What is it like to daily drive a 30 year old Volvo 240?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- Today, I wanted to discuss living with a classic care on a daily basis. There are sacrifices, but also joys in doing so. If you are on the fence about buying and daily-ing a classic car, hopefully this video will help you. Thanks for watching!
I had an 1993 240 wagon and I completely loved it; not missing really this today’s techy stuff . All was working and I really miss it. A totally reliable and predictable car. You can forgot all those electronic ghost than can happen with newer cars…. Random no start, key not recognized, you don’t need an specific scanner, 240 has a built-in diagnostics… you still can fix it at home. Everything is happiness with a Volvo 240. Greetings from Chile !!! 🇨🇱
I need to find me a wagon!
@@andyknight240 Well, you now know where there's one; Chile! ;)
I got a 240 Volvo Wagon her name is Roxy and its my daily driver. I love every piece of that solid sweet Swedish tank.🤩🤩🥰 A Volvo for life 💪💪😎
I daily drive my -88 240 gle here in Norway. Even in the bad winter storms. The car is just stupid reliable. Currently at 487 000 km ( 302 000 miles). It is in great condition. I get comments all the time about it, from kids to 80 year olds. The 240 has a place in peoples heart here in Norway. And there are still lots of them on the road. All the other cars from that time period are pretty much gone, but not the 240.
Mine is at 618,000 kilometers and still gets all kinds of comments.
I also drive an '88 with likely similar mileage, but I'll never know for sure because the odometer stopped working a LONG time ago 😅. She's really beat-up to look at but still gets tons of compliments and sentimental smiles and thumb-up. A young guy at the gas station the other day asked if he could take a picture of it from the side to send to his volvo-loving buddy to make him envious 😂
It works fine, I like the old cars👌
i daily drive a 86 240 gle in norway
Lol you Norwegians love doing cool stuff.
The stereo and AC are some easy fixes. In 2008 I bought a Toyota prius brand new and drove it 285,000 miles before it died. My next car was/is my 240. I got a clean rust free car and spent a bunch of money getting the suspension all new. It drives like a new car and I love it. Never looking back.
Awesome
I daily drive classics and I think thats all that I ever will drive. I have a 1986 Nissan 300zx and a 1988 Volvo 740 wagon that I switch between whenever I feel like it. The Volvo has been a great extra addition to my family for 850 bucks! It's roomy and reliable. Life was so simple back then and you can definitely feel it inside of older vehicles. It builds character and maintenance is 10x cheaper than a newer car. Cheers to the classics!
…how wonderful to see an icon of a bygone era to be appreciated by a young savvy gentleman . The Volvo 240 is the epitome of understated elegance in its simplicity, reliability and it’s capable brutality. In ‘92 I was lucky to inherit my great aunt’s 90 245 wagon that I still drive around my hometown of Atherton, CA where every other car is brand new or a Tesla. I am so glad you have found the joy in owning a classic car at a young age. When I turned 18 in 1987, I was handed my late grandpa’s 1972 MBZ 280 SEL 4.5, the amount of people that I’ve met driving that beast was just bonkers. To this day I still enjoy driving my old fleet of hand me downs plus to see people smile and an occasional thumbs up is priceless plus you look mighty fine driving it.
Wow! Kind words! Thank you!
30 years from now:
"What it's like to drive a 60 years old Volvo 240?"
I doubt I will be alive in 30 years.
I have no doubt my '89 & '77 will be running.
I drive a nearly 60 year old Volvo Amazone and it has no problems, just made the mandatory technical check w.o. any problems at all.
@@Beavis-et8ox i just bought a 1987 240 in 2024 with 50k miles. I plan to leave it to my son in better condition that i received it. like a rolex
From 1986-1989 I sold Volvos in San Diego, California. My own car was a 1983 Volvo DL4a and my wife's was a 1988 DL4a. Mine lasted either 335000 or 375000 miles (I forget which), and my wife's was still running at 225000 when we traded it in. I miss my old Volvo. The Volvo 240 series was everything a car SHOULD be.
all cars should be built as the 240 was built, even newer Volvo are not the shade of these 240
@@jacquespoirier9071 You sure got that right!!! The new "Volvos" aren't real Volvos in my opinion! I remember the 700 series when it first came out. I was selling Volvos at that time. The early 700's were junk.
