1985 Volvo 740 review from North America

A/C belt or something related broke - have not repaired. There's still cold air being made, it's just not doing anything, but drifting through the vents.

Driver's window the only one that still has power.

Headliner falling apart.

Insides of doors starting to come apart.

Alternator died, $75 repair to replace something called a brush set.

Paint looks awful.

I bought this station wagon last year for $1100.00, and if it dies tomorrow I'll have gotten my money's worth and then some... a few months after I got it, I was going about 65 on the highway in the rain. Someone wiped out in front of me, and I had to swerve very quickly... it went up on two wheels, clunked back down and kept going. I feel like if I had been in almost any other vehicle, I would have flipped over.

The alternator quit working sometime on the way back from driving my kids from Atlanta to Disneyworld and back, but the car had the good grace not to die until we were literally 10 yards away from my driveway. The wagon is so roomy and comfortable, we had a great trip even though it's over a 7 hour drive.

I regularly haul in excess of 800 pounds (boxes of glossy cardstock) in the back for my work, and it never complains - can still accelerate fine and no shaking or uneasy braking.

I love my ugly old Volvo, and will buy another (hopefully less ugly) wagon as soon as I am able to.