Need guidance on selecting a Volvo 240

I'll try not to get this too wordy.

I'm looking to buy a Volvo 240. Actually a 245 I guess since I want a wagon (I'm a cyclist and need to haul my bike).

Here in Texas there are a moderate number to choose from without much concern for rust issues.

My goal is to do a street suspension setup, some nice rolling stock, and drive it. A lot. No track duty. I'm middle age, well past hoonery.

Maintenance and repair is a non issue. If parts are available for whatever problem arises, I can fix it.

I've worn my eyes raw reading various boards on brick Volvos. TurboBricks is okay I guess but there's a lot of chop the springs till it sits on the bump stops and hella flush and all that crap. BrickBoard seems really low traffic.

I'm happy with a non turbo car. Standard or automatic makes no difference to me really. I want mileage and durability (along with that boxy Volvo eccentric vibe)

Question.....is there any compelling reason to seek out any particular year model ? Early round headlight cars are a bit rare and probably not going to be in the mix simply due to rarity.

If you're not modifying, IMO newer is more likely to not be a POS, barring the usual outliers.

An acquaintance bought a '92 wagon at an estate auction for a pittance. Under 40k miles and looks new inside and out.

I would say late 80's-early 90's.

The newer the better. A newer 5 spd will be an M47, which is a true 5 spd, not the 4 spd, plus OD M46.

Volvo autos are supposed to be pretty reliable.

They didn't change much. Some people make a big deal about the 93 "Classic" cars, so you may want to avoid from a pricing perspective.

Anything 1988 and after. Previous years had "biodegradable" wiring harness meaning the insulation on the wires sucked. The late models are the best. We can get further into it but really anything newer than 1987 and your okay. Autos are almost stronger than the manuals (both are weak trans) but its like freaking legos, parts within 20 or so years interchange so you can build whatever you want out of junkyard parts.

Btw they are all 4speed plus od, the m47 just has a "5th" gear that selects od where the m46 has a push button od. All manuals are made of glass, not saying they are bad just saying be a civilian and they wont break.

None get great mpg but ive heard of guys eeking out 30mpg with megasquirt and manual trans, if you want boxy you want a 700/900 series, 240s are rounded boxes...as I stare at my 245 turbo in the yard missing my 740...

I've owed (all 240s) two 84s, an 86, and a 92. I liked the 92 best except the knee bolsters made it harder to work under the dash where a lot of the relays are located. Working on them is easy except for the blower motor so make sure it works.

chiodos wrote: None get great mpg but ive heard of guys eeking out 30mpg with megasquirt and manual trans,

I drove a 740 Turbo (manual trans) wagon for about 200 miles and it only took 6.6 gallons to top off the tank.

For what that's worth.

Actually, come to think of it, I think that was your car at one point.

I like this thread because a 240 wagon is something I always search for on CL but don't know anything about.

Having owned both, I will say that the 740/940 is a much nicer car and seems to be easier to find in great shape for very little money. It's quieter, smoother, more refined, has better options available, and to be honest, you don't seem to lose much long-term reliability by going with a Turbo.

I don't mind the automatic. The M46 has an annoying shift knob and OD solenoid that likes to wear out, and the M47 isn't super durable.

The previously mentioned wiring harness of the mid eighties cars is a real issue, and a pain to fix. The blower motor is a huge pain to fix, but not expensive. A/C fixes can get expensive in a hurry, so buy a working converted one. All non-diesels are non-interference motors.

Fun fact: these wagons would be in the top 8 smallest turning circles of new cars today, beating out cars like the Mazda 2 and MINI Cooper.

I had a 240 DL wagon with a manual and am a bike guy. Rarely ever put a bike in the back unless it was raining however it was great to just pitch all the bike gear in the back. I used an inexpensive Allen 103 bike rack on the hatch. I liked the car a lot and used it as my DD for about a year then kept it around for a couple more years and never had problems with it but life's too short to drive a soccer mom car so I moved on.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to give me the responses. The wiring harness deal sounds significant enough to make the decision between two otherwise equal cars. I've been daily driving a Honda Element for 135k miles and I am just about worn out with how mundane it is. After a lifetime of driving the oldest car in most any parking lot, my time behind the wheel of the Element has about killed my soul.

