Volvo 240DL
The Volvo 240DL pictured here was a loyal partner for nearly a decade--a period of time in which the Volvo covered more than 200,000 miles, took part in two cross-continental moves, transported us and our friends to countless enjoyable endeavors, and generally became an omnipresent part of our lives. It was my wife's first car, and endured as our primary vehicle even as more modern replacements came and went.
With more than 350,000 miles on it when we sold it, our 240 lived up to the line's reputation for ground-breaking durability. The build quality was high, the construction was tank-like, and it took every beating we handed out.
So, given all that, I'm a little ashamed that I never really warmed up to the Volvo and wasn't all that sorry when we eventually sold it. I can't avoid the feeling that I've failed some fundamental personality test. So, if I could just vent a bit ...
- While our Volvo was incredibly durable, it wasn't necessarily all that reliable. I'd believe that car could drive for another few decades if maintained properly, and probably survive a near-proximity nuclear explosion. But it also cost us a ton of money to maintain and left us stranded more than once when its components gave up.
- Its burgandy paint, never particularly attractive, didn't stand up very well the pollution, heat, and humidity during the six years we lived in North Carolina. After one summer, the shine mellowed rapidly into an ashy, coagulated mess.
- Various components in the engine compartment were just loose enough to vibrate, meaning that they resonated at a variety of frequencies as the engine revved up and down. This gave the drivetrain the aural polish of a two-stroke motor.
- The car made up for that lapse of refinement with an almost utter lack of power. Brand-new, the four-cylinder engine pumped out 114 horsepower. After more than 300,000 miles of abuse, I'd be surprised if it generated anything close to that lofty figure. This, when powering a two-ton steel safety cage, resulted in a car able to drive out of a paper bag only if that bag is properly moistened.
- The most disconcerting effect of this power shortfall was its inability to hold its speed when climbing hills of even moderate grade. Even full throttle, a downshift, and an energetically squeezed steering wheel wouldn't keep hills from slowly sapping the Volvo of its forward progress. The Gran Turismo 4 racing game has a Volvo 240 Wagon in its comprehensive vehicle selection; but even that virtual 240 couldn't hold its speed when racing full-throttle along the uphill backstretch at Laguna Secar Raceway. Now that's realism.
- The transmission functioned primarily as an expensive transmission-fluid-to-nature distribution system. As soon as we sealed a leak, another would pop.
- Some guilty party--we blamed my brother-in-law's high-school friends--took the opportunity to break just about every plastic interior piece, giving the interior a warmth and atmosphere reminiscent of a supermarket in a paticularly rough part of Moscow.
- The air conditioner didn't actually cool air, but it made up for that fact by functioning as a highly efficient engine-overheating device. Of course, once the engine began to overheat, we'd have to turn on the heater full-blast to draw the hot air away from the engine.
- The Volvo didn't come with cupholders, so my wife's grandfather built a handbuilt cupholder that sat in the center console. It was a beautiful piece of work, but unfortunately it sat right on top of the toggle switches that activate the seat heaters. This meant that, depending on how the cupholder was sitting, the seat heaters were switched unobtrusively on much of the time.
- The non-functional air conditioning, usually-on seat heaters, and North Carolina heat and humidity turned that car into a sauna. Those poor front seats absorbed untold gallons of sweat. The Volvo was, hands down, the hottest car I've ever driven.
- Some low-life decided to break a window (worth a significant percentage of the worth of the entire car) to steal the $30 CD player in the dash. I don't agree with stealing expensive stereos out of luxury cars, but at least I can understand the motivation. But stealing a worthless CD player out of our worthless car ... that's a cry for help.
The Volvo's most damning crime in my eyes was that it just wasn't particularly interesting. It wasn't quirky or a great performer. It wasn't pretty or ugly enough to be interesting. It was just there and drove us around--albeit in a sweaty and slow fashion, trailing transmission fluid the whole way.
I do owe the Volvo for one thing, though. I was once pulled over for speeding in the Volvo, but the troooper let me go once he got a good look at my car. Based on the pitying look on his face, he probably didn't think my car was capable of speeding.
The top picture is the Volvo just before we sold it; the second is an early picture of the Volvo when its finish was still somewhat intact. The third picture is the forlorn hole left when the CD player was stolen.
--Chris H.
almostarctic on November 15, 2009 at 07:07 PM
I had a '83 Volvo 240GL wagon. Had some power and a manual+OD. Bought it in the California. The lady who owned it owned a boat and backed the Volvo into the water so that the Salt Air could do its wonders. The car was Rust with beige parts.
