Spend Money On Keeping A High-Miler On The Road, Or...?

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Darth Vol

....as long as you realise the rarity of things...or those cars that are yet to become rare.....

I've pumped over €12,000 into my 1996 Volvo 855 AWD and will continue to do so to perfect it. only 114k on the replacement engine (137k on the body)

That saying I've just finished off the Sierra rebuild and that's over €7000 since March when it arrived in the country. only 107k mileages from genuine (2 owner - 1 family car)

The Golf GTi?
I totally rebuilt it with new engine, gearbox, subframe, wiring, respray etc only 43k on the clock (190k on the chassis but 43k on the bumpers/doors/bonnet/boot/suspension/Wiring looms (replaced everything bar the two quarter panel windows with new parts)) however....I stopped counting after €46,254.21c


The S70 T5 -
It's coming in cheaper to date €4,900 and only 69k on the clock with a re-spray and full stage zero service and dry stored rather than used.

All in all, if you are happy to spend €€€€'s to keep cars you know will become collectors items and can, when finances allow, get them fixed up and back to perfect condition then it means potential future return investment.

Then again cars are addictive.... and best to get the upgrades/rebuilds/re-paints etc done before the kids arrive on the scene as that means no cash for toys so my idea is to spend the cash now and have it all done before the blighters arrive to bleed new parents dry......

Rarity doesn't equal desirability or an investment: irrespective, original cars with an ironclad history and provenance will always be better purchases than modified or poorly restored examples.

Jon.

[moorgate]

It also matters where your money goes. With a new car, you give the dealer a large pile of dosh that they spend (split with the maker of course). With a high-miles car, the money is spent in different ways, with specialist mechanics, spares businesses, breakers, and so on. The Dealer doesn't see you after the new car spend for several years: the small mechanic guys, though, they see you every year. And for you, the majority of the moeny you hand over for a new car evaporates at the altar of the great god of depreciation - it's lost. Giving it to a skilled mechanic is a much better idea.

[domhart10]

Ive named mine, he's like a pet. Cant let him go, will keep him through all the hard times!

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by domhart10

Ive named mine, he's like a pet. Cant let him go, will keep him through all the hard times!

And you've called him...


TT

[mixa]

With an older motor it does not take very long to be above the value of the car , it all depends how you feel about that particular motor , my V70 is a 99 petrol 218.000 and a keeper no mater what.
Will be replacing my pajero this year with another volvo which will probably also be a keeper , i have probably spent at least 2000 above top book on the 70 now and more to come
Its better the devil you know ,you can go out and spend 2k and be buying a load of junk

[stephend]

Originally Posted by domhart10

Ive named mine, he's like a pet. Cant let him go, will keep him through all the hard times!

Same with my 740...

Originally Posted by The Thong

And you've called him...

In my case, The Tank - or occasionally Tankie when I think no-one's listening. And he's a she: work that one out, cos I can't! But sometimes you just have to give her a pat on the dashboard and mutter "come on old girl".

There, I think I've just blown my credibility!

[windy millar]

Originally Posted by stephend

In my case, The Tank - or occasionally Tankie when I think no-one's listening. And he's a she: work that one out, cos I can't! But sometimes you just have to give her a pat on the dashboard and mutter "come on old girl".

There, I think I've just blown my credibility!

If I felt the need to name a car and decide on the sex of it, I am quite sure said vehicle would be female too. I have never really fancied getting myself comfortable inside a male!
There, that has dropped the tone a notch or two

[andbark]

Asking this question on a Volvo forum is bound to get a certain view, perhaps not shared on the e.g. a Renault forum!

I remember with horror the Scrapage Scheme of a few years ago. Perfectly serviceable cars - including a fair few classics - sent off to crush so that little Korean cars can take their place.

For me, I love the 'depreciation free' motoring of my car. The amount of money I've spent on it has been a mere fraction of that required to upgrade it. Also high mileage has a disportionate affect on many cars. How many people turn up their nose at a 100k+ car despite the fact it may only be a half or third of the way through it's useful life.

There's no point in throwing money at a car, but there's also a strong arguement to keep worthless cars running as the parts you put on them cost you much less than replacing the vehicle.

[BillB]

Whilst I understand why people hang on to 240's and 740's some of us want to move on and experience a later model. I've owned Volvo's since 1986 which have been:

79 245GLE 1986 to 2000
89 745GLE 1993 to 2012 196k
00 V70 TDI 2003 to 2013 208k
05 V70 P2 D5 SE nav 2013 to present 82k
13 C30 2.0 R design lux 2013 to present 21k

So we've always had two at the same time. I always drove the later model when both were available because the later ones have been better in some way. I sort of miss the 745 as I had it almost 20 years and did a lot of work on it but, at the same time, I want to experience the feel of the next model. Although there is much affection for 240's and 740's they were cars of their time and are now seriously dated. They handle like barges, they lack air bags, lack A/C, lack cruise control, lack reverse sensors etc. etc. I value all these additional enhancements. I realise that a 900 has more gadgets whilst retaining the redblock motor and RWD but I never had one. I've also become used to 40-50 mpg. Obviously it's cost me a lot in depreciation but you only live once and I'm glad I've had experience of a progressing range of models. Despite what people say the apparently Ford influenced P2 V70 is still a damn fine car imv. Its handling is way beyond the previous models and the fit and finish is good - I'll keep it for some time as it only had 82k on the clock.

The plastics used on the 740 were nothing special, neither was the headliner....... However, I better say that I do have a very old car : a 58 Frogeye Sprite currently being renovated so that's my older toy. If I didn't have that I'd probably have kept the 745 although the mandatory road tax would annoy me. But it wouldn't get driven much. A re-mapped D5 coupled to a crisp handling Bilstein equipped chassis is a joyous thing you know. Regards.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by BillB

Whilst I understand why people hang on to 240's and 740's some of us want to move on and experience a later model...Although there is much affection for 240's and 740's they were cars of their time and are now seriously dated. They handle like barges, they lack air bags, lack A/C, lack cruise control, lack reverse sensors etc. etc. I value all these additional enhancements.

Don't assume that those of us who own 240s or 740s don't own a modern (Volvo or otherwise - I have a V70 P2 and several German classics) , you value these so-called enhancements - many of us do not!

The plastics used on the 740 were nothing special, neither was the headliner....... However, I better say that I do have a very old car : a 58 Frogeye Sprite currently being renovated so that's my older toy. If I didn't have that I'd probably have kept the 745 although the mandatory road tax would annoy me...

The plastics in both my 30 year old 700s are fine and undamaged, the headlining is not a problem; most cars don't survive that long to warrant replacing it.

Jon.