Well, I haven't been keeping this blog up to date and I apologize for that. Something that I should have mentioned in my first post is that I do almost all my own repairs on my Volvos. Here's what has transpired since my first post last year:
I found a 1992 Volvo 240 Wagon on eBay; it was in Baltimore, MD (I'm in Las Vegas). It has 225,000 miles, one previous owner, and cost me $2055, $1000 shipping, and $180 for a 3-hour, thorough inspection; I feel that $3235 is a good deal for this car. She's not a beauty contest winner but a solid car. I had it inspected by a mechanic in Baltimore who specialized in Swedish cars like Volvo and Saab. There isn't even one spec of rust anywhere and the panels, doors, fenders are as solid as new...yes, like an armored car; heavy, solid steel. Because this car is almost all original original belts, calipers, struts, etc), I'm going to replace the struts, strut mounts, all undercarriage bushings, sway bar, tires, pads, calipers, and rotors. This sounds like a lot of work but it's not if you know how to do it; these cars are easy to work on.
Tomorrow, I'll write about where to get your parts and why; I've been buying parts for my vehicles online for about 10 years and I now know who's the most reliable and who has the best selection for specific cars and applications. I DO have a couple of great tips for you, that you likely don't know about.
Here's a bit of advice that you may want to consider when buying a car online that is away from home.
Of course, first ensure that the seller has a good reputation on eBay or AutoTrader (if he is a dealer); many private sellers also have a good rating on eBay that they want to uphold. I never buy a car without reviewing the complete vehicle history (like Carfax), and prefer to buy them with no more than one previous owner. Most Volvo 700 or 900 series cars in very good to excellent condition have only had one or two owners.
Have the car inspected! Pull up Craigslist for the area in which the car is located. Search for "Mobile mechanics", or "mobile car repair". This is where you'll find your mechanic who will go to the car and inspect it for you! I had my mechanic email me pictures, a detailed list of what's bad and what's good. Sure it costs about $150-$200 for a thorough inspection but it's worth it.
The other cars; here's their status:
1994 940 Turbo (the one that was rear-ended)- The car passed inspection and the registration was renewed without any problems, regardless of the fact that it had a trunk and door that wouldn't fully close. I've replaced the front and rear pads, a fuel pump, and a section of rusted out exhaust pipe, and the kid is now set for another several months of trouble-free driving.
1993 940 Turbo- This car has been great. The fuel pump went out and I had our mechanic fix that because it happened 20 miles from home and we had the car towed to him. I also put $600 of new tires on it, replaced the dried out rear 6" x 9" speakers, and replaced the shocks and struts. Every time that I drive this car I am just amazed at great it handles and hauls butt! It's smooth, accelerates well, and just handles better than a much newer American or Japanese car would.
Now that I'm back I have a lot of great information to share. Tomorrow, I'll talk about where to get your parts and why; some stores are better at certain things. I can tell you about a little-known store that has great deals on car parts, that nobody else offers. have a great day.
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