|
|
Today my neighbor was looking at Inga sitting in the garage up on the rack. This is a redneck rack inside the garage, you know four jack stands under each of the jack up points. I was using my fathers day present, a new compressor with air tools to remove the front tires in record time. Was in the process of snapping on my air racket to go after the belly pan blots when he did the stroll up and asked what, besides Inga was up. Told him I was replacing from the exhaust manifold back with all new. Pulling the rack off to get it rebuilt, fixing the two holes in the passenger floor boards (Por Kit is on the way), and getting the rear end new bushings, TAB, and good shocks. Going to drop the oil pan while the rack is out and check the oil breather tube (still have a lot of oil getting in the throttle body) and there is a seep leak in one spot on the gasket. And to top it all off I need two new tires. And there are a couple of other projects that may or may not get done.
When he asked what all this was going to cost, added it up in my head and told him since I was planning on poly on the rear end and good shocks about $1K for all of it. He looked at me like I had lost my mind and said why don't you get rid of this and fix up your wifes 2000 Tarsus SEL or get a new one. The wifes old car is still in really good shape, power and automatic everything, leather, still looks and drives really well. Told him am giving to to my son in law so the kids do not have to take on a car payment. But I am driving it until Inga can get down off the "rack" in a couple of weeks. Regaled him with my master plan to help save the daughter and son in law some money. That way they can start working on that grandkid (no pressure asserted). Grandkids look like a lot of fun and anything to help that process along is in my book deemed worthwhile.
But the bigger reason I was keeping Inga was the 2000 Blue Oval car has 144K on it and it was a matter of time before expensive stuff like the transmission starts going out. I drive about 24 to 30K a year to work and about. The 240 with 90K more miles on it was the best bet to last say three years. He added up the mileage and said that is over 300K. Looked at him and said and according the Brickboard somewhere around 350K that I will most likely have to replace the head gasket. But the engine and tranny should make it per what I read here.
Then he saw the stack of manuals and the pile of BB printouts and asked where did you find all that stuff, the reply was the Brickboard. Did not tell him the Bentley was called the Bible.
He joked and asked if this old Volvo group was some sort of Cult?
Told him I would have to read up on the textbook definition of a Cult but pretty sure it wasn't.
But I can tell he thinks I have a screw or too loose.
Not a Cult,
Right?
Regards,
Paul
PS: Yes my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek, but really, not a cult right?
|
|
|
|
A disease maybe as my wife would say, but not a cult!
Matt
|
|
|
|
|
I never do it but figure the $/KM (or mile) Pretty low cost ride. Lots of parts cars here in Nova Scotia, they assembled them in Halifax for years. We are many and that equates into lots of help with problems. Durable, practical ride with just a little style. What's not to like.
|
|
|
|
|
If you gotta spend that kind of money on a bunch of small things, I'd rather do it on a 240 than a Taurus. And no car payments is great - avoid debt whenever possible. Second class car beats first class walking every time. :)
|
|
|
|
|
Easy Paul easy.. deep breaths, calm think calm. We are not a Cult.
Cults are for insecure people looking for a purpose. What we have here is a mess of very secure people willing to pop the hood of a car and delve into something new with a little support from cult members...I MEAN friends that have done it before.
P.S. did you get your NIKE sneakers and Purple robe yet?
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm
|
|
|
|
|
What's the official uniform of the Cult of Volvo?
1. Nike sneakers (oil-stained)
2. t-shirt+jeans (200), khakis+poloshirt+cap (700), lab coat (900)
3. Little chrome 'Volvo' logo pin
4. High Mileage badge pinned to hat
Any more?
Ari
|
|
|
|
|
I guess it's OK to talk about this here, but if you talk about it elsewhere you may be terminated.
|
|
|
|
|
Are the 240 Volvo owners getting sucked into a "cult"? Hmmm, especially here on the BB, that is an "iffy" question at best. My personal opinion is NO, it is not a cult. If there were no redeemable value to our efforts to keep these highly reliable and safe vehicles running like Swedish clocks, then I'd be worried!
