I just bought a 1992 244 with 97K miles on it from a little old lady here in California. The interior is immaculate - like new. The rest of the car is excellent - well maintained mechanically and a straight body. A few nicks give the car personality (think "inclusions" in diamonds, or "character lines" in leather sofas!) I plan to drive it for a long, long time. This board has been exceptionally helpful in the buying process. I often searched in vain for a similar board for my great 87 Jetta that was hit on the freeway - too bad.

Boy, the car is heavy - but nimble! The 240 is even more beautiful when you own one! Friends of mine who work on 60's American cars were admiring the wide rails and rain gutters that are important parts of the 240's classic styling. I like the modernist lines and the unevenly typeset "240" on the trunk lid.

I will be coming up on a 100K mile service, I suppose. I would like to do a lot of the work myself, but my mechanical skills are sort of surface level. AT is new to me. Do any of you have suggestions about what to keep an eye on? What to replace? I want to be really on top of this car, and I want to start off right. Any helpful hints as I begin a long ownership?
-pu

By the way - one mechanic I spoke with about the 240's endurance said "it is basically a tractor engine with a cam shaft." I thought that was interesting...