My 500 dollar 86 white 245 finally had it's clutch burned to a crisp...couldn't do the job my self and checked different shops: and it needed much more to get inspected.... probably about 1300 total, (parking brake, maybe a caliper or two...) and I'd been fighting rust along it's whole 2 and half years of ownership for me. So I know a friend who has this lovely rustfree 90 245 sitting around undriven for over a half year. Being short of cash, I knew it needed work and she even allowed me to pay for mechanic first then pay her installments of 3X$500 with any repairs needed over $500 to be split. 1500 total...for a pretty nice looking 245.. Gold colored. And seats are not ripped, not too much duct tape... (a little on her heavy duty floor matt...) and the well regarded mechanic who gave my ol Volvo thumbs down (due to rusty crossmember... not worth putting clutch in...he said..) He gave the newer gold 245 thumbs up... and a nice $925. bill along with it for new shocks, new rear bushings, a tow, a battery, etc.. and the bill's only starting..

Get the new baby home...and next morning no start.. starter motor's weak.. .sheesh. I am begining to think maybe shoulda tried another estimate of how bad my old pretty white one was really... but gotta admit..the newer one's an automatic and even without clutch...it's pretty zippy. (my ol clutch probably never really was working now I think of it....slipped in higher rpms..) after tweaking wires to starter,,, maybe just a little rust is affecting weak starter and last two days it works just barely...compared to old car..which just had a new starter put in by me.... so obviously I may need to take starter from ol car and put it in new one.

Anyway, I am getting used to the new one... but the deal... once thought to be 1500... now is getting closer to 2500 on up for a '90. Maybe not so good. And I then notice just a tiny bit of rust on tail gate. Got to admit it was also a favour to my friend, she has MS, couldn't get her new wheelchair in Volvo so she had to buy a van. I want to help her out too. I didn't really even start the car until after I made deal...and am now thinking well, not so bad as she's letting me pay in installments..during a pretty rough winter financially...(paid 400 bucks for rental.. got a traffic ticket for borrowing bosse's illegal car... and then several tow charges to get ol Volvo to shop and back and new one to shop...) Luckily brakes were still good except for one parking brake.. just rust on rotors easily scraped off with use, as mechanic said.

I thought I'd never like an automatic...but with cell phone use and pretty peppy engine.. it's not so bad. except trip odometer's toast, needs new windshield washer switch to pass inspections...and I am smelling a little gasoline in rear...

checked infamous metal return vapor line for rust but no wettness.. could I have a leaky tank? What's best way to find gas leaks besides with a match or propane torch?