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Hi all,
Just completed a 3000 mile trip from Ontario, Canada to Florida and back in our $500 (+$1000 in parts)93 245. I had the rear wheel well area full of spare parts I didn't need to use. The only issue was some steering wheel shake on braking on the return trip that I suspect is due to a sticking caliper and I had to tighten the AC belt. I left about a litre of oil on US highways due to a rear main seal leak - sorry about that. Gas mileage was excellent despite the car being fully loaded with luggage and passengers - 27 mpg when speed averaged 65-70 mph and 25 mpg when averaging 80 mph (I was surprised how fast traffic moved in Florida and Georgia). What strikes me every time I do a long trip in a 240 is the lack of driver fatigue - I am prone to lower back pain, but experienced none - in my work vehicles (pickups or jeep) I can be sore in 15 minutes of driving. Through the Appalachians we had no problems maintaining speed no matter what the grade. Braking was excellent, but I sure notced the understeer when going too fast down steep grades - is this where suspension upgrades help? Despite preferring a manual transmission, I am very impressed with the AW70 and the cruise control.
Another observation - in 9 days on the road - stops in half a dozen cities - I spotted the following - 2 940 sedans, 2 740 wagons, 2 240 sedans - are the only RWD owners left in the US members of this list or what? Oh yeah, I saw a well used, rust free 245 in Belize City.
And another one - the US is a beautiful country especially if you stay off the bigger interstates. Central North Carolina looks like home except better.
Now I have to work myself up to doing that rear main seal, since it's clear we're going to have this car at least until my oldest son learns to drive in 3 years.
Ron
93 245 with 200k miles
near Brantford, ON, Canada
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