Great insights. I feel like the 240 is as popular now as it ever was. It's one of the last affordable European classic cars-that you can drive everyday! What sold me on the 240 was its build quality. Almost everything on those cars is over built and under stressed. And the fact that there are so many left only proves it. Especially since a lot of owners didn't take the best care of them.
There's some old mercs that are cheap but definitely not as reliable as the 240
I remember hearing my mechanics in portugal when he serviced my 1983 volvo 244 turbo : he qualified it as "cavalo de guerra! " ! The best car experience ever for me so far... I just loved it.
There is just something cool about an old car that’s still drives down the road. I drive a 1994 Toyota pickup with 159k miles.
I still have the 1988 242DL that I bought in 1994 when it had 134,000 miles on it. Now, it has over 550,000 miles and it's not only the best car I've ever owned but it's the best Volvo I've ever owned and I've had a lot of Volvos. I agree with you about the mediocre performance. The Volvo redblock engine is very overbuilt and low on performance just so that that in itself adds to the reliability. It can be so reliable that it is honestly boring. I'm 6"1' tall and I fit perfectly. The car is extremely comfortable. I installed a full set of IPD sway bars, sport springs, gas shocks and poly bushings. The car handles curves so well that it just cries for more power. I also completely dynamatted the interior a few years ago when I installed the stereo and it's very quiet. The Alpine stereo sounds excellent. I learned about Volvo air conditioners and so, my AC blows cold. There's plenty of heat but you're right. The fan has a very noticeable roar when turned on high. My friends kid me about my car having crank windows. They call it Quaint. LOL But I don't mind cranking my windows up and down. My car is also an automatic. That's my only real beef. I wish it had a 5-speed. ...not the 4-speed with Overdrive. The overdrive unit has a clutch arrangement that wears out in time and keeps slipping. It's also very expensive to repair. So, I would like a late model 5-speed. Then the car would be a whole lot more fun to drive.
It’s awesome to know you are still enjoying it after so many miles!
You sound a lot like me in a way. I daily drive a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado. I'll listen to 80s music while I'm driving it to really get into the mood. I'll specifically pick songs from 1988 and 1989 to hear what that radio would've played when the truck was new. It's been very reliable for me, and any issues it's had were pretty easy to fix. They're extremely common, so parts are cheap and readily available. The 80s/90s Chevy trucks are getting to a point where they're considered classics now. While I'm mainly a GM guy I've had a secret fascination for old Volvos and other European cars. I admire the Volvo reliability and their no nonsense interiors from this era. They were basic and rugged but also comfortable. Thank you for sharing your daily driver 240 with us.
i did enjoy your video.. ! I have a 1984 240 GL and just yesterday a cop stopped me just to tell me how nice my car was.... ! it is really a unique experience to drive an old volvo!
One word as someone who daily drives his 84 GLE 244. GREAT
I miss my 1989 240 DL wagon. Just threw my bike in the trunk, and went cycling !
I drive my 240 Daily. Absolutely love it... wish I had space for more
Cool car My friend. I rolled in 240 estates all the way through the 90's and I missed them so much I bought a 86 740 estate, in white of course! : - )
My first car in 2015(18 years old) was a 1973 Ford Cortina Mk3 2.0 pinto(OHC) drove it daily to work 4 years, never let me down!
What a great vehicle to drive .. greetings from Egypt
Extremely durable car- good for you. I drive a 32 year old Suzuki Samurai that I've fitted with a 1.6 out of a Sidekick, so I get it !
