Hello,
My '92 240 wagon has 238K miles and the dumb way they threaded the electrical through the hinge in the back door is starting to bite me. My mechanic has a '96 850 Turbo wagon for $5K and so I came here to learn what I need to know about that car. During the my looking, I've gotten a sense that there are problems with this model Volvo (yes, it has a moonroof). Could someone tell me whether I should try to avoid buying this model if that's my price range? I think things are going to start to go wrong with the '92, but maybe I should just pay as I go(?). Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.
Best,
Catya

Just get new hinge wiring, the 850 will need a new AC evaporator for $1500. Besides, as much as I like my 95 850 and its power, it doesn't have the soul of a 245.

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

If it's a relatively rust-free 240 with the body in decent shape -- if the only thing is the wiring in the hings -- sure, fix it, but fix it correctly.

Take the money you'll save on the inevitable 850 repairs, invest it, and buy a new Honda in a few years. :D

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 169k mi, velour cloth seats, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, V-1, Mobil-1 since new. New goal: "Moonshot" (227,063 miles at it's perigee).

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

I've got a 240 and an 850 (for about a month)

The 850 is nice enough, though I think it lacks a little soul. They have a few endemic problems -- rear main seal leaks, ABS brake unit fails, door strap gives up -- something else I can't remember.

But if the tailgate wiring is the only problem with the 240 I certainly wouldn't dump it. That car will go and go and go. Pay someone to do the harness repair correctly (It's also easy to order the harness and do it yourself).

In general it is probably more cost efficient to spend $2,000 on improving and refreshing the 240 if the body is in good shape. Let it amortize over the next 30 years or so of driving. By that time it will be total classic and you will be the envy of all who behold you.

I will say that the 850 air conditioning is a major improvement.

Steve M.

Raleigh

73 145
84 240
96 850

An aside . . .

. . . about two years ago, my partner's wife bought one of those 240 wagons with the tailgate circuitry going through the hinge. The car was in immaculate condition. She took it to her shop to have some minor things cleaned up--like intermitent electrics on the tailgate.

She drove it home, parked it, and minutes late the thing burst in to flames.

I took a look at the car, the next day, and you could see the two conductors where the hinge used to be (the hinge disappeared--melted-in the fire), with two butt connectors right where the hinge used to be.

Apparently, the shop spliced the wires right in the hinge--not a smart thing to do. I didn't get a chance to look at the fusebox, but they must have also jumpered the fuse.

Shop's insurance ended up paying for the car. My partner and his wife were made-whole, but it was a shame, 'cause the car was cherry.