The Volvo 240 is not for everyone | Buyer’s Guide
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- Hagerty’s Editor-at-Large Sam Smith explores what makes the Volvo 200 Series a beloved icon. Although not a collector car by any means, the 200 Series is vintage Volvo -- it’s safe, durable, usable, and quirky enough to get under your skin. Sam will detail what you need to know about buying, owning, and maintaining this lovable classic.
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Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction - 1992 Volvo 240
00:24 How the 240 changed Volvo
01:58 Safely satisfying
02:23 Vehicle overview - 200 series
03:17 Engine details
05:00 Know the interchangeable parts
05:49 The headache of headlights
06:22 Shop talk
07:23 The axle for all time
08:04 Hagerty Valuation Tools
09:01 Sam Smith’s final thoughts
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#Volvo240 #BuyersGuide #NeverStopDriving - Auta a dopravní prostředky
It was a compact, reliable, safe, RWD wagon with available manual transmission. IN ITS DAY it was was one of the best cars in the world. What's not to like?
Yea and it's got enough room to fit in a 2jz for engine swaps.
@@kilroywashere9343 seen full cize american wagons?
Besides it shook (and sounded) like a traktor when you started it?
@@bobobibo2357 someone has been driving with worn engine mounts XD
The MPG
Still driving my wagon since it arrived from Sweden to the Port of Baltimore back in June 1988. If I had a nickel for every 'call me when you wanna sell' note left on my windshield! One of the most lovable cars ever made. It's not the most valuable classic out there, but to me it's priceless.
Take care of it! Sounds like a lovely wagon that it's still with you.
It's a kind of special.
Having such a long relationship full of memories is such a special thing.
I have owned 8 Volvo’s…starting with the very first 140 in the greater SF Bay Area. On my 2nd240DL…first on, 400,000 miles and like new when I sold to a nephew. My current ‘88 has over 250,000 and cruises at 75mph easy…and still doesn’t use oil!!!! Strongest best, safest car ever! 🤟🇺🇸
Thats true! When i bought mine, on the way home i stoped on the petrol station to fill it up, one man asked me right away "how much for the car".... 😂 Now when its all shined up, i get compliments all the time... And offers too 😀
240s and 740s were Cars with such a personality. Even on the parking lot, you could easily spot yours.
Very true!
Why not include 940s! They are basically 740mk2!
940s too! I agree.
I agree from a modern day sense. There is nothing like it today. In it’s time? It was just another box. But today I think you’re absolutely correct. And most of that has to do with much of what’s explained in the video. These cars, unlike your average 80’s box, lasted. These things, even if totally rusted, still run and drive.
As a guy with a 740 wagon as a daily driver, i totally agree. There’s nothing like that roof/hood line
I bought a 90 240 dL about 5 years ago. I never thought I’d ever own a Volvo. I just need a cheap reliable car. And this popped up for $1,200. Very easy to work on for the most part. It’s been a great car. 235k and still going strong!
The problem is... I better Times you might buy more expensive cars....you Will never forget this one....when you have had Them all....you buy one again.... That's what happened to me....now I own a range rover 3 jags and 2 240s... Love driving my turbo
Nice! I got about 422k km or about 262k miles on mine. Still going strong as well in the frigid weather I live in!
@@sheep5403 432k km / 268k miles on mine - I win!
Higher is better, right? :P
@@HammAlexander I can completely understand. For me it was the other way around - my dad had 4 240s over the years when I was a kid.
One was a silver 244 turbo (B21ET, manual 4 speed overdrive) with a manual boost controller and a limited slip diff.
That car made such an impression on me that if I had to pick between a 240 turbo and basically any supercar now, I'd go with the turbo brick without hesitation.
I'm driving an n/a 245 now and couldn't be happier with it - unless it had a turbo and an lsd obviously.
@@Bassalicious Highest number I've ever seen on a tachometer is 2.7 million km. It was a 1998 Volvo FM12 380 but anyway. My mother's 2002 V70 2.5D has almost done 540k km. I own 3 V70s. A 1st gen -98 V70 2.5T, a -01 V70 2.4 170hp and a -06 V70 2.4 face lift business edition, also 170hp. The 1st gen has done 320k (I'm 4th owner including dealership and factory and previous owner has owned it since 1999), the 01-model has done 365k (I'm 14th owner but I needed a car) and my newest edition, my 06-model has only done 275k km and only has a total of 3 rust spots on the entire car (all on the roof) and it was newly polished when I bought it for 27k SEK (about 3k USD). I had a -02 Saab 9-5 Aero with 280k km on the tach but I sold it to my mother after 4 months XD
I have to say, as a person form Gothenburg, Sweden (the home of Volvo) with many family members who have worked in the Volvo factory through out the years - this warms my heart. To see the love for the 240 and other Volvos is very nice. I may have only worked indirectly for Volvo, but I'm still very proud.
In 2005, my wife and I bought a 1989 volvo, second-hand, for $400. We didn't have to do any work on it, it was reliable, economical, brilliant in Vermont snow, and built like a tank.
When I was checking its history prior to buying it, I discovered it had been involved in a collision with a train. Rest in Peace, train 😂
Thank you and Sweden for giving the world such an outstanding car!