Awesome vehicle. I have 2 cars that I daily drive. A ‘97 VW Passat TDI manual, has around 57k miles. I bought it with 32k miles. And a 2007 Subaru Outback, manual transmission I got this spring. Had 69k miles. Now at 72k I believe. Both vehicles are a lot of fun to drive. The VW is rare for the US and I get a lot of waves, thumbs up, piece signs, or people turning their heads when they hear a diesel sound coming from a smaller car. As long as a vehicle has AC and a Bluetooth or cassette adapter for aux it can be a very comfortable older vehicle. The Subaru is so awesome. Really practical, lots of luxury features, but not overly complex. Great in the snow. Very fun to drive. I camp in the back of both vehicles too
I sold my ‘92 DL just last week. It was an amazing car. I currently have an ‘84 244 intercooled turbo and a ‘78 242 GT in my garage. I have a S80 for daily driver but I’m absolutely addicted to my 240s and drive them every chance I can. For me, it’s the simplicity and the analog feel of the cars. Reminds me of growing up in the 70s/80s. I get approached by people both young and old wanting to see the cars. I think people get sick of looking (I know I do) at the same rounded car/SUV shape of pretty much every car on the road. There’s something timeless and iconic about the brick!
Nice collection! There is just too much technology in new cars. It is distracting and will all break over time.
@@andyknight240 And distractions at highway speeds can be deadly! I know because I was rear ended by a distracted driver on the highway!
A car with no electronics and displays to take your attention is just so relaxing to drive. I had many Volvos, a 740, 940 and a S70 from 97. All great cars. Today I drive a 2020 V60 also a nice car and the electronics is not so annoying as it is in fx. newer Mercedes where warning signals go on all the time. I also have an MGB roadster from 1970, not many displays in that one😃 Regards from Denmark.
I would love to have an MGB/Alfa Romeo Spider some day! I enjoyed my time in Copenhagen!
My grandfather has one. Hes the second owner, and has been his daily driver for at least 30 years. Its not in the best shape, but its rock solid. It has 300.000 miles and works every time, I love it. Its so special to drive one of these.
I drove an ex doctor’s Volvo 264 between the UK and Norway via Sweden and Denmark many times for years. The seats were amazingly comfortable when driving for hours on end in all sorts of extreme weather conditions. Great car in snow. Great load carrier too. Got a great night’s sleep in the driver’s seat many times. The weakest point was the Peugeot engine. Next to my Saab 900 Turbo, the best car I ever owned.
I like the 900 turbos too, but I wish they were rear wheel drive.
I daily drive a 84 244 with 600k miles or more. Shes pretty rusty and needs TLC, but I love it to death, ive had 3 of them and keeping this one.
Great review nice to see the younger gen appreciating simplicity and long term reliability not to mention uniqueness in design. I owned 2 240's great cars still a Saab driver another under the radar Swede brand(well engineered and safe!) that deserved more love and are not that difficult to keep on the road.
Currently my only car is a 1990 240 sedan. Mine has cruise control, full 1993 R134a AC conversion, and some other changes to help make it a more usable car. I just genuinely enjoy owning an old car, and I find it does everything a new car can do if not more, like towing a 3300lb U-Haul across the USA last June.
That’s awesome!
I currently have 4 of these magnificent cars. The lowest mileage at 160k the highest at 294k and I love them all to death and drive them all the time!!!
You want another one? I’m having to sell this one.
@@andyknight240 unfortunately I’m already facing pressure from my family to sell one😭
I daily drive my 1992 245 with 298,000 kms. It is very rewarding getting to talk to other 240 owners and even just other people that admire them. Plus making new friends.
Parts are hard to find sometimes but my specialty mechanic has been helping me keep her going. Even found a steering rack for her last week.
I also drive a 1985 Pontiac 6000 STE. (-:
I even daily drove a Cadillac Cimarron for a few years until I sold it to a friend of mine. All I do is daily drive old cars. Personally cannot stand new cars.
240 owners are the best. I've made so many new friends thanks to my car.
I daily drive a '90 Volvo 740 GL - same exterior/interior colour as yours and same engine and transmission - and have for over 20 years. I highly recommend them - 240/740/940. It's my fourth Volvo and second one with the B230F engine and AW70 transmission - a bulletproof combination! Btw, I play ABBA in mine. It loves them! Lol
I drive 940 with B230FT manual, listening ABBA too, feels like I'm in Stockholm....lol
One con though, it's a thirsty engine.
