For 1985, you could get the D24T turbo version in both the 745GLE and 765GLE, but it was slightly de-tuned to 109 hp in the 745GLE as opposed to 122 hp for the 765GLE.
I don't see that many these days either, especially those with the quad sealed beam headlights from the early to mid 1980s. Occasionally but all 1980s Volvos are becoming a rarity. Then again, consider most of these wagons are around 30 years old, and one really doesn't see many 30+ year old cars on the road of any kind. The square, upright Volvo wagons were ubiquitous back in the 1980s, especially in the Northeast USA where Volvo still has a strong following. I always appreciated the understating styling of these cars, and the robust design meant that they were usually good for well over 200,000 miles or more. One could NOT always say that about the period American wagons that ruled the suburban driveways back then, particularly the GM A-car wagons (Celebrity/Century/Cutlass Ciera/6000), and original Taurus/Sable wagons. Surprisingly the 240s were also good in bad weather, at least compared to other rear drive cars, perhaps a result of where they were built. Volvo was ahead of the curve when it came to safety, sometimes to a fault, but I always thought of these cars as being solid, roomy, comfortable and safe. 0-60 in 15 seconds is a bit hard to swallow, however...
BloomingOnion Most cars back then were very slow, but I'd say this was even on the slow end of that scale. Once you got up to highway speeds, though, it was pretty smooth and didn't have that falling-apart feeling that many cars had back then.
I have the 1984 sedan version of this car. Family bought it almost new in 1985, and I've had it since 1991. It has 371,000+ miles on the original and unrepaired engine and tranny. Slow and square. Safe and reliable.
Nate L - because goddamn Hipsters. “Brown AND manual trans AND 0-60 in 15 seconds??? That’ll match perfectly with my b-sides vinyl colllection and garish socks!!” This car and an E30 M3 or a Fiero in the garage = a Jalopnik editors wet dream.
I love the sound of a Diesel. I used to work at a service station and we had a 7.3 Diesel wrecker I would drive. The Cummins 12 valve sounds great too. My favorite though is the Detroit Diesel 2 stroke as far as sound goes.
These things were the yuppie mobile for the time. For a reason - built like tanks and safe, nice interior, alt to 300D wagons, so functional, great freeway cruisers. Icon.
Those headrests would save your neck in a rear end collision, but you can also see through them when changing lanes. Every detail of these cars was so well planned for their time. If I could find one today with cloth seats (the most comfortable seats ever) , I think I'd swap my car for it.
Lord Volvo on my third volvo...first 2 were totaled years apart first by a drunk driver, second by someone texting and driving...walked away from both and was more than a little pissed off losing a 240 and a 740...life man
CLASSIC! I had this car in college, but in sedan form. 1985 DL. Tan over brown velour. I called her Cocoa. Loved that car. It was mint condition and you'd be surprised how many compliments it got. Very reliable. The AC and electrical wiring were terrible, but otherwise these cars were tanks. 300k miles? No problem. I could never squeeze more than 25mpg out of it though. I hated that as a broke college student. If I could buy one brand new right now in 2018, I'd drop the coin for one. Worth every penny.
Rust, electrical gremlins, and problematic AC system were the most common issues on this generation (pre-'86) that I'm aware of. Rust proofing was improved with 1986 models and electrical issues seemed less common. The AC in these cars was always terrible. If you can find one clean and in good running order, BUY IT.
tanishmahamuni Some common rust spots are along the rocker panels, maybe rear wheel wells, and last but not least the spare wheel tubs. Oh, also watch out for a broken heater/ac fan, those are a bitch to replace since you have to remove the whole dash to get at it. Here in Sweden where the issue is well known, people sometimes sell the whole car rather than to fix that one "simple" thing, car workshops can also refuse to do it for you lol
If you look at automatics, make sure the transmission has been kept up with. They can get funky and aren't fun to repair. Also make sure the electrical system is in good shape. They were made with crap and degraded causing lots of issues.
I'd love it if they brought back elements of this design on a new model, like Mini has done. This was their look for years. Now they're just like other cars.
You'd be surprised though. There are some boxy, or at least angular, shapes which they've managed to make aerodynamic. Some sedans which don't look too aerodynamic can be more so than some sports cars (or at least I remember the Lexus LS being one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time yet it did not look it at ALL). I have faith someone could be creative enough to keep the iconic look but do something new with it! It's such a shame Volvo completely abandoned the boxy look, though they used to be raked over the coals for their designs so I understand why they did it. Still, it had a following. Was the 240 their iconic car like the Mini or the Beetle? I say yes!