I'm in the UK, and I owned a Saab, which I loved, and now I own a Volvo V50, which I also love.
Most people used to think that Volvo's were for old men, or school teachers, or doctors, until they drive one. Then they too become Volvo people.
I will continue to buy Volvo's, as I love their character, dependability, and reliability.
Mine is a D5 engine, and since 2019, it has NEVER let me down. It has passed all annual inspections with only very minor issues, but mechanically, it is solid.
Lived next to the factory when I was young and the workers had a mini race every night when the shift ended, never ever saw a cop. 😍
When I was stationed in England during the late 80s/early 90s, my wife and I bought a brand new Volvo 240 wagon. We loved it! It even had headlight washers and wipers in case you got road grime on them!
@@hermanmunster3358 go from Saab to Volvo, thats something that would never happen in Sweden. Either you are a Saab person or a Volvo person, and there is no switching team. I'm pretty sure its in the swedish constitution even.
In the very north of Sweden in the early to mid 80's there were basically only two cars to be seen, namely the Mercedes E-class and the Volvo 240. The reason was that both were over-engineered and robust, both had excellent heating systems and could handle extreme cold and in both you could survive a head-on collision with a Moose (I know that for a fact as I was a passenger in a Volvo 245 hitting a 600 kg moose at 140 km/h and here I am to tell the tale).
Everyone in the car survived?
@@xrayman321 most likley yes
Probably because 240s roof can handle the weigh of the moose.
Moose have long legs, don't they? So when you hit one head on, the body hits the windscreen. I wonder if the Volvo engineers thought about that? And I thought we had trouble with kangaroos. Mind you, they can jump pretty high & sometimes come through the windscreen & big Western red males can weigh up to 90 kg. Hmmm. I better get me an old, good Volvo.
@@elroyfudbucker6806 Scandinavian cars like Volvo and Saab both de developed the so called Moose Test. The 240 was designed to cope with hitting a moose. They tested it to the extreme,because life in Scandinavian countries can be very harsh with brutal weather and winters. It's for a good reason these cars are known as driving family Tanks overhere in Europe
One winter in Sweden in the 90's my dad was driving me home from school and an oncoming car lost control and skidded into our lane, to avoid a head-on collision my dad made a split-second decision and steered our 740 off the road, we went tumbling down a rather steep roadside hill at around 80km/h, rolled over 2 times and ended up on the roof in a ditch, I remember hanging upside down in my seatbelts, both of us made it out without a single scratch, partly due to all the snow that cushioned our fall and partly due to the robustness of these old Volvos.
I had a 240 sedan with 365,000 miles on it. Motor NEVER opened up for major repair. It only stopped running when it was in a traffic accident. Great car.
Sad to hear it go like that. Mine has 300k and just like yours, motor's never been open. Just did all the belts and harmonic balancer though the other day.
"if you can get along with a cars way of doing things, it is delightful" is a wonderful way to put it. Sums up why I love Buicks
Could you please develop about the Buicks? I'm simply asking from pure curiosity and car enthusiasm.
So I had a more modern version of this basic same vehicle. I had a 2007 Volvo V70. Mine was fully loaded. Leather, power everything, a GPS that popped up from the dash (quite dramatically I might add) a DVD system that was factory installed in the back of the headrests (2 of them, each with their own DVD player! (Significant distinction because older models had 1 DVD player that played from the 2 screens) ) it had a turbo charged 5 cylinder gas engine, Crome rims, moon roof, and a really nice stereo.I bought it brand new. It was wonderful to drive, handled great in the twisty mountain roads (believe it or not, and contrary to their reputation of being boring) So I had the car about a year and a half. It’s a Sunday, beautiful day. I’m at a 4 way stop (with stop signs ONLY not stop lights) it’s one of those intersections that should be a stop light but isn’t. There are dedicated turn lanes. So anyways this particular Sunday is really busy at this intersection. I have my wife in the passenger seat and my 2 very young kids in the back (1 and 3 years old, in their car seats) I’m waiting my turn behind a line of cars. It’s my turn, I go, and out of nowhere a drunk driver T bones us on my wife’s side! He was going 45 and had run the stop sign! I was okay and my kids were fine but my wife basically broke everything on her right side. It was bad and they had to take her out with the jaws of life. The firefighters said that had we been in ANY other car, she would have been dead. So I have to say, sincerely, that Volvo saved my wife’s life. I’m a Volvo person for life.
About six years ago I was killing time on Autotrader and stumbled on a babied 240 wagon with a 5 speed that had supposedly lived an easy California life. Clean blue exterior and clean buttercream interior with all four original floor mats. I think they wanted like $5k and I passed. Still haunts me a bit to this day.
I know what you mean. One day I thought “I wonder if a clean 300E is for sale.” A babied local 300E owned by perfectionist was in my city for $4000. I thought I’ll buy one like that. Never saw a comparable one again.
My first car was an 86 240 wagon. Absolutely loved that car. My parents bought it in Germany when my Dad was stationed there, we brought it back over to the States, and I got it in '98. I then drove it to almost 300,000 miles back and forth 500 miles to College. It had an FM radio, dead AC, and roll up windows. Loved it. Never let me down.
