My grandparents (and later, parents) had one of those in wagon form (aka a 145) from 1969. In white. That brought back a few memories for me, since I remember riding around in it.
Got to drive a friend's '72 142 recently. Was fun. They still were using the "truck shifter" in '72 (lever had a really long shaft reaching back behind the dash instead of being a short stick straight down into the floor), but it wasn't too bad to get used to.
The overdrive didn't work, but everything else did.
I think a nice clean 100 series car might be one of the only things I'd trade my '76 244 for. That or a nice clean '76 245. I'm especially fond of the exterior look of the '73-'74 models, but the interior of the earlier ones otherwise.
The '75 200 series in the US used the old 100 series drivetrain, even though it used the newer one in the rest of the world. So I think I'd like a '76 more than a '75 if sticking to the 200 series, since parts are more available.
This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Jul 31 2023, 08:08
The thing people miss about older cars, if you have one with like 120 hp, but it weighs like 30-50% of a modern car, the handling and power actually feels good.
Not having ABS/traction control can be a bit of a bumber but alot of the other modern safety systems apart from those are for women. I like rear view cameras now, but in older cars I felt rear visibility was better.
The thing people miss about older cars, if you have one with like 120 hp, but it weighs like 30-50% of a modern car, the handling and power actually feels good.
Not having ABS/traction control can be a bit of a bumber but alot of the other modern safety systems apart from those are for women. I like rear view cameras now, but in older cars I felt rear visibility was better.
Rear cameras are an example of inventing a problem (side padding that makes visibility poor) and then selling a solution.
Visibility in the Volvo 200 series is excellent. You can even see through the headrests.
This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Oct 28 2023, 10:41
If you need a reverse camera to park your car you shouldn't be driving.
The visibility out the rear of my car is not so great due to aerodynamic reasons.
The main problem is that people rely on them and don't check the mirrors and rear views and crash due to on coming traffic.
In my current car, I got the 12 seconds on the 1/4 mile with slicks. The main issue my car has is that its light so there are traction issues at launch.
I have seen volvos do 11 seconds, so its probably something incorrect with my setup, at least for launching.
edit: the volvos probably were super sleepers with crazy engine swaps.
This post has been edited by EsotericSatire: Nov 27 2023, 04:03
I drive quite a lot but I do drive a boring european car. In fact, I drive a disgustant fr*nch car.
Some of the pictures you guys have posted over the last couple pages show cars that are definitely more beautiful than the awfully generic cars I see everyday. And there are a couple volvos you shared that are gorgeous.
My first car was a Fiesta, [en.wikipedia.org] this one according to wikipedia. Shitty old undrivable piece of shit, but cheap and light.
My point here being, though, that I still see cars as a tool to move around, so I prefer the ugliest shit ever if I'm going to service it less often, pay less gas or pay less taxes. I enjoy driving, a lot actually, but I am a cheap fuck. Wouldn't these old cars consume a lot? I mean, these volvos are heavy to begin with.
At least I see that the americans that post here enjoy manuals. I hate automatic cars. It's a life hazard to make me drive one of them. I suffer seeing the european market slowly adopt them.
QUOTE(dragontamer8740 @ Apr 6 2023, 20:22)
One in back is not mine. But it is another old volvo.
Do you drive it on a daily basis or keep it as a project/hobby? It is so gorgeous.
This post has been edited by Byza: Nov 28 2023, 12:01
You can get some mental power out of a Volvo redblock.
They take to a turbo like a fish to water.
QUOTE(Byza @ Nov 28 2023, 05:00)
Do you drive it on a daily basis or keep it as a project/hobby? It is so gorgeous.
It alternates. I don't drive it in Winter here because the road salt would murder it dead. In that picture it still has its original paint. It's been repainted now (the same colour), which fixed a couple bald patches. Even after the repaint I still try to not baby it too hard. It really wants to run. Always starts right up. And it's my only manual, so by virtue of that it gets solid usage.
So the answer is "not a daily, but in the summer it may as well be." I fucking love that thing. I've been taking a couple friends out nearly every year in it on july 4 with the moonroof cranked open to look at fireworks and just cruise around town late at night. Something about doing that just feels right.
QUOTE(Mags_ @ Nov 28 2023, 07:57)
My 1982 volvo costs very little to run on petrol.