DDM7406 I think the likelihood is pretty low though, since Volvo is going after the high-end now. But who knows, one day maybe they will do a nostalgia car if we're lucky. ;)
Most have been crushed due to that bullshit cash for clunkers nonsense...and many of those vehicles have been repossessed as they had no business buying a new car in the first place let alone making payments. Lost of good older vehicles died a very early death thanks to that bullshit program.
My father had one of those and it was a tank. It was very similar to the car he’s having in the studio automatic gearbox B20 engine and a whole lot of fun. I’ve even did my first driving lessons in it sitting on my fathers lap steering what I thought then the huge car and later driving it on the dirt road up to my grandma’s house It was some great time to drive up and park it like a pro every time. I was only 9-13-14 when I was driving that Volvo it was the good old days. I wished I had it today what a tank. Rusty yes but still a tank.
My 1970 Volvo 144 had double-system (4 pistons per wheel on 2 fully separate systems) power assisted disk brakes all around, and a pressure-reducing system for the rear brakes. Volvo's design goals were leading the industry in safety, the RIGHT value for automobiles.
My second car was an 84 240 gl wagon. Some of the most fun and memorable moments of my life happened in that car. Best turning radius of any car I've owned and that includes my current 2017 mirage(though not by much). I loved it so much I got VOLVO tattooed on my arm. I hope to one day own another just like it, though I doubt I'll be able to find one in the same condition mine was in for the $1180 I paid in 2005.
I've had my '91 245 for 10 years now and she is about to flip 350k. She is a blessing in your face :) If only everything in life was as reliable and comfortable
These things really had a ton of usefully shaped cargo space. I once put a 14.5 cu ft chest deep freezer in mine. A single bed mattress would fit flat on the floor with the door closed. Really comfortable seats, too.
I don't see many in my area of the USA. There are mostly Volvos from the early 200s, 2010s and the current batch of crossover with few current sedans/wagons.
@@Remembering-rq6si Imagine being so arrogant and entitled that you think your opinion on who sleeps with whom should even matter enough to talk about it.
@@Remembering-rq6si Your version of "natural selection" is really just a code for trying to determine choice for everyone else, since you evidence concern others' choices, which to them, may be quite natural, despite your limited ability to conceive of that. The only way you are able to comfort yourself with others making choices you don't agree with and deal with the discomfort is to label it "group think". Maybe it's just others are more adventurous and open minded. You may even resent that others can exercise their freedoms more effectively that you will allow yourself to. Bottom line is, stay the hell out of the personal business of those who think differently and aren't a threat to you. You're entitled to prefer whatever you want for yourself, even if it's out of some bizarre bigotry. No one else is obligated to abide by any of it, no matter how much you hate it or hate whom they choose to be with. Bottom line is, you're too cognitively stunted to see any of it or know why you really think anything anyway. It just fun to write a spiel and picking on a-holes is fun.
Well, I'm a 1990s car guy, but I love the 1980s amaretto/medium caramel interior color finished in a nice leatherette upholstery which captured my attention! It looks 1980s nostalgic and classic! Thanks for the retro reviews and keep the train rolling! 😀💖☕🍩💯
Why would anyone be a 90s car guy? The 90s were literally the worst time for cars ever. Everything was becoming the same ugly bubble shape, the interiors were all the same ugly bubble shape, it's literally a terrible era for cars. The 80s had way more style and you had a ton of different looks on the road. Even the awful early 2000s, with as ugly as those bubble cars were, had at least better performance. The 90s stink for cars - and that was my teenage and early 20s years, right when I should have been dying for 90s cars. Except the '99 Trans Am 30th anniversary, that's a bad ass car.
The old quad light fascias on the Volvos were nice looking vehicles. When they went to the big projection headlights in the early 90's it killed the classic look.
They actually didn't handle that bad. They could fit in tight spaces due to their ridiculous small turning circle. They just had a lot of body roll and understeer.
We would all be better off if every manufacturer just took one of Volvo's (or Saab's) seats and copied them. I'll never forget driving 10.5 hours straight in my parents' Volvo XC70 and not feeling tired at all and then a couple of years later practically dying after 2-3 hour drives in their Subaru Outback. (Subaru has since built some better seats, though still nowhere near Volvo's level.)
Still around after all these years!! Also it’s funny how times have changed, manual was standard automatic optional, now automatic is standard and manual almost extinct!!
Americans can't drive sticks anymore. They no longer know what cruise control is for, either. Soon, power windows will be standard for safety, as melenials won't know how to operate a manual window crank. We just keep dumbing the cars down so we keep getting dumber and dumber. Next, we won't even be able to drive the car ourselves. The car will have to do the driving.