You forgot one version: The 262 Bertone Coupe. That one, with its lowered vinyl-cladded roof, is a real stunner.
“you may have noticed this is a less than perfect Volvo 240”. Homie that’s the nicest Volvo 240 i’ve ever seen
One of the best *real* cars made. Super reliable, easy to work on, easy enough to get parts. Very handy for people and cargo hauling. Sam described the handling as docile, but not up to today's levels of grip, etc. Four things you should know: 1) It's a *great* handling car; very balanced. Grip = new tires and sway bars. 2) The brakes are exceptional. Modern pads and good tires make a difference. 3) Yes, they are slow. But, the aftermarket is ready to help to whatever level your bank account can handle. A few small tweaks and it's more than adequate, plus it'll last forever. And, 4) The interior plastics get brittle, making finding replacements the biggest ownership challenge. 250K miles is NOTHING if they are maintained. I've owned three 240 sedans, one 850 wagon, one 940 wagon, two P1800s, and one 122S (which is still in the family).
Can vouch for interior plastic being brittle... The curse of my ownership! I've also got turbo sway bars in the front but she's still a boat. I'll never sell it even if it means importing it to take it with me to another country :).
@@fourthpanda - My 1982 turbo suspension is stiff and handles very wheel, my 1980 sedan has a very soft ride. Try high quality struts on yours. Plastic becomes brittle after time on any car brand.
@@Lvatopesado The Turbo suspension bits are a great upgrade to a regular 240. It's just such a nicely balanced chassis.
There is nothing to question about Volvo 240s, this video is unnecesary. It just is a perfect car, thats a fact.
These things still go for over 1500 € (~1700 USD) in Finland, even with 400k (km) on the dash. Got mine for free as my granny got her license revoked due to old age.
Oh, and fun fact - she got hit by a bus in a highway with a similar 240, the car got absolutely crushed and bent but she and gramps survived, although a lot of their skin, limbs and / or muscles were replaced with donor ones. Surprisingly, they made full recovery and lived their lives like nothing ever happened.
And they bought another 240, since the previous one saved them from a certain death. That's the car I inherited in advance, haha.
I was very fortunate to have one gifted to me as my first car. 1979 242DL coupe B21F. So that was my foundation for how a car was. It was over Engineered quality built lasted forever. Not fast but got your anywhere very cozy and a joy to drive. I picked up a late 78 242 DL a few years ago, and it was like putting on an old hat or meeting up with a friend again. All the familiar feels. I need to get one again.
No need to convince me. ‘86 244 since new @305K and added a ‘92 ($600 find) 245 @205K, a few years back. I’m spending more time learning the ins & outs as I fear my Mom & Pop Volvo shop will one day retire. One in our area already did. Both the Chilton and Bentley manuals are fair / ok, but often leave me hanging with many procedures. Fortunate we’ve supported the Mom & Pop shop so long that I now have access to in depth discussions and repairs, often with their oversight. A 2000 V70 gave way to a ‘14 XC60 for my wife. Volvo’s may not be sexy but their safety reputation is one of my biggest joys. We’ll never see the Million Mile Club but I’ll enjoy the journey and the often “thumbs up” from others that appreciate what I’m driving. A high quality body & paint shop are my next adventure for both 240s. Thank you for the video and feeling better about my love of the Flying Bricks!
Drove one and I can honestly say it was the most fun I've had in a car in a long while, and I was driving it like a grandpa.
It's entertainingly relaxing. It's easy and soft in all the places you'd want a car that does long trips, but it isn't boring. It's a couch you WANT to drive, not just a mode of transportation.
I am a Saab guy at heart, but man I loved every second of driving that brick red Volvo my cousin has. Honestly I'm tempted to straight up buy it from him the more I think about it.
HA I LITERALLY JUST BOUGHT A PRISTINE ONE
Its a silver 87 5 speed sedan
@@internet_internet payed $4500 for it.
@@internet_internet one of the guys in my company was selling it and i had the money and just couldnt pass it up, ive loved 240s since i was six
As the owner of many Volvo’s, I’d been on the lookout for a decent 240 for years. Finally found my unicorn. ‘84 244 Intercooled Turbo with 60k miles. Completely original car - the original owner kept it covered in his garage and only drove it occasionally on weekends. It had 18k miles on it in its first 29 years when the second owner bought it off his estate.
@@yoceedub7987 Holy smokes. That really is a unicorn. Please don't let it live under a cover in a garage - enjoy it. :)
@@Bassalicious It gets driven on nice weather days. As you know, the absolute best thing you can do for them is to drive them. My only “problem” is the car is so completely original that other than a new suspension and lowering the car, I don’t want to change a thing. As they say, it’s only original once. I’m on the lookout for another one that I can turn into a sleeper.
I love these square large windows. You can see everything what happens around you and there's a lot of light in the car. That's something I as a tall person miss on nowadays cars.
the visibility in the 240 sedan is CRAZY you can see absolutely everything around you and I love it
@@obeseperson And everyone can see you! Lol
I just bought one. You feel so relaxed when you drive it. Lovely car. Greetings from Denmark.