It's only a little 2.3 with an auto.
The most expensive maintenance cost I've incurred thus far was $350 for another fuel tank from a wrecking yard.
It's 41 years old, built like a tank, has no computer in it and the majority of the components volvo used are good quality. I service it myself.
My '76 (same seriesl, different year) is 2.1L and 5-speed (4+overdrive), but otherwise a very similar story, had I not decided to repaint it and gotten into that financial sinkhole.
Interior parts can get expensive if you need them, but most of my interior held together well. Seat foam was the big one that I needed to do on the driver's side. And the lumbar support adjustment mechanism.
Glad you got a solid fuel tank for it. Did you have to clean out the fuel distributor or nozzles to get the crap out?
This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 29 2023, 00:53
The most expensive maintenance cost I've incurred thus far was $350 for another fuel tank from a wrecking yard.
It's 41 years old, built like a tank, has no computer in it and the majority of the components volvo used are good quality.
I service it myself.
Honestly the only time I ever had a recurring, "expensive" issue, it was the electronics, and it ended up being ok and cheap enough. I had the problem for years but the technical inspection officers never actually cared about it, until one of them asked. Other than that it was things I could repair with ease.
I still drive a pretty old car that you can actually service. My father, who has always been a "fix everything" kind of guy, just got one of many new SUVs with nothing you can touch yourself under the bonnet.
You are probably right, a properly chosen old car wouldn't cost more to drive and keep around.
Though in many european cities, many of such cars are simply[en.wikipedia.org] banned from the city center. My car included. Several of those in my country, but not close enough to actually bother me. Where I live you could never ban any kind of car, for employment reasons, but also the simple absolute lack of alternatives.
QUOTE(dragontamer8740 @ Nov 28 2023, 23:11)
In that picture it still has its original paint. It's been repainted now (the same colour), which fixed a couple bald patches. Even after the repaint I still try to not baby it too hard. It really wants to run. Always starts right up. And it's my only manual, so by virtue of that it gets solid usage.
So the answer is "not a daily, but in the summer it may as well be." I fucking love that thing. I've been taking a couple friends out nearly every year in it on july 4 with the moonroof cranked open to look at fireworks and just cruise around town late at night. Something about doing that just feels right.
Man, that read like a love story. Reading you got me truly happy right there.
Reminded me of this video, which isn't that happy or anything. Just a car love story adjacent thing.
I used to really love Top Gear fucking around on some random Nth hand car.
This post has been edited by Byza: Nov 29 2023, 01:01
Re: manual transmissions: At least you're a little luckier over there in that there are more older manual cars out there to choose from. In America even a lot of older Volvos were bought with autos starting waaay back. 1980's manuals are harder to find than autos. And on domestic US cars the situation's even worse. Good thing I hate GM/Ford/Chrysler. Some of the old Willy's/Kaiser Jeeps and AMC stuff can be cool though.
Also, there are hardly any new manual transmission cars you can buy in the states; it's sad to hear that the holdout is finally caving.
The jeep gladiator is a horrendous looking vehicle, so it doesn't count. Too many doors. Such an enormous wheelbase.
This post has been edited by dragontamer8740: Nov 29 2023, 01:03
Re: manual transmissions: At least you're a little luckier over there in that there are more older manual cars out there to choose from. In America even a lot of older Volvos were bought with autos starting waaay back. 1980's manuals are harder to find than autos. And on domestic US cars the situation's even worse. Good thing I hate GM/Ford/Chrysler. Some of the old Willy's/Kaiser Jeeps and AMC stuff can be cool though.
Also, there are hardly any new manual transmission cars you can buy in the states; it's sad to hear that the holdout is finally caving.
Yes, most cars that I would ever care about have a manual version in here. I will admit a lot of people my age and younger are getting automatic cars.
People who get a driving license are forced to learn a manual car. Then, most of them buy a second hand car that will be manual. Only that is quite a reference point for the market to offer manuals. But many japanese cars selling here are only auto, and they sell great. At least my country doesn't have an "automatic car license" just yet. It will happen, I guess.
I need to do some reading on the market % of european made autos/manuals, tho.
Car things, Talk about cars/trucks/motor vehicles in general.
Jul 31 2023, 06:16