It ate away the body from the inside. But that said, the structural components never showed any rust.
My wife totalled it 10 years ago turning left while some yahoo was jumping a green light. Wife walked away. The other driver walked away from her Geo Metro (surprisingly) but neither car was repairable for value.
As a result we bought another Volvo. I was eyeing a Turbo 740 wagon (the great sleeper) but we ended up with a used XC70. No regrets. Except for a leaking wallet. The guys who work at the repair shop seem to be driving nicer cars each time I visit.
Volvoman245 on December 23, 2009 at 02:11 PM
What??? I swear by classic volvo's (122, 240, 700, 900) & classic lexus/toyota's. Yes i have driven buicks, dodge dynasty (die-nasty), ford escorts, ford mustangs, suburbans, ect... What car is more reliable then a volvo 240 (othen then a toyota)??? No other car matches volvo's saftey record (except for maybe a lexus, and that's maybe). My 1990 245 has 265k miles on it and it drives like day one. Everyone always complains that they are soooo expensive to repair - not true - it's called get on brickboard for repair help and go to either sales@vovoagogo.com or fcpgroton.com for parts. I drive my sweedish brick about 800 to 1000 miles a week for the last 2 years and never had any problems. I get about 25/27mpg city & 30/32 mpg hwy, which is not bad at all for a car that is built like a tank. Yes i have had a crash in both a 240 and 740....both were bad crashes, but i had not a scratch either time.....thanks volvo :)
Ross on May 14, 2010 at 03:14 PM
Glad to see there's plenty of people here defending the lovable slug known as the 240. This is a love it or hate it vehicle, you'll find as many people singing it's praises as people who join the humdrum of "Oh it's ugly, oh it's so slow." No, it's not a performer but I happen to enjoy the aesthetics, and no it's not as quirky as a Saab 900. But what is?
Also, one of the reasons I love this car is that I ~don't~ have to take it to a shop to do repairs. That's the whole reason why this car has a cult following... unlike your newer vehicle, most issues are fairly simple to diagnose and repair. I can't tell you how many times I picked up my father from the side of the road in his 2006 Pontiac with the 1988 Volvo.
You should have realized you didn't like this car the first time you drove it. I love Saabs too, by the way.
david on May 27, 2010 at 09:14 PM
We have a '84 240, was my wife's car when I met her but I kinda took it over. I really cant complain much for a car thats 26 years old with 250k, it only left me stranded once, and that was due to a defective alternator from Advance auto I had just put in, and was my fault, I should have had the original rebuilt. I drive the old tank all over the country, its not a racecar but the B23 motor is adequate to move in city traffic and burn tires on smooth asphalt. And for mileage, 26mpg hwy, with my heavy right foot aint bad, not for an automatic, and not for a rear wheel drive made from heavy metal.
The car never was intended as a luxury car, so folks who are used to Mercedes, Jag's, BWM's, Lexus,etc of course arent going to have much good to say, but when it comes to being tough and reliable, and something thats easy to work on, I take volvo over a benz any day, and yes I owned a benz and I could write 10 pages of complaining about it.
I live way out in the boonies, and I drive alot of gravel mountain roads, most cars cant hold up to this kinda abuse, I drive mine like a bat out of hell. Its a tank, I took it places most folks woulnt take a 4x4 truck, you want great gas mileage, drive a beer can on wheels that ends up crushed like a beer can in an accident, you want ultimate luxury, drive a benz that cost $1000+ every time something breaks, which was quite often for me.
I guess my only complaints would be, the trim molding on the side, the plastic flat headlights and the platic hubcaps dont look so cool, oh wait, my 84' got square sealed beam headlights, metal 2 piece hubcaps and doesnt have the 80s looking trim molding, so maybe the older ones are better, or maybe these cars just dont like hippie teenagers, the hell if mine doesnt do good in the snow with or without chains, look up volvo snow races.
Ok my real complaints, the wiper motor is of a 1950s design and needs lubricant or it does not last, the AC overheats the engine in traffic jams when its turned all the way up, and the did not have a v8 as an option, but I plan to bust out the welder and drop a 305 or 350 under the hood whenever, if ever the 4 banger's bottom end starts rattling.
Monica on June 24, 2010 at 09:56 PM
I have a 1980 242DL. It couldn't fit me better, but I have the same luck with my MPG. I get 17 MPG, it kinda sucks. I actually thought that I had a gas leak until I Googled about it. Sooo, thanx everyone. Atleast now I know.