Just sold my 1992 244 MT after 5 years of ownership. Genuinely one of the most loveable, charming and cozy vehicles on the road. I will miss it every single day, I just couldn't bare another summer without AC.
I bought a 15 year old 940 turbo Estate/Wagon (final series, 5-speed manual) "by accident" when my son was born and I had to quickly replace my old Porsche with something spacious (and boy it IS spacious).
My son is a teenager now and I am still running that damn' thing. Replaced the turbo once, had some oil leakage issues (which "forced" me exchange the clutch which was still rather fine) to and it really looks a bit beaten by now ... BUT ...
even without any specific care whatsoever
- it's still reasonably fast to this day (we're talking German autobahns here and I take it beyond 120mph quite regularly)
- it's still reasonably economical (11l/100km or 22 mpg in US terms and I am certain it would give you 26mpg under US highway conditions)
- it's VERY comfy and even slightly luxurious (auto A/C, cruise control, leather, heated seats, integrated child seat, 4x e-windows, 2x powered door mirrors, remote central locking, a decent stereo (upgraded to accept bluetooth music/sat nav and hands-free phone), headlamp washers, roof rails, detachable trailer hook etc.
- it's immensely manouverable around town (as is the 240) with a ridiculously small turning circle and visibility second to none
and - as mentioned a hundred times - it's pretty much unkillable. Still rust-free (cosmetic chips aside), with perfectly healthy engine and gearbox and no rattles or squeaks from chassis, body or interior. It's still reliable like an old dog at 24 years and with 330.000km on its clock.
And the best thing is: As these have now started picking up in value a bit (at least here in Europe) it's practically free to run them. Whether you have a fully specced final edition like mine or an equally healthy naturally aspirated 2.3 in base spec, they will always(!) fetch around 4 or 5k EUR on resale if they are technically sane. It doesn't matter if one has done 300k, 500k or 650k km. (I did indeed look at a soft-turbo with that mileage when i was shopping around and the guy wanted the exact same money that I later paid for mine (which had clocked just 185k at the time).
The only problem you may encounter if you're on the look for a rather "low" mileage example (i.e. anything below 200k km): There aren't any left. If you're still lucky enough to come across a clean, well specced example with less than 150k or even (miraculously) just around 100k or less: Expect to pay up to three or four times the typical price. (PS: Wagons are ALL the rage here in Europe. Sedan versions are a) few and far between and b) pretty unpopular (still) as Europeans never really liked that extremely square three-box-design of the sedan that was so clearly aimed at American buyers.
Last word from me: No matter what kind of car you usually drive, get an old RWD Volvo wagon while you can and keep it until death do you part (you'll probably be the first to go anyway).
I had a 1993 model wagon in red - beautiful. I always said this car will either save my families' life or give me 200,000 miles. On a quiet Sunday morning my wife was t-boned by a huge pickup truck doing 40 mph with my 2 year old daughter in the car. She was hit so hard the car was propelled into oncoming traffic. They didn't have a scratch. And yep, also got the 200,000 miles out of her. That wasn't a car, it was a tank.
One of the best cars I’ve ever owned.
What about Lexus? They are kings.
@@dragospahontu I've never owned a Lexus. I really want an LS 430.
@@corychecketts Same, I passed an early 2000s generation ls in black colour today, and damn, it looked like a mafia car for a second there.
@@dragospahontu I'm happy to report that I picked up a GX 460 and it's as robust as my 240.
@@corychecketts nice
as a 26 year owner of 240's and multiple cars this is one of the best 240 series programs I have seen. We all know the info but it's good to watch. It's like watching a biography about one of your favorite people.
I live in The Netherlands and the 240 was sold quite a lot and wagons the most in later years. Loads of the 4 cilinder models were converted to run on LPG and did starship mileage. It's still very common to see one for sale with at least 500k km on them and still for decent money. Great cars,great wagons.
Revision for poster.The 240 was made from 1974-1993 not 1975 I drove a orange 74 GL (Gran Lux) and it was a tank that always was ready to travel.Still drive a 89 wagon and will be in my estate inventory one day
I just converted my 244 from a four-speed automatic to the M47 Five-speed manual! She is a Gold 1991 clean girl who I will never sell! Just a summer car now. Car gets attention everywhere I drive it.
Any advice for someone trying to do the same swap?
@@serg2057 Sure! There are certain parts that are getting hard to find. Specifically, the foam boot that goes in between the transmission and the tunnel. The part number is 1371737. I got lucky. I found one on the West Coast in Cali, still in the original bag. It was the last one that guy had in stock. You need that part or the road noise will be so loud, there will basically just be a hole in your car. Other than that, the process was not that hard. Had to drill one small hole in the firewall for the clutch cable. But it looks like it is factory done, you would never be able to tell. We used a template from the doner car to trace the clutch cable hole so it came out perfect. The actual process of dropping the automatic and inserting the manual transmission was not hard at all. We did prep the m47 before putting it in. Washed it, changed the fluid, new clutch, new shift boot for the inside. Take both front seats out too. You have to move the carpets around. I also took the drive shaft off the doner car, sanded it and painted it black. Looks mint. I just drove my 240 today and you could never tell it started life off as an automatic. Love that car. Good luck! Definitely worth the time and effort. Took about a month from start to finish working on the weekends. I do have a lift and a shop which made this easier.
