by "gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
Published 02/10/2017 at 17:33
by "gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
Published 02/10/2017 at 17:33
Tags: Volvo
STARS: 2
It looks good from 10 feet, but it definitely has issues.
For starters, the good: Cool backstory, this was a European delivery car that was a grad present for someone who kept it for years, and is now a professor at a local university. The current owner is the 3rd owner. He wants $1200 for it. Healthy B21, timing belt/water pump done, full tune up as well, pads, rotors, and rear calipers replaced, all four struts replaced, heater core replaced, H4 headlights with replaceable bulbs, seems totally dry on the inside. New windshield too. Oh and only 130k kms as of 2 years ago, when the speedometer and odometer stopped working.
The not so good: It’s automatic, which means the ancient BorgWarner 3 speed, and its shifting kind of hard. I don’t know if that’s normal, I’ve only driven a 740 with the AW71, and a 244 with the M46 manual. The wheels are wrong. Despite the replaced struts, the suspension feels clunky, like it needs bushings or something. There are little rust spots in a lot of places. Around the windshield frame, one on the roof, in the rear door sills, a couple just at the door edges. Those are all surface rust, it doesn’t concern me too much. What does concern me is bubbling around the tailgate hinges, a rust hole above the rear bumper near the taillight, and some other rust around the spare tire wells and rear fender lips. Worse than surface rust, but still fairly contained.
Normal 240 problems: The wipers shudder, the blower motor makes weird noises, some trim in the interior is broken, the front seats are from a much newer 240, and the gasket between the exhaust manifold and the exhaust pipe is leaking loudly.
I know that’s a long problems list, but the car still feels like the solid Swedish tank that it should, doors close well, especially the tailgate, it feels like a bank vault to close. I’ve been hunting for a good flathood 240 to have as a second/project car, but I’m not sure this is the one. The rust concerns me, but I don’t know if I’ll find a less rusty one, at least locally. Ideally I want a manual 242, but I do love 240 wagons and I don’t want to pass up this one and find every other early 240 to have way more rust.
"Deal Killer - Powered by Focus" (dealkiller-ii)
02/10/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 1
Wait, you’re having second thoughts about a 40 year old car, for $1,200 that runs & drives? I’m only 8 years older than that car, and I have more issues, and will soon be spending a far greater amount of money than $1,200 to fix them. Unless you want to spend a lot more for perfection, I’d say stop whining and pull the trigger. Carpe Diem and all that.
"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11)
02/10/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 1
buy it
"Seat Safety Switch" (seat-safety-switch)
02/10/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 1
Buy it. Why are you waffling on this?
It’s better to have an okay Volvo than no Volvo.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
02/10/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
I’m not looking to spend a lot more for perfection, but I’d happily spend one or two thousand more for something already manual with less rust. I just don’t know if I’ll find one.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
02/10/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
That’s a good point
"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
02/10/2017 at 17:53, STARS: 0
Is the xj still being considered?
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
02/10/2017 at 17:56, STARS: 0
Sadly no, the lift makes it too tall for the shed
"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
02/10/2017 at 18:03, STARS: 1
Your shed is now banned from Oppositelock.