I have a 89 240 with 191K and a 93 940 with 82K. I have an opportunity to buy another 940, a 92 with 122K. My Volvo mechanic had the 92 940 almost sold, but the deal fell through. I like the car. It looks and drives great. My 89 240 is in great shape, runs and looks great too. The 240 is primarily my son's car though he is still on a learner's permit and a few months away from a license. I like both cars a great deal. Of course, I would have to sell my 240 to get the 940. I am not under any pressure to buy or sell, I just got a wild hair today. I think I can get the 940 for $5k or less, and I might get $3k for the 240. My only compaint with the 240 is poor leg room and the A/C though functional has never done well even when it was new. My only complaint with the 940 is poor head room. I will also throw this over on the 940 board for comments.

Anyone care to comment good, bad or indifferent?

Thanks!
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89 240 190K, 93 940 80K

I say BUY the 940 and give me your 240 :-)

We've got both. I'd say $5k is steep for a 92 940, but if it's in truly good shape and you can trust the seller....

Volvo changed to R134a in the 1993 model year, didn't they?...if so, a 92 would have the old R12 A/C. Mucho $$$ to fix any problems and recharge. Our 940 is a more comfortable car on trips (quieter, smoother, good cruise control...arguably better seats), but the handling and general feel seem a bit numb compared to the 240.

We handed over our 21-yrs-in-the-family 83DL to our daughter a couple of yrs ago, but I've reclaimed it for a while to do the engine harness, rear TAB's, and a few other items. Meantime, she has the 940 at college and every phone call asks "can I have my 240 back yet?"
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Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

We have an '88 240 and a '93 945 and love both cars, they have nearly the samr miles on them. For a long trip, the 940 is more comfortable, the seats are better and the car is quieter. You've got it right about the AC being better on the 940. However, we made a 1000 mile round trip two years ago in the 240, temperature was 106 dgrees, and we were reasonably comfortable.

Our 240 has the M47 5-speed and gets better mileage and acceleration out of the B230 engine. The 940 with auto is easier to drive around town and has plenty of zip for that.

Our 940 is a wagon and is much more convenient to use the fold down than on the 240 wagons I've owned.

As someone mentioned, the Regina system is on some 940s and parts are harder to find. The Regina on our works fine. I've had to replace the AMM on the '88.

If it were me, and I could afford it, I'd keep the 240 for the son to learn on and get the 940 for myself. I bought an '84 240 for my daughter to learn on. It has been great for her. She feels secure in it and has done well. Last winter I put studded snows on all four wheels for her and she drove everywhere on ice and snow! Good girl!

You mentioned getting a wild hair. Boy does that happen to me when it comes to cars. I just think that I'm set and will not buy a car for a long time and then, bang, along comes the hair. My latest is a tempting offer from my sister-in-law to buy her '86 Mercedes E300 which she has owned since new. She is moving to Hawaii and doesn't want to ship the car. She bought it new and has every service record, has done whatever the dealer has told her to have fixed, always kept the car garaged, and has only 139,000 miles on it. I've driven it and it is really nice. I'll post later on this hair.

I have an '89 240 and a '91 740 so I know the comparisons too.

The 700/900s seem to be a lot less prone to rust than even the late 240s.

I believe that 940 would have R134 AC instead of the R12 in your 240 (unless you upgraded it). R12 is only going to get more expensive than it already is.

The 240 is definitely cooler looking, for whatever that is worth.

If the '93 940 still used the Regina EFI system like my '91, that is a consideration. That system may have some advantages (no AMM for one), but most of the EFI related parts are harder to get used and cost considerably more new.

I just replaced the blower motor in my 740. Took about an hour and I wasn't hurrying. Have you heard about tunnelling to hell if the blower goes in a 240?

Hope this helps. You would probably be happier with either than most other kinds of cars.
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Andy '91 745 186K, '89 244 135K, '87 245 lost the rust battle at 225K mi

You don't say whether the 940 is a turbo or not, but I'm guessing it's just the NA GL model. If so, I would keep the 240.

I believe both cars have the B230F engine. If I were the one getting a new car, improving performance would be my number one concern. The 940 is a few hundred (maybe just 100) pounds heavier than the 240 but with the same engine. Thus, in my eyes, a 240 is the better car.

Even if it is a 940 turbo, I'd still be torn about selling the 240. I'm familiar with my car and have begun doing what I can to make it better, and so I'd really be hesitant to spend cash to get what is presumably a "baseline" model (no ipd sways, no custom "upgrades," etc.). The 940T does have an extra 40hp, so only a driving test could tell me if losing the old car and spending a couple grand would be worth it. Probably, though, if I were the one in your situation, I'd wait for an early 960 (200hp!).

Plus, you've already got a 940. For some reason suggesting that you keep things diverse seems like good advice.

Lastly, if it were an option, I'd say buy the 940 and keep the 240. I got my mom's 240 when I began driving, probably six months after I got my daytime license, and she got a brand-new Volvo. You don't seem like the type to go for the S40 that she wanted, but the 940 would be the equivalent upgrade for your situation. I don't know if that's a possibility, but the 240 is definitely a great car for giving to beginning drivers. It's decently hard to do really stupid stuff in it, and if your son is in an accident, you'll know he's in one of the safest cars on the road (he'll probably be able to drive it home!).
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'89 244 GL--25/22 ipd sways, Volvo truck amber turn signal lenses

You don't say whether the 940 is a turbo or not, but I'm guessing it's just the NA GL model. If so, I would keep the 240.

I believe both cars have the B230F engine. If I were the one getting a new car, improving performance would be my number one concern. The 940 is a few hundred (maybe just 100) pounds heavier than the 240 but with the same engine. Thus, in my eyes, a 240 is the better car.

Even if it is a 940 turbo, I'd still be torn about selling the 240. I'm familiar with my car and have begun doing what I can to make it better, and so I'd really be hesitant to spend cash to get what is presumably a "baseline" model (no ipd sways, no custom "upgrades," etc.). The 940T does have an extra 40hp, so only a driving test could tell me if losing the old car and spending a couple grand would be worth it. Probably, though, if I were the one in your situation, I'd wait for an early 960 (200hp!).

Plus, you've already got a 940. For some reason suggesting that you keep things diverse seems like good advice.

Lastly, if it were an option, I'd say buy the 940 and keep the 240. I got my mom's 240 when I began driving, probably six months after I got my daytime license, and she got a brand-new Volvo. You don't seem like the type to go for the S40 that she wanted, but the 940 would be the equivalent upgrade for your situation. I don't know if that's a possibility, but the 240 is definitely a great car for giving to beginning drivers. It's decently hard to do really stupid stuff in it, and if your son is in an accident, you'll know he's in one of the safest cars on the road (he'll probably be able to drive it home!).
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'89 244 GL--25/22 ipd sways, Volvo truck amber turn signal lenses

I'd stick with the 240. Just personal preference.
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

I don't know as much about the mechanics of the 940s, but nothing beats a 240 in terms of looks. I could never give mine up....

I would agree with you. I think my 240 looks "cooler" than my 940. The 240 body style is classic. I also like the brakes better even though they are not ABS like the 940. I love the A/C in the 940, nice and cold. The 240 A/C just doesn't cut in and I live in SC! The 940 creature comforts, leather, electric seat, electric windows, sunroof are nice. My 240 doesn't have an airbag. The 940 has no light in the trunk, 240 does. 240 seems to sit higher than the 940. Both are easy to work on. I like them both for different reasons. The 92 940 I saw today was in superb shape. Cloth interior, maroon paint, very clean.
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89 240 190K, 93 940 80K