PLAIN SAILING FOR THE SWEDISH TURBO BARGE
1997 VOLVO 940 ESTATE
When I bought the Volvo as a temporary replacement for my Capri (may it rest in peace) I never thought that I would embrace it as whole-heartedly as I have. Initially I just wanted to ensure that I had a decent car that was safe to drive, but then it began, as it invariably does – that never-ending to-do list. So after fresh tyres and new brakes, along with a few hundred miles under my belt, I was confident that I had a good base upon which to build. The Volvo’s turbocharged, B230FK engine is not only bullet-proof but also has bags of tuning potential. Couple that with an incredibly clean and solid car overall and I had an excellent basis for improvements, so I suddenly found myself buying parts like they were going out of fashion.
Since the initial purchase last summer I have modified the suspension, fixed all of the annoying little foibles and fully serviced and refreshed the engine to a point where it is now ready for some serious upgrades, which I will soon be installing.
To recap, then, I began the year with a rusty, Eighties Capri that I believed would be a forever car and am bringing it to a close with a very tidy, late Nineties Volvo estate. It’s difficult to compare the two because they couldn’t be more different, and while I’ll never forget the devastating loss of my trusty old Ford, the 940 is doing a great job of helping to assuage those feelings.
I reckon 2020 is going to be an interesting year for this big bad Swede.