Remember when automatic transmissions were an extra cost? Now a manual is an extra cost...or well for the majority of people non-existent because they simple don't have a clue how to drive with one...err...rather lazy.
Well this brought back memories...my parents had a '81 240 wagon identical to the blue one in the opening segment. Manual with the push-button overdrive. It was one of the cars I learned to drive on (in addition to a manual '84 Pontiac Sunbird - good luck finding one of those in the wild anymore). I was hoping to inherit it once my parents got new cars, but rusted suspension components doomed it. Not sure how many miles it had on it but well over 200k. The odometer quit working at 188k, which I believe is a common issue for these cars as they got older.
lab1042 Odometer stops when you reset the tripmeter while driving. So not really Volvos's fault but people not thinking. I too learned it the hard way!
My parents had one new.... Drove it from Wisconsin to California during a blistering hot August. Traded it as soon as they got home on a Buick wagon with real A/C and the ability to merge into traffic without too much trouble.
While the curb weight of 3055 lb was considered substantial back in the day, it would be considered relatively lightweight by today's standards. Interesting that this old Volvo wagon weighs about the same as the current VW Golf GTI.
My grandmother in her old age accidentally drove over the edge of a scenic overlook in one of these. Went down a steep hill and hit a tree head on. Walked away. These cars are legendary.
Had both petrol and diesel 245s. Great cars. Roomy, comfortable, reliable and more enjoyable to drive than one might expect. Put 200k miles on the diesel bought used with 150k on the odo. It gave 30+ mpg in daily use. Top speed in the diesel was 80-85 mph on level roads. I have the ticket to prove it. Swapped out the vinyl seats for the much better cloth. Awful vinyl, don't know why he praises it.
This wagon was not available in GLE trim (2.8L V6 engine) after the end of 1980, but we did not first get the 765 GLE until the same year this program was broadcast.
They may be considered underpowered, but the fact is that these models were never built to be sporty or powerful. The first priority here was safety, and all the rest was put in second hand. Despite everything, these old bricks aren't as slow as many people think. I own a 1978 DL sedan with fuel injected and naturally aspirated engine, and 4-speed manual without overdrive, and it's surprisingly fast. It can easily cope with modern day traffic.
5:30. Woow. Back in 1985 I was not even aware Volvo sold the Wagon GL Diesel. Only found that out here just now in 2021. I would probably buy that Diesel wagon back then.
La mia prima Volvo è stata una 245 polar, macchina favolosa, l'ho venduta quando ho raggiunto e superato il mezzo milione di chilometri, l'ho cambiata con una 945 polar comprata nel '95 e messa a "riposo" con oltre un milione di chilometri giusto lo scorso anno.
Saw one of these in a rattle can matte black with a glossy grey coat underneath, on lowered springs, with 17 inch rims on. I would have tailed him to give him props on his car, but I was going out of town and he was going in.
My parents had a '92 which I borrowed to drive around North America in 2003. It was horribly dated by then, with an unrefined ride and totally outdated interior compared to newer cars, but the cargo area in these was ENORMOUS and a Volvo mechanic at the time admitted these were "much better built than the newer ones...it's a tank." I loved the boxy look and hope one day that Volvo may resurrect elements of this design for an entry-level car which to me is just as iconic as something like the Mini...but I won't hold my breath since Volvo has gone in a different direction now. The odometer stopped working around 200,000 km or something (I don't really remember) so by the time it was sold, it had much more than that but was still buttoned down nicely. One of the other funny things in these is the huge amount of empty space under the hood. You sure don't see that in modern cars!
I once heard a rumor that these cars were so reliable that Volvo was starting to loose money because no one was buying new ones. Also, that was the most savage opening line to an episode I've ever heard out of John Davis lol
Surprised to see a shovel nose still being made in 1985. Australian models already had the softer frontal treatment for a few years at this point. I saw a young woman driving one yesterday.
I once had a yellow 145 and just as I was finnished welding it up someone backed in to me at the gas station so I had to redo it. But yes we did make good cars over here as long as they still where Swedish and not sold out. I worked at a SAAB shop with a big Volvo dealer next door so i have seen a few
Why? The only difference between these and the modern ones is more mechanical complexity. But they're building on the durability they've learned over the years.
I believe the 240 is one of the best over all cars ever. I drive an 83 , 242DL everyday with nearly 300K on it. It is cheap to own and run , comfortable and easy to drive.
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Some say that diesel wagon is still idling..
Those Diesel Volvos were legendary, but for the wrong reasons.