I'm looking to do basic stuff like suspension overhaul with drop coils, urethane bushings, Bilsteins, and some nicer wheels. Nothing too extreme, just a clean lowered wagon.

And the wagon deal is non negotiable. I don't transport my bikes anywhere except inside the car. Hence the current Element. I ride expensive old bikes and there's no way I will go up and down the road with them hanging off the back or on top of the car. Just my personal deal, most people think I'm extreme that way.

Again, thanks to all who took time to offer input on this.

Biodegradable wiring is why I had to stop driving my Quantum. If you can avoid it, do so. Running one wire is one thing... having to do wiring repair every time you move something because the insulation is brittle like uncooked spaghetti and the wires are corroded because they got moisture wicking through the cracks in the insulation, is a different story.

And those wiring repairs are cascading. To repair one wire you end up repairing/replacing ten.

That really hurt, because I wanted to see 400k on the chassis before I put it down.

I personally prefer the looks of the 90-93 final iteration of the 245 with the flush mounted rear window. That hatch can be bought and swapped onto any of them. The 240s are all getting pretty old now. I'd stick to the very last of the breed.

But I think you'd be nuts not to look seriously at a 940 turbo wagon. They have the power that makes them acceptable cars. The 240 is a great car, but it's slow. Decent 240s are also starting to attract money. The 940 is still not cool enough to cost anything.

A part of me is attracted to the 240, but I'll chime in with the others that suggest the 945, especially the 945T. I thoroughly enjoyed mine and would probably still have it if not for the need of a larger vehicle.

Ayers_Garage wrote: I'm middle age, well past hoonery.

I do not comprehend your statement.

You guys are losing me with the steerage towards to 7/900 cars. No matter how hard I look at them and squint my eyes, I just can't get interested. I guess there's no reasoning for what a person's heart wants.

I've got 25 years of driving real weird daily's including VW's with 40 hp and other various cars with 6V electrical systems and vacuum wipers. Keeping anything in good order and improving it over time is just a path I tend to gravitate down. The Honda Element was strictly a diversion to carry my growing daughters around in. That time is now past and my wife has a CRV for those duties when seldom needed. It's time for me to get my funk on again now, automotively speaking.

Am I weird that I get excited about large boxes from Rockauto with ball joints, gaskets, seals, and bushings ? I'm itching to rebuild brake calipers. Can't wait to scrape old gaskets. Breathless with anticipation for chasing annoying interior water leaks ?

Sounds like a volvo is perfect for you.

Oh I get it. The 700/900 is superior to the 240 in most every way but soul. So stick with the 240.

Every single 240 I've driven has lots of valve train noise and piston slap. If It sounds like a diesel, that's normal in my experience.

From a style standpoint I prefer the flathood single round headlight look, and the early tail rear. And really, if you don't mind wrenching there isn't much better about a 93 than a 76. Well, some people don't like the K-Jet fuel injection but it seems to work fine once sorted.

Avoid the 1975. The first year was a crossover model from the 145 with lots of year-specific parts. Also avoid the 4-speed. It gets really loud on the freeway.

I actually think a 145 with an OD and A/C would be a great daily driver for the south.

Yeah kjet kinda sucks if you don't know what your doing but once sorted are trouble free. A good cleaning and new seals goes a long way.

I'm with you on the 2xx over the 700/900. To me those look like an attempt to look more modern, with angular shapes rather than boxes. Future project for me is an LS / 240 wagon.

My parents had a few 240s when I was growing up. Last one put 210k on from 1987 through 1998, when it was destroyed in a tornado.

Well if you get one and want a few parts let me know. I had a couple and still have a few parts. Two guage sets (1 early and one late - both with tachs), distributor of a B23E, etc.

My new 94 940 turbo, got it for 600, first week haven't really torn into it and have gotten 21.6 mpg

My new 94 940 turbo, got it for 600, first week haven't really torn into it and have gotten 21.6 mpg