I've bought one of each in the last month, but can really only keep one. Trying to decide based on objective decision making. This will be my daily driver and I have two daughters, 8 and 10. My wife has a 2012 Subaru for road trips.

87 245 ... 218K. paid $450 at auction for it. Nearly perfect with a few small minor problems (as would be expected). By far the best of the three vehicles, but also one I could make a huge profit from selling (guessing local price would be $2500 - $3000). AC even works (being in Arizona that is a nice feature).

92 745 ... 205K, paid $800 put about $1000 (tires, interior, tune-up bits) into it. Good running car, one dent in tailgate and corner light, otherwise good. Still needs routine items: timing belt, water pump and brakes. Already sold it to my neighbor, but he wants the above 245, but for only a few hundred more than he paid for this (I'd either keep this or the below 945). Leather interior in good shape. AC, R12, unknown condition (belt is off, former owner said it was making a noise). Driver's side airbag.

95 945 ... 175K, paid $600. Bad transmission, Interior really dirty, but can be cleaned up (have good door panels already) and am replacing the transmission for $150. New timing belt in last three years, new tires last year. Dual airbags up front and three shoulder belts in the rear. I've not driven it much because of the bad transmission, but what little bit I have driven it, it seems to be a good driver. AC is r134 and needs recharged, but works.

The 245 is my sentimental choice, but with kids it is almost too nice and the potential owner would keep it pristine. The 945 is my logical choice, newest and probably safest and best kid hauler. The 745 is really a great driving car (and the one I have the most experience with) but it is also the one I have the most money in so by keeping it I could profit the most on the other two ... (I'm trying to make some money in this process.) I wish I could keep all three, having a trinity of wagons would be awesome. Alas, I need to choose one ...

Any insights or reasons anybody can see keeping one over the other? I'm really undecided. Thanks!

What to do, what to do...

Keep the 245 and the 945. Always room for one more. Maybe I am prejudice against the 700s although one of the nicest RWD Volvos I saw was an older style, freshly painted red 745 with 16" Hydra wheels. Anyway, dump the 745. After you replace the 900 transmission and decide at that time. Tan interior in the 900?

For the kids, the 945 would be better I suppose. For you, even easier to work on.

My 5 year old grand daughter has taste as she loves the red '92 244 with black interior. I use this mostly for short trips in town.

Sour grapes if you get rid of the '87 245 - didn't these have the biodegradable wiring.

Tom

Posted on the 200 series list I can imagine that most forum users would say keep the 245. My opinion is that you should keep the 245 of course! I think a case could be made for keeping the 245 because it's the least abused of the 3, and should be most likely to give you reliable service. I presently am running a 1990 240 that was poorly maintained for a while by its previous owner. It really takes a while and $ to catch back up on all the jobs left undone by previous owners (in the case of my car, all brakes and many suspension bushings, tracing the sources of an array of error codes in the computer, missing or broken bits of trim, etc, etc).

I doubt that the 945 would be safer given the condition it sounds like it's in -- who knows if the airbags would even deploy in an accident.

Gonna jump in here quickly and defend the 940's safety. First, the 940 is a heavier car and weight does matter. A 95 940 has 2 front airbags and an 87 240 has none, but the 940 also has SIPS (Side Impact Protection System). In a side impact, the impact's force is dispersed away from the passenger compartment and into the chassis. Side impacts are a 240's weakest point. There is no doubt in my mind that even if the airbags don't work (highly doubtful) that the 940 is the safer car.
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95 855 GLT Sportwagon 214k, ex - 90 244 DL 300k

According to Swedish car safety statistics, there's no difference in safety between the 240, 740 and 940 series cars. The data come from analysis of injuries sustained in accidents in Sweden. The Swedes no doubt crash a lot of volvos, so the data should be based on a decent sample size.

http://www.folksam.se/polopoly_fs/1.11226!/webbversioneng_R6546.pdf

Glad to hear about the safety stats. Not surprising as they are essentially the same car. I am not questioning a 240's safety, I know it's a safe car. I owned one for 10 years. The car, however, was designed in the early 70's. There is no question in my mind that Volvo improved the safety of their cars moving forward. Personally, if I was T-boned I'd take my 850 (side airbags and SIPS) or a 940 (SIPS) over a 240 in a side impact. I've read about people who have died when T-boned in a 240.

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95 855 GLT Sportwagon 214k, ex - 90 244 DL 300k

The 745 also has SIPS, believe 92 was the first year for it.

As of now I'm probably exchanging the 245 with my neighbor and getting the 745 back from him, with a little bit of cash from him. He'll keep it pristine, whereas my kids will trash it (albeit unintentionally) and I just don't want it to get thrashed.

So, I'll have the 745 and 945. Probably resell the 745 and keep the 945. I should finish up the transmission in the a.m. and will have a better idea of how the 945 drives. Damn, wish I could keep them all ... it was fun having one of each iteration, even if it was for a short time.

I'd keep the 9. The safer car, also roomy, and parts may be more available over the next several years. Cheaper to fix for some things also, like the heater fan and wiring.