted!

Only downsides are fuel economy - 27 MPG is about the norm, but this is offset by reliability.

Also some of the interior trim (especially plastics) are of poor quality when you consider this car cost over £20,000 new back in 1989.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th September, 2000

1989 Volvo 760 2.3 turbo petrol

Faults:

The intermittent relay switch broke. The front brakes have been replaced a couple of times.Tapedeck was broken so it was replaced. A new engine was put in at 60k.

General Comments:

A very comfortable ride. As my first car I don't know about the price of insurance. It really uses a lot of gas. Overall it is worth every penny (but I haven't had to replace anything yet).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 1998

1989 Volvo 760 GLE 2.8 V6 petrol

Faults:

Squeaking rear brakes. ABS intermittent. Power steering heavy turning right, until fully warmed-up. Electric-window lifting mechanism wear. Tailgate gas-struts weak. Air conditioning refrigerant slow leaks.

Nothing to cause a breakdown, and over 100,000 miles, to be expected I suppose.

General Comments:

Wonderfully comfortable and supportive seats, acres of room inside, and very quiet at speed. Ride a bit more lumpy from the live axle(!) rear end than you'd expect in this class of car though ((£24,000 new in 1989!), but still very comfortable overall.

Handles as you'd expect, but it's best on the motorway, where you can drive for over 400 miles and be as fresh as when you left home.

Huge luggage space means you can carry a washing machine with room to spare, without even having to fold the rear seats down.

Auto box a 3 speed + Overdrive. Small switch on the side of gearstick to switch Overdrive in/out. No torque converter lock-up.

Surprisingly lively performer for a big old bus with an ancient engine.

Very thirsty on short journeys, as the engine takes a long time to warm up. Conversely, quite economical if you treat the throttle with restraint on a motorway run. Averages 20 mpg around town, yet 30 mpg @ steady 70mph is possible using the cruise control (if fitted). Runs on unleaded from this 89 model year onwards.

No rust visible. Uses no oil. Seems like it'll last forever bodily, and mechanically too.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th August, 1997

1st Mar 2001, 06:17

Tailgate gas struts are a very common failure on these. You can get them from Euro Car Parts (mailorder) for less than half what the dealers charge. I can't remember the phone number, but they have several outlets in the UK (eg Bristol, London).

Incidentally, the tailgates on these are aluminium or similar metal, they certainly aren't steel. Try the magnet test!

15th May 2001, 03:22

Funny enough my gas struts failed too. but I found out that tailgate struts from a rover metro fit perfect and these can be bought for about £5 a pair from most car breakers.