I don't actually have a Volvo, but would like to have one in the near future preferably an '89-93 240 sedan and would like your input as to how do you like yours. I've read that they're a little slow, is it really that bad ? Can you keep up with with traffic and merge onto the freeway decently. How are they on the highway ? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Any reason why those years? They can keep up on the freeway and in traffic no problem.

 

I would actually prefer a '90-93 as they have air bags, but I figure I'd make '89 the cutoff year since I've read that the '88 and older models had problems with the wiring harnesses rotting out. But asthetics wise, the '86-'93 are the nicest looking ones to me. I like the 2 big square headlights vs. the 4 rectangular ones from '85 and earlier.

 

My wife and I have two '88 245's and two '89 240's, one of which is a GL edition. Only the GL had a wiring harness issue. They're pretty easy to work on yourself and quite reliable, good on gas/oil too.

 

Thank you for the info, if I'm understanding correctly if I were to find a DL instead of a GL, then I wouldn't need to worry about the wiring harness.

 

buy a turbo model....

 

A normally aspirated 240 is 114 hp on a good day and roughly 30 lb/hp. That's a fairly high number. For comparison, my Ford Crown Vic is 15 lb/hp.

Once you get up to highway speed no problem. It should do 90 mph. The trick is getting up to highway speed. At the metered red light on-ramp to a freeway, 2 or 3 lanes, you can figure the 240 will be the last one to make it, unless there's a Yugo in line.

I'm not knocking it. Just don't want you to get your hopes up.

But my '86 Volvo 240 wagon is the best car I've ever owned. Engineering, workmanship, reliability, handling, crash-worthiness, can't be beat.

I've heard a lot about the "biodegradable wiring" on the '86 240. I've never experienced it. Just heard a lot about it. My wiring is original and it's solid.

 

I believe it depends on the location of the car. just like rust issues.

I have an 82 and I think it is orig harness, it looks okay..... i have to check the past records.

 

I actually have a '95 4runner with the 150 hp 3.0 V6 that on paper seems to have about the same performance as the 240 so while it's not quick by any means, it seems to be okay on the freeway although it needs a little more time up hill. So the 240 sounds like it would be about the same performance wise.

 

It has to do with underhood heat. The non turbo cars take a much longer time to ruin there wiring harnesses. My turbo when I first got it was basically a series of bare wires. Oddly though, I didn't get intermittent issues.

 

if an automatic pull it down to 2nd ...floor the pedal to 70 ...lift off the gas and push the gear shift back up to drive.

the '93s have the newer 134a AC.

when you buy a "new" 240 change the oil run 2 can of seafoam through 2 tankfulls do a complete tune up then change the oil a 2nd time

when it is all said and done the 240 Volvo is the best all around automobile ever made.

safe, reliable, comfortable, economical, durable….I have driven Volvo 140s then 240s since the mid 70

My brother-in-law is a plastic surgeon…he has done a lot of post automobile accident work on young and old…he can afforded to drive any automobile he wants…..everyone (4) in his family drives Volvo 240s

 

Sure my 89 240 DL wagon is slow, but what the hell's the big hurry? Buy one down south where they arent rusty. Dave

 

I live in California so rusty cars aren't really an issue fortunately. I'm still debating whether or not to sell my very reliable and somewhat zippy '99 Saturn SL2 with only 86k and get a 240 and use the rest to pay off credit card debt, but I'm afraid I might end up with something that needs more work and thus defeating my purpose. I've read alot of good feedback about the simplicity and reliability of the 240 though. And I just love the classic boxy looks of them and this is coming from a relatively young guy (36 yrs) who has had his share of fun cars over the years.

 

what the ?!?!!? is sea foam??!?!?

 

none4- good for you to work toward paying off the credit cards, but will a 240 cost less than you can sell a 99 Saturn for? Sounds like an even trade to me. By the way, after you pay those cards off, cut every one of them up and get 1 debit card. Dave

 

what the ?!?!!? is sea foam??!?!?


Sorry for my imprecise wording…seafoam is a fuel system cleaner that has been around since WWII (really it has).

I have found seafoam works better than any other fuel system cleaner I have tried including, Lucas, 44k, 3M and several others. My Napa store carries it and so does the local Wal-Mart.

It is too strong a solvent to use it on a regular basis the way you can use Lucas. Each spring I add one can each to two tank full’s of gas one after the other, afterwards I change my oil. The cold of the winter caused the gas to gum up the fuel system in the old days, which is why I do this every spring. I am sure today’s gas is much better about not gumming up the works than when I was a kid, but old habits die hard and with old men they just hang on.

Seafoam is the first step I take when I am trying to get a car running smoother.

 

Thanks Dave, good advice which I plan to follow. (That's my name too by the way.) Out here, My Saturn could go for $3 or more Up to $5400 for a dealership which is way overpriced, but realistically if I could get maybe $3-$3500, the decent 240's that I've seen on Craiglist in nearby areas are any where from $700 to $3000 but most of the good ones seem to be right around $1000-$1500. That would leave the rest to put to the old credit card. But I'm just speculating and don't want to make any rash moves because if I were to sell my car, I'd have to be very careful not to replace it with something that would need so much work that it would use up the money for the debt repayment.

 

none4me,

Just a suggestion, but if you're mechanically inclined, you might consider doing what I did. A friend at work had a 1990 240DL that he had to park because the reverse gear went out on him. I made him an offer of $300 for the car and he accepted. I found a transmission from a wrecked 740 with only 80K miles for $250.00 and changed it out myself. After new fluids, plugs, wires, rotor cap, air filter, new transmission mount and a good engine/bay pressure washing, I've got roughly $650.00 in a decent looking car that I drive back and forth to work daily.

The hardest part of putting the transmission in was breaking loose the bell housing bolts and unscrewing the dipstick filler tube where it meets the transmission oilpan. But other than that, it was actually a joy to work on.

Basically, you can have yourself a darn nice Volvo 240 on the cheap if you just look around. Save your money up and keep your existing car if you can afford it. Having a 240DL as a second car is kinda cool.

Edited to add: Check out my gallery. I uploaded a pic of the car just a bit ago.

I might very well see if I can find me another 240 as a "summer project" car.

 

That's a nice car, I like the Virgo rims on there, very classy. Do you like the way it drives and handles ?

 

The car has over 200K miles on it, and the suspension is all original, so it tends to have what I call that "loose floaty" feel when changing lanes at highway speeds. Kinda takes some getting used to after driving a Ford Escort ZX2 with a much stiffer suspension for the past few years. But the ride is smooth and the car runs like a dream. The best part is the hand-cranked sunroof, as it adds that extra special "feel" to the driving experience..