@@midcenturymodern9330 I love this Volvo DL 85 wagon. I love Volvo classic cars
For 1985, you could get the D24T turbo version in both the 745GLE and 765GLE, but it was slightly de-tuned to 109 hp in the 745GLE as opposed to 122 hp for the 765GLE.
Make it stop.
Still see a few of these every week. Whether you like them or not, it's hard to deny that these things will never totally die off.
Ppl always say that, but I hardly see any 240s at all anymore. And I do notice most all cars driving down the road. They made those things thru '93.
Rob's Randomness They are a dying breed over here as well. The V70 P2 estate is the local hipster car right now over here.
Sedan57Chevy I actually like them. I always thought they were handsome, but of course they’re a little dated by now.
I don't see that many these days either, especially those with the quad sealed beam headlights from the early to mid 1980s. Occasionally but all 1980s Volvos are becoming a rarity. Then again, consider most of these wagons are around 30 years old, and one really doesn't see many 30+ year old cars on the road of any kind.
The square, upright Volvo wagons were ubiquitous back in the 1980s, especially in the Northeast USA where Volvo still has a strong following. I always appreciated the understating styling of these cars, and the robust design meant that they were usually good for well over 200,000 miles or more. One could NOT always say that about the period American wagons that ruled the suburban driveways back then, particularly the GM A-car wagons (Celebrity/Century/Cutlass Ciera/6000), and original Taurus/Sable wagons. Surprisingly the 240s were also good in bad weather, at least compared to other rear drive cars, perhaps a result of where they were built. Volvo was ahead of the curve when it came to safety, sometimes to a fault, but I always thought of these cars as being solid, roomy, comfortable and safe. 0-60 in 15 seconds is a bit hard to swallow, however...
BloomingOnion Most cars back then were very slow, but I'd say this was even on the slow end of that scale. Once you got up to highway speeds, though, it was pretty smooth and didn't have that falling-apart feeling that many cars had back then.
I have the 1984 sedan version of this car. Family bought it almost new in 1985, and I've had it since 1991. It has 371,000+ miles on the original and unrepaired engine and tranny. Slow and square. Safe and reliable.
Lord Volvo It is a death trap next to most modern cars. It would fail all offset crash tests without a doubt. That being said, impressive durability!
I'm an original, un-repaired tranny. 😁
Yep not enough power to damage itself LOL.
I'm looking to buy one, what are some common problems to look for?
@@wildbill23c I agree. My '90 740GL has pretty much the same engine with 275,000 miles and it still has the original U-joints! lol
I've got 335K miles on my 93 wagon, with the original engine. Daily driver and reliable on the highway.
I’m here for the Jalopnik crowd flocking to the holy grail, Brown RWD Wagon with M/T
why brown?
@@thenathanallan because brown
Nate L - because goddamn Hipsters. “Brown AND manual trans AND 0-60 in 15 seconds??? That’ll match perfectly with my b-sides vinyl colllection and garish socks!!” This car and an E30 M3 or a Fiero in the garage = a Jalopnik editors wet dream.
@@chrispotter3324 Don't forget the vw beetle for the weekends
Is it Jalop or Regular?
After the extended diesel idle at the end, you'd better be posting the long-termer video next!
jcb74 Ya right that diesel sounds like a European taxi! There were a lot of great diesel cars in the day. Look forward to the long term update ha.
@@Porsche996driver It's a VW van engine after all, right?
@@taunuslunatic404 Yup, it's the VW 1.6 diesel, with 2 extra cylinders.
Was feeling low today, but the sound of that diesel made me smile. Thanks.
I love the sound of a Diesel. I used to work at a service station and we had a 7.3 Diesel wrecker I would drive. The Cummins 12 valve sounds great too. My favorite though is the Detroit Diesel 2 stroke as far as sound goes.
I love and miss the old sound of the diesel engine!
@Doktor Hachi Roku The D24's are turds. I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road. The do have a nice sound though, I'll give you that.
I remember when cars were offered with diesel engines. Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen were the most successful. I'd love to see diesel make a comeback.
Jason Carpp I'm afraid VW ruined that with their emissions scandal, then the hybrids moved in. I'd prefer a diesel too.
I love how it was already old THEN. And this is 30+ years ago.
just bought myself an 85 DL sedan, its soo solid, so well thought off, so minimalistic. Its Terrific
These things were the yuppie mobile for the time. For a reason - built like tanks and safe, nice interior, alt to 300D wagons, so functional, great freeway cruisers. Icon.
Imagine that spending $13,000 on a car and being labeled a yuppie.
