Volvo 240 Thoughts? (A Family Car Search Thread, Bought a Sentra)

[YSSMAN]

This morning I received the wake-up call that you never want to hear... My brother hit a massive deer in the (former) family car, the 1995 Toyota Camry. It appears as though this is the final blow to the long-lived Toyota, bought brand-new in the spring of '95 only to be stopped by an overweight wood critter (the deer was removed from the road by a tractor, the Sheriff said it was one of the biggest he has ever seen).

Nevertheless, the hunt for a new family car has begun. In the household currently:

- 1998 Toyota Celica GT (Mine)
- 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3800 (Mom's)
- ???? (My brothers)

With a wide assortment of problems pouring over us all at once (the company my brother and I work for will be closing up in less than three months, in theory), cash is short, and we're looking for something that everyone always asks for: Cheap, reliable transportation. There are always the obvious choices of a Corolla or a Civic (trust me, we're looking), as well as the Focus or the Saturn S or L classes, but then I remembered one that others had mentioned before... The Volvo 240.

Thoughts on the Volvo? I know they're supposed to be pretty reliable, pretty solid, generally easy to work on, otherwise unstoppable in all forms of weather. Anyone with personal experience? Care to offer something kinda similar?

I found this 240 today, for $1600, no claims on mileage. It looks like a car that I've seen quite often at school, but I may be wrong. Its been stored since April, needs some brake work, but otherwise it seems to be in good shape. For something cheap (assuming we get money out of the Toyota), it may not be a bad deal...



The big question right now is whether we get something for my brother for cheap (and I mean cheap-cheap), or if we try to find a way to spend a little more, move the Pontiac down to him, and pick up something new(ish) for Mom. Although, that seems more unlikely at the moment.

It all sucks. But my brother has a factory job he can go back to within a week or so, and he should be able to save some cash fairly easily, but its very difficult for us to live on two cars since we all work in different parts of the city.

 

[Tornado]

It will never ever break (and unlike Mercedes with similar qualities, when it does it would be cheap to fix), it would laugh off a million miles on the odometer, it would do quite well in the snow and it would be worth a laugh if he ever wanted to do spirited driving with it (more so than the Grand Prix at least). He would even have room to play if he wanted to tune it. Go for it.

 

[YSSMAN]

My Dad is worried about parts, but hes always worried about parts. I think my Brother would be into it, I almost like it more than my own car (don't tell her!)... We'll see what kind of cash he can get out of the Toyota.

 

[homeforsummer]

I say go for it. Bit different from the norm. One of my mates wants to buy a 240 and drop an old Rover V8 in it for a laugh.

Incidentally, what the heck is going on with the headlights in the pic you posted above? They look awful, surely they should look like the ones in this pic?

 

[Leonidae]

Summoning Greycap in 3, 2, 1...

 

[Omnis]

Sell your mom's Grand Prix while you're at it. Damn, I hate that car.

 

[Greycap]

Thoughts on the Volvo? I know they're supposed to be pretty reliable, pretty solid, generally easy to work on, otherwise unstoppable in all forms of weather. Anyone with personal experience? Care to offer something kinda similar?

From roughly one year of experience I can say they're just that. The car in question is an '88 which is good, starting from '86 the body was galvanized from the bottom up to the side trim. It's not rust proof but it's quite resistant. Also the brake problems noted in the link are not a concern, that car doesn't have parts in its brakes that are hard to fix.

If the engine malfunctions (unlikely especially if it's a carburettor version) it can probably be fixed on the side of the road with a small toolbox. Some versions such as the B230 are known to easily take half a million miles. The transmission is just about indestructible no matter if it's the automatic or the manual, it's so heavily overbuilt that the stock power won't see it failing. The same goes for the rear end.

About the solidness, naturally it's not on the same level as the new cars but for an 80's model it's good. I'd much rather crash my 240 than a newer Punto or so if I had to. And about the all weather capabilities, the old brick has a weight distribution of about 55/45 in the sedan version and very close to 50/50 in the estate (believe it or not) which makes it a predictable winter car. Proven again today when I was having some fun with it. Last winter I had no trouble in mine while some people struggled with their SUV's in the snowstorm... tells something. It's not called "the fastest tractor of Scandinavia" for nothing, ten inches of snow is no problem as long as you have proper tyres.

