I sold my 740! Kind of sad, but it was the right thing to do. Thanks for everyone's help over the years!

I was just curious--why did you sell, and why was it the right decision?

If you care to comment, that is.

Hi U S Diver! Well, I'd had this for about 20 years...I learned to do so many of the repairs myself, but it was getting to be like whack a mole... one thing would go wrong before I could get to the last thing. For a long time I had a wonderful mechanic, my Volvo Guy, who had his own shop and had a 740 like mine with nearly 400,000 miles on it. So he knew this car.But he is getting out of the business,and there werent a lot of people around who knew older Volvos. I could still do the work, but I;m not great at diagnostics. I'm getting older too, and this gal is just losing the will to wrench on cars. So, a young college girl had a 740 just like mine,and it got wrecked. So, they sent someone from Brickboard over to my house to look at it, and on his recommendation, she and her dad drove up from Texas and bought it. They have several 240s and 740s and they are going to swap engines and maybe make it a Turbo, I dont know. But it went to exactly to the folks I hoped would buy it. They will keep it running another 250ooo miles! It used to be my daily driver and one day it will be dependable again. So, long may you run!

Tinkerbelle, thanks for this explanation. Yes, time sure does move on, doesn't it? Each of us must decide when the parts are gone, the mechanics are gone, our youths are gone, and so the old cars must go.

Yep, now you see why I thought it was the right thing to do. Plus ..now I've got $2K in my hands! I'll still check in with Brickboard from time to time, just to see if I can contribute anything. Right now I'm driving Mazda minivan with Alpine stereo. So, I'll be ok. :}

Hi,

You must have been a really good wrench twister and the car was showing that to get that nice and decent of a price for it.
I’m too are very glad for that you were able to hand off the legacy of that simplified power train.
Good on ya!

That an interesting coincidence you wrote about.
When I bought my 1991 in 2005, for $3,000 with 182,000, that the second owner was the daughter of the first owner.
There were records of his dealerships doing a lot of unnecessary and duplicate services to the car but
Her Dad kept the car in great shape for her to use throughout college.
She followed suit but came to a similar conclusion as you did, fortunately for me!

She in turn bought a Mazda van because the “independents” around my area were charging her as much as her new car payments would be to keep the check engine light out.
Plus she just had a new family member added to make it a family decision.
I have put on another 100,000 miles during my years of ownership.

Those 240/700 enthusiasts knew what they wanted. Their after the interchangeability and the used car market has definitely ripened up the fruit trees!

I have my collection of six 240s that someday will out live me easily with all of their interchangeability’s.

Please keep us informed on your new vehicle.
I have always had a soft spot for Mazda for value as they seem to give you what you pay for, up to a point.
How many miles that is, I don’t know?

What year was the van that captured your eyes? 😍
They didn’t glaze over with stars did they? 😵‍💫
I don’t think it was all because of the Alpine radio, was it?
My ‘91 came with an Alpine too!
That’s an Interesting fancy?

If and when I’ll ever get new car fever … I’ll take two aspirins and go to bed! 😊

Looking 👀 forward to hearing about you motoring experiences.

Phil

Hi Phil...sorry, I forgot to log back in...now that I'm no longer a Volvo owner...Yes, I'm enjoying my 06 mpv..and the Alpine stereo was a plus..but good grief..about 45 pages long is the owners manual and I 'm still trying to figure out how to use the bluetooth/phone ,etc. It's the proper size for me,as it isn't as big as my odyssey and I can see over the dash now ! :) And the tires are aconfusing mess.. I will need new ones before too long,the sticker on the door says 15", but the tires on there are 16"..wondering why? Anyway, I thought I'd be emotional as I saw my wagon being driven off to Texas, but actually I was pretty happy about its new lease on life. It fell into the right hands. Wasn't sure what to ask for it but I think I got a fair price,and I even put in new fuel injectors before it left. And I loaded up every other part I could find, even an old Haynes manual,even though it was for a 240. So, yep, the end of an era. All I have left to do now is clean the giant oil stain off my driveway and re surface it before winter. I'm tempted to go and find a 240 wagon, but maybe I should just leave well enough alone!