240 GLT - Gotta Have it! (What to look for?)

[judgeman]

Hi all! T5 went couple of weeks ago, but visas for Oz taking linger than anticipated. Thing is, the local Volvo specialist has a 240 GLT for sale. I wanted one of these when I was learning to drive nearly 15 years ago, and it's even in the colour I wanted! (Metalic grey).

I figured even if I do get the visa for Oz, I'd get a couple months out of it - another ambition fulfilled!

The spec is:
240 GLT
Registered oct 1988
Unleaded petrol
Original Volvo GLT wheels (set of six, excellent condition)
2 owners - last owner had it for years, and was a driver at nearby Volvo main dearler, so always fully serviced and sorted when it needed it.
Brand new Volvo discs all round recently fitted
Estate
Black leather interior (drivers seat a little 'tired')
5 Speed manual
2.3 ltr engine
Sunroof
Electric mirrors
Electric windows all round
Drives like a dream (though a whining sound garage says is the fuel pump)
165,000 miles

£650!

There is some rust in the usual places (rear wheelarches), but nothing major. Otherwise bodywork is in excellent contition considering the age.

I'd love to own one, even for a couple months. It needs a thorough clean inside, but that and minor things I'm willing to do.

Are there any specific things to look for? Does this seem like a good deal? I know the milage is high, but for a 240 GLT this is surely not a problem - they go on for ever if looked after, right?

Where does one get cheap insurance from? I've been quoted £300 - £400 fully comp, though I thought to only insure it third party, but almost no-one will insure it tp only. Third party, fire and theft comes in at £260 - £300. IAM insurance is the cheapest. Though I was hoping to pay a bit less. Any ideas?

Look forward to hearing from you!

Chris.

[Ben O Brien]

165k......to quote quentin wilson:puberty in the life of a volvo.
GLT's are hard to comeby.Go on BUY IT !! you know you want to... If you dont then i will!!
It sounds like a good un' and a genuine GLT in this order for this money is well worth it,you wont regret it,fantastic cars.
When you go to Oz i want First refusal on it!! :-)

[neil stevenson]

If you can limit your mileage to say 5000 then try the club insurance scheme.

[judgeman]

Hi!

You convinced me! (not that I needed much convincing) The girlfriend thinks I'm mad, but as I told her, £650 on this car stops me spending £30,000 on an XC90!

Got a reasonable insurance quote, and at the price I would regret not buyig it. So I did. It's a dream (as much as a 16 year old car can be you understand) We've named him Fred. Fred needs a jolly good clean inside - I've started already, it's gonna take some time, but it'll be worth it.

Fred came with TWO spare alloys. So I have one spare for sale if anyone is interested (I'm based in Skipton, North yorkshire).

The only odd thing I can say about Fred is that he has a noise. I rekon it is the fuel pump, a continuous drone in the cabin when the engine is running. Strangely enough, after filling Fred up (from very empty), the noise has stopped.

Fred wil be put to use straight away, we are clearing out our storage unit, and on Sunday will be attending our first car boot sale as sellers - Fred will convey all our goods for sale admirably.

The rear wheel arches need attention, oe dry weekend will be spent cutting back, filling and priming ready for a top coat. Think the top coat should be done by a proper spray shop, unless anyone can give me tips on blowing in with an aerosol can?

A proud 240 GLT owner!

[Ben O Brien]

Congrats on your purchase!!
That noise is definitely the fuel pump,
Dont worry about it chances are it wont go before you go to oz and if it does ill send you one cheap :-)
What colour is it, I reckon you should go to a spray shop but do the filling/grinding and prep work yourself,
I am totally against aerosols,had a bad experience with the bonnet of my 242 once rather not talk about it!!
Come sunday you will understand why every antique dealer in the country had one!!
does it have all the blacked out GLT trim, i love that,bought a GLT recently over the phone and when i got there it didnt have the blacked out trim,it only cost me 100euro but such is life,I have a 90 244 GLT with the BLACKED OUT trim in black with black leather in the pipeline-waiting patiently for june to come :-) ,

[judgeman]

It is a dark metalllic grey - 'gun metal grey'. I don't know the correct colour definition.

Yes, it has all the blacked out GLT trim. Apart from a very small bit here and there, all the black is in good condition - will look much better once the car has had a wash and I've had a go at all the black with my valetting spray.

Had a look through the service history tonight. Volvo main dealer stamped up until 108,000 miles (1997) - and includes all of the dealer service record sheets! After that date it was owned by the previous owner to me who worked at the local main dealer. The discs look less than 3 months old, it has new headlight refletors (can't tell, but maybe even new light units), the radiator looks relatively new too!

All I need is a good vinyl cleaner to get rid of all the tobacco staining on the headlining - you put the sun visors down, and are left with a white patch! (previous owner was apparantly a heavy cigar smoker!

Big smile all over my face...

[Ben O Brien]

YOu dont know how lucky you are to have the new headlight reflectors,that is the the only thing that catches me every time when i get the 240s NCT'd (Mot'd) they cost a bloody fortune,
I end up taking off the glass and spraying it with silver spraypaint,it manages to scrape through the test every time,
At least its leather not cloth,you would never get the smell out of cloth,
Gunmetal grey looks fantastic,
I have a red GL which has GLT wheels and black leather it really looks a million dollars polished,just waiting for a sunny day,
Seems like you got yourself a bargain there,I bet it goes like the clappers too,they have soooo much torque.

[judgeman]

WoW!

We did our first car boot sale today. Before I'd decided to buy the 240 we were planning on using the girlfriends corsa.... no way we would have done it. The 240 estate was full to the top. And we made a packet despite the rain!

I got home and couldn't resist - 'Fred' needed a clean. So he's had a wash and brush up on the outside. See the pictures (to make you all jealous of my new toy) goto my website www.misterjudge.net and go to the 'Latest Pics' page. Fred is at the bottom (click on the thumbnail to enlarge, use the BACK arrow on your browser to return to the latest pics page)

The interior is going to take a little more work. The lack of attention for the last few years combined with several years of cigar smoke has made the interior a valeters challenge. Does anyone know of any leather 'cream' to revitalise the leather upholstery?

[Ben O Brien]

It looks fantastic!!
In relation to the cream for the leather,I have 4 cars wiht leather and i wont use anything but Autoglym,that goes for polish too,

[vjck_uk]

Ikea do a really good leather cleaner,and it's quite cheap as well.