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thinking of buying '91 740 Wagon... 700

posted by  saab driver on  Tue Nov 25 10:05 CST 2008
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last visit: Tue Nov 25 10:32 CST 2008
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I posted this same inquiry in the 900 forum because I found a 960 I am interested in. Now I have found a 740 Wagon that has caught my attention. Both are $1000 and have ~160K miles.

I read through the FAQ about buying a 740, but I still want to get general thoughts and opinions on a 1991 740 wagon, non-turbo. The owner said that the tranny burns a little fluid and that sounds bad. Is that a common problem? Otherwise the car sounds good (working A/C, rust free/southern car, clean, etc). Also, what kind of gas mileage do these volvos get? Thanks in advance!








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    thinking of buying '91 740 Wagon... 700

    posted by  Blue Horse on  Tue Nov 25 10:42 CST 2008
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    last visit: Mon Apr 8 17:57 CST 2013
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    The 91 740 is a lot better bet as a $1000 used car than just about any 960. The main item in its favor is that it is mechanically simple and robust, which the 960 is not. The 740 can endure considerable neglect of regular maintenance without suffering major damage, not the case with the 960. The 740 is also a lot more DIY friendly, and parts are cheaper.

    Transmissions don't burn fluid. If it's losing it, there's a leak. This is not unusual in AW series automatics---it's probably coming from the output shaft seal. It can usually be repaired for a couple hundred bucks. Other than that, these transmissions are pretty much trouble-free if not horribly abused or run dry, in which case the fluid will often SMELL burned, and have a dark color. If this is the case, problems will likely not be far behind.

    Gas mileage for this car will probably average in the low 20s, maybe mid to upper 20s on long trips at moderate speeds (65 and under)








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      thinking of buying '91 740 Wagon... 700

      posted by  Type5314 on  Tue Nov 25 11:08 CST 2008
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      last visit: Thu Oct 23 13:07 CST 2014
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      I agree, the 740 is a much more reliable choice. Notable wear items on our 740 wagon (210 K miles and counting) include the front thrust rod bushings, A/C compressor, water pump, and radiator. Plus all the plastic bits in the interior tend to disinegrate in the hot sun. The wagon will hold an amazing amount of stuff. Change the oil and timing belt at the recommended intervals and the car will run forever. Put Bilsteins and and sway bars on if you want a firmer road feel. I heard that the sunroofs in the wagons can leak. If you can find a wagon without a sunroof, that's a plus.
      Good Luck.







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