Those headrests would save your neck in a rear end collision, but you can also see through them when changing lanes. Every detail of these cars was so well planned for their time. If I could find one today with cloth seats (the most comfortable seats ever) , I think I'd swap my car for it.
The finest long lived machines ever built! Beautiful to drive ,superbly built!
If the apocalypse hits, this is the car for me.
weirdshibainu yup. The Day After.
Lord Volvo on my third volvo...first 2 were totaled years apart first by a drunk driver, second by someone texting and driving...walked away from both and was more than a little pissed off losing a 240 and a 740...life man
Imagine fixing up a 240 to look like it was pulled right out of Mad Max. Would be so cool.
Good choice, but I’ll be sticking to my Toyota Land Cruiser.
right on mad max drives a volvo
This is the car I learned to drive stick-shift on. I hated it as a teenager, but now as an adult/father I would love to own one of these again.
CLASSIC! I had this car in college, but in sedan form. 1985 DL. Tan over brown velour. I called her Cocoa. Loved that car. It was mint condition and you'd be surprised how many compliments it got. Very reliable. The AC and electrical wiring were terrible, but otherwise these cars were tanks. 300k miles? No problem. I could never squeeze more than 25mpg out of it though. I hated that as a broke college student. If I could buy one brand new right now in 2018, I'd drop the coin for one. Worth every penny.
I still have mine!
Rust, electrical gremlins, and problematic AC system were the most common issues on this generation (pre-'86) that I'm aware of. Rust proofing was improved with 1986 models and electrical issues seemed less common. The AC in these cars was always terrible. If you can find one clean and in good running order, BUY IT.
tanishmahamuni Some common rust spots are along the rocker panels, maybe rear wheel wells, and last but not least the spare wheel tubs.
Oh, also watch out for a broken heater/ac fan, those are a bitch to replace since you have to remove the whole dash to get at it. Here in Sweden where the issue is well known, people sometimes sell the whole car rather than to fix that one "simple" thing, car workshops can also refuse to do it for you lol
try to find a '93 model if you can, that was the send off year. Its the newest off all 240's and it has most of the issues worked out
If you look at automatics, make sure the transmission has been kept up with. They can get funky and aren't fun to repair. Also make sure the electrical system is in good shape. They were made with crap and degraded causing lots of issues.
Love these square Volvos. Real volvos in my opinion.
I'd love it if they brought back elements of this design on a new model, like Mini has done. This was their look for years. Now they're just like other cars.
Maestro_T yes! That would be so awesome, though it would be hard to presently do such a boxy shape and comply with standard aerodynamics.
You'd be surprised though. There are some boxy, or at least angular, shapes which they've managed to make aerodynamic. Some sedans which don't look too aerodynamic can be more so than some sports cars (or at least I remember the Lexus LS being one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time yet it did not look it at ALL). I have faith someone could be creative enough to keep the iconic look but do something new with it! It's such a shame Volvo completely abandoned the boxy look, though they used to be raked over the coals for their designs so I understand why they did it. Still, it had a following. Was the 240 their iconic car like the Mini or the Beetle? I say yes!
Maestro_T yeah. I guess it could be worked out.
DDM7406 I think the likelihood is pretty low though, since Volvo is going after the high-end now. But who knows, one day maybe they will do a nostalgia car if we're lucky. ;)
What an awesomely reliable brick that thing was! I'd bet half of them made are still on the road today.
Most have been crushed due to that bullshit cash for clunkers nonsense...and many of those vehicles have been repossessed as they had no business buying a new car in the first place let alone making payments. Lost of good older vehicles died a very early death thanks to that bullshit program.
My father had one of those and it was a tank. It was very similar to the car he’s having in the studio automatic gearbox B20 engine and a whole lot of fun. I’ve even did my first driving lessons in it sitting on my fathers lap steering what I thought then the huge car and later driving it on the dirt road up to my grandma’s house It was some great time to drive up and park it like a pro every time. I was only 9-13-14 when I was driving that Volvo it was the good old days. I wished I had it today what a tank. Rusty yes but still a tank.
Back in the 80s, the three toughest cars were
1. Diesel Benz
2. Ford Crown Vic
3. Volvo brick
I'm flying out to Montana next week to drive one of these back home. Getting an '82 245 with the manual 4spd/overdrive combo.
My 1970 Volvo 144 had double-system (4 pistons per wheel on 2 fully separate systems) power assisted disk brakes all around, and a pressure-reducing system for the rear brakes. Volvo's design goals were leading the industry in safety, the RIGHT value for automobiles.
Yes. I had one break on a 144 and still could drive it because it had the backup. Something like a triangular system backup. Worked well.
