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That's true. But ...
When it comes to paint jobs, I think a lot can be left desired when making it a DIY job. IMO, if you want it to look good, it's best left to a professional - and that does not mean MACO.
That said, it may be possible to achieve a quality result with the proper preparation and materials. If I were you, I would find the correct paint from Volvo. I bet OEM cans are available in addition to the little touch up spray cans. I have several small OEM rattle cans for both my 240s that are an exact match. Sure, you can take the paint code to a local shop and have it made up and it'll probably be close enough. But it might not be "exact", but it will be expensive. The OEM paint cans aren't terribly expensive in my experience.
In your situation, I would also - at a minimum - paint the entire quarter panel from the belt line trim down, and same on the door. Trying to just paint the affected area won't look right. It also makes the job easier as you can just run the masking tape/paper sheets along the trim and up. You need to sand that finish down though before you do anything. Are you sure there isn't a clear coat? I'm pretty sure all late model 240s had clear coat? I think that's what is going on there with your car - deterioration of the clear coat. So you also have to consider that after paint, a corresponding clear will have to be applied. And that also means sanding, sanding, sanding, and yet some more sanding, if you want it to look right. Otherwise you'll have orange peel or other similar issues. And that of course comes after you sanded, sanded, sanded and sanded some more to begin with.
Oh yeah, if you want to avoid getting dust particles, leaves, bugs and debris from ruining your work/investment, you'll probably want to do this inside, or in a paint booth. And if you want to really do it right, get a good compressor and spray gun to use with the OEM cans (not the rattle cans). Again, this is if you're at all interested in a quality finish.
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