Leave the manual turbo Volvos alone

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish) 02/28/2016 at 01:09 • Filed to: rant, volvo, turbochargers

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One of the many things I want is a manual turbo Volvo. This is a problem for several reasons, but the one that bothers me the most is other people being shitty. I do believe that people get to do whatever they want with their own car, but one of my pet peeves is when people buy something rare, or nice, or both, and molest it. I mean that’s fine if you keep it, but don’t ruin a car and then sell it as if your terrible mods increase its value.

Like this one

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Spoiler alert, a slammed 740 wagon with a welded diff is a broken car. It is not worth $3800. The only value is in the engine and transmission now.

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Again, your car would be worth more than an equivalent automatic car, if you hadn’t slammed it.

There was a third ruined one up for sale, a manual 940 Turbo, with cut springs, and a welded diff. Of course. Asking $3500 or something laughable like this. It’s not that big a deal, Volvos are kinda like lego and if I really wanted a manual turbo brick it wouldn’t be too hard to build one. But it still seems inconsiderate to objectively ruin a relatively rare car, and then ask a stupid price for it because you think a welded diff is somehow and improvement......

TL;DR I’m a grumpy old man in a 21 year olds body

6Cylinder > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 01:27

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I feel it. Why would you weld the diff? Do you drift all the way to work and back?

gmctavish needs more space > 6Cylinder 02/28/2016 at 01:34

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Exactly, it's such a hack thing to do to a car

D > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 01:53

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I too really want a manual, turbo 740—sedan only though. I see wagons for sale pretty regularly, but I can count the amount of manual turbo sedans I’ve ever seen for sale on one hand.

With said car, I’d build the 740R that never was (basically just bolt on all the iPd I can). However, my absolute favorite part of the 740 is its style, so there’s a strong case for splurging for an non-turbo/auto/both. For example, I’m currently having trouble resisting this: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/546115…

I would love to return this car back to beauty.

Birddog > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 01:53

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Embrace the Grump.

I get it, I find ads for certain cars, a lot of trucks and trikes all the time that make me wonder what the fuck the seller is thinking.

In the same vein.. I have two vehicles on CL right now with very plain, straight descriptions and the responses I’ve received are mind boggling. (The address is listed in the ad and I still get “Where is it?” replies..)

Everybody is stupid! Get off my damn lawn!

gmctavish needs more space > Birddog 02/28/2016 at 01:55

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Oh god yeah, that happens whenever I try and sell anything. 90% of the questions will be things I've already explained in the ad.

Svend > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 01:55

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It’s why a guy I know was prepared to wait and find his dream car rather than take an E46 M3 and repair it. He had many other BMWs in the meantime but eventually found a completely unmolested 2002 BMW E46 M3. 30,000 below average miles on the clock.

gmctavish needs more space > D 02/28/2016 at 01:58

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Wow that's cheap. Yeah I have similar thoughts to yours about a 740R, same with a 240 after I drove an old 244 with all the IPD goodies and bilsteins, it was an excellent thing.

D > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 02:14

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It needs plenty of cosmetic love, some of the mechanical breed as well (he tells me in an email, a “transmission seal” and “front bushings”)—but the price is low and the stakes are low so I’d probably do a fun stylish build. I don’t aesthetically engage with my current car enough—it’s pretty stock looking and shall stay that way—so one of my escapist fantasies is really personalizing a car.

gmctavish needs more space > Svend 02/28/2016 at 02:23

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Mm that looks good. Those are hard to find that clean

gmctavish needs more space > D 02/28/2016 at 02:26

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Yeah I haven't really don't any of that yet, I'm usually just maintaining or bringing cars back to stock. I've been waiting for something I really want to put effort into and make it my own

Svend > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 02:33

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It’s not had a single mod done to it at all not even an upgraded stereo or aftermarket alarm system. It’s currently at 62,000 miles on the clock. He’s had E30s, E36s and E46s in coupes, saloons and estate forms (total of 16 BMWs, odd 5 Series thrown in for good measure) to entertain himself with but this is his final hurrah. I dare say if he comes across a later E46 M3 he night change but I can’t see it moving for anything else.

gmctavish needs more space > Svend 02/28/2016 at 02:43

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16 BMWs, that’s my kinda guy. I’m “only” at 7 so far. Also, I just noticed the license plate says Svended....

bob and john > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 03:04

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he throws that plate on everything he washes for pictures :D

Svend > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 03:13

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The shortest he ever kept a car was 6 days and it was a Honda Civic, he hated it that much we drove 300 miles to exchange it with a little cash for a BMW E46 diesel estate (really nice car, could sit at 110mph all day).