My second car was an 84 240 gl wagon. Some of the most fun and memorable moments of my life happened in that car. Best turning radius of any car I've owned and that includes my current 2017 mirage(though not by much). I loved it so much I got VOLVO tattooed on my arm. I hope to one day own another just like it, though I doubt I'll be able to find one in the same condition mine was in for the $1180 I paid in 2005.
A manual wagon...the 80s were definitely different.
Only the finest in automobile design choices, my dude.
I had an ‘02 Passat GLX manual wagon. Yes these were great.
If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick the wagon, but having both simply as options sure would be nice. Crossovers/SUV's can kiss my ass.
Go to Europe. Everything is a wagon and they're all manuals.
I own a '03 Audi A4 Avant with a 6 speed manual transmission.
I've had my '91 245 for 10 years now and she is about to flip 350k. She is a blessing in your face :) If only everything in life was as reliable and comfortable
These things really had a ton of usefully shaped cargo space. I once put a 14.5 cu ft chest deep freezer in mine. A single bed mattress would fit flat on the floor with the door closed. Really comfortable seats, too.
Safe, slow, simple......and ran like a tank !! Loving that idling diesel near the end !!
My wife and I both DD '93 240's. Hers has a +Turbo conversion.
Best cars ever built.
These are getting rarer, even here in Sweden
I saw a Turbo Sedan one day here in Finland, you can imagine my face that moment..
@@Remembering-rq6si LOL
I don't see many in my area of the USA. There are mostly Volvos from the early 200s, 2010s and the current batch of crossover with few current sedans/wagons.
@@Remembering-rq6si Imagine being so arrogant and entitled that you think your opinion on who sleeps with whom should even matter enough to talk about it.
@@Remembering-rq6si Your version of "natural selection" is really just a code for trying to determine choice for everyone else, since you evidence concern others' choices, which to them, may be quite natural, despite your limited ability to conceive of that.
The only way you are able to comfort yourself with others making choices you don't agree with and deal with the discomfort is to label it "group think". Maybe it's just others are more adventurous and open minded. You may even resent that others can exercise their freedoms more effectively that you will allow yourself to.
Bottom line is, stay the hell out of the personal business of those who think differently and aren't a threat to you. You're entitled to prefer whatever you want for yourself, even if it's out of some bizarre bigotry. No one else is obligated to abide by any of it, no matter how much you hate it or hate whom they choose to be with.
Bottom line is, you're too cognitively stunted to see any of it or know why you really think anything anyway. It just fun to write a spiel and picking on a-holes is fun.
I still see a few of these on the road once in a while and usually still in good shape.
I love those old-school boxy Volvo's. I wish i they still made them!
Well, I'm a 1990s car guy, but I love the 1980s amaretto/medium caramel interior color finished in a nice leatherette upholstery which captured my attention! It looks 1980s nostalgic and classic! Thanks for the retro reviews and keep the train rolling! 😀💖☕🍩💯
Why would anyone be a 90s car guy? The 90s were literally the worst time for cars ever. Everything was becoming the same ugly bubble shape, the interiors were all the same ugly bubble shape, it's literally a terrible era for cars. The 80s had way more style and you had a ton of different looks on the road. Even the awful early 2000s, with as ugly as those bubble cars were, had at least better performance. The 90s stink for cars - and that was my teenage and early 20s years, right when I should have been dying for 90s cars. Except the '99 Trans Am 30th anniversary, that's a bad ass car.
@@rodmunch69 The 850 and 940 series Volvo's were great 90's cars though
@@PU8698 Maybe if you're 60 years old and a complete bore.
The old quad light fascias on the Volvos were nice looking vehicles. When they went to the big projection headlights in the early 90's it killed the classic look.
An all-time favorite! I`d like to have a Volvo wagon myself
Those cars were rock solid, but were like driving a Sherman tank with a lawn mower engine in it. Handled like a tank too.
They actually didn't handle that bad. They could fit in tight spaces due to their ridiculous small turning circle. They just had a lot of body roll and understeer.
😄😆😉
Learned to drive in one of these, like many other Swedes :)
I love those old boxes.
Sometimes I think the automotive industry has lost the knowledge how to offer comfortable seats in reasonable priced cars over the years.
We would all be better off if every manufacturer just took one of Volvo's (or Saab's) seats and copied them. I'll never forget driving 10.5 hours straight in my parents' Volvo XC70 and not feeling tired at all and then a couple of years later practically dying after 2-3 hour drives in their Subaru Outback. (Subaru has since built some better seats, though still nowhere near Volvo's level.)
