Which felt like a risk and one that might have been a mistake, until I showed up and saw the car, saw how mint most of it is, how rust free it is, how well it runs, how well it drives, and generally how awesome it is. Upon just viewing it, I lost the feeling of regret completely. Upon driving it away up the motorway, I grinned like a child with a new toy. What a fabulous car :-)
Engine is in good shape. Auto trans shifts clean like a new one. Everything works except the driver's door handle, which I will attempt to fix soon enough.
Things that are wrong with it that I would like to fix:
- Driver's external door handle not working
- Trim missing from rear RHS door exterior and slight scuff of other paint onto the door and slight dent
- Slight dent right rear bumper side near gas flap
- Interior front door handle plastic trim has crumbled from harsh NZ UV light
- Other car's paint scuffed onto LHS front guard/wing
- Various internal cardboard/carpet panels loose or not fitted properly
- Aircon pump noisy and not very cold (but does seem to function, probably needs a service and new gas)
- Slight oil leak from front crank seal
- Odometer and trip counter move in a jerky fashion
- Sticky starter staying engaged needs grease
- Radio requires security code entering... manual says "ask your dealer"...
- Tiny rust hole in firewall/window well thingy
- Light on the dash says other light is blown somewhere
- Headlight reflectors are rusty on the lower half
Service items needing doing:
- Change oil/filter
- Check/change plugs
- Change auto trans fluid
- Change coolant
Mods that I may or may not do sooner or later:
- Stiffer sway bars
- Lower stiffer springs
- Fresh stiffer shocks
- 15 or 16" 5x108 PCD wheels and tyres (currently riding on near new 195/65R14 china tyres)
- Swap ECU to FreeEMS
- TD05HR16G turbo setup that can be easily removed for safety inspection time
- Better brakes? Only if:
- Some wild engine swap!
- Possibly ditch auto for manual
However I'm happy enough with it as is! So nothing will change for a while aside from physical fixups and maintenance.
Very pleased to own a Volvo wagon again! Feels good so far! :-)
Comments welcome!
Fred.