@@Cheetahtos Yes, I guess that's the price you pay for having a turbo. Best to go with naturally aspirated sometimes. ABBA rocks! lol
I grew up with Volvo 240´s and 740´s. Everyone drove Volvo or SAAB. I was never that impressed by them. Didn´t like the looks and didn´t like how they drove. However today I really can see the beauty in them. They really look cool. And by now we all learned how reliable they are.
Nice video. I own a '92 240 currently (245k miles). It's fully functional (including the usual inactive items like the A/C, the power antenna, rear defroster, etc.) I also own a Mercedes e300 and a BMW X5. Merc and Bimmer are incredible vehicles, and a real pleasure to drive. But, there's something about my 240 that is simply "fun". It's a cool feeling knowing I'm driving a 30-year old vehicle, that seems to evoke a memory in nearly everyone that stops me to talk about it (and there are lots of those moments). They're absolutely iconic in design. In fact, I would venture to guess folks of my vintage and older likely think of a 240 whenever the brand VOLVO is mentioned. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks for your comment! I feel the same way. Driving the car that really “made” Volvo what it is today is so cool!
I used to drive a 1986 240 GL to university here in Denmark. A really dated car by todays standards. I remember the handling was like that of a fishing boat. Still miss the old Swedish "tank" though :)
I still own and drive my 1982, two door, Volvo DL. It has been very reliable. It has a four speed manual transmission with a push button electric overdrive. The paint has seen better days, so I am planning to have it repainted.
No! Patina first
I absolutely understand as I have a 24 year old Mercedes. However I did have a Volvo 740 from new in 1988 and it had the most comfortable seats in any car I’ve owned including a BMW 7 series and a Range Rover, I once drove 9 hours and still felt fresh at the end of the journey.
The seats in the 740 were designed for long road trips. I drive one, and when I'm in my boyfriend's 17' malibu I'm sore from just sitting for an hour. I wish more seats were designed for comfort in mind.
This car is a literal battle tank.....
My Dad had one of these back in the day. Lasted over 250k miles. Always loved the switches in the center console. They reminded me more of something you'd see in an airplane or a rocket ship than a car.
Only 167K? I've had two over 300,000..My 1st car(1975) was a '61 PV544 and the wives current XC90 just rolled over 250! For almost 45 years it's been Volvo & Saab exclusively for us...
My thoughts exactly! I own a 1988 240 sedan, and a 1995 corolla sedan. You made all the same points I always bring up, when someone questions my love for 80-90's cars. I just love the feeling of driving a relatively simple and solid vehicle. I Can't wait for winter to start again, I'll be cozy and carefree, enjoying the great ground clearance, amazing heater and rwd of my Volvo 😁👍🏻.
Also north Alabamian with a 89 244. Freeways are not the greatest but it gets it done and it's definitely fun on a back road. 45 mph feels quick to be honest. And it being older your really connected to the road. With well maintained suspension you feel the road.
Awesome! Maybe we will come across each other sometime!
@@andyknight240 I'll be sure to wave 👋 Mike is the same color. Currently hubcaps are off and looking at new wheels.
I got a 1977 242 from a friend in the early 80s n owned it for 21 years. Great car that was so dependable and fun to drive.
That's my kind of car! It's a lot like me, solid, comfortable, old and creaky but just feels right.
Nice! I drive a 1984 240 DL every day. No power windows, however, and a standard shift. My driver side speaker only works if I go over a bump. I love my car!
Love it!
Totally agree with your point of view. I'm a huge Volvo fan anyway and still want a 240. But the lack of technology is a good thing on my eyes sometimes, simple , reliable, easy to fix, environmentally sound (not throwaway, long lasting, repairable) and the tech now to me is really distracting more than actually useful and so much tech like self parking are utterly stupid!! Great video, new subscriber from the UK. Older stuff is so much more interesting and I drive Volvos because I don't like following the crowd. And wagons/estates are so much better than SUVs in almost every way. I've got a 2004 V70 and it fits my 6'5" height no problems. Quite a few friends have gone and bought them as they're reliable, don't cost the earth and are different
Thanks for the kind words!
