1989 Volvo 740 Turbo intercooler from UK and Ireland - Comments

Gear stick knob loose

radiator leaked at bottom

new hydraulic tailgate rams

seized calipers x 3 (common fault to all my previous volvo's - piston and guide pins)

leaky roof through questionable silver roof-rack

Various minor electrical eccentricities including loose headlamp relay

tailgate trim coming loose.

I bought this car for £1000 just over a year ago. It is a very quick car, 0-60 under 8 seconds I'm told and likes to wheel spin, especially unladen in the wet.

It will do about 28mpg on the motorway - best not to check around town (23mpg average).

All electric windows, sunroof and mirrors.

All leather seating, plus kid seats in back.

All round disk brakes with ABS.

Enormous load space- we've moved house with one and having driven a modern V70 have found it handles better (rear wheel drive style) and is just as comfortable.

It has never failed to start, the last MOT cost £70 including cost of test and removal of dog chewed seat belts.

Lack of cup holders is a pain - the dimples in the glove-box are just inviting a scalding, what are they for?

Recommend Euro Car Parts for cheaper spares makes the car reasonable to run.

My 1992 740 Turbo Wagon has cup-holders-4 of them. I believe they were an option and I know that they are stock. They slide out from the center console. Two are for the front and two are for the back.

I love my 740!

I've just crossed 240,000 miles - all mine - same engine/same transmission/same suspension. Just belts, tires and hoses. Slight surface rust on the driver's side door; age cracks in dashboard and leather seat seams are splitting and some leather cracks. RR drive pain in snow but use 1-2 sand tubes in the trunk and it's fine. Turbo sluggish but I can cruise up to 75-80mph and it handles very well. Power antenna and roof are retired and AC died a few years ago. Otherwise, it's been a fine car. Hope to give it to my 5 year old boy for his 16th birthday and 350,000 miles - it'll be a 30+ year classic by then!

My 1989 Turbo wagon is at the body shop to get only a few rust spots repaired, and the hood and roof rack repainted.

AC has always sucked, so I gave up trying to fix.

Hardwired radio only to one circuit as shorts are impossible to fix, so mirrors are manual now. Most else works great.

I've replace headliner, radiator, OD relay, and a few other things. It's a great errand car. Not unpleasant to look at. Fun to toss around in dry or snow. Way cooler than an SUV.

I've kept it outside here in Chicago for much of its post-California life (since about 1995). This one's paint has held up amazingly well.

I've learned a lot about dealing with mechanics. If you're not handy, then you need to find someone who knows these old Volvos. It will save you money, and the fixes will last. Contact a Swedish foreign parts dealer for references. Call www.alanauto.com if you need an expert to work with your local mechanic.

It's a nice car. Best feature? Turning radius.