We usually don't bother discussing the specifics of project car acquisition. After all, you're here to read about cars, not about driving around and looking at dumb things on Craigslist.
This story, though: It was too weird to not write. It's the story of how we got our latest daily driver, and it …
FYI Tom, I LOVE these kinds of stories!
(this one hits close to home too as it’s one of the several cars on my radar)
Actually, if you get tired of it, within the next few months I’ll be looking for a “new” car and I just started a fly-and-drive thread... Seriously.
If I ever get a ramp truck I with a little space I think this'd be the way I'd spend my weekends for the rest of my life. 
Everyone I know that gets a Volvo wagon ends up with a yard full eventually. Then they end up fixing the parts cars and driving them.
In reply to dean1484 :
No way, that never happens. I only have 6 Volvos in my yard, it isn't nearly full yet. 
dean1484 said:Everyone I know that gets a Volvo wagon ends up with a yard full eventually. Then they end up fixing the parts cars and driving them.
Hey now...
I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that I am "here to read about cars, AND about driving around and looking at dumb things on Craigslist."
BTW, we'd like a follow-up on the Mercedes too, eventually, if there's a story to tell.
Stealthtercel said:I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that I am "here to read about cars, AND about driving around and looking at dumb things on Craigslist."
BTW, we'd like a follow-up on the Mercedes too, eventually, if there's a story to tell.
+ 1
Benz+LS could have been good also.
Or is that for Frisiertes Auto magazine?
I’m glad everybody is enjoying my dumb antics!
Unfortunately, there won’t be any follow-ups on the Mercedes. It went away to its new home, and was never heard from again. Probably for the best—it was really too far gone to save.
Volvo needs tint ,nice deal on the Volvo.
In reply to EvanB :
And they aren't all wagons, and I'm pretty sure some of those parts cars are not ever getting fixed.
(I need to remember to bring home those 9" cutoff wheels from work so I can finally harvest the A-pillar area from that 240, dang it)
In reply to Knurled. :
Actually none of them are wagons anymore so I guess I am safe.
The red 240 went to scrap. The 242 is still around but is getting scrapped in a few weeks so you'll have to do it soon.
In reply to EvanB :
Crud! Oh well, snoozing vs. losing and all that.
Ramp Truck photos make a good story great.
Waffle House makes Ramp Truck photos Nirvana.
Your wagon reminds me of the 96 850T wagon my ex- had. She named it Loki. The transmission was the weak point in that car as well. It went through two during her ownership, which was about 2 years. When it ran, it was a great car. Otherwise, she was happy to see it go away. And then it died when the next owner was rear-ended and the car was totalled.
TDLR: The only way I'd own one of these is with a manual transmission.
In reply to Ian F :
A '96 should not have had the 5 speed, IIRC.
The trans dipstick in the 5 speed auto is in a really bad spot. Loss of 3rd gear usually happens on these transmissions when somebody removes what looks like a fill plug on top of the trans, but is actually a retainer for one of the bands.
I read an article (maybe on iATN) about a car that went through two transmissions in a row before they figured out that the guy replacing them was unbolting that band instead of filling through the dipstick with a long funnel.
In reply to Knurled. :
It was an auto. From what I understand, the 850T was not sold with a manual, so a swap would need to be done. The non-turbo was sold with a manual, but they're pretty uncommon, although I've seen (and been tempted) by a couple over the years. We loved the car, but I'll never own an older Volvo automatic again.
We did a fluid purge on the first one. Filled through the tube. And replaced the controller. Then it finally died catastrophically and the whole trans had to be replaced - she had a local Volvo specialist do that work and he would only install remanufactured units sourced from Volvo. No - it wasn't cheap. Shortly after that we broke up and then about a year or so later it started having trans problems again so she cut her losses and sold the car cheap. Oddly enough, the Volvo was replaced with a Grand Cherokee with an auto that eventually was sold off for transmission problems as well. Then she bought the new Golf Alltrack wagon with a 6 spd mentioned in Keith's wagon thread. She's done with automatics - all 5 of her cars have manuals.
In reply to Ian F :
I meant the 5 speed auto. Volvos had 5 speed autos (Aisin-Warner units) starting in '00-ish. i think they used it in pretty much everything, from four cylinder S40s to the first couple years of 300hp S60Rs. (For width reasons, IIRC the straight sixes got a GM trans - they put their mass behind the engine instead of next to it) The same basic transmission was also used in some GM cute-utes, some SAABs, VQ-engined Nissan Maximas, and some other stuff.
I still think the one in my '02 S40 was the best automatic I ever had. It did just about everything right.
Can I second that this is an entertaining story and I wouldn't mind more like it?
Ive done a bunch of work on turbo whiteblocks this year, and I might cram in just a little more before the end. I even went and drove a really nice looking s60r that needed some major work, but I'm not gonna get it unless he just cant sell it to anyone else and settles for $1200 from me.
also:
Loss of 3rd gear usually happens on these transmissions when somebody removes what looks like a fill plug on top of the trans, but is actually a retainer for one of the bands.
hahahahahahahahaha
I think that qualifies as a 'jesus bolt', eh?
This would make an interesting Gastropod, and badwaytolive showed that “R” version is quite capable for OneLap
i.e. In for more shenanigans
Cool story! my daily driver is a 2002 V70... it'll be interesting to see where you guys go with this one
Volvo wagons forever. Sold mine, but still have the Happy Moose Volvo 740 Turbo Boxy But Good sedan "race" car. I love the 5-cyl warble of cars like your new one, Tom. Turbo did you mention?
Ian F said:In reply to Knurled. :
It was an auto. From what I understand, the 850T was not sold with a manual, so a swap would need to be done.
In the US.
Here is Canada we got sticks, even in the 850R!
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