Is ANY 300 really worth this?

[Lami17]

Hi, I have been showing some interest in this car but would really appreciate some advice on the vario drive. I have owned a number of 340's over the years but never a vario. I always do my own maintenance but what should I expect to cause problems with the vario and can you get parts from anywhere. How long do belts last etc. Any views on the vario would be appreciated. Are they really thirsty compared to the manual? Many thanks..

[macplaxton]

Rusty pulleys, worn belts, worn clutches.

Clutches last for ages if the clearance is kept tight, at least until some monkey down the garage revs the living daylights out of it in "P".

Belts last okay if kept in adjustment, up to 40-50k a pair, unless the pulleys are rusty and chew the sides of the belt up.

Parts can be dug up through the DOC, or over the water in the Netherlands.

They can be thirsty, depends on how you drive them and whether the transmission is in tip-top trim.

If you can do your own maintenance AND learn and understand the system, you're most of the way there.

[Joe Harding]

Originally Posted by macplaxton

Rusty pulleys, worn belts, worn clutches.

Clutches last for ages if the clearance is kept tight, at least until some monkey down the garage revs the living daylights out of it in "P".

Belts last okay if kept in adjustment, up to 40-50k a pair, unless the pulleys are rusty and chew the sides of the belt up.

Parts can be dug up through the DOC, or over the water in the Netherlands.

They can be thirsty, depends on how you drive them and whether the transmission is in tip-top trim.

If you can do your own maintenance AND learn and understand the system, you're most of the way there.

Ever seen a Volvo driver with lacerated knuckles? He's changed the belts on a vario.

[940Graeme]

Originally Posted by Lami17

Hi, I have been showing some interest in this car but would really appreciate some advice on the vario drive. I have owned a number of 340's over the years but never a vario. I always do my own maintenance but what should I expect to cause problems with the vario and can you get parts from anywhere. How long do belts last etc. Any views on the vario would be appreciated. Are they really thirsty compared to the manual? Many thanks..

I loved my vario, though luckily the box had been very well looked after and ran perfectly so I never had to do anything to it! It did take some "learning" after other auto's (don't start in P, don't rev it in P etc), and feathering the throttle to get the "overdrive" to kick in was a real art! Once mastered though it was like a go-cart to drive and utterly brilliant for whizzing round town in. Fuel econ was terrible at best 24mpg, and worse than my 940, but yes I'd have another tomorrow - indeed I'd have this one, at the right price!!!

If you really are interested, do let me know, as I said it is only down the road from me and I'd be happy to give it a proper look over for you.

Graeme

[Lami17]

Originally Posted by 940Graeme

I loved my vario, though luckily the box had been very well looked after and ran perfectly so I never had to do anything to it! It did take some "learning" after other auto's (don't start in P, don't rev it in P etc), and feathering the throttle to get the "overdrive" to kick in was a real art! Once mastered though it was like a go-cart to drive and utterly brilliant for whizzing round town in. Fuel econ was terrible at best 24mpg, and worse than my 940, but yes I'd have another tomorrow - indeed I'd have this one, at the right price!!!

If you really are interested, do let me know, as I said it is only down the road from me and I'd be happy to give it a proper look over for you.

Graeme

Many thanks to everyone for your advice. Graeme, Yes I am really interested and if you are prepared to have a look at it for me that would be brilliant. I live in the North East some 170 miles away so it has been difficult for me to view it. The garage has been helpful with additional photos etc. I will speak to them tomorrow and ask if they are prepared to hold it for me perhaps with a deposit and subject to a positive view from yourself. I think they will as they have been very helpful. One question mark is they dont have much history on the car other than it had covered 7000 miles in 1989 from a service record. Surprisngly it has also had 3 owners. I was expecting 1 owner with this mileage. I just hope the mileage is genuine? I guess it should have its original tyres which match the spare (assuming the spare hasn't been used or replaced). Please let me know if you can give it a look over and again many thanks for your advice and help. Ian.

[940Graeme]

Originally Posted by Lami17

Many thanks to everyone for your advice. Graeme, Yes I am really interested and if you are prepared to have a look at it for me that would be brilliant. I live in the North East some 170 miles away so it has been difficult for me to view it. The garage has been helpful with additional photos etc. I will speak to them tomorrow and ask if they are prepared to hold it for me perhaps with a deposit and subject to a positive view from yourself. I think they will as they have been very helpful. One question mark is they dont have much history on the car other than it had covered 7000 miles in 1989 from a service record. Surprisngly it has also had 3 owners. I was expecting 1 owner with this mileage. I just hope the mileage is genuine? I guess it should have its original tyres which match the spare (assuming the spare hasn't been used or replaced). Please let me know if you can give it a look over and again many thanks for your advice and help. Ian.

Hummm yes, the number of owners with this mileage is a puzzle - passed around a family perhaps? The lack of service history should give you some leverage on the price - again, with this mileage I would expect full history, handbooks, etc etc.

I'll give the garage a ring, and try and get over tomorrow (Sat)....if it ever stops raining here!!!! Good that you are in touch with them, I'll tell them I am viewing on your behalf. Any more photos you would like of specific things? Be in touch soon.
Graeme

[Lami17]

Originally Posted by 940Graeme

Hummm yes, the number of owners with this mileage is a puzzle - passed around a family perhaps? The lack of service history should give you some leverage on the price - again, with this mileage I would expect full history, handbooks, etc etc.

I'll give the garage a ring, and try and get over tomorrow (Sat)....if it ever stops raining here!!!! Good that you are in touch with them, I'll tell them I am viewing on your behalf. Any more photos you would like of specific things? Be in touch soon.
Graeme

Thanks Graeme,

Regards photo's if think anything particularly warrants a photo it would be appreciated. The photos they sent me I asked for some under the wheel arches and must say (altough not great pictures) look like new. The ones I have under the bonnet are not very clear so don't give a great impression of condition. Regards, Ian.

[macplaxton]

Originally Posted by 940Graeme

Fuel econ was terrible at best 24mpg, and worse than my 940, but yes I'd have another tomorrow

I'm keeping a tally here: http://www.spritmonitor.de/en/detail/472911.html (link also in signature).

34mpg best on a run so far, but I haven't really been trying.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Lami17

Hi, I have been showing some interest in this car but would really appreciate some advice on the vario drive. I have owned a number of 340's over the years but never a vario. I always do my own maintenance but what should I expect to cause problems with the vario and can you get parts from anywhere. How long do belts last etc. Any views on the vario would be appreciated. Are they really thirsty compared to the manual? Many thanks..

I found in service over the 20 years that the CVT was around that most belts needed changing around 30000 miles due to whine and deep cracks ( You are allowed cracks more than 30% through . )

there are probably 6 or 7 reasons why the transmission wouldnt change up properly if at all ie go into overdrive .
below 50 mpg it relied on the vacuum to draw the pulleys together and change up , after 50 mpg the cenrtifugal weights in the primary unit assisted , so even if the vacuum system was faulty it would cnage up over 50 mph .
The horrendous fuel consumption issues are either due to driving everywhere under 30 mph or the transmission not changing up into overdrive properly if at all due to one of the 6 or 7 faults . The B14 / CVT combination was great to drive and very nippy so if you drove it like that it would use more fuel .
It was as fast as a Vauxhall cavalier 1.8 injection from 0 - 80 mph ..

clutch adjustment was part of servicing and often neglected , so causing a premature end to the clutch . An easy job to replace though and put back 3mm of shims with a new volvo clutch as a starting point to getting the gap as small as possible without draging ..