Chic on July 02, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Just wanted to hear from any Volvo owners what they think of a 1986 Volvo 240? I'm thinking about buying one with over 250,000 miles on it. It has a 5 speed manual transmission.
It has an AM/FM Cassette in it. That will have to go for sure. How much would you pay for it? The woman is asking $1,000 US dollars.
Let me know, I would appreciate it.
Donald Sensing on July 12, 2010 at 07:34 AM
I have owned three Volvos. The first was a two-door, 1981 240-GLT. This was the model that Volvo threw its first turbo into. Compared to most any other five-passenger sedan (or smaller ones), this car was a screamer. However, I had the non-turbo version of that car, identical in all respects, just no turbo motor. So yes, its 114-hp engine was often, uh, strained. But the sport-tuned gear ratios of the manual tranny did give it more oomph than the standard drivetrain.
What it did do was hold the road and maneuver fantastically well. With an up-tuned suspension and Pirelli G6 tires, it was wonderfully fun to drive - once you got it up to speed, of course. It was also a burgundy metallic paint; my wife and I bought in S.C. and then moved to Oklahoma, but the paint never faded. I did keep it clean and waxed, though.
Then we moved to Germany for three years and the appeal of the car rapidly shrank as we discovered real German iron. The lack of turbo really made autobahn driving more interesting than it should have been (or was when I drove our German-model MB S-Class). Nonetheless, we did take it back to the US with us when we returned (along with a new BMW 528, which of course became my wife's car).
Had not been back home for three weeks when the car just died. The electric overdive broke itself, three of four engine mounts needed replacing and in the intervening 24 years I forget what else was wrong. The Volvo shop estimated repairs at $2,600 when the car Blue Booked out at $6k. The Volvo only had 83,000 miles. So I traded it in on another make.
We now own the other two Volvos, both 2005 models. My wife has a V70 wagon (non-turbo, but the engine is much more powerful than the old one's) and mine is a red S60T - T for turbo. The wagon has 124,000 miles and the S60 85,000. Nothing has ever broken on either. Standard maintenance is all they have ever needed, and it is not expensive until you get to the 120K job, which for the V70 was $1,600-plus, but that included replacing all of the rear brakes, too.
Anyway, we're happy as a clam with these cars and think they'll easily get to 240,000 miles, at which time they're gone. Why? Because by then the 120k-cycle service will cost more than the cars will be worth.
TeeJaw on July 12, 2010 at 08:09 AM
I had a 1986 Volvo 240 DL I put around 200,000 miles on without experiencing any of the problems you had. I did take it to a good Volvo mechanic for regular service intervals and while that is not cheap, Volvo service is much less expensive than any other car of comparable longevity. Volvo owners are blessed with a bevy of independent Volvo garages who seem to believe that it is their mission in life to keep old Volvos running well. The only other vehicle make for which that could ever have been said was the VW beetle.
My attentiveness to the service called for in the owner’s manual is probably the reason I never experienced any of your problems, but of course I’m only speculating. Also, the paint after 200,000 miles was still in very good shape, even though the car had been in two major wrecks (in neither of which was I at fault), expertly repaired by a devoted Volvo only body shop.
I sold the car to a friend who is still driving it at around 300,000 miles and if he has had major problems, he hasn’t told me so (and he would). The air conditioning doesn’t work anymore but that is only because the environmental extremists have taken away the freon it needs. If the freon could be had it would work great, as it always did.
Elo Soode on July 29, 2010 at 02:46 PM
The post that keeps on giving, thank you.
Paul Bishop on August 23, 2010 at 09:48 PM
I have owned several 240 DL and GL Volvos. I have found the cars to be very reliable, given proper maintance, easy to work on, and with a proper HHO system, to get over 35 mpg with an automatic trans. I have always dressed my 240's with ground effects and wide tires, and they have always received their share of second takes. I love these cars and their well engineered simplicity. I still own two of these cars and both are over 200,000 miles, and have only left me standing once, before I understood the fuel relay problems under the glove compartment.
PB
Volvo S40 Cars on August 31, 2010 at 01:54 PM
It might not sound sexy but the S40’s X-Factor is its calm-inducing qualities. We wouldn’t say this is the car to set your heart racing.
Andrew on November 17, 2010 at 05:17 PM
quess im not going to get this car!
brian on January 18, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I have a 1979 245DL in the UK, and I love it. The only cars I've driven that felt more solid were a Merc w126 300se and a Merc w124 diesel. However, both of these cars are much more complex and cost more to fix. Where the Volvo comes into its own is that I can fix everything myself- brakes, head gasket, even the heater.
