Yeah, airbags don't get much cheaper as years wear on.

Unless you get used ones. On a 240, the cost should be around $500. Honestly, you could scrape it at around $150 for a used reel and bag for a single-airbag 240. Not too bad.

I don't know who replaces a dashboard on a 940 when the airbags deploy. it's probably written in some obscure manual somewhere, that it has to be done if the airbags come out. You probably also "have to" replace the crash sensor (almost never), the whole interior (gets rid of the dust), the transmission, and probably a few other random expensive parts. The reality of it is, you can usually get away with just bags and belts on a 94-95 940. And a windshield, because if it doesn't get broken, it would be a miracle.
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A Brickboard Expat