I have always been a fan of Volvo cars, even as a child I wanted one. Strange you may think, but true !
I owned a Volvo 740 GL automatic estate for around 5 years, I reluctantly sold it when I moved house as I needed the money for home improvements (I have regretted this ever since).
I ... Read review
Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Advantages: Big, safe, reliable, comfortable and practical Disadvantages: None
...always been a fan of Volvo cars, even as a child I wanted one. Strange you may think, but true !
I owned a Volvo 740 GL automatic estate for around 5 years, I reluctantly sold it when I moved house as I needed the money for home improvements (I have regretted this ever since).
I saw the car whilst visiting someone in hospital. It was for sale in a garage I passed and I fell in love with it. It was dark metallic blue, ... ...but because it was a Volvo and rather unnattractive to thieves, the premium was very low.
Volvo parts are expensive, but a Volvo should never need that many. I have already mentioned what parts I replaced in 5 years and I am aware that many cars would need an awful lot more maintenance than that !
Servicing cost for the car were average. I would rarely buy Volvo approved parts as these are very expensive - sometimes ... more
I have always been a fan of Volvo cars, even as a child I wanted one. Strange you may think, but true !
I owned a Volvo 740 GL automatic estate for around 5 years, I reluctantly sold it when I moved house as I needed the money for home improvements (I have regretted this ever since).
I saw the car whilst visiting someone in hospital. It was for sale in a garage I passed and I fell in love with it. It was dark metallic blue, with a blue interior (I love blue !).
Needless to say, I paid the £3,500 and the car was mine all mine !!!
The car was extremely practical, there is 6 foot of loading space with the rear seats down. I have transported many items in the car including a single bed and mattress, a double bed (folded) and a three piece suite (the settee in one trip and the two chairs in the other) and the boot closed on every journey with nothing hanging out of the back of the car !!!
The GL model had electric front windows, heated front seats, central locking and the auto had three speed transmission with overdrive. Incidentally, the overdrive switch needed to be replaced in the time I had the car which cost about £100. The only other things I had to replace in 5 years were the tyres and some of the exhaust and I also replaced the battery and of course brake pads (in 5 years that is brilliant !!!). I did an awful lot of mileage then as I was commuting to and from work.
Fuel economy is not brilliant on these cars, the model I had was a 2 litre, which was a little underpowered. The 2.3 is better. I was getting wround 20 mpg from the Volvo. However, the tank was big and would take nearly £50 in petrol on an empty tank.
Insurance was reasonable, it was a group 12 (this may have change now), but because it was a Volvo and rather unnattractive to thieves, the premium was very low.
Volvo parts are expensive, but a Volvo should never need that many. I have already mentioned what parts I replaced in 5 years and I am aware that many cars would need an awful lot more maintenance than that !
Servicing cost for the car were average. I would rarely buy Volvo approved parts as these are very expensive - sometimes up to 5 (or more) times expensive than non-approved parts, so it is worth remembering that.
The car was an absolute pleasure to drive. It had power steering (and let me tell you, you needed it with a car this heavy !). You knew the car was solid by the way it handled. I felt very safe and confident driving it and people always gave way to you !
The controls, dials and switches are well laid out in the 740, with everything in easy reach for the driver.
Maintenance is also relatively easy, because the engine is well laid out and underneath the bonnet is very spacious, it is easy to carry out work as there are no awkward nooks and crannies which you will need access to.
I only ever had one minor accident in the Volvo. I was turning right on a mini roudabout and the lady coming the other way did not give way so I ploughed straight into the front of her brand new VW Bora. There was an almighty crash and I feared the car had been badly damamged. I got out of the vehicle to have a look and found that the onlu damage to my car was a scratch on the bumper !!! However, her VW was extensively damaged at the front - OOPS !
This car was great on long journeys and loved the motorway - the fuel economy was also better on the open road. I took this car all over the country and it always proved comfortable and reliable.
Surprisingly, parking the Volvo was easy, because the car was so "square" it was easy to judge, there were no awkward curves etc and the tailgate was the back of the car, so there was no boot sticking out which could tap something as you were reversing.
I liked the boxy styling of the car but I know that many people dislike the. Personally I feel they are distinctive. All cars these days look alike !
Another good point with this car was that the drivers seat was height adjustable, so even dwarfs like me can see over the bonnet !
Before I moved house 2 years ago, someone tried to break into the Volvo by trying to bend back the top of the drivers door, but they were not able to - it just would not bend. However, other people in the street were not so lukcy - other cars had their doors bent (quite badly in some cases) as these cars were nowhere near as tough as the Volvo.
These cars make a great buy for anyone, they also tend to attract the type of owner that will look after them, so chances are you will not get one that has been abused.
You can pick up one of these cars for a few hundred pouns now. The estates are more sought after though, so prices will be higher.
A friend of mine bought my 740 off me nearly two years ago and it is still going strong. He has put a new stereo in it but that is about it ! No major expenses at all and the car has done about 150,000 miles and has plenty of life left in it. When I sold the car to him it as beginning to eak transmission fluid, this turned out to be a defective seal around the transmission which he actually managed to remedy with the minimum of effort.
