1991-1993 is fine.

If you can perform the usual wear item replacement on a 1991-1993 240, you'll have 800$-2000$ in parts to replace and hundreds of repair hours.

If you must use a mechanic, well, at 90$ to 120$ hourly, well ... makes Volvo ownership more costly.

The 4-cylinder 1990s jeep idea may be useful. Yet with abuse, AWD or 4WD mechanisms, and so forth, you'll have parts to to replace. The simplest, most stout Jeep model would truly appreciate suspension bushing replacement as well as I have no idea what drive train wear items you must deal with.

See the Jeep enthusiast boards for anecdotal information for wear item replacement issue versus vehicle mileage by Jeep model and year. he same is true for any used auto.

As for the FWD Volvo models ... welp, you have OBD-II on later models, and you can use the auto part store code scanners in their parking lot to find faults. Replacing wear items like water pumps, timing belts, and engine seals on an 850/S70/C70 is a swear-word inducing activity. You have to practice a greater variety of services like inspection and repacking (clean old grease, repack with new synthetic of OEM or greater CV grease quality, Volvo OEM lubes are nearly all synthetic now and for decades) of the front axle constance velocity joints and the boots that protect them. The care is more expensive and detailed on FWD Volvos, yet the payoff is the durable, fuel efficient, low emission producing, and safe and comfy car.

If not a 1972 Volvo 164 with M410 manual transmission (+OD), I like the first production run of the hardtop C70 (NOT convertible) coupes. I guess that's why we have the C30s now that appear as made from cut and polished platinum and adorned with jewelery (exterior lighting and trim). The new models since 2005 or so are really are truly sparkly and dazzling. Ravens must like them.

I'll stick with the 240 for a short while.

I'd like the 1998 normally aspired 940, the last year available in Europa, with manual transmission. Ho-ho. For the most modern RWD Volvo model.

cheers,

Grumpy Button MacDuff
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Gland Nut Strikes AGAIN!!!!!