Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Post by **jblackburn** » 09 Oct 2012, 21:59

A Cruze, of course!

electech · Post by **electech** » 09 Oct 2012, 22:53

Haha...a Cruze is not exactly in my budget, or I would still have the Volvo. I just picked up a little old Mazda to tool around in for now. I definitely miss the Volvo interior, and the radio. Probably run this into the ground in a year or two to give me time to shop for a serious car. I have enjoyed not having car payments, and I will take a lot longer than a rainy weekend to buy a car worth paying off.

I have already decided that my next car will be a wagon, so another Volvo is looking quite likely at this point.

Post by **wheelsup** » 10 Oct 2012, 08:08

The reason this forum exists is because Volvos are simply not financially viable to keep on the road when paying a tech to do the work. Good job keeping it on the road till 250k though, that is a ton of miles.

I'm surprised you had such quick MAF failures. They should last 100-150k miles depending on age.

The best way to keep a Volvo running for cheap is to actually buy a parts car and take all the spare parts off of it you can. I bought one with a bad motor and took a whole bunch of stuff off, from sensors to the radiator to the transmission, fuel pump, sunroof, you name it. Sold it for $100 scrap!

I have a small crate in my garage with all the parts in it, needed the radiator not even 3 weeks after pulling it off of that car, and noticed it was a almost new Valero that came with it...there is my $250 right there!

For the big repairs unless you have a garage you can work in it's probably not worth it. If you were local to me I'd say come on over

.

I'm 31 and have never had a car payment. That is the way to go.

benrk · Post by **benrk** » 10 Oct 2012, 10:20

Sorry to hear about the S70, but imo you should rethink that trade from Volvo to Mazda, I've never been a big friend of Japanese cars but that was just a personal preference until my girlfriend bought a 2004 Mazda 6 & her cousin meanwhile bought a 2006 Mazda 3, both cars repeatedly have brake calipers seezing, did the clutch on the 6 @ about 72 000mls, lower engine mount, stabi links, 1 cv axle, next cv axle is starting noises, rubber on 2 balljoints is ripped so they will be due after all the salt & sand of the coming winter, overall just a crappy car, a clutch is around $200 & a weekend in the garage with a knowledgable friend if you have never done one, get mentally prepared to resurrect the Volvo when the Mazda starts causing grief, it will!
I've never had a Volvo(-car) before, I'm more of a VW & BMW guy, but I knew they were good, my '94 850 wagon has over 330 000km about 205 000mls on & between our two daily drivers it is by all means the better car, ride, noise, reliability, parts cost & she is long sorry for not having bought another Jetta.

But that's just my 2c, good luck with your new car, maybe we just caught a lemon.

Greetz, Ben

electech · Post by **electech** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:21

Thanks benrk, I am definitely not planning on sticking with Mazda, nor would I ever buy a new one. This was just the right deal at the right time, and I won't be putting in much work with it. All Japanese cars have tinny front ends, and the sheet metal of the unibody just doesn't hold up to extended use like European cars. They are a 150K car, not a 250K or more. Just my opinion...

With that said, I have to disagree with wheelsup. Volvo is probably the only financially viable car after 250K to keep on the road. (Some older MBs were also good, I haven't seen how the new ones hold up with all the plastic being put on them.) In my opinion, the reason this forum exists is because people keep Volvos on the road through 250K, while other cars are traded in or ditched as the larger repairs come due. There are no Honda forums for 1980s Hondas with a half million miles. No Chryslers either, except the classic cars. On the Japanese enthusiast forums, 150K is an honorable life and buying one with over 150K is outright discouraged. Even Subaru unibodies start to fall apart after 200K or so. The shop costs for BMW electrical repairs after age and corrosion take their toll is beyond reasonable. After the initial "new car" stage, BMW is a niche market car, not a mainstream daily driver.

The only reason I have to give up on this one is I don't have a driveway to park her in and resurrect her later. She has plenty of miles and life left in her. Comfortable, relaible, finacially viable miles, unlike my Mazda, which only has a year or two to go.

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:44

No Hondas with close to half a million? Pshaw.

My best friend's 93 Camry has close to 300,000 on it and still breaks less than any of their other cars.

But I agree...these Volvos hold up very well to high mileage. I was surprised when mine passed the 200,000 mile mark and just kept soldiering on til 218. In fact, it broke LESS after 200,000 than it did back around 150,000.

Post by **misha** » 16 Oct 2012, 18:20

jblackburn wrote:...But I agree...these Volvos hold up very well to high mileage....In fact, it broke LESS after 200,000 than it did back around 150,000.

That's true!

I guess it's because all "child illnesses" were solved up to 100-150k.

Personnally....i had more trobles with my car around 100k km than now when it's around 300k km(knock on wood).

Post by **rmmagow** » 16 Oct 2012, 19:33

All my cars re at high mileage except for the 58 Mercedes. The listed Mazda is the last of 7 of these that I've owned. Drove 89 Mazda 929's for 20 years! Yes, I am sick, but I ran a couple of these to 300K+, one to 450. My biggest regret is that 20 years ago it wasn't a Volvo I plopped my butt into. I am fully converted to these things now. My next will be an older RWD for a toy, a newer S60 or S70 for my wife. The Volvo I have now isn't perfect, but at 180K miles it sure is the best car I've owned at these miles.

Post by **cmblackburn** » 16 Oct 2012, 20:49

Sorry to hear about your car. Sounds like it served you well

The most amazing mileage in cars I've seen in junkyards are as follows:
1) 1987 BMW 325is, Manual Transmission. Car ran, bad clutch.

2) 1994 Volvo 850 N/A Automatic, which we got to start.... It was a really pretty color, I think a 1 year color? Only one I've seen in it, the fender Volvo badges live on on my car.

benrk · Post by **benrk** » 16 Oct 2012, 23:40

holy cow! 472 000MLS??? on a gasoline BMW M20? that thing must have gotten more timing belts than many other cars spark plugs! were you able to verify wether it was the original engine?