Ours is in very good shape for its year (1991). It runs on LPG or petrol, has alloy wheels, leather front seats (from an S40), power steering and a very comprehensive service history; (a chart of what was done and when right from when we acquired it). Some welding of jacking points, front driver wing replaced with a new one and sprayed up. Occasional bits where the paint has pitted or faded but nothing more than would be expected in a thirty year old car in regular use. (111,000 miles at present)

If anyone wants to make a sensible offer (it is currently insured for around £3500) I would consider it.

I bought my rather scabby 360 GLE back in 2019 for about £650 or so as I believed that it would be my last chance to ever get into a 'cheap' 360. I've not seen any cheapies about this price for many years. It has, and does, need work, but I believe that for myself the ship has now sailed on really cheap ones.

But you never know what may come up!

Reminds me, I will need to do a thread about mine when I have the time.

I do think the ship has sailed a little. I like quite a few “classic” cars and they are all becoming out of reach for a fun thing. To put it in context, I bought a lovey 1990 golf mk2 gti in 2007 for £1700. It wasn’t perfect but was totally original and had no major issues. Today? Probably 5k up. I sold it for about the same as I bought it for in 2009 due to expanding family. The thing is, it would have cost more than that in maintenance over the years so it’s probably fair enough, but it’s not as if it will be maintenance free from now on, as countless ads seem to state. So much to go wrong.

I nearly bought a nice Alfa GTV 5 years ago for under a grand - massive history, lots of work done, all the keys, all good. Someone beat me to it. Again, today it would be at least 3 or 4K.

I had a Skoda Rapid 136 1990 back in the day. Only about 17 left in existence and fetch quite good money. They were bargain basement when I bought it. Great car though - rwd, rear engine, very tail happy. The perfect family car, no?


Look at Volvo 200 series. Who would have thought???

Whether they actually sell for this I don’t know, but things have gone up.
Punting a grand on an old car is one thing, but when it gets into large numbers it gets a lot less appealing.

I think you can get lucky but it does take a vigilant sort that constantly monitors all possible outlets. I’m too busy for that at the moment.

If a nice 300 comes up I’ll be tempted, and would look forward going to an owners meet.

Some good points there but with the Mk2 Golf, you have to maintain any car so the maintenance costs would have been similar whether you'd kept that (which would have appreciated in value) or bought something else and maintained that while its value dropped.

Don't know about anyone else but the Skoda Rapide - i can't drive them. :nah: THe pedls are too close together and offset to the left and i end up twisting my spine trying to drive them.
Not bad little cars for what they are though and now as rare as Russian Doll poop. Although Czech made, it was part of the USSR i believe when Skodas of that age were made. Now of course they're built in Wolfsburg with the other Golfs. :rolleyes:

The Volvo 200 is following the same pattern i've seen many cars follow over the decades - slowly devalue from about 10 years old to the point they can't be given away then suddenly the price starts creeping up, slowly at first then in leaps and bounds, sometimes with a downward leap but usually back up after.

Look at the historic values of the Jaguar XJ6 Series I/II/III and the XJ40 then the X300 series. The latter is probably at the bottom of its value now so is likely to go up. Likewise the Rover SD1, Ford Granada and many others from the late 70s/early 80s.
They have all followed this pattern at some point and for some reason now, most cars pre-2000 are on the up, maybe because people are finally realising that post-2000 cars won't last or maybe because they're not working due to the Kung Flu and can't afford £3-400 on PCP payments every month so want something reliable that can be serviced easily and cheaply so it keeps going.

I've been somewhat lucky in that I'm 28 with no dependents etc (as of yet), however I know my situation could change in future if marriage and kids eventually come along! But I've bought cars and sold on some as a hobby, and have been lucky to acquire a few which I feel will either be rare or perhaps worth something in years to come. I'll go through my list of Volvos which I currently have and discuss what they cost me, in relation to what they're probably worth now:

360 GLE - £650 in 2019
340 - £Free in 2017 (but now needing a lot of work)
850 T-5 - £500 in 2014
850 T-5 - £350 in 2018
850 TDI - £300 part ex in 2018
440 GLT 2.0i - £100 in 2015 (but now needing work)
460 CD 2.0i - £Free in 2016 (but now needing work)
460 CD 2.0i Auto - £160 in 2018 (but needing an auto box)
440 TD - £Free in 2020
440 1.6i - £200 in 2021
V40 2.0 Sport Lux - £150 in 2019

I doubt the 400 series will be worth much, but they will be rare. My two T-5s I'm dead set on keeping as I can see these going for a fair bit in years to come. I do think the T-5Rs will be Sierra Cosworth money in a good few years.

It's all subjective though, as I doubt I'd sell mine. Volvos just get under your skin!

I was looking at Skoda Rapids last week in fact, would love a convertible. Have never seen one in the flesh never mind driven one though.

You've certainly got quite a fleet there! :err:

Having been there, T-shirt etc in the past at a similar age/circumstances my advice would be to work out which you want to keep long term for whatever reason. round up the others and sort out what each needs, either do it to make it roadworthy or sell "as is" for a short resto project and make as much as you can from the sale of the ones that aren't keepers to finance sorting the keepers how you want them.

I made the mistake of hanging on too long to my fleet without doing anything and then found most were past terminal in terms of tinworm and one even had a siezed engine through sitting too long. Also it's often better to have a clear-out and then use the proceeds to improve what's left rather than sitting staring at the whole fleet not knowing where to even think about starting!

I drove a few Skoda Rapides when they were new, not bad cars, quite nippy and the 1300 was much better than the 1200 but they are definitely quirky cars. I'd suggest having a good look at them and maybe driving a few with a view to buying if you are serious - be warned though, they are very tail-happy in the wet and once they go, all the weight pulls them wherever the back end is heading! :err: :eek:

Useful for climbing icy hills though as all the weight is over the back wheels so you can drive up rather than having to reverse like with FWD cars! Put a couple of sandbags in the front so the front wheels actually steer and you might have a winner! :thumbs_up:

With respect to the 340 in your list (And I mean respect) is it likely to run? Or would you be able to flog me some bits to keep ours chuntering on?

Hi Joe,

I am hoping it'll go back on the road, however if it ultimately doesn't, I will break it for parts.

Thanks,

Joseph

A quick "not quite"...

The 1.7 is a completely different family (F-series vs C-series), and has a closed deck. No inherent HGF failures on the 1.7, but it has its own problems with vacuum leaks and sensitivity to even slightly worn ignition components, and I would still avoid it (and the 1.4, where your comments are spot-on) in favour of a B19 or B200.

...and a couple of "I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that's not right"s...

Rear brakes...cylinders (for a 340, I think - 360 ones are different) are the same as an Escort, but I don't think the shoes are.
Steering kit...I don't think any of it is shared with an Escort (although it is very similar, and will bolt on with some fairly limited modification). Track rod ends are the same as a mk2 Golf, though.

In summary, buy the best shell you can find, then bolt in the oily bits you like. Alternatively, buy a 360...but if you want a good one, be ready to either be patient, or to splash out some (relatively) serious cash. Or spend months (years?) on a resto project.

cheers

James

Every 340 1.7 i've ever known has had HGF, i did have a 440 1.7 that didn't but the least said about that car the better!

Also the same 1.7 engine was fitted to many Renaults and gained a reputation for HGF on them too.

When i bought new shoes for my 360GLT, they came in a box listing the Mk2 Escort as the main fitment - don't forget Ford liked to fit bigger brakes to some models, especially if they were larger engined versions than the run-of-the-mill stuff.