Quick update - it's a 1990 and he wants $2500. He just got it and said he's going to put a muffler on it and do a safety check (whatever that is :)

Fair price for New England?



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90 244DL 251K - original engine/drivetrain :)

Hello,

I would definitely go for it. I own a 1988 760 Turbo and have for the past 150k miles. I bought the car with 120k in 1996 and she now has 273k miles on her. This is simply the best car I have ever owned. It has been very reliable (if properly maintained, of course) and is still very much a pleasure to drive at 273k. The turbo is original (oil changes every 3k miles) and boosts very well. I have replaced the Nivomat rear shocks one time (iPd sells them with lifetime warranty, so you only have to pay once). There are few quirks with this car, and they are small ones at that. Fuel gauge and climate control needed resoldering whebn I bought the car, but have been fine since. The electronic climate control in the 1988-1990 760 is one of the best systems I have seen from any manufacturer. The A/C in this car is the coldest of any car I have ever been in (34° @ center ducts; blows frost on hot days coming uphill). If I were you, I wouldn't let any small quirks get in the way of buying this car. Simply, I would not pass this one up.

I hope this helps...

Joe S. - Volvo Master Technician

1988 760 Turbo w/273k miles, 1981 242 Turbo w/243k miles.

Joe S., Glad to see a master tech enthusiastic about the 760T. 1988 was a good year you think? Do you like the Hall sensor distributor ratther than the flywheel pickup distributor? How do you like your 240 Turbo by comparison? Would I be wrong to say the 760T is better sorted out and easier to work on? Thanks for the response. Where do you work?

Hello,

I do believe that the 760 Turbo is a very good car (in any year). My brother had an '84 760 Turbo that was beaten to hell and back. The lady that owned it before he did floored it every morning with a cold engine. The car had a blown head gasket when he bought it, and there was only a tablespoon or so of milky oil in the pan. He replaced the head gasket and milled the head, and the car had nearly 300k miles on it when he sold it (it was a very fast car, ran very well). He used to leave Camaro and Mustang drivers scratching their heads after being taken by a 4-cylinder Volvo.

Anyway, my '88 has been nothing but good to me (although I did have to replace my distributor with a used one due to the plastic hall switch connector breaking and leaving me stranded). I don't know that I like this setup BETTER than the crank sensor, but I don't believe it to be a weak point. As I said, in 273k miles, I only had trouble with it once.

I do love my 240 Turbo, as it is a totally different animal. I will likely keep this car for as long as I can. There is just something special about the 240 that makes it such a pleasure to drive (mine has the M46 transmission). Everything about the 240 (especially the 240 Turbo) seems to work in harmony. I don't really believe that either one is any easier to work on (or that either is "better sorted out"), as I haven't had any bad experiences servicing either. They are both excellent cars. I work for a long time Volvo dealer (35+ years dealing Volvo) in State College, PA.

Joe S. - Volvo Master Technician

1988 760 Turbo w/273k miles, 1981 242 Turbo w/243k miles

Thanks for the input! I'm going to drive it tomorrow>>>>>>>>>

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90 244DL 251K - original engine/drivetrain :)

To reiterate, go for it. We are in 2005 and moving fast. There are just not so many cherry 740Ts for sale with low mileage. Good ones are hoarded and enjoyed by their owners! 760's can be very nice albeit climate control, power seats, Nivormats but these are all knowns and solvable via junkyard or repair. The $1000-1500 extra is to me pretty standard expenditure for bringing a basically good Volvo up to snuff with filters/ belts/ fluids/ supension/ hose/ brake maitenance over the next year. Any Volvo or for that matter, any 15 year old used car. Afterwards you have a very good sport sedan and you know where you stand with her mechanically. You know people are paying over $30,000 for new cars. We are talking about 10% of that for a car you can have fun with and drive 100K. Where the tech and parts and know how is readily available, and where the fun to drive part(turbo) meets Volvo durability. Go for it!

Man, that really puts it into perspective. I am so glad that I have lost (or tempered) the urge to spend 30k for a car. I should never forget that after about 6 months, it's not new anymore ...but those payments seem to be reborn every month - for a long time!!
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"Be blessed in your quest'' 89 764 (110K), '94 940T (180K) , '92 745T (totaled 2-10-05 RIP)

I would wait for a 940T. Unless you are in a hurry to throw an extra $1,000 to bring it up to snuff.

Klaus

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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

I agree about the 1K, or more. I have spent over that getting my 89 760 'up to snuff' and am not finished yet. Of course - about half of a 500.00 bill http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=946825
was probably a waste, so that figure could have been be a bit smaller.

OK ..
Nivomats were bad - done an IPD conversion 425.00 including shipping and install.
Front steering rack replaced - 265 with ship and install.
150.00 +/- for odds and ends parts (plugs, cap & rotor, bushings for front end. gas filter and check valve, another check valve related to BOV)
The 500.00 in the other post. (He did re-solder the climate control valve in the dash - an expensive part new)
200.00 today at the Volvo dealership that finally fixed the stumble.

I still have to do a change of tranny fluid, probably change out front springs and struts - and a few other odds and ends.

I really like the look of the 760 - even over the 940 (I have had two of those), so I am content with where I am. Keep in mind that you will probably have to spend some money to get a 940 up to snuff too - maybe not as much. A later 940 (93/94) does have the best motor, but there is nothing wrong with a well cared for earlier model.
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"Be blessed in your quest'' 89 764 (110K), '94 940T (180K) , '92 745T (totaled 2-10-05 RIP)