I have an 89 240 wagon with 230k on it, and it's having lots of issues at once: one hood hinge rusted solid over the winter and needs replaced (it bends every time I open the hood, starting to feel like a time bomb since that corner sticks up when the hood is closed), the speedo is intermittent, it needs a tierod end, there's serious rust at the bottom of the b-pillars and tailgate, the original clutch is close to its end, and so on. I went through a list of stuff just after I bought it with 137k on it, and now it looks like another list is brewing.

I was debating whether to look for another one or buy something else when a friend called and said they are selling their 93 240 wagon, with a stick, 160k. We haven't talked price yet, their mechanic offered them $2000 for it.

I've have not driven a newer 240 than my 89, and have some questions about 93's:

-Are the 93's any quieter than the 89's? My car is too loud for comfort on long trips, and I thought I read that the later 240's were better soundproofed.

-The car is from Vermont; is the rust protection any better in a 93? My car was originally from Connecticut, and so I'm thinking if the rust protection is the same this car will soon have similar rust issues soon enough. They said that the one door is rusted along the bottom, which could be a stuck channel, or maybe not...it's dark blue so a door should be easy enough to find if needed.

-Anyone want to hazard a fair price for the car? KBB and Edmunds show roughly $2000 as trade in, $2500 as personal sale, and $3500-4000 as dealer price.

I'm thinking of offering in the early $2000's for it, but will naturally have to check it more closely before doing so.

The only repair that they know it needs is a ball joint on one side, which they might fix before the sale. And there's a "rattle" in the engine compartment, which I'm betting is a water pump in distress, or maybe a loose power steering pump.

I like driving my 89, but I think it's time to retire it given the rust I'm seeing, and the expense of the other parts I'd have to replace. I'd buy another 240 if the body was likely to have a better chance of lasting and it was quieter on the highway.

Another consideration is that I have euro headlights and other extras (e.g. new exhaust) that I can transfer to the 93, and my M47 is still very solid if needed.

Anybody think of anything else (other than typical 240 stuff) or have suggestions or comments on the above, I'd appreciate your time and consideration.

Carl