The aftermarket for these cars in the performance department is surprisingly impressive. I've overhauled the suspension on mine and it handles like a dream. With suspension from IPD or some other aftermarket maker, these things are surprisingly quick in the corners. You can catch a lot of people off guard with it
i really like this presenter's delivery. I like how he does not speak fast or in over exaggerated tones like we see on youtube so much. Knew his stuff and was easy to understand. Good work hagerty, keep this presenter around
I took my drivers license road test in my mom's silver '89 240 5 speed wagon. It was such a great car. In college she'd occasionally make me drive it to class in bad weather because she didn't really trust my $50 Toyota if I were to get in an accident. That Volvo did a lot of donuts in the campus lot on snowy days. Ha!
I had a used brick red `83 245 DL in the early/mid 90s. One of the few cars I really bonded with.
My dad worked at Volvo. As a result me, his daughter, has inherited that virus😊. We are now doing a full restoration of my 1979 245. I like the older models more, the ones with the chrome. My car will be good as new for the next 30 years😊😊😊. Love the 480 also. Very unpractical, but soooooo fast😆.
As a full time Firefighter, I responded to a head-on between a Chevelle and a 79 245. The woman driver of the Volvo was 8 months pregnant and walked away, shaken but un-injured. The Chevelle driver, not so much. That’s when I bought our first Volvo.
My 240 just rolled over to 270k miles and is still running strong. It’s an amazing car that I drive every single day.
My first car was a 1980 Volvo sedan. I took a bunch of crap for it in high school, but I ended up loving it. I paid around $125 for it and it lasted years until I sold it.
Who the hell would make fun of a Volvo 240
@@kilroywashere9343 daddy's money. People who think they're better than an honest, reliable fun little car. Just because daddy can buy them a 2006 Nissan Altima they think they're too cool for a 1985 little badass Volvo 😂
@@kilroywashere9343
Only dolts who go for their taste from those who have none.
@@kilroywashere9343 - Fool ignorant people. 1980 GL stick transmission. 1982 turbo with lots of power. They get lots of attention wherever a go or park them., and I'm very happy with the half million miles on the sedan and 200K on the turbo.
I had a 240DL. I now realize how great that car was. I see old Volvos here and there today and they still have that old-school cool factor.
I had a 1985 740, picked up for 700$ in great condition with 330'000km and ran absolutely perfect. Not fast, but quite economical and smooth long stroke 4cyl and could cruise with 5 big adults and luggage at 120kmh very comfortable. Sold it because i only needed it temporary, or I would have used it for many years.
740 is galvanized body as well, so overall can last forever
I wish i never found this video. you made me cry. If they made one new exactly same technology would buy one tomorrow. Please don't forget the 7 and 9 series.
Both my daughters first cars were used 240's, one wagon, one sedan. After replacing overdrive solenoids in each, they both performed admirably. Only knock I have is - all the plastic trim was shite. Seemed every time you touched a piece of 10 - 12 year old trim, it would break off in your hands.
Very true about the plastic trim!
The b pillar trim in my car is slowly falling off each day
Plastic was bad back then in general, and if a Volvo is in the sun in america all the time its gonna dry out quicker
This is one reason why I love 740/940s. They have all the basic durability of the 240 series with better interior quality and an improved electrical system.
That's normal for any plastic to be fair (I own a Mk3 Golf from 97) need to be very delicate hah.
Let my 83 240D wagon go at 417000 kms. Still solid, no door sag everything worked, and was totally reliable. A great car!
Speaking of later (probably rebuilt Volvo's) Me myself own a 2017 GTI Clubsport at round 300 hp and been smoked by some rebuilt absolute whack 740 here in Sweden.. Since then iv tuned it and are at 360hp 460+ torque, so im lookin forward to meet him again. But tell you what, it was the coolest race i ever had so i gave him a big fat thumbs up! 👍
Exactly , but ......
You kinda glossed over some amazing features.
Also , I outran a small town law enforcement officer one time . It was beastly in a tank of a car sort of way.
Not to mention it had the tightest turning radius of any car I ha e ever owned .
Great cars .
And the timing belt takes about an hour to change after you have done it a time or two . It takes longer to gather up the proper tools to change the brakes than it does to actually change the brakes .
I miss mine
I've had several 122s, two 240s and a 960. I loved every one of them!
My dad had a 240 in the 80s, then another, then a 740 then a 940 then a V70 and now 2x XC60s.... I think he’s a Volvo person!
He can get help for that. Maybe it's time for an intervention! lol
Have a 92 240 with 400k+ miles, two years ago picked up a 96 960 undern100k miles. I still regret passing up on an Amazon, Bertone, and P1800. I don’t have a big garage or yard. Otherwise it would be full of Volvos.
@@rolo_pabbs You're a bugger for punishment! lol
You better want to double-check that with a V90! Or maybe a Polestar?