I miss my old faithful Volvo, but know it has gone to a good home.
Thanks for reading. Ciao for now ;-)
***UPDATE*** As you will have read in my challenge op, I once had sex on the bonnet of a Volvo - well people, this is that Volvo !!!
Goodness knows what comments will be left on this review now !!!
Advantages: long useful life, very rust resistant, good aftersales Disadvantages: big gas guzzling engines
Volvo opinion
The preamble may appear to be devoted to our Mitsubishi campervan but this opinion essentially concerns our ‘B’ reg Volvo 740 GLE Automatic, colour metallic blue so I must ask you, dear Reader, to bear with me, please, for a paragraph or two (or three).
We bought it, our first ever Volvo, last June at the same time as we bought a Mitsubishi campervan. I mention this because it was through buying the van that we were offered the Volvo. ... ...mentioned he was selling a Volvo for a friend who needed the cash. He rang me and told me about the circumstances and asked if I might be interested as it was only £350 and in good condition. I agreed to buy it sight unseen on his recommendation. When I discovered it was LRP fuel, I changed my mind about buying it. The seller then rang his lady friend who agreed to knock off £60. Any car at £290 with a full year’s MoT is pretty much a gift nowadays ...
topcol 24.01.2003 (26.01.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 740
Advantages: Value for money, loadspace, quality, comfort Disadvantages: Size (at times), fuel economy
I have only recently started Volvo ownership, firstly with a 740 GL Estate B Reg, 2300cc, and when that went pop (head gasket) I bought my latest one, an E Reg (87) 740 GLE Estate, 2300 Injection. Comfortable cars, they have a great prerscence on the road, ensuring that you are seen by other roadusers! The engine is strong, and there are few problems with reliability (unless you thrash an elderly B reg.. as I found). Servicing is easy, and cambelt ... ...E Reg has the original Volvo Tow hitch, and is girder-like in construction. The car ooses Solidity.
Electricals are in abundance, mine has heated seats, electric windows and more whistles and bells than the Space shuttle!
Trim quality is great, even in an old car as mine, and the years havent worn the trim to any great extent. Built to last? I Should co-co!!
Steering braking and handling are superb, and the Huge great beast can be shuffled round ...
kwackerz 05.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 740
Advantages: Safe, lots of extras, reasonable insurance, easy to drive Disadvantages: A bit high on petrol
...Eventually we decided on a Volvo Estate and were delighted when an F Reg 740SE came into our local paper. Anyway we bought it and it is a great car. I have never driven such a big car but due to the automatic gear box and power assisted steering it is very easy and light to drive. I had never driven an automatic or power assisted car before and was a bit hesitant but it was no problem.
We have a young daughter and we certainly feel very comfortable ... ...room in it and we can even put her pram in without having to take it apart. This particular model has electric windows, electric sunroof, electric wing mirrors and heated front seats!
Unfortunately it is quite heavy on petrol around town but much better on the motorway etc. As for insurance it was only £100.00 a year more for fully comprehensive than our old car a Peugeot 205 D Registration, so pretty good.
The car runs very well and gives a very ...
elvina 31.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 740
Advantages: RELIABLE, ROOMY. COMFORTABLE Disadvantages: PRICE OF SPARES EXPENSIVE
...that is the price of Volvo spares. When you buy normal replacement items e.g brake discs or pads you will think you are paying off the third world debt. Don't let this deter you as you appear to be paying for the name. You can always buy normal replacement items at a motor factors and save a fortune. You will find things like brakes and exhausts at least 50% cheaper than Volvo genuine. Quite often you will find the factor parts are made by the same ... ...car is manual or automatic and whether a long or short run but overall you should meet 30 miles per gallon. Not bad for transport the size of a small bus! All the 740 cars are well equiped and typically safety concious. Most have ABS and power steering electric windows etc whilst top of the range have heated front seats.
OVERALL A TERRIFIC BUY WITH THE COMFORT OF A LIMO AND THE RELIABILITY OF A ROLEX ...
DECISION1 10.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 740
Advantages: Tough, rust resistant, adequate comfort, capacious boot Disadvantages: Lacks power, can't be driven quickly, lots of blind spots
Bought this in 2000 with 120000 miles on the clock for £1400 from a dealer.
That may seem a little much, but it came with a genuine looking FSH and I was impressed by its condition; not a spot of rust, no oil leaks, the engine purred.
It has a polish once a year, and the paint still looks like new. Looks quite smart from the side, though possibly dated, because the chrome window trim.
The boot came with a box, and its big, compared to the newer ... ...the recycling centre, without getting the upholstery dirty.
It's given me 30000 miles so far and no major problems.
Only a fuel pump relay and the water pump have had to be replaced.
The ride is smooth; fairly soft, like the american cars used to be. Bumps do appear to be transmitted to the front passengers feet though.
Cruises quite happily on the motorway at 70mph, but can't be driven much over 60mph on curvy A roads, due to the poor handling.
...
gyrodr 23.07.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 740
Value for Money
Road Handling
Fuel consumption
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