A cam swap with the adjustable gear and a better flowing exhaust makes it more enjoyable to drive. My windshield wipers are starting to work intermittently so I have to get that looked at. Mine is white with blue interior, Scorpius wheels and very clean. Mine didn’t have working A/C either but a friend of mine who owns a repair shop recharged it for cheap so it’s nice to have on a warm day. She looks so pretty when I see her in the driveway. I love my 240, it’s a trade off to drive vs a new car but I like the analog feel of an old Volvo in a digital world.😊
Interesting thought about the cam swap. I’ll have to look into that. I love white 240’s with blue interior. That is my ideal spec!
@@andyknight240 I posted a picture of it on your post on Facebook Volvo 240 page.
@@andyknight240 IPD offers a VX street performance camshaft for non-turbo B230's for just under $300. They claim a 19% increase in peak horsepower, but that's with the higher flowing, large intake port 531 head AND the VX camshaft. So, just installing the camshaft will likely not give you that horsepower increase. There are other cams available for that engine. There's a good video here on YT explaining which are best for the engine that you have in your 240. Take a look at it and it may help you with your interest to maybe do a swap.
I daily drive a 240 1987, 4 speed and carburetor. Never had an issue except for the plug wires that went bad. Installed some stiffer springs in the rear and went on holiday towing 1100kg caravan this summer :)
Check the little plug for the wires behind your speedometer, they usually come loose and then your odometer wont work or only intermittently. Ive had three 240s and two of them had that problem
That’s awesome! I love seeing people road trips these cars. I would be more nervous to daily a carburetor, but I guess if it is tuned right, it wouldn’t be an issue.
Greetings from Norway. I daily a 240 GLE sedan, 1986 with b230a, 5 speed manual and servo. It's pretty much stock and i have no problems with it at all! 211k kilometers so far, i love it!
I would love to go to Norway someday!
I literally just bought a 240 and I’m so glad that I can see this video and it’s gives me hope bc it’s my first car
This is awesome! Congratulations! Take care of it and it will take care of you.
Man I love my 92 740. One of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Hands down
You're one of the luckiest man of the world. Certainly I had a 1993. Don't remember exactly if mine was indeed part of the latest units assembled, such as the 740 we're too but 3 or 4 years earlier. Regretted after selling that rare green-painted sedan, far beyond the imaginable. Those who patiently kept then, today keep enjoying their amazing fuel efficiency, great interior space- design (including the trunk), it's simple and invaluable analog base to handle, so to address maintenance and cheap repair. Today, anyone can still enjoy the availability thru eBay and some other platforms of NOS, reproduction and excellent good-used parts. The 240 is the legend of a fortress on wheels and the must popular car among the executives from middle level management/30+ between 1985 and 1993.
Volvo's clusters in general were troubling but not enough to overshadow their superiority while they domain roads, such as the Lincoln Town Cars did for 31 years in a row.
I had a Volvo 740 we drove from the early 90’s until about 2010. We only got rid of it because the interior plastics gave out in the Texas sun. It was by far the most reliable car I ever owned. I once avoided a bad accident by driving over piece of crumbled guard rail that was in the middle of the road. It went over it like a champ and got me back home again. With no serious damage to the car. The people behind me rolled their cars trying to avoid it.
I’m 6’2 and have a 78 244, I had the same experience finding the lever that tilts the seat back 😂. You can however find a kit online that will set the seat farther back.
I daily my 1982 244 still. We did almost 500km last weekend on a day trip up north.
Luv, luv driving my 1989 244 VOLVO, 259K more than the other 6 Volvos I have owned ... moved from SF Bay Area to the Motherlode area of Northern California in 2011 and it has been challenging locating independent Volvo mechanics in this rural area...oh, well my daughter and I enjoy the attention the car causes..."VOLVO for LIFE."