Incidentally, what the heck is going on with the headlights in the pic you posted above? They look awful, surely they should look like the ones in this pic?

It's the early US style vs. the European style. There are US cars with the European lights though (as seen in the link) but as far as I know there was some legal reason for some models to have four separate headlights instead of the two "normal" large ones that have combined low beams and high beams. The car in question seems to have the normal lights. And those lights are good, even in comparison to many new cars.

Summoning Greycap in 3, 2, 1...

Guilty as charged.

 

[Patrik]

As a swede and Volvo 240 owner I can say they're great cars! As you mentioned, unstoppable in almost any kind of weather, very easy to work on, large trunk, all passenger's comfort is good and so on. And of course the fact that they are FR is a little +.

My car is a '81 GLT = 136HP fuel injected monster!

 

[Greycap]

Well, if we're showing off I'll certainly participate. '92 240GL made in Gothenburg (Göteborg for the Scandinavians) with a crushing 116 bhp from its B230F. Talk about a lightly stressed engine. But indeed, it's comfortable both for the driver and the passengers (or so I've been told, I've been the passenger zero times) and won't let you down.

 

[micke_o]

The 240 is reliable and probably good car but extremely boring to drive. Driving it feels like sitting upon it rather than in it. Not to mention the engine... The ground clearance are probably just as good as many SUV's

 

[Wolfe]

Incidentally, what the heck is going on with the headlights in the pic you posted above? They look awful, surely they should look like the ones in this pic?

The short story is that here, cars were required by law to have standardized headlights until 1984. I think in the case of the 240 it took until the 1986 model year for Volvo to bring the new headlights to the states.

The long story is here (and I found quite the long one).

 

[petter mo]

here is a nice one i think

 

[petter mo]

The short story is that here, cars were required by law to have standardized headlights until 1984. I think in the case of the 240 it took until the 1986 model year for Volvo to bring the new headlights to the states.

The long story is here (and I found quite the long one).

well the headlights in the pics with the two small square lights is the american standard ,, in sweden and the rest of the world they are like one big light..

 

[Patrik]

The ground clearance are probably just as good as many SUV's

That is why you cut your springs shorter, or in my case, buy sport suspension and springs. Then they're not as boring to drive either.

Oh, and the engine is far from the same in every 240... I think it is from 90HP or so to 155HP in the turbo model, which becomes around 180HP if you get Volvo's intercooler (they didn't have an intercooler from factory) and that's pretty good IMO for a early 80's car (1981-1985).

 

[petter mo]

a friend of mine have ..around 600 hk in his engine its totaly rebuilt by shinne bros racing
its just awsome

 

[TS]

Buy it, as Greycap and others have said, they're quite reliable, nearly indestructible and they'll last a long time. Not to mention they're ridiculous cheap to maintain, easy to work on and parts are readily available. (especially at places like IPD)

 

[HACKr]

It looks like an old vacuum cleaner... but I want one.

 

[YSSMAN]

Good news! My brother liked it via the internet, so we'll see what happens if we can get a hold of the cash (looks like they're totaling the car) on Monday/Tuesday. He says he'd prefer a wagon if we can find one, but he'd take the old sedan with the dead body carrier on top.

 

[homeforsummer]

The short story is that here, cars were required by law to have standardized headlights until 1984. I think in the case of the 240 it took until the 1986 model year for Volvo to bring the new headlights to the states.

The long story is here (and I found quite the long one).

Thanks for the link, was an interesting read 👍 I thought it might have been some sort of American standardisation thing but wasn't sure. And they certainly look ugly on that Volvo

 

[Keef]

Good news! My brother liked it via the internet, so we'll see what happens if we can get a hold of the cash (looks like they're totaling the car) on Monday/Tuesday. He says he'd prefer a wagon if we can find one, but he'd take the old sedan with the dead body carrier on top.

Looks like most of the ones on Auto Trader are late-80s wagons with the body carrier. A couple of them were quality stand-outs, but those all cost $3k or more. And they're very far away. But there's a ton that cost less than $2,500. Most all of them had at least 150,000 on the clock. Apparently you'll have to pay for a nicely maintained version.