Plus, the Volvo 2.1 engine is one of the few that can break a timing belt without destroying the engine- and its easier to replace than serpentine belts on modern cars.
I am originally from the US, and most of the problems people have mentioned are unique to the US. UK 240's had a simpler heater and no AC to deal with. Further, mine uses a Stromberg carb and is no more complex to work on than an old Amazon.
Yes, fuel economy is poor- especially on early 240's. However, mine has been converted to propane (LPG) which is half the cost of petrol, so my fuel cost is about the same as a Corolla or Civic.
For a classic, the 240 can't be beat- spares backup is brilliant- even body panels are available still, and it can be as fast as you want it to be with upgrades. That engine is durable and unstressed enough that the HP can be doubled without difficulty. Furthermore, the metal is really thick, and these cars don't rust too badly if you keep on top of them. The problem is that they often fall into the hands of people who are ambivalent towards them and don't bother keeping them clean of salt.
It is also important to realise that these cars have a different type of reliability to a Corolla. The Corolla is the 'hundred year one horse shay'- in that every part was designed to last the same length of time and then the car will crumble to nothing. The Volvo has parts that wear out at different rates. If you replace things as they break, it will keep going indefinately. If you let things build up, eventually it will reach the point that repair is economically unviable.
Hence, there are many more 1980s volvos on the roads than 80s Camry(ie)s, accords or the like despite fewer being sold. My father's 1991 Civic never failed or needed anything other than regular servicing until at 190,000 miles, EVERYTHING failed at once. Since Japanese cars are so difficult to work on and parts are so expensive, it was not worth repairing. I budget on £400 a year for parts, and reckon it'll need a respray in five years. Otherwise, it will keep going until it sucks the last bit of dinogas out of the earth.
Dan on February 06, 2011 at 05:15 PM
Quite simply one of the best cars ever built in terms of safety and longevity. As with any vehicle it has it's flaws. But none of these flaws are important to a person who has their head on straight. Cupholders, please. A/C, who needs it? Looks, really who cares... People are spoiled nowadays. Go whine and buy a new car and it will still be in the junk pile before a well-loved Volvo 240 will be. I still drive an 89' 244 DL and probably will own a 240 until I die. A 240 has never left me stranded. If you're an idiot and don't change your oil or do regular maintenance, it MIGHT leave you stranded. Don't know what the fuck you haters are all taking about. There are only a few other vehicles that I would mention in the Volvo 240's category: 1980's Mercedes Turbodiesels. Hondas and Toyotas are good for people who don't know how to fix anything but they are boring compared to my Volvo. Everyone has a Honda or Toyota. Blah.
Tim Otters 1980 242 Supercharged 2.7L Stroker on February 21, 2011 at 08:25 PM
I'm back again. This time I built a new engine that delivers serious power, 380 hp and 440ft-lb, via an Eaton M62 supercharger. This is a serious torque monster. With enough torque to easily spin my 315/35-17" tires through third gear. Volvo's and especially, 242's rock and are incredibly safe strong and easy to fit into when you're over 6 1/2 feet tall.
Four hundred and fourty thousand miles and still running STRONG!
Dean on March 23, 2011 at 09:20 PM
Have had my Brick for about 7 years and loads of miles and dependable as my levis blue jeans, hard as this is to beleve I live in Houston and in Austin and someone made this car dependible say what you will.There are a Lot of crazy roads and And I really haven't spent that much on repairs for tires,oil and tune ups...
Pat on May 06, 2011 at 04:40 AM
I've owned 5. My husband bought me an '84 240 standard with overdrive in 1992. Ran that for 8 years. I bought my daughter a '79 244 2-door auto in 1995, then an '84 240Gl standard in 1996. Finally junked the '79 when the head gasket went for the third time. She traded the '84 for a new Kia. The Kia was totaled and I bet the Volvo's still running in D.C. They love them there. Traded my '84 for a '92 240 which I still have. Treated myself to a '99 XC70 in 2005. Can't beat these cars. Of course I can't do any mechanical work on them but I've found 2 good mechanics, one a Volvo specialist and the other one not thrilled to work on Volvos but willing to learn.