He has a private plate but I always put my detailing plates on a car after I’ve cleaned it so I can take and post pictures of the cars without having to edit out the licence plate first (it’s a pain to do and loses picture size and quality in the process).

Some of last year.

gmctavish needs more space > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 03:22

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That is awesome

gmctavish needs more space > Svend 02/28/2016 at 03:24

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Haha awesome, I love it. Definitely a good idea. Damn, 6 days....it would be cool if more of the diesel bimmers made it over here, I always hear good things about them

Svend > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 03:39

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She was a great car. Good mileage too.

and the two from just before her and the Honda.

bob and john > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 04:04

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canada got the E90 335D.

my dad was debating between that and a A3 TDI. we ended up with the A3

LongbowMkII > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 05:34

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Is there ever a decent reason to weld a diff? Moronic.

Frenchlicker > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 06:26

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One time where I work one came in that everybody had to ogle. Normally when a diff case is welded we see four small welds. This particular person wanted to make absolute sure their welds wouldn't break. They filled the whole opening with material. This is probably about two or so inches. Now that, that is thoroughly destroying something. At least with most it is reversible.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 08:36

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Eh, the diff is just a Dana 30, so that can be fixed. And stock springs are plentiful in the yards still, so it’s far from beyond hope.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > D 02/28/2016 at 08:38

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My first Volvo was a manual 85 740 Turbo sedan that I picked up for $200... Great car, but the transmission is the weak point.

Hoccy > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 08:46

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Those posted aren’t ruined. Change back to original (or proper aftermarket) springs and diff and they are good as new. They are ruined once all body panels are dented and rusted out..

Tripper > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 09:32

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Purists Unite! I will have a classic Porsche one day, but I will always scoff at trash like this:

64C10 > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 10:45

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I don’t know about ruined, I’d drive either!

gmctavish needs more space > Hoccy 02/28/2016 at 12:45

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That’s true, then it would just be nice if they were priced accordingly. A discount to allow for undoing their shoddy work, instead of a premium and listing it in the “pros” section

wiffleballtony > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 12:49

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I’d be ok with the slam, but the welded differential is a deal breaker.

gmctavish needs more space > 64C10 02/28/2016 at 12:50

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All I can think of is how much of a nightmare either of those would be in a parking lot with speed bumps

gmctavish needs more space > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 12:52

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Oh I mean the older ones. We got not diesels till the E90 after the E28 524td. Oh why the A3 over the 335?

bob and john > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 13:21

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2 reasons:

1: FWD VS RWD. We live in canada, and the 335d wasnt offered with AWD. seeing as my mom was going to drive the car sometimes, my dad didnt trust her in snow with 425lb-ft doing to just the rear wheels

2: we were buying it new (he had NEVER had a new car up until that point, and it was going to by his 25th anniversy present) and the audi was 45K CAD. the BMW he wanted (options and all) was 70K CAD

gmctavish needs more space > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 13:28

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Ohh okay those are very fair reasons. Holy crap that's a big price difference

bob and john > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 13:32

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yep. remember, this wasnt a 328D,. this was a almost fully loaded 335D. the only option the A3 had was the sun-roof, and instead of a 240HP, 425lbft I6, its a 140hp, 240lbft I4.

2 totally different classes.

64C10 > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 13:52

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True. I’d probably replace the (cut!) springs with some airbags anyways, though.

gmctavish needs more space > 64C10 02/28/2016 at 13:59

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Fair enough, I'd be replacing them with IPD lowering springs that aren't as low, and bilstein HDs

Hoccy > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 15:02

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Well, if they’re not selling quickly you have a good point when discussing a new price. I’m sure some Scandinavian companies will ship new parts to you ASAP. And even if the 740 isn’t very popular here in Norway you have to spend 4-5000 USD on a stock TIC in good shape.

gmctavish needs more space > Hoccy 02/28/2016 at 15:05

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Oh that’s quite a lot. Yeah a good auto 740 turbo will usually go for $2500 at most around here, the most expensive I saw was a one owner, white over red with 150k kms that sold for $5000 or something. That was mostly due to the mileage I think, most of them have north of 300k.

Hoccy > gmctavish needs more space 02/28/2016 at 15:12

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Huge market for old RWD Volvos here. There is a mint 242 Turbo for sale here with 42k miles. They have received a foreign bid around 23k USD, and is trying to sell it here in Norway for the same price. Good non-turbo 140's and 240's go for the same as the 740's mentioned above. No wonder how some companies thrive on selling parts for these cars.

gmctavish needs more space > Hoccy 02/28/2016 at 15:33

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Oh wow, yeah there are far fewer people over here that want them. Good for those of us thinking about buying one, but bad because so many have been scrapped that should’ve been saved