I had really good seats in my MKIV VW Jetta. I had the turbo engine, but the interior was the same as that of the base model.
My GTI seats are very comfortable, but not as comfortable as my 2008 Grand Marquis..
I'm not a fan of leather seats either, but they seem to be a standard now. The cloth seats on this car were extremely plush and comfortable.
Crazy_Borg totally correct! Profit over anything else
My second cousins had a blue '84 DL wagon back in the day which I will NEVER forget!!!!!
240 + sports springs, sway-bars, cam and exhaust and you have a smashing sleeper brick
Still around after all these years!! Also it’s funny how times have changed, manual was standard automatic optional, now automatic is standard and manual almost extinct!!
Americans can't drive sticks anymore. They no longer know what cruise control is for, either. Soon, power windows will be standard for safety, as melenials won't know how to operate a manual window crank. We just keep dumbing the cars down so we keep getting dumber and dumber. Next, we won't even be able to drive the car ourselves. The car will have to do the driving.
Do you actually want window cranks? Why?? If you buy a reliable car, it will never break.
Remember when automatic transmissions were an extra cost? Now a manual is an extra cost...or well for the majority of people non-existent because they simple don't have a clue how to drive with one...err...rather lazy.
I'll take mine in turbo form and manual. Was born in 85 so I really want a Volvo from that year.
I missed my 1983 GL sedan. It was so comfortable!
Well this brought back memories...my parents had a '81 240 wagon identical to the blue one in the opening segment. Manual with the push-button overdrive. It was one of the cars I learned to drive on (in addition to a manual '84 Pontiac Sunbird - good luck finding one of those in the wild anymore). I was hoping to inherit it once my parents got new cars, but rusted suspension components doomed it. Not sure how many miles it had on it but well over 200k. The odometer quit working at 188k, which I believe is a common issue for these cars as they got older.
lab1042 Odometer stops when you reset the tripmeter while driving. So not really Volvos's fault but people not thinking. I too learned it the hard way!
I want it. The cloth seats were so comfy. Safer than many 90's cars even without airbags.
Normal Retro Review ending: Mark Roumelis' MotorWeek fanfare.
This: *DIESEL CLATTER INTENSIFIES*
My parents had one new....
Drove it from Wisconsin to California during a blistering hot August.
Traded it as soon as they got home on a Buick wagon with real A/C and the ability to merge into traffic without too much trouble.
These are retro cool, the older ones with round headlights are even cooler👍👍
While the curb weight of 3055 lb was considered substantial back in the day, it would be considered relatively lightweight by today's standards. Interesting that this old Volvo wagon weighs about the same as the current VW Golf GTI.
It's 1600lbs lighter than my Challenger.
My grandmother in her old age accidentally drove over the edge of a scenic overlook in one of these. Went down a steep hill and hit a tree head on. Walked away. These cars are legendary.
Thank goodness the tree was there to stop her! Lol 😀
These are absolutely beautiful
I'm still hoping to see that review of the diesel version!
We once owned a '76 DL265 wagon (same size/shape,round headlights and a V6 and that 4 + OD transmission) in the mid 90's,made a cool old work car xD
I've always LOVED volvo cars
Own a 240 gas from 2012 till now and she is still running. DL model. If you don't give up on her she will not give up on me....
Had both petrol and diesel 245s. Great cars. Roomy, comfortable, reliable and more enjoyable to drive than one might expect. Put 200k miles on the diesel bought used with 150k on the odo. It gave 30+ mpg in daily use. Top speed in the diesel was 80-85 mph on level roads. I have the ticket to prove it. Swapped out the vinyl seats for the much better cloth. Awful vinyl, don't know why he praises it.
car in this video still on road today.
nice touch leaving the diesel running at the end.
One of my all time favorite cars.
Got a friend with these wagon and it's still amazing
Love it
I need to find one of these. I miss my 1998 V70 so much 😭
This wagon was not available in GLE trim (2.8L V6 engine) after the end of 1980, but we did not first get the 765 GLE until the same year this program was broadcast.
I have one of these, best car I've ever owned :) They're old volvo advest back in the days were epic too!
This very car was shown in the movie The Day After during the nuclear attack sequence. And yes, the guy in the car survived! It's on TH-cam
Lord Volvo Great movie. It scared Reagan out of bombing the Soviets.
The old Volvos last forever. Miss the two I owned back in the day.
Looks like the only complaints were the ashtray (Volvo People had already quit smoking by 1985) and power (that's what V8 swaps are for).
People used to put ford 5.0s in these all the time.
nlpnt I would swap the Volvo engine for a Ford EcoBoost with stage 1 tuning or a V8. Maybe a Honda VTEC.