Now if we were talking about a VW Beetle that provided virtually zero safety and caught fire at will, then I'd have to say we were a cult, not to mention the wee bit of the ol' Nazi connection.
Personally, I've brought two 240s back to ultra-reliable operation and performance, the fist was a 90 244, cost me $2K and was still in wonderful shape when we sold her two years later. The second was a 92 245 in great shape, I spent a year ripping that pup apart, rebuilding everything, modifying everything I could, and after close to $6K in expenses, I have a 30MPG beast that can haul a ton of freight, handles like a race car, and conveys significant high end "Volvo attitude". Does this make me nuts???? you tell me, but I can assure you this beast will be around for far longer than the 06 XC-70 we picked up in Sweden! Note to self, 06 XC-70 has 15.6K miles, 92 245 has 265K miles. Where does my faith in the 245 come from??? Simple, experience and understanding of how the 245 was designed and built! Volvo truly had enlightened engineers working for them... except for the sucker that designed the starter mounting hardware!
jorrell
ps. My personal description of a "cult" is a group of people who have rejected reality and documented history in order to justify their belief in what they want to be real.
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
|
|
|
|
|
The reason the Beetle & other VW's of the era caught fire was because VW was too cheap to put a simple clamp on the feul line at the carb. As long as you had this & the line was not rotted you were OK.
As for the safety issue, they were no worse than any other car of that ('60's-'70's) era.I had a '73 Datsun 1200 that was the worst & most unsafe POS I ever had the displeasure to drive.My Karmann Ghia was a much safer & superior car.
As for the "Nazi" connection, the Japanese were pretty much on the Nazi level of brutality--study the Rape of Nanking, Bataan death march,treatment of US prisoners, Nazi-like experiments on prisoners etc. etc..It may be enough to make you trade your Nissan for a Volvo.
OH, BTW, Sweden stayed neutral in WW 2.A little help on their part may have ended the war sooner & spared many lives in the process.
|
|
|
|
|
Neal,
Sorry if I went a bit overboard on the VW beetle and mentioned the "N" word... not the really bad "N" word, but the horrific holocaust "N" word. If you wish to take this discussion to the "OPINIONS" page, I'll be more than happy to elaborate and expand, after all, I was just trying to define the difference between a car "cult" and a group of intelligent folks that know a good value when they see it!
jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
|
|
|
|
|
Hi, My name is Jeff and I have an addiction ...
I've only owned a Volvo for 3 weeks, but I fell hard and bought my second one after a week. I am simply amazed at how two 20-plus year old cars are so solid. I am attempting to figure out how to get out of my car payment as we speak. My monthly cost of ownership exceeds the cost of my 244 ($650) and approaches the cost of my 245 ($850) if I include insurance and gas.
Why, oh why, did I not discover Volvo ownership years ago.
Granted, both needed a bit of work: The 84 needed struts and shocks. The interior is filfthy and one brake rotor needs replaced - and the AC doesn't work.
The 86 needs a catalytic converter. The AC needs charged, but she has a shiny new compressor and hoses, so the expensive part has been done), the temperature compensator board needs to be jumped, brake pads up front and the odometer needs a gear.
I would like to do the timing belt on both, oil and transmission fluid changes and tuneups to get a baseline. That said, my 2001 4Runner needs a timing belt and front brakes at 90K. I suspect the work on the Volvo's is not only cheaper, but easier to do.
|
|
|
|
|
I have had my first Volvo now for 17+ years.I now know how to fix almost everything-Just did my first oil pan / oil pump replcement.Also changed to r134a & can do A/C repairs & many other things myself.Car has 181,500+ miles.It is an '82 DL with the 4spd+OD.Me & my wife love it & will keep it 'till it either rusts away , the wheels fall off or it breaks in half! What need have I of a new car ? We also intend to drive cross-country in it when I retire !
The real cult is the merry-go-round of monthly payments for inferior/disposable cars (Kia,Hyundai,GM, etc.) & depreciation & expen$ive repairs at dealers !
I recently saw a young 20-something-guy drooling over my well preserved car. He said it is almost impossible now to get a good 240 with a stickshift.
