All -

Found someone in McMinnville to repair my wife's dead 1982 240 SW and get her back on the road. Seems the main problem was a non-functioning fuel pressure regulator. It would run reasonably well on the highway at speed but just wouldn't run in town at all. He also replaced various ignition items which I don't feel were necessary, since I keep things tidy in that department, including plug wires for which he charged $88.00 alone! So I think he took some advantage of the situation but he did get the car on the road. Also, he did some shuttling around of her and the daughter which was very helpful.

Thank you all who replied to my plea for help - I tried to reply to some but couldn't figure it out.

Meanwhile, my 91 240 sedan, which has 120,000 miles on it and looks like new, is turning out to be a first class piece of junk! It's just one thing after another wrong with it and is costing me huge amounts of money (the Volvo's go to the shop - I have other more interesting cars to work on in my garage, and I hate working on cars that I have to use for transportation). Clearly it is a much inferior car to the wife's 82 240 SW (which has a quarter million miles on it)! Since I'm not about to put up with crap like that, it's going to go. My question for you all is what year Volvo do you think is the best in terms of reliability and freedom from trouble? I'm talking primarily 200 series here - I havn't heard anything good about the newer models. My thought is to find a good one and spend the effort to put it in proper running condition.

Free opinion time, guys (and gals if you're there)!

Frank Starr

I love my 1991 240 sedan. I agree that there are some odd gremlins that live in around this car. However, it is such a sturdy, safe, well designed car. After I bought my first volvo (765Ti) it started driving odd right away and I thought I was screwed, luckily I found the brickboard, bought some tools and a manual, and now the car runs great! The 240 is super easy to work on and best of all when you do have strange problems the people on this board are great in helping troubleshoot. I'd rather be driving a 10 year old volvo with 127,000 miles on it than a 1 day old chevy.

Well, I have to agree with Chris that the 91-93 are the best. Very refined and no bugs remaining. Great cars.

What qualifies as a first class piece of junk?

Personally I wouldn't look at anything less than a 1991 for the 240 series anymore. 91-93 only. There's too much tired iron out there now, for which you might pay money to find that it's just the same as your 91.

The 120k mark is one that will definitely cost you some money. Generally around 100k through 130k or so can really ring up the bill. That's the time that you start replacing suspension parts, brake rotors, and some electronic items as well. For me, I hate that mileage range. But IF you do the work, you usually get to about 200k without much trouble.
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Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240

I was interested in what you had to say about mileage. I just bought a second wagon, a 1992 one owner, that came with the service book dealer stamped for every single service. It also checked out extremely well on the used car inspection. The mileage was a bit higher than I would have liked - 158,500 (just 12,000 less than my 1980), but you can't get everything you want. Would the various problems that you talked about hitting around 120,000, plus or minus, have been taken care of in the regular preventative maintenance services, or might they still be lurking there about to spring on me so to speak? I would go out and look in the book, it is probably in there, but my daughter has the car and she is living out of town.
Great photo Chris, I agree with c.a. there.

Well, let me stick my feet in the goo...I have a 1984, which has been one of the most reliable things around. Besides the typical upkeep, it has been flawless. Still has original starter, alternator, trans, steering, suspension and so on. I've had to do, of course, the wiring harness that goes under the front of the engine, timing crank gear and belt, and a couple other small items and thats after 17 years and 216,000 miles; and she still looks good. It basically boils down to if the previous owner actually took care of their car. It seems as if the newer the car, parts and paint and trans don't seem to last as long as they use to. That's just my oversight. Best to ya'

I've had 47 of them in assorted shapes and colors - 140, 164, mostly 240s - sedans and wagons.

My favorite year- probably 82 and 88. One 82 wagon consistently got 28 to 30 mpg on the highway with a minimum of trouble. My current 88 sedan (89 engine) is probably the secon best Volvo I have owned. In three years, it has never failed to start - of course I did a mot of preventative stuff from the get-go!

I just worked on a 91 240 wagon today and was impressed with it - so I guess I will end up with a 91-93 wagon at some point - next few years.

The 740s and 940 are just now in my price range $1500 to $3000 for 88, 89, 90s and I expect to purchase a few of those during the next few years too/

so far 88 and 82 are the winners in the 240 bracket - less rust on the 88 makes it a better choice!