He is!
My late Father had the 245 estate (“wagon” in US parlance). He had a lates seventies blue 245 followed by a green later eighties model, their registrations were TCN 4S and B906 HNL. Those cars are stamped into my psyche as indelibly as my childhood home, my friends, my first crush, my love of my football team. These cars are simply a connection to my late father that I’ll never lose. When I see one driving past, it’s like I’m seeing him again. It’s that’s strong a link. And even though he also had G436 SJR (a 700 series) after the green one, it’s always the 245s that I remembered most fondly. Good old cars. Volvo just isn’t what it was anymore sadly.
I had a 1979 240 that I inherited off my dad. He bought it new. What a fantastic car. It looked gorgeous. Later, in the 80's, they were a bit too squarish. Easy for me to work on. A cavernous engine compartment. I regret selling it but with my business I had to have a van right away. Still ran great at over 200,000 miles - not km.
"If this doesn't make you a Volvo person, you will never be a Volvo person." Couldn't agree more. The immortal brick!
More of a 7 series fan. Driving my 2nd 740 wagon., with no immediate plans of letting it go,
I have a 92 244 with the auto, it's a surprisingly enjoyable car to drive for the lack of power and the slushy auto.
Much of what can be said about the 240 can also be said about the 740; I've owned my 1990 740 wagon for 18 years now. It's an excellent car :)
Yea, our 240 was in a barn for 11 years and started after airing the fuel lines and replacing fuses and the battery
I sold my '84 Benz w123 with 4-speed manual trans, and soon after lucked out and found a '90 Volvo 240DL wagon with 5-speed manual, and minimal rust. I already love the Volvo, and prefer driving it to the Mercedes. The Volvo 240 is strangely satisfying, exactly as espoused in this video.
My first volvo was a 1990 240 DL and I loved it. Very comfortable but it had a very bad rattle impossible to get rid of it. So I rented a 850 in 1994 for four years and then bought a brand new 1999 S70 that I kept for 21 years. It reached 355,000 km without any major problems. No rust, no problem with the electronics. I do miss the headlight wipers, the handling, the comfort of the seats and the headroom in my new American luxury car though.
A friend had an ‘81 2 door and after 10 years it made its way around other families in the neighborhood. I had an ‘87 245 that I bought for $2700, put 200k on and after 14 years sold for $1500. When I heard the new owner was having trouble with it my wife (!) suggested I buy it back but when I offered he absolutely refused, said he loved it too much.
They get into your soul.
It's fun with a video like this. I use to make them at Volvos plant in Gothenburg. I vas in on the 740/940 line putting them together. Sometimes they borrowed me to build 240.
So mayby you were assembling my 1993 Volvo 940 ?
@@otom20 I quit the job 11/92. So maybe my hands has done some assembly on your car. We produce 93 models in 92. Sometimes it takes time to get the cars to sales around the world. We usually had lean production. Only the cars that had been ordered from dealers where produced. So every car had her destination named already in the cart that follow the car in the production line. We already know. Aa this one is going to Australia, this one is going to California, this one is going to Norway, this one is going to Spain, this one is going to Denmark, and so on and on and on.
@@Ronnymikkonen2686 Nice. My car first sold to Germany and later imported to Finland.
@@otom20 I remember that, California car's always had every option you can imagine. Every Car going to Norway had nothing, no extra options what so ever. But they always had the Turbo charger installed. Nothing else. Maybe they could sell them little bit sheaper because of that. Car's cost fortune in Finland And Norway and Denmark. Because of taxes. Every Option cost several times more in those countries.
That era of Volvos is what I always think of when I do think of Volvos.
I got my 1988 240 DL from the factory and had it delivered to Italy. First day drive at 80 mph for 500 miles, 2 nd day 90 mph for 500 miles. 1000 miles service in Germany. My was a 5 speed and after it was service red line the tech in 4 th, slide it in 5th and just ranned it. It would past the end of the speedometer. It was not as fast as my Alfa, but it would carry my family vacations at 115 mph all day long. It was a great car. At 215,000 miles I finally gave to a church for action for the church. It was still running like new. I will miss this car.
An LS engine fits into these better than the original Volvo engine. I had a 1991 that I had cleaned up and made a very nice car with the stock engine. The plan was to LS swap it, but some kid offered me more than I had in the car so I let it go before I started the swap.
My mom drove turbo Volvo wagons when I was young and they were glorious machines imo. So comfortable, enough torque to get out of its way and so safe to be in. I still keep my eye out for a nice wagon like this.
Yes! Thoroughly enjoyed. I've never had a Volvo brick, but have always considered them and one day I'm sure I will. Nice to have an inside look at the quirks and the strengths. If this video were twice as long, I would happily watch. Please keep them coming!
Just sold my 88 240 wagon because i needed AC, already having regrets! Currently driving a 760 turbo wagon and an 850 wagon. Volvo Family for life!
Growing up in Sweden born in 1987. This car is like grandmas pancakes.
Volvo took me everywhere in my childhood. Dad first drove a 145 then 245, 745 etc.
Now I am about to get a car... I think its gonna be a 245.