Perhaps he wants to join my cult !!
Neal ;)
|
|
|
|
|
I think living WELL within your means would be considered a "cult-like" activity by much of today's society.
And, doing your own work is just plan silly, you know. ;-) Who does that?
Charles
|
|
|
|
|
The Cult of Volvo has its advantages. I would be nowhere without the help I've received on the BB. And yes, I think at this point, after buying my 740GLE in late January, I'm out about $800, plus $350 for new tires. But, really, if I had taken it to a shop for the repairs I did, it would be something like $5,000-7,000. And, after joining the Cult, I've been able to do repairs on my family's Honda, saving them potentially $1,000 already.
The Cult is made up of people who enjoy the satisfaction of making stuff work. We are united by our persistence and economy.
Ari
|
|
posted by
someone claiming to be V70driver
on
Sun Jun 29 04:29 CST 2008 [ RELATED]
|
|
$1000 a year is very reasonable. For many buyers of new cars, this is only 2 or 2.5 car payments. And don't forget, for many new cars (let's not even talk about SUVs), the annual depreciation is thousands per year.
|
|
|
|
|
Where's the Kool-aide, Ive spent close to $1K on each of my five 240's. Some within 6 months of getting them some maybe as long as two years, it's the best transportation bang for the buck out there. Once you get them dialed in annual maintenance can be as low as $200 a year. Dan
|
|
|
|
I've put $3000 into this 245 I bought 9 months ago for $1400. Some things weren't absolutely necessary, like my shiny new headlights. But after all the serious maintenance and repair I did, it was begging for a fun upgrade.
Still diagnosing the Ghost in the Machine...or the screw loose in my head?
Yep. Then some "members" spend more money to get them all together at a rally and take pictures...
--
89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees; 91 245 project
|
|
|
|
|
About two months ago my neighbor, who had just purchased a Ford 350 diesel (I think) noticed that I had just spent hours in the hot sun installing headlight wipers on my '91 wagon. He thought that was neat, but questioned my sanity about the day I had chosen and the amount of effort involved. Conversation moved along to the $1400 he had just spent for a scheduled major service on the G35 coupe his wife and daughter share--at 25k miles. He then commented that it must cost me a small fortune to keep the wagon going as it is 'so' old. I thought for a moment and replied thus:
"Bought it at 135k and drove it home 3000 miles without a hitch. Changed the oil. At 142 I put synthetic oil in the 5 speed and did the front brakes. At 155 I changed the plugs. At 165 the AC leaked down enough to convert to R134. At about 176 the TO bearing started to cry because I adjusted it incorrectly, so I changed the clutch. The old friction disc and pressure plate were still good--what a waste. Oh, and I changed the ECT and thermostat this year before summer while chasing a hard starting problem. I figure I've got, oh, maybe $1000 into the car for maintenance."
He changed the subject.
I'm perfectly happy being part of a cult.
DS
|
|
posted by
someone claiming to be Farm Boy
on
Sun Jun 29 02:43 CST 2008 [ RELATED]
|
|
;-)
|
|
|
|
|
We may be part of a cult if anyone cares to call us that, but you are definetely doing the right thing if it helps lead to grandkids. Grandpa (of Katie-7 and Jack-4) Dave
|
|
|
|
Wheel lug nuts I can see. But an air wrench for the belly pan bolts?
I think maybe you've joined the cult of the impact-happy.
--
'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon
|
|
|
|
|
Well I have carpal tunnel and cranking on socket handles a lot really fires it up the next day. And I have a new toy, toys actually and dang it I wanted to play. First time the tools have been out and used for actual good. Putting stuff back on, looks like I have to watch it. That air socket seems to drive them in a bit hard. Leaving that impact in the tool box unless something is stuck.
Anyway the Tim the Tool Man Taylor in me is having a blast. At least until I break something off anyway.
ARH ARH ARH ARH
Regards,
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
SORRY, WE QUALIFY AS A CULT. SEE BELOW.
WE NEED A SECRET HANDSHAKE OR SONG, I GUESS.
