Potential 340 owner seeks advice

[scurrient]

Hi! I'm thinking of buying my first Volvo 340, but I'm a bit hesitant over a couple of things. The car is a DL version in white, 70,600 provable miles, one previous owner, and seems in all round good nick (minimal rust, very neat interior, etc).
My biggest worry is that it seems to bounce a lot, as if the front shocks were worn. It has just been MOTd (15/04/05), so they shouldn't be totally bust. So the first question - Do these cars usually rock and roll so much? I've tried pressing on the front, and it does seem to take a few wobbles to stop. I'm used to a Vauxhall Carlton (with its p/s et al) so maybe I'm just being fussy. But what if they do need changing? Does anyone know where I can get new shocks, or do I have to scour scrappys (few of which, I imagine, still have such an old car)? It also veers to the left quite badly (well, more than the carlton did!). I'm hoping this is just alignment, though is it a sign of the badness creeping in?
It is being offered at £299. Does this seem a fair price? Or rather high for such a car. Would you folk who know and love these machines buy a 340 1.7 DL with a good body, tyres, clutch, etc. at that price if you didn't already have a 300 series?
Any feedback would be very welcome. I've read some of your pages and I'm sure this is the best resource website I've found.
Thanks in advance to any who respond,
A-perhaps-soon-to-be-340-owner!

[special]

hi there,
the price depends on the year realy mines a 1990 and i paid £350 3 years ago as for the shockers id say that they should still be available im sure that german french and swedish should have some available if the cars as good as it sounds id say its a bargain



special

[redline]

My only concern is the pulling to the left , how bad is it ? if its quite severe , park the car with wheels straight ahead and measure from the centre of the rear wheel to the centre of the front wheel on each side , if the measurement is the same its probably just tracking , any immediately noticable difference might suggest the front suspension is damaged or chassis twisted, however these should both have been spotted by a decent mot tester I paid £375.00 for an almost immaculate f reg 1.7 last year and love it

[5lab]

first off, make sure the tyre pressures are good on the car - pulling one way or t'other can simply be a case of that

£300 is *top* dollar for a volvo - there was a 360 on ebay that went for £350 - it was in mint condition, had leather seats and a 12cd changer.. might want to bare that in mind..

[SteveP]

I agree with all the other points raised... £300 is top money for a 340 with a few problems. Also, you may want to look for a late 340GL ('89 onwards)for similar money, which come with plusher interiors/electrics/tinted glass/metallic paint. The DL is pretty poor on toys - not even a rev counter

For shocks - they often come up on ebay in pairs.. don't seem to go for a lot of money - £15-20 for a pair perhaps? Otherwise, they're normally that (and more) each...

Good luck in your search, a 300 still makes a good choice despite its age

[Chris_C]

Look for a G or H, you'll get it roughly the same price with more toys, and it'll have plush not tweed seats. I would definately look around, 300's are very low maintance if you get the right one.

[scurrient]

Wow! Three replies by 9:30 am and I only posted at 4:00 am! And five replies in all! Three hundred and forty thanks to all of you!

The end of the month was looming, the carlton was up on the stands (in the rain) and revealing ever more holes with the mildest of under body prodding! Brake pipes needed changing, a back shock, etc, etc.

The 340 was only five miles away and had that lovely 12 months MOT and two months tax, new oil, oil filter, plugs, aand other things that worked properly - and half a tank of the go juice.

I bit the bullet and got it for £290!

I've checked the tyre pressures and now the pull is less pronounced. It still seems to rock a lot when I push the top, but after doing a few miles I'm adjusting to it.

You're right about the rev counter, though it has got heated seats (which the carlton didn't) and a sun roof (which works!).

The surprise bonus is that my partner announced that she wants to take her test in it! Amazing! 20 yrs and all manor of vehicles and she's never shown much interest. The little volvo seems to have connected with her already!

The car is immaculate - I've found a local factor who'll sell front shocks for £30 each (though I'll keep an eye on e-bay) - and I'm a happy chappy!

Thanks again to all who took the trouble to reply - what a great forum/website!

Andrew

[Tom]

Congratulations on your new purchase mate...let's hope it gives you many years of trouble free, fun motoring!

[Chris_C]

And get some pictures up Rev counter is a doddle to put in I seem to think... Someone will confirm for me though

[5lab]

rev counter is a 5 min job with a screwdriver.. i've done it about 10 times (and yet i've still not done it to maisie )

congrats on your purchase. that price seems ok for brand new shocks but you may as well wait until a set come up on the bay (redline you didnt take a set out of your other redline did ya?)

[scurrient]

Hello all,

500 odd miles on I'm still smilin'! Recently drove to London and back, long motorway stretch, no problems.

Bit wobbly in the wind though arn't they?

Think I'd like a rev counter. I also think I've just been looking at the plug (orange wire) that one would attach to - and that leads me to the 'blart' of the subject line.

On saturday, whilst reversing and turning the steering wheel to a full lock... I somehow managed to catch the indicator lever. The whole unit has snapped off from the bracket that holds it to the steering column.

There were two screws attaching it to a circular looking bit of plastic. The screws are still attched to the plastic, but the plastic is no longer attached to the circular looking bit. The unit works fine (apart from the obvious glitch in that it now dangles).

Has anyone else been oafish enough to manage to do similar? What is that plastic bit called? I'm going to fashion some fibreglass (p40 or somesuch) tomorow and it'll probably take ages and I don't really hold high hope. 18 yrs the last bloke had it - I've had it two b..... weeks!

Anyway, once that's back secure, and I've given it a wash, I'll post a photo.

Oh yes, the sound from the radio (original) is poo. Is that likely to be just the speakers? Or are those radios just like that? I'm wondering if it's worth while swapping with the carlton whilst that's off road.

And whilst I'm feeling communicative, what's first gear about? Is it normal for 340s to have such short gearing? I've already started pulling off in 2nd on anything but an uphill start.

The missus has really taken to it. Drives at every opportunity.

Safe miles all[/i]

[jtbo]

I think that all Volvos on that age had too short 1st gear. Don't know why, though.

Years ago one of my friend bought new speakers to replace original ones, he had -84 Benz 190D and there it was huge improvement to sound. I think that these older oem speakers are made from such material that it dryes and loses flexibility (or what it is called?) and that is why sound is not so good.
Cones were like paper, hard and fragile in those old speakers.

I don't have currently radio installed as I don't have space in car for it anymore and also I can't hear radio in my car, under acceleration there is 'some' noise and at speed wind noise is too loud to listen radio

[petefarrell360]

Hi the plastic bracket on the steering column for the indicators/wash wipe arms are known to be a weak point. I had mine break the day before the MOT last year! Luckily I had a spare, which was cracked, not broken, so I braced it with some nifty metalwork! IMO they are not a very good design, the strain that is on the clip, with the holes drilled so close to the edge, and the arms are used so much in everyday driving.

Other than that and the other little niggles I'm glad your happy with your purchase! It's also funny how right you are when you mention how they are affected by the wind. I was at first rather concerned, it was like no other car in sidewind conditions. It's still stuck to the road, but feels rather odd.

Pete

[SoLaMaNdA]

scurrient, I've done the same to my 360, snapping off the indicator switch. I bodged it by holding it in place with electrical tape and then pouring superglue around the bolts to make it firm. That short term bodge has lasted over a year!