I have a 240 Turbo, around 250+ hp, love it, bought it 20 years ago.
Was not a fan of the design when I was four years old and having one
as a matchbox toy back in the late 1980's. But it's growing on me for a real one.
I wish Volvo was still like this instead of the anonymous vehicles it has now.
Agreed. Volvo has lost it's soul. Now, they're just like any other car company.
same
Respectfully disagree. Have you seen the 2020 V60? Sexiest car for sale in the last half decade.
I love the p2 and p3s. The new platform(spa platform) looks good and has everything the modern upper-middle class seeks, but im not super sold on it either. They look sexy, they drive real damn good, yet no cool sound. I'll sti buy one of the v60 polestars(t6 awd I'm not trying to fix a hybrid car) but geely does seem to be letting volvo do their own thing so far.
I like the new Volvos. Maybe better than the old ones. The new ones have a distinct, creased yet modern look to them and I don't think they're anonymous at all. One day these will become classic Volvos after the EV generation Volvo takes over. Everything becomes classic and loved at some point. The new Volvos, IMO, have the same feel and spirit of the older ones. In fact, when I test drove an s60 I thought of how much it reminded me of a 164 E I had. It was more updated in terms of dynamic qualities and sound insulation. But there was something about the feel that was a part of this car as well.
If Volvo had the 240 now they'd be a laughing stock and out of business. You have to update your cars and follow trends. What bothers me more is that the wagons aren't selling and Volvo is now a crossover company mostly.
240s and 740s are perfect.
850 T5-R is
@@pinut187 Great car, but real Volvos are rear wheel drive
960 baby
@@vyrnmn 850 is a real Volvo
@@mstrshkbrnnn1999 eh. It's just the 240s replacement
Really great presentation. Great info, simple to follow, and well made. Not over the top, and the presenter is great at doing what he does. I’d like to see these videos made for many different cars.
loved my 242 lived in Colorado at the time and it was a beast in the winter, many trips for back-packing and skiing.
In fact , they started already in 59 when volvo got money from pensionfunds in sweden . That was the start of 140 s . The 240 was derived from the 140 but in a modern technology such as McPhearson struts an rack and pinionsteering . Talking about rearends , the early 264s had 8 different rearends !
You have a great understanding, what a 240 truly is. And on most parts, it applies to 740 too, which is technically speaking the same car. Those were my first cars and I'm die hard volvoniac since. Across the 850 I'm now at P2 V70 and I couldn't be happier. The P2 is the modern 240. The basic characteristics are the same but it's a technically modern car. Yet not overcomplicated, it's dead realiable and safe and relatively cheap to maintain if you don't buy certain versions.
I HAD A 4 DOOR 240 SEDAN. BOUGHT IT NEW. KEPT IT OVER 10 YEARS. BEAUTIFUL CAR. NOT SUPER CHEAP TO MAINTAIN, BUT LASTED FOREVER. NOT A TON OF POWER BUT I WOULD BUY ONE AGAIN.
I worked in 1976 + for a Volvo + Pontiac, Honda and GMC dealer. I had a 242 GTas a Demo. What a wonderful car . My first car was a PV 544 B 16 Volvo 1959.
I have had my 1992 240 for almost 12 years! It's looking a little worse for wear, but I love the thing. This video really makes me want to get it back into the shape it was when I got it.
I’m a 940 person myself. Best car.
My ‘90 240DL is my daily and my first car. I absolutely adore it and after join a group, it’s refreshing to know that I’m not the only crazy one and that’s why I love every minute of it. Everywhere I go, it puts a smile on people’s faces and everyone in my town that has driven one, just loves that I’m driving it daily. Well worth the money if you want to get one and maintain it.
I have a '84 with the b23a and an AW71 transmission. It is such a delight to drive, it makes you relaxt and confident on the road. In fact it makes you so confident you take it offroad and it's amazing in the dirt
If the heater fan failed, be prepared to take apart the front seats and the entire front dash just to get to the fan.
Just had my ‘93 240 blower go out Friday. Dropping it off tomorrow to be replaced 😭😭😭
@@cwdunn2100 Even if it's a bit time consuming, in my opinion it's not a big deal. Most screws and bolts are easily accessible and it's relatively self-explanatory.
But I highly recommend to remove the dash. Some instructions say it's unnecessary, but you will have more clearance, better view and it's just more comfortable to work from above, no need to crawl and bend your body in the footwell.
On the 740 it's a 5min job. Strange when everything else is so similar
My parents bought a brand-new 245DL for my mom in 1978. In 1979, the blower fan broke. It was still broken when my sister got rid of the car in 1997.
Nah not needed. You can access it from the lower part behind the heater/ac control just release it and tilt gently, left and right cover panel, the glovebox for more accesibility and dismount the complete heater. disassemble the heat unit, replace the fan motor and reassemble in reverse order. All in all, it takes about an hour.
By the way, the V6 ones had horrendous engines that had lots and lots of problems. And the diesel was so slow, first time I drove one I turned around and asked the owner if the engine was shot. It really, really struggled. You want the 4 cylinder petrol engines in that car.
