"New" 740 GLE

[sg-strummer]

Hi all. Introductory post as I just registered.

I am in the process of buying an F reg (89) 740 GLE 7 seater estate, 2.3L, manual box with overdrive. This is my second Volvo, the first 3 yrs back being a 2.3 turbo auto, bought when we inadvertently increased out stable of kids to 4 Did not last long as the turbo went, and much work was needed for the dreaded MOT. After a disastrous foray into the realms of HP resulting in a Fiat Multipla skidding (at 20mph) in snow ... writeoff!! and a Zafira that blew the fuel pump 7 months after purchase (£1500 to fix ) .... court case with finance company pending, gonna try my preferred option!!!! I wanted to get another brick in the first place, but she said "Lets get a newer car, it will be better, it wont break down" hahahahaha!!!!

Anyway, buying from an acquaintance who is kindly letting me pay over a couple of months, which meant I could not knock him down from the £600 asking price. Known faults (informed by seller) are:

Overdrive not working, he tells me that he sprayed a connector under the car with WD40 and it worked for a day then went again, so bad connection seems likely.
Saggy ceiling syndrome! Have read with interest the posts on this, and think I will try a DIY job using black "leatherette" to match the leather seats.
Sunroof leaks. Loads of options to check out here! Owner tells me he has rodded the drains and that they are clear, he suspects the seal is shrunk and hardened with age. There is no lining at all on the sunroof, so one from a breaker may be in order? I seem to remember a post about later glass roofs fitting? The damp is on the floor in the rear passenger footwell, passenger side, so maybe the sunroof is not to blame?

Overall she's not too bad for an old bus. paint a little faded, but the car has been standing and could do with a bucket of water being thrown at it! One slight scrape at the back by the lights, easily paintable. Interior is clean and sound apart from the headliner. Battery was flat, but jumpstarted first try, which impressed me as the car has not been run for months. A bit noisy but hey, shes done around 200,000 miles! Drove fine apart from low tire pressure where its been standing.

Surprisingly, the insurance payments are lower than the Rover 440i that I bought to get me back and fro work!! Pity the fuel costs are unlikely to be lower too

Have only driven it round the block as yet, but felt good, I LIKED the last one lots, apart from the sub 20 mpg.... Expect stupid questions soon ... bikes I can work on but cars are relativley new to me. Yep, a biker in a Volvo ... LOL! I need a couple of years out of this car, to let me sort some debt and save for a newer version, no more HP!!!!!! Cant see any problems getting that, maybe even longer.

Waddya think?

Steve

[Scott Stephen]

any piccies????

[sg-strummer]

Its not taxed yet, as end of month looming and I still have the Rover. Also on disabled tax, so have to go to local DVLA and change it over, so the car is still on his private parking. Will post em once I have it here. May even do before and after tcut and polish

[turboboy]

Welcome and welcome again and i know you are going to enjoy your motoring.

For £600 I don't think you were robbed, it sounds a reasonable price for an estate and you have one of the better equipped GLE models.

Don't worry about being a biker in a Volvo - do what I do and say you are working undercover. lol.

When it comes to the roof lining just be aware that the backing can disintegrate around the sunroof aperture when you take it out. I finished up having to throw mine away. The other problem is that the plastic fittings (clips) that hold the sides in place become brittle and break if not removed carefully.

A manual non-turbo should return a better fuel consumption than your previous Volvo, I believe they do sensible figures for a fairly quick brick outhouse.

What milage has it done and any piccies yet?

[sg-strummer]

Originally Posted by turboboy

Welcome and welcome again and i know you are going to enjoy your motoring.


What milage has it done and any piccies yet?

It has done around 200000, speedo has been changed. Seems to run fine tho, and no rust!

Picking it up end of month, no point taxing it for a week and need to transfer from disabled tax. Will post a pic then.

Thanks for the info!

[caveman]

well done, its nice to hear of another one back on the road,
regards
cavey