WIGLAF
Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups - Revised
Janja Lalich, Ph.D. & Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship.
Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a “cult scale” or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool.
The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
The group is preoccupied with making money.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.
dude We are a cult.
Wiglaf
|
|
|
|
|
Damn,
Does this mean we all shave our heads and sell flowers on the streets to buy Volvo back from Ford?
;-)
|
|
|
|
|
YEEEESSSSSSS we must kill the ford-vo! Restore Volvo to its once great place of honor from the depths of hell where it now sits!
cough, I mean, we're not a cult.
-will hehehee
--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond
|
|
posted by
someone claiming to be V70driver
on
Sun Jun 29 08:01 CST 2008 [ RELATED]
|
|
Tata bought Land Rover and Jaguar, and they were in discussion over Volvo many months ago. I don't know the status. If Tata did complete the transaction, I wonder if all future Volvos would be right hand drive....
|
|
posted by
someone claiming to be VolvoDriver
on
Sun Jun 29 04:26 CST 2008 [ RELATED]
|
|
You wrote:
"The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished."
This sounds like the Republicans in the Bush Administration.
|
|
|
|
|
Pretty gutsy post. They know where you live, and special forces are now being dispatched. Watch out for anything unusual. [and while I agree with your sentiments, unless they're responsible for the fan motor, probably best to keep political posts off the board. Keep Sweden neutral]
|
|
|
|
|
hey paul,
good time to get at the driver's side motor mount.
i'm sure you know, but go with volvo, borton's or volvoparts.com (volvo dealer in wash state) have good pricing. that volvoparts.com have motor mounts for about $25 each.
also, be sure to have the hose banjo crush washers handy when you get your rack.
is your differential leaking? good time to change the fluid along with the tranny fluid. go with synth while you have it up. walmart carries mobil 1 tranny fluid for our trannies.
regards,
byron golden
86 245
92 245
sugar land, tx
|
|
|
|
|
Byron,
Getting a little off topic but...where did you get those crush washers? Just curious, cause I reused mine after flattening them out in a vise. Not the best practice, I know...
~jason
--
89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees; 91 245 project
|
|
|
|
|
hello jason,
i bought the crush washers at the dealer.
some guys reuse theirs, and others get their's from parts stores, etc.
i wanted to get mine the same size, same kind, copper i think. i didn't want to do this a second time.
there are 2 sizes, and you need two per connection.
regards,
byron
|
|
posted by
someone claiming to be dbostrom
on
Sat Jun 28 20:32 CST 2008 [ RELATED]
|
|
As Klick and Klack frequently inquire, "Can you get a better car with fewer mysteries for less than what you're going to spend on repairs on the car you already have and know?" Excellent advice; the answer is almost always "no". So based on rational thinking I'd say it's not a cult...
|
|
|
|
|
If I had a grand to spend on my car, I wouldn't hesitate... Got baskets saved and labeled on iPD and a "To Do" list on my desktop that grew very fast, but is slowly getting pecked away. It's almost an addiction.
|
|
|
|
|
¿This is ALMOST an addiction?
(or you might call it OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
In my case VERY heavy on "Disorder"!!
I have a 1000 sf garage and I can BARELY get one car into it.....
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
|
|
|
|
Apparently it's a cult. I dunno. Lots of red-necky people think the 240 owner's are dangerous liberal agitators until they see you working on them. Then you're OK.
I once had a crusty old cowboy-style hardened Appalachian guy come up and check out what I was doing with the Volvo while working on it in front of my old house. Sort of neat as it was kind of a common thread between two very different people. We talked for about 10 minutes before he was off.
Anyhoo... good to tell people that *all* cars eventually need lots of work at one time or another to keep them going. All cars need an exhaust system eventually. Nothing is immune from wear and tear and the resulting maintenance. That new car they buy is just a susceptible to an occasional breakdown as a 20+ year old Volvo if well maintained. I'll stop there before I ramble into my "anti-disposable-culture" diatribe. :-)
-Ryan
--
Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars, GT Braces
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
|
|
|
|
|
Good read. Thanks.
--
' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)
|
|
|
|
|