Hi Andy I have a Gold 240 exactly like yours .I am very proud of it ,and enjoying driving very much
The B 230 F engine in the 240 ' s is the best they ever put in a volvo according to Volvo specialits. Enjoy it
Nice video which describes exactly the pleasure of daily driving older cars! I recognize the feelings you are describing. I'm am living in the Netherlands and I am driving a 1966 VW Beetle 1300 for allready 24 years. Besides the VW I drove a Mercedes 190 D 2.5 which I replaced 2 years ago for a 1993 Volvo 240 wagon. This car just reached half a million kilometers without any major problem. The biggest issue in the Durch climate is rust. Both the VW and the Mercedes suffered from rust, the Volvo however is better protected.
weet u toevallig vanaf welk bouwjaar de 240 een anti roest behandeling heeft? Ik ben ook van plan een 240 te kopen (heb al een oogje op een 244 uit Doetinchem) maar ik ben een beetje bang voor roest.
@@Bartem_
Ik heb bij mijn eigen zoektocht gelezen dat de roestpreventie vanaf bouwjaar 1988 beter is omdat er vanaf dat jaar veel plaatwerk verzinkt werd.
Andy, спасибо большое за это видео! Старые Volvo реально хорошие машины со своей харизмой. Я сейчас ищу Volvo 164 в более-менее хорошем состоянии для реставрации и ежедневных поездок. Greeting from Moscow!
I sold these as new cars. They drove really well. A good safe, if unexciting car. The water pump is a weak point, see if it's noisy.
Thanks for sharing. The RWD Volvos are some of the best cars ever made. Check for a vacuum leak to fix the cruise control. That fixed the issue on my 940 (same engine).
How do you check for vacuum leaks on the cruise control? I checked the hoses on the firewall and they don’t look too bad.
Andy - Great commentary. My daily is aging Lincoln Town Car. It's a bit newer than your 240, but draws its share of onlookers. Especially college kids who were born around the time it was built. Anyways, way back in 1991 my wife and I went car shopping. Drove a Saab 900 convertible with an automatic and a 900 4-dr. with a 5-speed. Also a Volvo 240 4 -dr. and a 740 4-dr., both automatic. I leaned toward the Saab 4-dr. but my CRX was a 5-speed and while it was a blast, I liked it less in stop/go driving. My wife wanted either Volvo. The 240 was dk gray ext / tan cloth int. The 740 was dk gray ext / black leather int. Because of the lease deals, the monthly on 740 was just a few bucks more than the 240, and less than either Saab. Guess what we drove home. Thirty plus years later, I still regret it. That 740 was a nightmare. Pros: great seats, a firm but rock solid ride, and great heater and heated seats. Cons: Brakes, fuel system, body hardware, cooling system, A/C, road noise, to name to a few. Wished we'd gone with the 240 - that car is probably like yours now, still running somewhere out there. Cheers.
That surprises me. The 740’s aren’t much different from a 240 mechanically wise. Sounds like you got a lemon!
If I could find one in good condition I'd buy it. Great car....
Truly a classic. Don't see many of them these days.
I daily drive my 93 240. It just hit 124,000 miles and so far all is good. The paint is sunburnt, the exhaust rattles and leaks, my overdrive doesn't work and the A/C is out. But you know what? I just love the damn little car. Just gets up and goes no matter what. I can see it becoming a family heirloom. These cars are great, man. Simple and easy to work on, no overcomplicated computer systems and sensors.
When you say the OD doesn't work, do you have a manual transmission and it won't go INTO overdrive? Or do you have an automatic and it won't come OUT of OD? These are two different systems. I have the auto tranny in my 1986 240 and I only use OD (4th gear) on the interstate because it makes the engine feel anemic on roads where I go under 55 mph.
@@boomerguy9935 My OD won't engage on my automatic. I hit the the button on the shifter, I hear the relay click under the dash but the car doesn't shift into OD. I'm pretty sure it's the solenoid as IPD covered it and said it was a common failure on these cars. I have the bypass part they sell but haven't gotten around to installing it yet.