 

[1X83Z]

Most all of them had at least 150,000 on the clock. Apparently you'll have to pay for a nicely maintained version.

They are ridiculously overpriced, considering their age and mileage. Not worth it - it's like used 4Runners.

Frankly Brad, you hit a deer in a '95 Camry, just upgrade to a '97 Camry. If you want reliable solid transport, why get out of a Camry in favor of a ten-years-older rear-wheel drive Volvo? Not logical at all.

 

[homeforsummer]

In fairness, talking to a bunch of car enthusiasts suggesting they be logical isn't particularly logical A Camry may well be objectively a better car than a 240, but the Camry is almost the automotive definition of a white good. A car of necessity, rather than one of yearning. Not that I yearn for a 240 particularly but I so so more than a Camry...

 

[Bram Turismo]

Actually, I was about to say the same as M5Power. Yes, the Volvo is a really good car, but Brad's family has had the camry for what, 11 years now? No problems with it? Then why get a car that's nearly 10 years older? If I would be Brad's brother, I'd be looking in another Camry right away, same model same year 👍

 

[Keef]

They are ridiculously overpriced, considering their age and mileage. Not worth it - it's like used 4Runners.

Frankly Brad, you hit a deer in a '95 Camry, just upgrade to a '97 Camry. If you want reliable solid transport, why get out of a Camry in favor of a ten-years-older rear-wheel drive Volvo? Not logical at all.

Because Camrys are teh borez0rz and you can set that Volvo on a monster truck chassis

Oh, wait...

 

[Tornado]

They are ridiculously overpriced, considering their age and mileage.

Actually, I'm going to step in and disagree. That is a subjective statement based on the car involved. Why do you think people go after W124s with a furious splendor when W210s are newer and usually saddled with less miles? Age of a car has nothing to do with reliability of a car, and so long as those 150k+ Volvos have been properly serviced, neither does mileage in this case.

For a comparison, I could buy a 1996 Impala SS for roughly the same as I could buy a 2006 Impala SS, and I would know neither would ever break; but only one would function on a level somewhat higher than a blender when I drove it. Brad's brother looking at a 240 over another Camry is the same thing.

 

[Patrik]

Because Camrys are teh borez0rz and you can set that Volvo on a monster truck chassis

Or make it a rally car:

Or perhaps a drag car:

Or jump over caravans with it:

Or make it a convertible:

Or go sideways with it:

Or make it look like it's from Fast & Furious:

Or fill it up with water and take a bath in it:

Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

[Wolfe]

@homeforsummer: 👍

@M5Power: I agree with Toronado. There are enough dependent factors that I would never shy away from a 20+ year old car just because of its age (of course, I've bought three cars that fit that description). Besides, while the Camry is a great car, it's a bit rust-prone to be the best candidate for "cheap transportation." Based on the first post, it sounds like a newer one like a '97 is beyond YSSMAN's budget.

 

[YSSMAN]

Frankly Brad, you hit a deer in a '95 Camry, just upgrade to a '97 Camry. If you want reliable solid transport, why get out of a Camry in favor of a ten-years-older rear-wheel drive Volvo? Not logical at all.

Trust me, I follow your train of thought. Generally I prefer new vehicles as well. But when we're looking for something that is going to be cheap (very cheap), extremely reliable, and otherwise easy to work on... The Volvo has it in spades.

Of course, much of this depends on how much money State Farm gives us. We're pretty sure the car will be listed as "totaled," so we'll see what comes out of it. Much less if the 240 is sold that quick.

 

[1X83Z]

I agree the Volvo is solid, Toronado and Wolfe, but come on. The thing is 20 years old. The interior will be worn, rubber parts will be on their last legs, all the dynamics are like a car that's... 20 years old. At least replace the Camry with another 92-96 Camry, for ****'s sake. Replacing a 95 Camry with an 85 Volvo 240 would be like me replacing my 01 A4 with a 94 W124. A more solid car, but jesus christ really?

 

[JCE]

Volvo = win

The 240 is uber win. Plus you can stuff an LSx into it and really make a monster.

Because Camrys are teh borez0rz and you can set that Volvo on a monster truck chassis

Oh, wait...

Dude those so own, I'd drive em.