Spotted for sale: Would RM5,000 buy you luxury? Yup. A 1994 Volvo 940GL

Check out this advert on mudah.my dated today (7 April 2015). RM4,200 gets you a very usable looking Volvo 940 GL automatic from 1994. Located in Temerloh, Pahang. It seems to have a super clean interior and even the seats (which look re-upholstered) are immaculate.

The Volvo 940 was the last of the traditional large rear wheel drive Volvos and was popular here in the 1990s. It was used by the government for their senior officers as well as by some large companies for their senior managers too. It is essentially a rebody of the Volvo 740 with slightly rounded edges instead of a blunt wedge. Quite comfortable too with ample performance to cruise on the highways. Just don't expect it to turn on a dime as its suspension settings were comfort mode and would lurch and roll at the slightest opportunity compared to the stiffly sprung cars of today. Even if period reviews state that it could turn quite well. But if you want a large car with some presence, this is it. Big and boxy, traditonal as heck. A lumbering tank of a car.

Bear in mind that in 1994 this was the mid range Volvo sold in Malaysia and a cut price rival for those looking at the E34 BMW 5 Series and the W124 Mercedes E200. Beneath the 940 came the venerable Volvo 240 series. Something that soldiered on since the 1970s and by then was already approaching cult status. So these days it is just a big Volvo. Not as revered as the hipster favourite Volvo 240, but is actually better to drive and more refined. These days, like the one for sale here would give you cheap motoring and wafting with a touch of old school premium feel. You may say it is luxury.

The car here is stated to have a 2.4liter engine. I believe this is an error. Most 940 petrol engines are 2.3liter B230 series 4 cylinder engine with about 131hp in non-turbocharged form like the one for sale here or about 135hp for a light pressure (really tiny) turbo to a 165bhp with a proper turbocharger. It should have over 200Nm torque when healthy so its a lugger not a sprinter. In this basic form it should be understressed and therefore reliable even when lugging around that large 940 series body around. Even with the over 300,000km mileage in the advertisement . Just don't expect it to go fast anywhere. Basic spares like all the necessary filters are affordable. Maybe brand new shock absorbers may cost you RM250 a piece and brake discs at around RM200. But there are tons of second hand parts - starter motor at around RM200, fuel pump at around the same price too. So this old car technically won't kill you if it is running and not smokey. Not a bad old car if I may say so myself.

I suppose RM4,200 does not include inspection and transfer fees. But this is a private sale so you should do it yourself but it shouldn't cost more than a couple of hundred Ringgit. Add cheap third party insurance and road tax, everything should fall under RM5,000. And you get a comfortable Volvo for you to use until it breaks (which may be years, if you're lucky).

Original advert here while it lasts (as well as below). Oh, don't ask me who the heck the owner is. I just like trawling mudah.my ads for bargains.

"Seller Says

 kereta saya tumpang letak kedai kawan
kereta tak ada rosak
jalan jauh puashati
enjin dan gear box ok

Make Volvo
Model 940
Type Sedan
Transmission Auto
Engine Capacity 2400 cc
Mileage 300 000 - 349 999(km)
Reg. Year 1995
Mfg. Year 1994
Features ABS Brakes, Adjustable Steering, Alarm, CD Player, Central Lock, Sport Rims

Read more at http://www.mudah.my/Volvo+940+A+-34682618.htm#UUyYS5T2FCxZrcpy.99"