Henry on May 23, 2011 at 02:52 PM
I just retired an 82DL. The interior and body were shot but the engine still purred on. Gave it to charity. I just got a an 89GL
that had been stored for 10 years, 117K miles, so it's like starting over again. It looks new. Beauty is in the eye...etc...but it seems more than every other car on the road is a toyota, honda, hyndai, nissan...and those that aren't just look like 'em.
brickwalla on May 31, 2011 at 07:24 PM
You have to really show that you love it and the 240 will love you back eventually. My 1985 240 didn't really want to be with me at first - my left thumb was caught in the door during the first month of owning it. The poor thumb took a month to heal and another month grow a new nail. I blamed myself for the stupid accident and continued to shower undivided attention on the brick. Now I'm certain the 240 will never part with me. Ever!
Mark S on December 11, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Hello All,
When i was 16 i was sold a 1959 volvo Duette (544 Wagon) by my older brother, I drove this car all through high school, enduring all of its Break-downs, design flaws and general removal from the social scene.
After several inevitable teenage accidents, and many Learning "opportunities" as my father would call them, i am here to report to all of you that i am now 60 years old, most all of my body parts still work, despite the worlds best efforts to take me out.
There are Many Destroyed Volvos left in the wake of my life, (most of them not my fault) But not only have i survived, but both of my kids have made it through major accidents, as well as my wife. I am truly convinced that if they had been driving "Economy" cars i would have 3 urns on my mantle.
It is true that they are a pain to repair, expensive to buy parts for, not particularly good looking, but in the long run, they are the "golden retrievers" of the automotive world, and who can say any thing bad about them?
One other thing, Through all this i worked as an independent mechanic in a good neighborhood, working on guess what? Yep, Ugly Volvos.
Made a good honorable living, paid my taxes, and sent my kids to college.
Please tell me more bad things about Volvos..
Thank You For Your Time.
Mark S.
Brookie Stylist on January 16, 2012 at 05:12 AM
I love that you've all taken the time to post here....We are inheriting a Maroon Volvo 240dl from my wonderful fater inlaw....I'm sure he has cared for it quite nicely, as he's typically diligent in this fashion....Does anyone have any ideas or adive for us?
Bluebird on April 13, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Lot of hate, lot of love for the 240's.
I own an 83 wagon that I bought from a shop for $200. When I bought it there was no front end due to a collision, and it had been sitting for several years. It took about a grand to get the parts together for the front. All the engine needed was some oil down the cylinders and a new battery, fired right up.
It's not a flashy car by any means, and something breaks about once a year, but it's almost 30 years old at this point. I find it kicks ass in the snow, provided you know how to drive in it.
PS; it may not be a chick magnet, but my wife loves it. It has so much glass there isn't much you could call a blindspot.
Blue Bomber on April 17, 2012 at 07:49 PM
I love my Volvo. It's a 1986 240 DL sedan, a nice dark blue, still shiny paint job. I bought it back in 1992. The car had been sadly neglected, left out in the rain and the sun and the cold for six long years. When I bought it, it still had the original oil filter and sported wedged-in Hyundai battery. I put $2,200 into her, just to get her up to spec, then another $800 for a new differential.
It's hard to believe I've driven the old beast for 20 years. But whatever came up, I always got it fixed. Eventually. Management by crisis was the name of the game.
Over the last two weeks, I've decided to give the old soldier a bit of a tuneup. The reverse lights, shift console lights, dashboard lights, and heater fan were all not working. I finally found the right guy to do the job, and he did it right. Then the rusted out rocker panels needed repair. I went to another guy, and he did it right. Finally, my old Volvo didn't look like a victim of decay - a major giveaway that the owner of the car is a loser. Then it was the radio - it hadn't worked right for years, always shorting out. So I got a new one put in.
She has plenty of power, even at highway speeds, and handles very well in and out of traffic and on the open road. Though she is a bit gutless on hills, with only 114 HP to move her along. Maybe its stability and handling have something to do with all the camping junk stored in the trunk.
The amazing thing about this car is that is exceptionally solid, and everything (when it does work) works well, and has been well thought out. And the car is simple, I love that.
I think this is one of those "good" cars, the ones that just happen to work well. She was made in Nova Scotia, maybe the workers there took some pride in what they did. The did a great assembly job on a car that will never win any prizes for sleekness, stylish grace, or any stealth technology. But it is still one of the most common "old" cars I see on the road.
I worked my butt off to save enough money to do the necessary maintenance and repairs on the old Blue Bomber. In the morning, it stills starts right away, purrs quietly in the background, and gets me where I want to go.
paul on April 28, 2012 at 04:02 PM
i have a 1991 volvo 240 dl wagon, and am having a few problems. It starts up ok, but when i go to push brake to change gears, it dies :(