1997 Volvo S90. $500, running and driving. 257k miles. Mine, make it yours. Perfect Rallycross? Gastropod?
I bought this from a friend of mine as a favor and potential part-out. It's not worth a lot parted out, and it runs and drives fine-ish, so it doesn't seem like an ideal part-out candidate to me. It's got its share of problems, the biggest of which seems to be the power steering is notchy. Turning the wheel results in easy-stiff-easy-stiff-etc feeling while turning it. My friend thought the transmission was on the way out and talked about the horrible noises it was making, but it appears to have been the power steering as adding fluid quieted it right down.
It's very dirty, but actually quite presentable under the dirt. If I get a chance to wash it, I'll do so and post some daytime pics.
The interior is missing a few pieces of carpet and trim. I can likely get those pieces from the prior owner once the covid stuff calms down. I ordinarily see him quite regularly and he'd be happy to get them out of his way. He did say they're a bit rough and one of the overhead trim pieces "kind of came apart."
It has a nice set of Volvo S80 wheels on it with crappy tires. All but one hold air, the fourth goes flat over the course of a week or two.
I've put all of about 100 feet on it. It was a reliable daily driver for the prior owner. I could do a few shakedown drives in it if someone wanted to drive it home.
More condition info. No rust that I could see, doors still close solid. No funky smells beyond "old Volvo" smell. It sat for a month or two (with the solar panels tending the battery) and fired right up. If I had the time, and if it ever starts up again, I would take it rallycrossing. It seems like an ideal candidate. What's better for rallying than an old RWD Volvo?! Paint it up like this:
Between my mom and everyone else who has used her last 2 s80s over the years we've got about 150k on these 6cyl whiteblocks and im a big fan of them at this point.
3,400 lbs and 181 hp. For the price I has potential as a KOTH car, gut all the weight you can out of it and get under 2,800. Have 3 buddys hoon it around NCM next winter. Thrash it till it breaks and throw it away.
I checked with the previous owner on tire availability, and he said he has the original wheels with snow tires on them available. They have low miles but are a few years old. Might make a good set of rallycross tires? I imagine they would be available relatively cheaply, but I didn't get a price yet.
If the power steering fluid is now full the steering issue may clear up after a bit of driving.
I CANNOT believe that's actually RWD! I didn't think ANYTHING was by the late 90s! All the years of fun I missed out on!!!
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:
3,400 lbs and 181 hp. For the price I has potential as a KOTH car, gut all the weight you can out of it and get under 2,800. Have 3 buddys hoon it around NCM next winter. Thrash it till it breaks and throw it away.
Hmmmm! Is there any requirement for a cage or anything? I should look into that. I bet you could get 500lbs out of it just from the seats and carpet.
P3PPY said:
I CANNOT believe that's actually RWD! I didn't think ANYTHING was by the late 90s! All the years of fun I missed out on!!!
Yes, it was the continued evolution of the 740 chassis, I think. RWD, aluminum inline 6, 4-speed auto, not a ton of power but nice solid ride and independent suspension all the way around. It might be struts in front, I'm not sure.
dculberson (Forum Supporter) said:
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:
3,400 lbs and 181 hp. For the price I has potential as a KOTH car, gut all the weight you can out of it and get under 2,800. Have 3 buddys hoon it around NCM next winter. Thrash it till it breaks and throw it away.
Hmmmm! Is there any requirement for a cage or anything? I should look into that. I bet you could get 500lbs out of it just from the seats and carpet.
No cage requirement. All cars must drive on Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires and are subject to a claiming rule to enforce the $1,000 maximum value rule. Must have seat belt and a windshield. Try not to crash and die. 
This won't last long. There's one semi-local for $700 asking price with a no-crank situation, so this seems like a steal.
In reply to Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) :
I hope so; though I'd rather avoid putting it on Craigslist!
I got a chance to drive it around the area, up to 50mph or so. The brakes are super noisy from sitting. Maybe they'll clear up with driving, maybe not. The steering is still notchy, but I didn't try cycling it back and forth yet. I'm going to drive it around a bit more and see if I can clear it up. I'm going to go update the photos as I got a chance to clean it off. Forgive me for taking pics while it was wet, but daylight was fading and bedtime for kiddos was overdue.
Much better.
Notchy steering on these cars is often the U joints in the column. Try some penetrating lubricant on them with the front wheels off the ground and do full lock cycles.
I don't need this but I keep coming back to this like a moth to a flame.
In reply to wawazat :
blue flame burns pretty hot! Come get it I'll load the trunk up with scrap aluminum for you.
Some of you know that once I've decided to sell a car I really want it gone. Somebody wants this just make me an offer.
Check engine light status?
Speaking of status, what's up with the solar panels? Are they the reason the interior trim/carpet is missing?
Would make a great Lemons car. I'd like the transmission for a T5 RWD C30 setup, but too much stuff already.
Hmm, I don't know about the check engine light. I'll check on that.
@Jordon: They're to keep the battery charged. They're from the previous owner and he tends to be an overkill type. (10W of solar as a battery tender!) The trim/carpet is missing due to a sunroof leak and work to clean that up. I think he siliconed the sunroof shut after that.
Crap. Looking into my storage situation right now. Should have an answer tonight or tomorrow then I could look/ make an offer
Replied to your email! I hope we can make this work.
You win some, you lose some. I sold this to rustybuckets who was hoping to race it in a couple rallycross events before the transmission went out. Well, it had other plans - the transmission failed on the way to his house despite a good test drive. He's got it now but we need to figure it out fast as it's sitting in an amco parking lot. Anbody want it?? It might be headed to the junk yard if not.
MAN so my wife was right...
sorry for your luck, rustybuckets
