May go take a look at a post 99 P80

[Clemens]

I should have clarified: The NAs are great cars, especially in city traffic and for daily driving. But from a financial point of view you will more likely get what you paid for parts if trying to sell a Turbo. Since for now it is a buyer´s market, not a seller´s market, so the more you spend on the way to Stage 0, the less ROI you will have.

[scot850]

I will be selling the NA shortly, and I am realistic that there is no chance of me making close to what I have spent on it in parts alone, and not taking my hours of working on it to install said parts. For me though I hate things not to work as they should so I will never make money on any car I own, but the next owner usually always gets a great running car with not much needing done for a few years save regular servicing. Working on the cars is all about retirement hobby and keeping the 2 gray cells turning over. Also I like to learn how stuff works (engineer problem). You are right about the buyers market, but here, people like the P80's but there are seldom any for sale. Most have become scrap in PnP, so they are hard to find. Took me 4 months to even find the NA and I only bought it as at least it ran. Most others either had serious engine issues or blown transmissions or are AWD (I would never buy another P80 AWD).

Neil.

[850 LPT]

Sorry, but there is no such thing as a ROI on any old Volvo, turbo or not. If you want stage 0 AND you want it to look nice, you loose.

I drive these cars because I really like them, not because they make financial sense. That said, save the NA's, they are great cars.

[scot850]

I would like to save them all, but finances will never allow that, especially now I have retired. Next time it will have to be a running project that can be steadily improved but run at the same time. Like 850LPT I like the NA motors. The ones I have driven really have nice smooth engines that like to rev. With all the speed restrictions locally, driving the 'R' is a challenge as there are few places to allow it off the leash to enjoy it. So realistically the NA is a better choice for 95% of the limited driving I do. It is the 5% though that I enjoy the 'R' for. I guess I never planned for it to be a daily driver. At some point I will have to make the stay or go call in-spite of the huge loss financially. Reason for also moving on is arthritis in my neck and back, so getting my 6'2" into a low vehicle is becoming harder, and hence the SUV move at some point.

I hope that The car Evan is going to see has the bones to make it worth saving, but it is very hard when it doesn't run. I wish you luck on making the decision Evan and hope it turns out to be worth saving.

Neil.

[abscate]

Okay it's a matter of minimisling LOI



Evan, count me in for moral support and an evening or two if you need to drop a transmission. New found skills. Got the engine bar too

[scot850]

Now abscate, when you say 'drop' a transmission, it is not like when you 'dropped' the engine using the hook?

Neil.

[abscate]

[precopster]

Or in my case snap an accessory support bracket.........or 2

[E Showell]

Went, looked, made a new friend.

We got the car started with the battery from my car. I saw faint smoke from the exhaust manifold area.

I left. Owner went and bought a new battery and started her up. Says steady stream of white smoke from tailpipe and car would stall out if he didn't keep some throttle on.

So we know one of two things: 1) we have a new Pope, or 2) the head gasket is toast.

Owner told me when he was checking it out, he noticed the lower radiator hose clamp had failed, the hose was off and all coolant had seemingly drained out. He ran it like that for c. 10 miles. Said low coolant light never came on and temp. gauge never went above 3 p.m.

Car has essentially new General Altimax's on all four corners on nice looking alloy wheels. Front seats are shot. Body, OK, not great. Passenger side front fender a little rough, front bumper cover pretty scuffed up.

Was offered to me for $375. Even as a parts car I passed.

Owner, John, is super nice though. I'll put anyone interested in touch. Oh, it is a 2000 S70, Nautic Blue, tan interior, Auto trans.