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    Volvo 700/900 Series: The Essential Buyer’s Guide
    Volvo 700/900 Series: The Essential Buyer’s Guide
    Volvo 700/900 Series: The Essential Buyer’s Guide
    Ebook146 pages1 hour

    Volvo 700/900 Series: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

    By Tim A. Beavis

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    A second hand Volvo ... really? Yes! Forget about what you thought you knew - the right 700 or 900 series could be the best car you've ever bought, and this book is your essential guide to finding, assessing and buying the best car for you. Packed with information, illustrations and advice from a real marque expert, you'll be taken through detailed sections on what you need to know to decide which model is for you.
    Find out what it's like living with the car, how much you should be paying and how, when, and where to inspect models for sale, including a comprehensive condition checklist and guide to common concerns. You'll also discover what's involved in restoring, the main problems caused by lack of use, and potential for modification.
    For reference, there's a vital statistics list for each model, shape and engine, and a guide to the key people, organisations and companies within the Volvo community that you can look to for further advice.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVeloce
    Release dateMar 31, 2022
    ISBN9781787118812
    Volvo 700/900 Series: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

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      Book preview

      Volvo 700/900 Series - Tim A. Beavis

      1 Is it the right vehicle for you?

      – marriage guidance

      Tall & short drivers

      There’s a lot of space around the driver and front passenger. Drivers of almost all sizes can be easily accommodated, as seats have generous adjustments for reach and height, with adjustable lumbar support on most models. Adjustable steering wheels were also available on later 960 models. Headroom for taller passengers is somewhat limited in the back.

      Lumbar adjustment makes all the difference on longer journeys.

      Headroom in the back is not plentiful but enough for the average adult.

      Controls

      Clutches on older models are a little heavy by modern standards, but not strenuously so. Power steering is surprisingly light for a large car of this age; one-handed manoeuvring is easy. Brakes have good modulation, even by modern standards. The four-speed gearbox with overdrive feels heavy and mechanical, with the later M90 five-speed operating more smoothly. Both units are sturdier than average, especially later M90s.

      The dash and controls have a purposeful, solid feel.

      Will it fit in the garage?

      700 Series

      Length: 4.79m

      Width: 1.75m

      Height: 1.43m

      (petrol/gas turbo models are lower)

      900 Series saloon (sedan)

      Length: 4.87m

      Width: 1.75m

      Height: 1.41 to 1.46m

      (petrol/gas turbo models are lower)

      900 Series estate (wagon)

      Length: 4.85m

      Width: 1.75m

      Height:1.46m

      (petrol/gas turbo models are lower)

      Interior space

      Seats provide high levels of comfort in all trims. All models can accommodate five adults with the capacity increasing to seven seats in estates fitted with a folding bench seat. The wide linear bodies provide acres of boot space, with estates rivalling small vans. The rear seats of saloons (sedans) don’t split fold but have a sliding door opening behind the centre arm rest for skis and other long objects.

      This folding bench seat increases an estate’s seating capacity to seven.

      Not as good as split folding seats but enables you to transport long objects such as skis.

      Usability

      There is a wide range of engines to choose from (see chapter 7 for a summary). Rear-wheel drive allows an excellent turning circle for parking and manoeuvring, a nice surprise for such a big car. Most examples take light off-roading in their stride with the right tyres. High torque and stability makes for an excellent tow vehicle. With a smooth driving style the large chassis can handle well for both leisurely, as well as spirited driving. Multi-link rear suspension available on V90, S90 and later 960 models futher improve handling.

      Running costs

      Cheap insurance considering the available engine power. Infamous reliability. Models with Bosch Motronic injection are more thirsty around town than newer models with Bosch Jetronic management. Fuel use and a large tank make filling up expensive, but long journeys can produce surprising fuel economy.

      Parts availability

      Varies with the type of part. General replacements are easily found, but with fewer and fewer examples on the road, certain parts, such as alloys and body or trim pieces, can be few and far between. Aftermarket alloy wheels can be particularly difficult to source, with a less common 5x108 PCD (pitch circle diameter) and rare offset measurement.

      Investment potential

      Saloon turbo models with a manual gearbox are becoming very rare and fetching high prices for their age – possibly a future classic. 780 models are already considered ultra rare classics. With many cars being used for working and as family vehicles, a well kept example should hold its value.

      The very rare Volvo 780.

      Plus points: High comfort and reliability. Generally strong and very well engineered in all aspects. Plenty of space and power, especially in estate and turbo models respectively. Many modern features for an older car, at little money to boot.

      Minus points: Relatively high fuel consumption. Although capable, handling can take getting used to. Regarded by some as a stereotype of geriatric ownership and ‘boxy’ styling. 2.0-litre carburetted and non-turbo diesel engines lack power.

      Alternatives

      BMW 7 Series, Mercedes 190E/190D, Mitsubishi Gallant, Ford Granada, Jaguar XJ, Vauxhall Omega, Lexus LS400.

      2 Cost considerations

      – affordable, or a money pit?

      Purchase price

      Prices can vary, but within a very affordable range. One of the main attractions of purchasing a 700/900 Series Volvo is the amount of car you get for your money, both figuratively and literally.

      Being at the luxury end of the market in their day, a host of extras are commonly available such as heated seats, electrically operated wing mirrors, and heating ducted through to the rear of the vehicle. Neglecting to maintain or fix these extras when they go wrong can be a major factor in lowering value. This, together with some examples having had a hard working life, has allowed sale prices to drop as low as l400 in some cases. However, there are plenty of careful owners to balance this out, with vehicles for sale that would put any classic car enthusiast to shame. Such examples can fetch up to l2000, and with some models such as the manual 740 Turbo Intercooler becoming increasingly rare, careful owners could see such cars fetching more with time.

      Acres of load space even before the rear seats have been folded down.

      Well cared for examples can hold value, such as Dustin Hulting’s immaculate 740.

      Running costs

      Most models will see between 20 and 23mpg (Imp) around town, and 25 to 28mpg (Imp) on a run. Insurance is generally cheap due to age and image as a comfortable family cruiser. A good example will be very reliable and see costly maintenance and repair bills few and far between.

      Parts prices

      With a range of parts that can be fitted across models, and more sources than ever, finding most general parts is not difficult, if a bit time-consuming on occasion. However, be on the lookout for cheap spares that fail to meet

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