1994 940- Need advice on spending $$ on repairs

[MickMal]

I am a 20+ year Volvo owner and had my 1994 940 sedan(non-Turbo) since 2003 but after having some recent issues with it, crunching numbers on the amount of money spent on repairs. The body and interior of the car are in excellent condition. I live in Los Angeles (warm weather preserved the body/undercarriage) and purchased the car in 2003 with 108k miles from the original owner. The car currently has 202k miles and I have spent nearly $19,000 on repairs (other than the engine, I replaced when necessary most major parts including the transmission). I paid $5700 for the car (private party) and while I love this car, I am wondering where you draw the line on spending money to keep it going? As for the mechanic servicing the car, I have had the same trusted mechanic who specializes in Volvo's and got his start working for a Volvo dealer and knows the car inside and out. There is no doubt in my mind of his expertise and honesty to match but would appreciate feedback from fellow owners.

Thanks,

[lummert]

Some people say that if a repair exceeds 50% of the cars value it's time to trade cars. But this is a Volvo. Not many newer cars made to last like your car.

[93Regina]

The body and interior of the car are in excellent condition.

The other year, I purchased a 1993-944 with body/interior in excellent condition, but engine had failed at around 250K miles. I towed it home, some 600 miles away, and rebuilt a 1984 B23F engine, and then installed it in the 944.

YMMV, but generally speaking, new OEM vehicles cost more than maintaining a vehicle that has a good body/interior. And, of course, the taxmen (plural) around here wants a slice of the action on newly bought vehicles, and each year there after until some ten years or so when property tax is around $20.00/year, or so.

[MickMal]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I spent closer to $17k over nearly the past 12 years and with the exterior, interior, exterior and engine being in good condition, I will hang on to the car.

[93Regina]

$17k over nearly the past 12 years

Having mechanical skills does eliminate high-dollar repair bills. And of course, timid brake/acceleration practices, along with oil/filter changes, before its due.

100K plus engines, imho, should have oil/filter changed at or before 3K miles, or every several months for mostly city driving.

My driving is mostly country/hwy miles, but I try to do oil/filter changes around 3K miles. It seems when on this schedule, the engine's internals wear very little. On one GM engine, I put 150K miles, on a 150K mile engine, and it seems to be the same engine when I got it. I did install a new oil pump on it when I got it.

Forget about what "experts" say, they don't discuss older engines with blow-by; they are talking about engines with less than 100K miles.

In US, OEM vehicles must meet emission standards for 100K miles; after that, its your problem.