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Greetings:
You might consider an ad in Craigs List and the local college paper for a light duty volvo "maintainer". You provide the tech expertise (brickboard printouts) and a manual or two, and locate and purchase the parts from IPD or eeuro, etc. make sure you get plenty i.e. a front brake job might get rotor, good pads, shims, brake hardware, etc. don't make the "maintainer" search local NAPA, Sears, etc. where no one knows anything. Make this easy and no hassle. Remember, this person may be better informed than the local shops that haven't seen a 245 in years. It is unlikely to be much more risky than an unknown shop. Also consider, a $120 per hour shop pays the mechanic $15-20 per hour take home. A student might do better on pt car repairs than work study or Taco Bell. You providing instructions and proper parts takes much burden off the "mechanic". Most jobs do not involve engine and tranny rebuilds, etc. where expertise and specialized parts are really needed.Of course, hopefully find a good guy and fund a little preventative maintenance. New radiator, thermostat, belts and hoses take care of most cooling problems, for example, and costs little more than 1 highway tow, not counting the other risks in breaking down.Life cycle cost is the magic word. Discount parts and labor really help, and let you buy / install more things in a preventative manner.FWIW I have not tried this yet but ran an ad for cousin on cape code craigs list in Dec, got 17 replies, are "still deciding" since place that quoted about $1200 for v70 awd motor mounts seems so nice, and have latest bosch equipment, incl Bosch coffee pot, I assume.
bmwjohn in avon/indy
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