Alternatives to a Volvo 940/960
Discussion
Sorry another what car....
I've been running 940 & 960 Estates for the last 12 years and they've been brilliant in every respect.
Huge carrying capacity, comfortable, reliable, rugged, 30mpg
But they are all getting long in the tooth now/
The new Volvos are FWD and I prefer RWD (in the snow with winter tyres they are great).
The carrying capacity is also compromised by the rounder rear end and extra sound deadening etc
Looking for something interesting with decent performance, similar load carrying and a budget of less than £2k
Ran an X type estate (2.5V6 AWD) for the last 15 months and while its a pretty enough car and quick enough, its carrying capacity is limited. Once the dog cage is in the back there's little room for anything else.
Just walked past a Mitsubishi Challenger and while I don't really want a big truck, it seemed to fit the bill otherwise - just read reports and they're not that good though apparently.
Open to the floor....
I've been running 940 & 960 Estates for the last 12 years and they've been brilliant in every respect.
Huge carrying capacity, comfortable, reliable, rugged, 30mpg
But they are all getting long in the tooth now/
The new Volvos are FWD and I prefer RWD (in the snow with winter tyres they are great).
The carrying capacity is also compromised by the rounder rear end and extra sound deadening etc
Looking for something interesting with decent performance, similar load carrying and a budget of less than £2k
Ran an X type estate (2.5V6 AWD) for the last 15 months and while its a pretty enough car and quick enough, its carrying capacity is limited. Once the dog cage is in the back there's little room for anything else.
Just walked past a Mitsubishi Challenger and while I don't really want a big truck, it seemed to fit the bill otherwise - just read reports and they're not that good though apparently.
Open to the floor....
Keep the 940. It will outrun anything.
Galvanized chassis so it wont rot
Turning circle of 9 odd meters. 3 Point turns dont exist just swoop round in one!
Boxy shape means its dead easy to park / drive
Huge load space when rear seats down
Armchair comfort (love the heaters in winter)
Only thing i found is they are a bit juicy - how the hell are you getting 30mpg? Stock turbo on a B230?
Galvanized chassis so it wont rot
Turning circle of 9 odd meters. 3 Point turns dont exist just swoop round in one!
Boxy shape means its dead easy to park / drive
Huge load space when rear seats down
Armchair comfort (love the heaters in winter)
Only thing i found is they are a bit juicy - how the hell are you getting 30mpg? Stock turbo on a B230?
The last 940 died 15 months ago, hence the Jag.
Bought a 960 a month or so but just didn't feel as "sporty" or as nice to steer IYKWIM. Just felt a bit loose....
So sold it on.
I really only need all the space about 4 or 5 times a year the rest of the time I'm lugging around a big empty space. That said the last 940 was used as a builders truck during a house renovation and we're planning another house move.
Trailer? Slows you down on a 370 mile trip. Roof box?
There are a couple of nice looking 960's on the bay at the minute but 18 and 24 year old respectively, I bet the suspension needs a full re-bush just for perished rubbers etc
And yes I used to get around 32 from a 2.0NA and around 29 or 30 from a 2.3LPT.
Owned a 740, a 940 2.0, three 2.3LPT and the 960. All estates.
Was always a sports car driver and still have a TVR Chimaera.....
Bought a 960 a month or so but just didn't feel as "sporty" or as nice to steer IYKWIM. Just felt a bit loose....
So sold it on.
I really only need all the space about 4 or 5 times a year the rest of the time I'm lugging around a big empty space. That said the last 940 was used as a builders truck during a house renovation and we're planning another house move.
Trailer? Slows you down on a 370 mile trip. Roof box?
There are a couple of nice looking 960's on the bay at the minute but 18 and 24 year old respectively, I bet the suspension needs a full re-bush just for perished rubbers etc
And yes I used to get around 32 from a 2.0NA and around 29 or 30 from a 2.3LPT.
Owned a 740, a 940 2.0, three 2.3LPT and the 960. All estates.
Was always a sports car driver and still have a TVR Chimaera.....
You won't really find a competitor to the old Volvo in terms of load space, and RWD isn't that popular for big estates either. They were legendary for a reason!
The closest you'll get would be a Subaru Legacy maybe? They're pretty big, but not as decent as the Ovlovs, 4WD too, and great boxer sound.
The closest you'll get would be a Subaru Legacy maybe? They're pretty big, but not as decent as the Ovlovs, 4WD too, and great boxer sound.
An old B5 (96 to 01) or B5.5 (01 to 05) Passat 1.9 TDI estate.
They are not the fastest but will put a massive smile on your face when you discover how many miles per gallon they do. They are also fairly rot and bullet proof, and cheap.
I've been driving them for about 10 years now, had two, and have no plans to change again. I did change, regretted it and went back to one.
The earlier cars with the VE pump engine and 110hp are the best for mpg.
The later PD 130hp engines are turning out to be very reliable and easily do 200,000+ miles without drama.