@@MiLiberator There is a TH-cam video on replacing this which is not that difficult. The button allows you to turn your transmission into a 3-speed which is perfect for secondary roads and for towing anything. The OD 4th gear is so tall that I can cruise at 85 mph on the interstate but will also make me feel like I've "stepped into a hole" when it upshifts below 55 mph. Little engines like ours are more efficient and last longer at higher rpm's.
My Dad had a few Volvos. A green 240GL (Shooting Break) love that term. A silver 244 GLE saloon which was very nice with thick blue velour. (Same as the one you have pretty much) Oh.. and a 760GLE with that great V6 engine which found its way into a few vehicles. EDIT. The main reason to buy these back then was Safety. "Vovlo, tested by dumbies, driven by the intelligent". That was the tv advert.
That 240 looks awesome , spectacular
i grew up in 240se.my father ferry me and our neighbours friend to school.very solid car.as a child not much view as the window sill was quite high.my father is always a volvo man.
Always liked the old Volvo cars!
i’ve got a 91 240 and i’ve been daily driving her for about 2 years now and she’s the best. lil wobbly but i love her :)
Best car ever...i love it.
I loved my ‘85 244. It was rear ended and totaled two years ago last month, but for the last year and a half or so I’ve been enjoying my ‘96 Oldsmobile instead.
I had a 1981 Volvo 245 GLT, non-turbo. In 8 years of ownership, I spent less than $1,000 on parts and labor. Worst thing was having to replace the 3rd gear synchro. Sold it with 195,000 miles on the clock to a chicken restaurant. It's still their delivery vehicle, which is amazing considering that it's a stick. No kid knows how to drive one of those.
This is the same reason I bought my 2002 S40 2.0 and I'm still in love with it even after only few days after a year of owning it. It might not get as much love in the car community as the 240, but I really like driving and looking at this thing.
Funny thing I also have speedo and cruise control issues, I guess it's a Volvo thing lol.
Thanks for the excellent video. We have the same daily driver. I drive "Goldilocks" all over California, Utah, and the western US.
I live in Sweden and drive my 240 4 doors 1988, every day. Fun to drive and easy to change parts on, timebelt and waterpump i change myself, i never do it in other cars! And in my 240 it was easy, also change heatfan myself, that must be the hardest ting on this car to cange, because Volvo building the car around the heating fan LOL
Its also an great winter car, in Sweden veteran cars is allowed to drive on summertires in winter! But i buy great piggy tire on it, and i see new cars in the ditches and they got antispin and anti of all. Still they going off the road! Not le, because i must think therefore this car is so safe! Thanks for a great video!
My beloved fire-engine red Petunia is a 1991 240 DL; drove her (fully packed) from San Diego to Arkansas in 2003 - and still have her. Laughed when I saw Andy tap the speedometer; mine just went kaputt. Tap, tap. It works in the movies when bush pilots do it. Hard to get knowledgeable mechanics here in the AR hinterlands - and the dealer in L.R. only wants to sell you a new one.
The Volvo 240 GL Saloon in exactly this classically elegant colour scheme was my 1st "big" Volvo. On the whole, it was a well-balanced vehicle to drive. Unfortunately, it had two serious design and workmanship flaws: 1) the automatic transmission's bowden cable, which kept breaking, and secondly, miserable rust prevention on the bonnet and door edges as well as on the sills and jack mounts. These problems were only permanently eliminated with the 850, the successor model to the 240, in the model update from 1994. This one, however, is by far the best car I have ever driven and still drive. Even after 25 years of daily use, my 850 with a mileage of 240,000 km is still as "crisp and fresh" as on the first day!
I live in the rust belt where 99% of old cars are extinct due to rust. There are still some old 240s out there. they're the most common older car to see in this area. I had an '89 for a while. I drive an 04 XC70 now. I remember when they came out. I always thought they were the sweetest looking wagon, but no way could I ever afford a $40,000 car. I vowed i'd own one one day. 300,000 miles on it and it rattles but it rides so nice.
