1986 Volvo 240 DL review from North America

Fuel pressure regulator rubber diaphragm developed a hole/leak at about 170,000 miles--it would not start at all. I couldn't figure the problem out myself, and hadn't yet found my "trusted Volvo repair joint" so I paid an all-makes shop about $600 to tow the car in, diagnose, and repair.

A couple years ago, I had a mysterious electrical glitch that I can't remember. My trusted Volvo repair joint cleaned all the electrical connections under the hood and the problem went away. They only charged me about $50.

I put the air filter assembly back on incorrectly at 161,000 miles and didn't discover my error until around 180,000 miles. The lower fitting had somehow been creased, allowing unfiltered engine compartment air to leak directly onto the air mass meter platinum mesh screen, coating about one quarter of it with greasy dirt, which caused it the engine to run poorly.

The Bosch alternator/regulator assembly kicked the bucket just last week at 189,800 miles. The parts store wanted $290. My trusted Volvo repair joint did it for me for only $275 total parts and labor. I love that place.

Air conditioner was broken when I bought the car, and is still broken. Haven't needed to fix it with the mild weather here.

Had to replace the windshield at about 182,000 miles due to impact with large rock on the freeway. It sounded like a bomb and shattered an area the size of my hand, but nothing came through.

Other than replacing all four tires, the front brake pads, and changing the oil and filters I have spent no other money on this car since I purchased it for $2200 in June 2000. It has been an amazingly cheap and reliable car that I enjoy driving. All costs including purchase (but not counting gasoline) add up to about $3700. I could easily sell the car for $1000, so that's an expense of $2700 divided by 42 months of service for a monthly total of only $64. Can't beat it.

My favorite feature is the feeling of tank-like solidity. I accidentally backed into one of those concrete-filled steel post things in a parking lot. Was going a little too fast for reverse and the impact sounded like a dump-truck drove into me. I got out expecting to see a terrible mess. There was a small smudge mark on the bumper cover. That's it. When I rap my knuckles on the sheet metal, it is obviously much thicker steel than other cars.

I feel comfortable in the car and it goes amazingly well for only 114 h.p. At 190,000 miles it uses about two thirds of a quart of oil between 4,000 mile changes and gets 23 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. It'll cruise at 75 mph calmly, and is very maneuverable in tight city quarters.

The only thing I wish for is a quieter cabin, especially over bumpy pavement. Overall, it is an ingeniously designed and built car.