Don't let the low HP figures put you off as these things have bags of torque which means they are very driveable. Probably more so than the 2.3 Volvo
They are not the fastest but will put a massive smile on your face when you discover how many miles per gallon they do. They are also fairly rot and bullet proof, and cheap.
I've been driving them for about 10 years now, had two, and have no plans to change again. I did change, regretted it and went back to one.
The earlier cars with the VE pump engine and 110hp are the best for mpg.
The later PD 130hp engines are turning out to be very reliable and easily do 200,000+ miles without drama.
Don't let the low HP figures put you off as these things have bags of torque which means they are very driveable. Probably more so than the 2.3 Volvo
Two good calls there, I've had a lift in a friends Passat Deisel Estate and there was a load of space in the rear. Think he had regular brake problems though.
Omega Estate (cannot recall the last time I saw one) would be RWD which I prefer.
E39 - I've had BMW before (E30-M3 Cecotto & 2002tii) but not sure about the E39, late Bms just don't do it for me
E Class Merc - I'll investigate
Don't think any of the above will have the usable space of the 940 square ended rear (imagine a wardrobe on its back) but will all probably be larger than the Jaguar X Type
Omega Estate (cannot recall the last time I saw one) would be RWD which I prefer.
E39 - I've had BMW before (E30-M3 Cecotto & 2002tii) but not sure about the E39, late Bms just don't do it for me
E Class Merc - I'll investigate
Don't think any of the above will have the usable space of the 940 square ended rear (imagine a wardrobe on its back) but will all probably be larger than the Jaguar X Type
kapiteinlangzaam said:
That's superb. Take care of it and it might be the last car you ever have to buy ;-)kapiteinlangzaam said:
Been toying with that one love the colour but it's an auto, the ad doesn't mention miles, the door cards look wrinkled (common) and its close to 2 hours away.There's a 91 one owner near me, auto again but despite it's MoT its been stood in a garage for 6 years
I had a pair of 240s and later a 740 which finally died a few years ago. Tried a Honda Shuttle for a couple of years but, unfortunately, I must have bought the only unreliable one they ever made. I now have a Passat estate, also not trouble-free but a solid enough car. Still missing the RWD Volvos after all these years!
There's always the obvious 5 Series and E Class option. Or how about a Vauxhall Omega or a Ford Scorpio estate? Dirt cheap these days. Or a Chrysler 300C estate if you really want to make a statement.
There's always the obvious 5 Series and E Class option. Or how about a Vauxhall Omega or a Ford Scorpio estate? Dirt cheap these days. Or a Chrysler 300C estate if you really want to make a statement.
My parents had Volvo's exclusively for the best part of 30 years, but since the rear-drive ones got a bit too aged (and a foray into a V70 AWD resulted in two or three propshafts and an angle gear in as many years) they now have a W210 E-Class.
Sure the front wings are doilies, but its been mechanically excellent, now on 280,000+ miles.
Personally I find my wife's P2 V70 much more comfortable and generally more relaxing to drive, but it does like to spin the front wheels at the slightest opportunity, and its only the non-turbo 170hp model. Turning circle larger than an ocean going liner too.
Sure the front wings are doilies, but its been mechanically excellent, now on 280,000+ miles.
Personally I find my wife's P2 V70 much more comfortable and generally more relaxing to drive, but it does like to spin the front wheels at the slightest opportunity, and its only the non-turbo 170hp model. Turning circle larger than an ocean going liner too.
Literally just the other day I condemned my dads '97 940 to the scrapyard, needs a full exhaust and some suspension bits which surprisingly add up! Whilst looking for a replacement Focus etc, we decided it would be worth putting £300 into the Ovlov and keeping her on the road!
My dad was genuinely quite upset at the prospect of being without the 940, to the point where he said it would be like losing a good mate!
So, she now lives on!
My dad was genuinely quite upset at the prospect of being without the 940, to the point where he said it would be like losing a good mate!
So, she now lives on!
talksthetorque said:
Have you thought about a Full-size people carrier with the back row taken out?
ETA Scrap that idea, think they're all FWD
Was the mk1 Toyota Previa RWD?ETA Scrap that idea, think they're all FWD
Just a few more suggestions.
Don't rule out a Mercedes C-Class estate (I had a 1999 V-plate W202?) original shape C-Class Estate with the 2.5TD engine. Massive boot, respectable performance, 40mpg and it had a big fuel tank, so massive range. Obviously won't be as big as an E-Class estate and similar rust issues but mine cost me 700 pounds, had done 218k and was still going strong when I parted with it. 2000 pounds should net you the best one out there!
If it has to be RWD, then you're pretty much restricted to a Mercedes, BMW or another 900.
If you're prepared to consider FWD then I don't think you would get more car for your money than a Rover 75/MG ZT Tourer (maybe a V6 but probably the diesel is the one to have) or a Saab 9-5 Estate (Aero maybe?).
Also, some of the French estates are pretty big albeit FWD and not the tank-like build quality of a 900 but certainly newer. mk1 Renault Laguna, Peugeot 406 or Citroen Xantia/XM perhaps? Not terrible build quality for their time though!
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