I think you should take a 2.5T for a spin though, I think they have the right amount of power and are readily available in fwd and stick.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Thanks for the advice about the Phase 2 V70s. We never thought about the 05+ models because they'd be out of our price league! To be honest, looking a bit more closely at the prices of the 01-04 models, versus the limited amount of T5s and manuals, I think we'll be a bit more realistic and look at the Phase 1s. Speaking of the Phase 2s though, I did notice the popularity of the 2.5T; I never looked into it much, but 200bhp (?) - is that the predecessor to the now 2.5 T5?

I guess that brings us back to the Phase 1s. Would the T5 be any more available than in the Phase 2 here? I guess the same applies to a manual shift, too; although I guess it's not essential.... I actually prefer the slightly more square look of the 850, exterior and interior especially, but I feel they're overpriced, even though the majority I've seen aren't really in great condition.

What is the 2.4 and AWD system like in the Phase 1 XC? It is the same / as costly to repair as in the Phase 2s? We really do love the look of these, but reading comments on purchasing as young an AWD model as possible, and reports of costly service/repair parts kind of puts me off...

Thanks for all the advice guys. There's a gold '90 740 GLE for sale locally, 215k kms, a lot of surface rust and is overpriced at $1700, but I hinted that it's a shame it wasn't under $1k and my girlfriend agreed that would have been a decent second car... ! She doesn't seem to mind the 7/9 sedans that much, I guess I need to get her behind the wheel of one so she can find out for herself!

I wouldn't think you would find more T5's in the P1 as it's only 3 model years 98-00, couldn't tell you what actual build numbers were but I don't see many although I'm not actively looking. Andy would know best on the AWD reliability/repair costs although they are know to be weakest early on, I would guess they aren't any cheaper to fix and are going to be that much older now.

Check out the 740 GLE carefully as a '90 will have the 16v engine so timing belt maintenance is critical. Personally I would look for a turbo or an NA over the 16v, just my .02.

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/B ... EwithB234F

Thank's for that information! We aren't interested in buying it (but I had to stop and check it out due to curiosity!), although I guess my main reason for bringing it up is to say if we could find a really clean 2/7/900 (sedan) my girlfriend MIGHT be persuaded over a 850 or S/V70!

I met a guy with a real nice 242 last night at a club (Edmonton Classic Sports Car Club) meet - he has it mildly tuned, it's a manual and seems to fairly go. It's lovely , but he's not interested in selling it ! It has really got me into the mood of a 200 again. Not to go off topic, here's a couple of pictures;

Clean 240, looks nice. If it's Volvo related you're allowed to go off topic, besides it's your thread.

as a reminder, i do have a not very clean, but fast, 242 for sale...

still hasn't sold eh Athal?

98-00 V/S70s are probably more costly to repair the awd system, i've quoted all the driveline bits before and it turns the bill somewhere around $7-8000 if everything needs to be replaced. The viscous coupler is a jerk

Wow thats a nice old 242.

I thought that about the Phase 1 AWD! Will have to rule that out to, then...

I'd love a 242, or a 200 of some sort, but to be honest it would have to be pretty clean and stock for the missus to even consider looking (and that would probably be all, just 'to look') at a picture of it!

We found out a couple of friends in the local Mini club have a 1 owner from new '96 850 GLE - it's super-clean inside and out, low mileage at 180k with history, manual transmission, but it's a sedan and only a 10v. It's a good one, although I really want a T5 Wagon.

I'm keeping an eye out for Phase 1 S/V70s as I'd like to take one for a test drive - I've been looking at their interiors and don't like them as much as in the 850. How sad is that? And my girlfriend says I'm to bloody picky!

Hey Darren, this just posted on Edmonton kijiji. And it's a T5 to boot.

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicl ... Z130554538

Edit: Sorry just noticed it's an S70 not a V...

Thanks for the link, I spotted the ad last night! I've emailed the seller but few people respond to emails (only have one cell and it's always credit-less even though we make NO calls!!). There's a guy outside Edmonton with a '97 850 T5 automatic sedan who is keen for me to come and have a look (but he's out of town this week). Although a sedan, I'd like to try out an auto T5. It would be good if the S70 seller got back to me because I'd like to get a feel for the interior of V/S70 (sounds stupid, but I'm an interior guy over and over and I like the classic boxy shape of the 850).

My girlfriend wouldn't mind a sedan, but sadly, if I bought an 850 or newer sedan, no matter how nice it is, I'd moan and moan about wanting a bloody Wagon!

Also spotted this nice 242 on Kijiji:
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicl ... Z130611271

Actually the 240 was for sale last year and was checked out by GLT_North. It looks allot better than it really is and is grossly over priced.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1540

I don't like the sound of that 242!

Drove that automatic T5 (from outside Edmonton) this evening and was pleasantly surprised, in general of the car as a whole. It had full cream leather interior and was fully loaded; on the test drive, before we reached the end of the street my girlfriend noted how nice it was to be back in a Volvo and loved it. I thought the automatic box was very suited to the car; it's the first automatic I've driven where it feels as if the transmission is totally 'at home' with the engine. Perhaps I didn't push the 850 too hard, but as always though I feel it's hard to really appreciate how powerful a car is with an auto box. It looks like I may have to get this manual out of my head and settle for an auto, after-all having an extra hand on the steering wheel is a bonus!!

A couple of things that I noted about the car - I thought the accelerator pedal felt quite heavy and I needed to depress it some to move off, as apposed to 'tapping' the pedal and it nipping forward like in all the autos I've driven. I haven't driven any other auto 850s so I'm not sure if that sounds right?

The Lambda sensor light was also on? I think I remember reading something regarding being weary of this if buying a T5, but could it be much other than a sensor? And are the senors an expensive replacement?

It's a very nice car and it's really persuading my girlfriend (especially!) and I to get one, sooner rather than later as we plan on traveling a bit over Summer. It was a navy blue sedan - the navy isn't as bad a color as I thought it would be, but I think I might try and hold out for a Wagon, at least. Two sacrifices is too much! Does anybody know if the T5s in general came fully loaded when new or if there were various trim packages for them? This 850 was just an '850' (as far as I'm aware) but had all the bells and whistles.

The accelerator pedal would need a new throttle cable if you don't like it. The cable is starting to bind in the housing which happens to all of them (I hate the feeling though). For the light I would recommend getting the car to part source and they can read the code for free there.