Cool function of the seat!
I’m going to try on my 1991 240 sedan
Thank you !!
The massive acceleration 🤘🤘😉
Hey, it's faster than walking! Lol
Yep. Had to get stronger denture adhesive!
@@johnramsey1554 You're living life right on the edge! lol
Don't race any garbage trucks.
Lookout for the #7 fuse. it runs the power to the fuel pump.
Lol mine went out when I was at my sister's house. Wish I would've known that sooner 😂
Great video. I love older cars as they have more character. I find that modern cars all look the same. I hope to have a Volvo as my next car
I agree. Thank you! Check out my most recent video for more insight on ownership. Maybe it will help you on your future purchase.
Just picked up a 240 wagon. Sure it's got issues, but it's a delight.
drive a 240 is a joy every time I use mine.
The major problem in your car is the transmission, if you had the manual gearbox, the car is much more lively and fun to drive. ( the match engine / auto transmission is not the best).
the car is so reliable and easy to diagnose and work on.
Just bought myself a clean example of an 82 model 244, cost me $900 Australian from the local car Auctions as a deceased estate, one owner. It’s a joy to drive, and I’m finding my 10 year old BMW and 15 year old Land Cruiser are now gathering dust in the garage.
😂oh I remember our volvo 1992 my mom and dad would have me and my two brothers in the back seat in the winter with the windows closed and both of them smoking cigarettes 🚬. Got to love the 80’s and 90’s. awesome cars.
I've been daily driving mine for the past 4 years. It's my first car and while I've dumped money into it and I should buy a newer car, I'll always keep this as a "project" because I know I'll never find another one like it. Current mileage is 157k, I bought it TMU with it stuck at 137k, but even at that it's ridiculously low.
That car is barely broken in. Do a full service to bring everything up to date, and then DRIVE it! These cars die if you pamper them.
Totally agree with you Andy 👍... IMHO, the Volvo 240 & Mercedes W124 are timeless & uber reliable European marques that will last many more years for as long as its spare parts are still available 🏆
I drive a 93 Classic ruby red, love the ride, my first 240 was a 79 green
Drive one everyday, no a.c. no radio. Estimated 300k miles. Work and back mostly, but have owned it for twenty years and it's like a member of the family !
Bought our first 240 in 1972 and three others ( Volvos) since and currently am blessed in driving an XC 60 since 2012. Eat your heart out all the other crappy also runs ( when they are not breaking down)
Ah the old tap on it until it works brings back memories.
Oldest trick in the book! 😂
I have two 940 wagons, same basic platform, a NA daily work/beater car and a clean Turbo model. 300,000 and 225,000 miles respectively and they both still drive like new, nearly everything still works and they are infinitely dependable. I drive 30,000-40,000 miles a year for work so they have to be!
Easy to maintain as well.
Many say that the early-mid 2000s Corollas are the most solid reliable cars ever made…..I say THESE are!
I daily drive a 1989 240 GL Sedan - Great Car 👍😎
Nice! I only know of 3 other people in my town that still drive 240’s. Hopefully that will change as they start to see mine drive around more often.
I owned an 89 240 that had that secret raise and lower driver side seat lever in the front and in the back of the seat.
It's a great summer car, not sure I would like to daily this in wintertime.
Well, I live in Sweden and drive a 245 everyday. It's dynamics on snow are perfect. It is really the best drift car for the budget, not questions.
But I mean, lacking ABS, Airbags, ESC, proper body rigidity etc... Can be a big deal.
And also remote start, gosh, I wish I had that.
I loved my 1990 240 DL but after incessant breakdowns and weekly trips to the repair shop, I had to say enuf!
The Immortal Brick! Living proof that it's hip to be square. Bet the manual transmission are just a little bit more fun to drive
My uncle had a 245 estate until about 2005 and remember the irritating buzzer when you were not wearing a seatbelt.
I will be on the look out for one as my first car 😎