Anybody here drive a classic VW?

[The Apprentice]

I meant to post earlier. My mother asked me to convey her eternal gratitude for directing me toward Volvo. Around dinner time I talked to her like I did with my dad, and when I mentioned Volvo she kind of lit up. I remember her telling me a long time ago that Volvos are awesome, so this must be a wish come true for her, lol, that I actually want to drive one!

I think me mentioning it just killed the Volkswagen thing. Now that she knows how cheap it actually is to get an extremely safe, reliable car that I actually think is pretty dang cool looking, I don't see her even thinking about Volkswagen after this. Honestly, I think it's for the better. 40 mph isn't hard to get in my town, which is essentially built on a highway we've nicknamed Courtney Pkwy, and during the school year we have teens and Cape Canaveral pad rats going home at the same time. The more I think about it, the less I want to be behind the wheel of a car that is as dangerous as the bus...

You know, one of my morbid obsessions is watching crash tests on youtube. Ever want a cheap laugh? look up "Chinese car test crash."

[corn619]

I meant to post earlier. My mother asked me to convey her eternal gratitude for directing me toward Volvo. Around dinner time I talked to her like I did with my dad, and when I mentioned Volvo she kind of lit up. I remember her telling me a long time ago that Volvos are awesome, so this must be a wish come true for her, lol, that I actually want to drive one!

I think me mentioning it just killed the Volkswagen thing. Now that she knows how cheap it actually is to get an extremely safe, reliable car that I actually think is pretty dang cool looking, I don't see her even thinking about Volkswagen after this. Honestly, I think it's for the better. 40 mph isn't hard to get in my town, which is essentially built on a highway we've nicknamed Courtney Pkwy, and during the school year we have teens and Cape Canaveral pad rats going home at the same time. The more I think about it, the less I want to be behind the wheel of a car that is as dangerous as the bus...

You know, one of my morbid obsessions is watching crash tests on youtube. Ever want a cheap laugh? look up "Chinese car test crash."

Good choice on the Volvo Apprentice. Can you believe the Chinese want to push those garbage cars in the U.S?

[The Apprentice]

Check out the test on a car called the Landwind. The dummy didn't hit the dashboard- the dashboard hit the dummy.

[DuManchu]

Have you watched the Volvo crash videos? They launch an 850 off a freakin cliff.

850 Launched off a cliff -

240 Rollover test -

Oh yeah, I wanted to mention to kind of steer clear of the 850's, they are good cars, but aren't quite the reliable tanks the RWD Volvo's are.

[Droid party]

Besides that, what's wrong with pontiac? I mean I know the brand is getting killed off but the G8 is one of the most awesome cars to come out in a while, ...Then again maybe those new cars aren't in your "used" budget, but even the GTO was pretty good and you can find those for under 15k.

Also, both of em are Australian so you won't be driving an American car(G8= Holden Commodore,GTO=Holden Monaro). My flatmate has a 69 beetle and it's a complete mongrel to drive so I don't see the Combi van being any easier. I've only ever had new cars so I'm a little spoilt on this topic but it really is quite difficult to drive let alone if you're a learner. Plus the beetle really does feel like a death trap and vans aren't known for thier safety. However they are Fucking sweet.

[DuManchu]

Any luck on the Volvo search?

Just perusing eBay, found some great examples.

Low mileage 240 Wagon - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1992-Vol ... 240%3A1318

This one has potential - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1992-Vol ... _952wt_948

This V90 (Renamed 960, so it's cool) looks REALLY nice - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-Vol ... 240%3A1318

[The Apprentice]

We've found plenty in our area, and at the prices we've seen, my parents have fully agreed on the Volvo wagon, and I don't have to wait until I'm seventeen. All I need is a job, because they aren't going to pay my insurance. I've actually seen the ads you showed me, because of all the searching ive done since the start of this topic. We have a theory that Pennsylvania is to station wagons what Florida is to old people, since just about every good Volvo on Ebay is somewhere up there. Let me find some of the ads real quick...

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1200593487.html

^Looks great, fits the bill but we're worried the seller is saying "needs recharge" when the compressor is out or something.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1199649535.html

^So 850s aren't as good as 240s, but what about 740s?

[Jrecee]

You could really badassify one of these if you saved up a few grand. Put a custom leather interior in, some new wheels, and a cheap paintjob.

[DuManchu]

Pennsylvania is to station wagons what Florida is to old people

Funny you mention that, I think nearly every 98 V70 R or T5 I was really interested in was in PA. I ended up settling for my 98 V70XC, kinda wish I had waited for a T5 to show up here, but oh well.

Again, not recommending those models for you unless you are REALLY into car maintenance... lol

[DuManchu]

So 850s aren't as good as 240s, but what about 740s?

There's nothing inherently wrong with the 850/S70/V70 (all based on the 850 till 2001), but they can be picky little things when it comes to maintenance. Electrical gremlins, iffy trannies (if not serviced properly), suspension parts that need replacing seemingly every 30K miles, PCV issues, ABS module weirdness (which happens to disable the TRACS system at the same time). AWD models will often suffer from improperly maintained bevel gears and burnt up viscous couplers from improperly rotated/inflated/worn tires.

They also use the "white block" engine which is an interference engine. Meaning, if you chuck a timing belt kiss the valves goodbye (and probably more), along with at least about $1000.

I know I'm making them sound like piles of junk, they're not, but they do have their little issues. I wouldn't have purchased my V70 if it hadn't come with a mile-high stack of maintenance receipts from the local Volvo dealer. And even then I still partially threw a timing belt about a month ago, the PCV system was completely toast, and the ABS module is junk.

These are the models I would suggest, and if you can, find a turbo model, they are WAY more fun
240
740
760
940
960