[updated 1/13/11...see below for updated info...]
Hey all,
I figure I have a good-enough chance of finding one of you all that's interested in a turbovolvo driver/project and has something Daily Drivable to trade. So...here we go.
The Volvo: ’86 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon with 5 speed manual transmission. This car needs a fair amount of work to be a comfortable daily driver, but it does run and drive well and I drive it ~20 miles a day currently. It gets about 20 mpg in mixed highway/city driving. 3rd row, rear facing seat making it suitable for seating 7. Lots of cargo room with the seats folded down.
Issues that I know of with the car: The headliner is out (needs recovered) and the interior is sub-par in general. The brake lights aren’t working currently (I haven’t even looked into the cause), the brake calipers seem to be rattling (again, I haven’t even looked at it), There is a loud noise at highway speeds (50 mph plus). I’m told this is the driveshaft center bearing (~$45 in parts and an hour to replace). The car will cruise at 80+ mph…very smooth, stable, and comfortable. The A/C is inoperative. I think the engine mounts should probably be replaced soon. There is a dent in the driver fender, the hood has a shallow dent. The car has been repainted at some point.
Good: I recently replaced the head gasket and had the head surfaced. The timing belt was replaced at that time. The timing belt tensioner was NOT replaced at that time because I inspected it and it was in perfect operational condition.
This is a car for someone who wants a turbovolvo and likes to work on cars. This is NOT a car for someone who wants to get to work tomorrow in a car that will pass in section and needs no work. It’s also not a car that I would say you want to take to a mechanic to have them fix all the issues…there are plenty of easy fixes for a auto hobbyist mechanic to do…but I wouldn’t want to pay the labor of having a mechanic fix it. [edit: Sorry...this paragraph was straight out of what I intend to post on craigslist to the general public...you folks here already know it]
What I'd like in trade:
I have an optimal formula: 3+ seats, Standard Trans, 30+ mpg, reliable enough to drive 600 miles in January. That's not asking too much, is it? 
At the top of my list is a '91+ Ford/Mercury/Mazda Escort/Tracer/Protege/323. At the top of that top is a Wagon with a 5 speed. Also corollas and camrys and tercels and sentras and such would fit the bill.
An alternate formula that I'd be interested in is: 3+ seats, 20 mpg, V8, rear drive, reliable. I'm thinking more along the lines of a full size sedan (Crown Vic, caprice/B-body variants, or pretty much anything else along those lines).
I'd also be interested in a compact SUV (Mainly 4x4 Suzukular goodness) or a little toyota truck (2wd would be ok) or something.
It's a long shot...but trading is fun and I bet someone here wants this thing.
If I were to sell this (after I find something to replace it) I would have a $1,000 bottom dollar on it. I'm not ready to sell it yet, though...because it's my daily driver and I don't have anything to replace it with. I'm just throwing it out there for trade valuation type purposes.
I'd consider driving to meet someone halfway if it's within a reasonable distance (no hotel stay involved). I'm located in Columbia MO...halfway between KC and STL on I-70.
Thanks for looking!
Clem
