| 1993 Volvo 945 (B230F) |
This car has (at time of purchase) 177323 miles and has always been dealer maintained, oilchanges, timingbelt, brakes - everything, plus there are receipts for it all! I'm the second owner as Pete, the person I purchased this car new in '93. The only catch was a broken rear wiper, faded taillights and cracked door pockets. On the upside, there's no Turbo which I hope will make service and longevity more easier/more likely.
Upon purchasing this car, I found that the wiper motor had fallen out, so I opened it, put new grease in, adjusted the linkage and reinstalled the motor. While I opened the tailgate to get to the wipermotor I managed to snap *all* the little fasteners so a trip to the dealership to get new ones was in order. Two dome lights were inoperable and got replaced. Some light cleaning of carpets and under the hood and it looks like a new car. A couple of windshield wipers later and the windows stayed clean.
Next on the agenda is detailing the engine a little more and cleaning and lubricating the doorlocks and hinges.
VIN: YV1JW831XP1087927 (9458371261)
YV1 = Volvo
J = 940
W = Wagon with SRS
83 = B230F
1 = engine with EGR (Pulsair)
X = check digit
P = 1993
1 = Torslanda, Sweden
087927 = serial number
The story:
I had been searching the web for a suitable car and finally settled on a Volvo. After spending some time asking questions on the Volvo list, I reached the conclusion that the 700/900 series would be the best. They're front-engine, rear-wheel drive and have most amenities one would prefer in a car these days.
When I got the chance, I ran in to the Ft. Collins Volvo dealership and talked to Jason Jensen - longtime Volvo guru. What I wanted was a reliable car where I can just get in, turn the key and with a modicum of maintenance (oil changes and timingbelt plus regular other items depending on mileage) keep it on the road for a long time to come. The 74x/94x cars have a B230 engine derived from the late 60's B18 engine. It's a non-interference engine meaning that if the timingbelt breaks the pistons won't bend the valves as in the GLE versions and 850s and other (newer) models. The cast-iron block is also very rugged thus leaving very little for me to actually maintain.
After losing out on a viable car in Glendale, CA, I stumbled on a simple ad that stated:
VOLVO 1993 940 Wgn non-turbo, 1 ownr, 180K mi, white, prem pkg, dealer maint'd, good cond., $3600. (858)
xxx-xxxx
I called and headed down to San Diego the following morning to look and found a very nice Volvo waiting for me. A careful inspection showed everything to be in order except a few non-vital options. I quickly handed over a deposit and headed home. The next day I got a ride down from a friend and completed the transaction and drove home.
