Since 1973 I've had a '69 144, a '66 and then cobbled together '67 122s wagon w/ B20B ( a long story involving an engine change near Biloxi, unrequited love and feckless youthful driving. Moral: Pay attention when: 1. She announces an engagement to another guy and 2. The dealer's mechanic really does know when he says that to change the oil filter will cure high oozing oil consumption), and an '81 245GLT that I got in Dec 92. It had been my father's. He replaced it w/ '93 850 GLT.

I got my money's worth out of the 245 over the years, but during the 137K to 240K that I had it, much was put in: a THIRD steering rack, more tie rod ends, engine wiring harness, the usual brakes, new shocks & struts, two exhaust systems, seats from newer wrecks, a radiator, and then last year a used engine from nursing the blown head gasket caused by blowing the OLD radiator on the Howard Franklin bridge heading to the airport at 5 AM. Just this August, new brake pads & rotors (rear rotors last year actually), ball joints, tune up & tires. Frankly, I was holding out until the perfect 945 came along. After trying a half dozen or so, I was not convinced that I'd be better off, and even looked at vehicles other than Volvo. There were some Hondas between the 122 and 245, and Toyotas hold up pretty well. The 245 was old & noisy. I'm old enough now to want a quieter ride.

So I took a look at some 850 wagons and never went back. My '96, purchased at 85,000 miles is simply in a different league. I paid attention to the BB and bought from a dealer who had serviced it for a few years, including recent replacement of the AC evaporator. History of the car had this as the only substantial bug. Sold the 245 right out of my front yard to a man who drove up with his stepson and $1,000 cash. My wife is relieved that the solution to my mid-life crisis comes in pewter with leather seats. Now for the trailer hitch & roof racks...