Forget the V8 crap. Get a B230FT.
I'd honestly do an EV conversion on this thing (if possible).
They may be considered underpowered, but the fact is that these models were never built to be sporty or powerful. The first priority here was safety, and all the rest was put in second hand. Despite everything, these old bricks aren't as slow as many people think. I own a 1978 DL sedan with fuel injected and naturally aspirated engine, and 4-speed manual without overdrive, and it's surprisingly fast. It can easily cope with modern day traffic.
An all-time favorite! 😍😍
5:30. Woow. Back in 1985 I was not even aware Volvo sold the Wagon GL Diesel. Only found that out here just now in 2021. I would probably buy that Diesel wagon back then.
The official state car of Vermont back in the day...
La mia prima Volvo è stata una 245 polar, macchina favolosa, l'ho venduta quando ho raggiunto e superato il mezzo milione di chilometri, l'ho cambiata con una 945 polar comprata nel '95 e messa a "riposo" con oltre un milione di chilometri giusto lo scorso anno.
Wow! We still have those suitcases
I had a 84 DL sedan my favorite was push button overdrive. In 4th gear push in clutch and press button. 230k and engine was as smooth as ever.
230k is just barely broken in.
What a great laid out car! I wish I could find one of these in relatively good condition.
Saw one of these in a rattle can matte black with a glossy grey coat underneath, on lowered springs, with 17 inch rims on. I would have tailed him to give him props on his car, but I was going out of town and he was going in.
totally agreed, I owned one, and I am proud of it, I trust it to go anywhere in my country. its safe, and well runs awesome.
My dad got his up to 778,658 miles, from brand new to 2012.
"High. Wide. And Nordically understated"
I miss my 1985 240DL sedan. Amazing car. I'd buy one new now if I could.
Have I got a DL for you! Lol 😄
Adjusted for inflation we're talking $30k for one of these babies
We had one...a 240 DL estate from 1983-1986 in 'signal red'....!!! 😁👌
Had a 2 door back in my military days. Bought it for $300 and it was indestructible!
5:48 - the sounds of those old diesels!
Such a classic model.
One of the greatest cars ever built. I daily drive an S40 and would gladly trade for one of these.
My parents had a '92 which I borrowed to drive around North America in 2003. It was horribly dated by then, with an unrefined ride and totally outdated interior compared to newer cars, but the cargo area in these was ENORMOUS and a Volvo mechanic at the time admitted these were "much better built than the newer ones...it's a tank." I loved the boxy look and hope one day that Volvo may resurrect elements of this design for an entry-level car which to me is just as iconic as something like the Mini...but I won't hold my breath since Volvo has gone in a different direction now. The odometer stopped working around 200,000 km or something (I don't really remember) so by the time it was sold, it had much more than that but was still buttoned down nicely. One of the other funny things in these is the huge amount of empty space under the hood. You sure don't see that in modern cars!
Had exact same model, blew engine @-40 below on interstate south of Des Moines, Iowa.
Slow and steady wins the race!
1980s cars ROCK!! 😀🎸🎸🎸💯
This is a 70s car, it just happened to be built in the 80s.
I once heard a rumor that these cars were so reliable that Volvo was starting to loose money because no one was buying new ones. Also, that was the most savage opening line to an episode I've ever heard out of John Davis lol
It bankrupted them. Their base kept them too long.
Surprised to see a shovel nose still being made in 1985. Australian models already had the softer frontal treatment for a few years at this point. I saw a young woman driving one yesterday.
I once had a yellow 145 and just as I was finnished welding it up someone backed in to me at the gas station so I had to redo it. But yes we did make good cars over here as long as they still where Swedish and not sold out. I worked at a SAAB shop with a big Volvo dealer next door so i have seen a few
Oh seeing one brand new in sure h good condition. All the new zinc playing under the hood. I wish any of my 3 240s could look that good.
Many still on the road!
Is the diesel review published somewhere online?
See them on a semi-regular basis in California. They must hold up really well. I doubt modern Volvos are as good.
Why? The only difference between these and the modern ones is more mechanical complexity. But they're building on the durability they've learned over the years.
I remember my 91 wagon, broke down every damn week lol
Oh shit we better get to see the follow up on this! :)
I believe the 240 is one of the best over all cars ever. I drive an 83 , 242DL everyday with nearly 300K on it. It is cheap to own and run , comfortable and easy to drive.
I still see these around Middlebury College in Middlebury Vermont.
Marxist college professors love them.
5:47 that idle diesel silence.
The Diesel unit was a VW product, also found in the VW LT...