The V6 was the same as in the DeLorean -the PRV-engine: Peugeot, Renault and Volvo collaboration.
Not the best Volvo-engine there is, probably one of the worst.
Just wanted to thank you for making this video it's given my channel some attention! I love these cars!
Man! I had a 4 cylinder '94 and I remember fitting a fridge once and a bath tub on other occasion. The only thing I complained was how fast the brakes would wear. Loved it and I have not seen any other van/SUV that can fit as much stuff as this one.
Thanks for this clip! 240s only die the death of corrosion. As many here already stated, the humble appearence makes it very lovable. Heard soo many who owned and sold that regrets it. Keeping mine until end of days.
I agree with some of the other comments on here - In it’s day, the 240 was one of the best cars money could buy. Volvo followed up with the 740, 960 and superb V70 and V90 - all brilliant, well made, practical and high quality estate cars.
Never owned a 240 but I did have two ‘88 740 GLE and a turbo. Very simple vehicle. Engine bay had so much space. Built like a tank. As you said no major problems until about 250k miles.
The 1981 245DL my wife grew up with is parked on my curb, still chugging along.
Some of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Still own a 93 244 and a 92 245.
My favorite Volvos... 122S (my first car), P1800, 145, 164 , Duett.
my father gave me one when i started working in a body repair shop. Its a matte black sedan, which reaks of old tobacco, it has its wear and tear. But its mine. its a hideous looking but at the same time tacky in a way that makes kids turn their heads, turning the next generation into gearheads. I LOVE IT
Born and raised an American Hot Rod guy my whole life. At 30 I had a kid and wanted my son to be safe in a vehicle. Bought a 240GL brand new for 20K. All the bells and whistles. BEST CAR I EVER OWNED, to this day. Only sold it cuz we had twins a year later and didn't have enough room. If I could find a low mileage specimen today I would buy it in a heartbeat!
I've always wanted one! In the 80's my friend's dad was a Volvo freak and kind of a hoarder, he had 20 of them in his backyard in various conditions and knew prety much everything about them.
I have one ^^
Some of the infos aren't correct tho (the rear bushings, the ones he pointed are impossible to kill, the ones that fails are on the axle itself)
Also the 5 speed is weaker than the 4 + OD.
Beware of rust.
1030 VS 1031, the number of ribs is useless, best way is to open the rear diff cover.
I have every US-market Volvo from the PV544 to the 940, with multiples of some. I noticed these inaccuracies in the video as well. He also says that Volvo realized by the late 60's that their cars were slow and heavy. The 544, Amazon and 1800 were barely 2,000 lbs and not overly slow compared to the average 60's car. He also says they went from 2.1 liter to 2.3 in 1986, it was actually '85. Other than that I'd say it was a fairly accurate overview. He says 240's don't handle well, I disagree, but that's somewhat subjective. A stock 240 has a lot of body roll but it takes a LOT to actually lose any grip. I personally enjoy their handling, both on my stock and upgraded cars, and I tend to corner pretty hard.
I think the aim here is at the stock car. The M47 is "weaker," but not really in a manner that matters at stock power levels. The M46, regardless of power level, WILL have OD problems at some point. Granted, I put a Getrag 265 in mine, so I'm not in love with either box.
@@oakenshielddufresne2494 totally agree with you on handling. My 240 handles well but very much as you would expect, its not quick but it has lots of grip and is very fun to drive at a pace. The handling characteristics are pretty good both as an empty car and when I have 4 friend riding along with me. I just got my steering rack rebuilt but a week after I did I found a quick ratio rally steering rack for my 240 and couple that to yoshifab quick steer roll correction id imaging it to be genuinely a goof handling car.
The m90ml2 5 speed is a superior gearbox
@@corystansbury Yes, I agree on the gearboxes.
If you're a bit careful to the fifth gear of the M47, it won't make any problems. Early M47 are a bit weaker than the later version with different/updated needle bearings.
If I remember right, M45, M46 and M47 are more or less the same 4-speed gearbox, but the M46 with OD and M47 with fifth gear connected afterwards.
Volvo 240. The best car there ever was. And nobody, NO ONE will ever change it. Volvo 240 is the best car ever made. Coming from a swedish guy driving a 940. Son of a man who worked on volvo in the late 80s and early 90s
Why is 240 better than 940 ? Hard to believe that.
I'm 940 owner of almost 10 years.
If anyone is wondering where this was filmed it was filmed in Nyack/Congers/West Nyack, NY. I know because I live there
I love the 240 series. I learned to drive in a round-headlight 240. I think it had a 2.1 Litre engine with Auto 'box, and back then when you floored it, it would gather speed nicely. Great Cars. :)
I've had numerous 240s, and I loved them all. Great cars.
I've owned at least 10 different Volvos. My 144, 245's were the best all around vehicles. They ran for 200,000 miles. Oh by the way, I still own Volvos. The XC 70 AWD and S60 T.
LOVE the Volvo 240 and the Saab 900. A couple of my all-time favorites.
I got a 940 as my first car. So far it's been great. The locking rear diff also makes winter driving a lot of fun.
My daily driver is a 1992 white 240 .. blue on blue interior .. automatic . ❤ IT !