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Hi there - I am looking to buy a very cheap towcar.  I am looking for a volvo estate that will pull a heavy caravan with good bodywork, and then I will spend a few months going over it with a fine toothcomb, replacing any potentially worn out parts before I start to use it (I already have a company car and a towcar but neither of them will tow over 1000kg.

Please could any volvo owners tell me, are there any parts on volvos that are particularly nightmare expensive that are known to fail at sort of 100,000 plus mileage?  I dont mind shopping around for recon parts, as all parts are dear at a volvo dealer, but wondered if you could tell me the pitfalls?
I have access to a good mechanic, will MOT the vehicle before I buy (and have mechanic study the bodywork at the same time) and will be in no rush to get it ready, but I bought a suzuki estate last time and BOY do I wish I had asked around.  Fantastic car but such a rare car that ALL parts are dealer only (no one makes copies) and hugely expensive if anything goes wrong (£500 for a clutch in France!)

So I'm doing my research this time - any advice about Volvos very very welcome!

We have a 940 automatic, 135000 on the clock, 12 years old. We have had it from new. No rust at all.   The only things we have had to replace are the usual...tyres, brake pads and exhaust (twice). 

There is a Volvo Owners Forum you can visit and they list common faults.

Volvo parts/service can be expensive, but they have a policy of keeping down the costs on the older cars so not too bad.  Our exhaust was actually cheaper from them than from Kwikfit!  There are also places that specialise in parts for Volvo, Saab, BMW, Mercedes etc at reasonable prices.

What weight of van are you looking to tow?  We tow 1300kg MTPLM.

Ours is an estate, you will need an estate for all the stuff!!!  We also have the self levelling suspension, fitted it in 98 when we got the van.  I can unreservedly recommend it, see if you can find one with it fitted.

The 740s and 940s have more space in the back than the 850s.  Still see a few 740s around up here, and plenty of 940s.  You should be able to pick one up very reasonably. 

 We will be selling ours, but probably not until October/November next year.  We are hoping to get an XC 90 next March for our retirement and 3 month trip to OH's home country Norway.

We will be sad to part with the 940, it is like an old friend!  But we cannot afford to insure/run more than one car once we are retired. Once we have had our trip and sorted the finances we will need to see if it is worth anything!  Probably only a few hundred pounds!

Have been towing with Volvo for years, first with a 240 saloon (great towcar), then a 740 saloon (reasonable towcar) and for the past 4 years with an 850 Estate - best towcar ever used, brilliant. The 2.0 version is a bit underpowered but will do the job, the 2.5 20 valve (current towcar) is superb, although with my current van I am only at 73% of the kerb weight of the car ! I am at 210,000 miles. Have a full volvo service history till 120, 000 when i bought it, then maintained by my local chap as and when required. I do change oil and filter every 5000 miles myself. Not a lot gone wrong with it, items that are prone to fail apparently is ABS ECU - Very expensive but recon ones are available on e bay with guarantee.  Not affected me personally but friend with a T5 replaced one from E bay with no problems. Exhaust manifold is in excess £500 - my garage welded mine for me.  Had to have a new headlamp unit fitted - new volvo  - £130 ouch ! I tend to source most items away from Genuine Volvo and dont find it too expensive. It is possible to pick up a very tidy 850 estate on e bay for under a grand - bargain !!

Hope this helps

Dave