1988 Volvo 240 DL review from North America

The ecm went out just before about 166500 miles; I hear that is common with 1989 240 series. I bought the car. I had to replace an oxygen sensor after driving the car approx. 1k miles. Not bad considering how many miles are on it. I had to recharge the air conditioner and a fitting on a transmission line came lose and had to be retightened.

I love this car. It handles like it's on rail. When you take a sharp curve in this 4000lb sedan it feel like you are driving an expensive sports car.

This car is very reliable! Aside from the minor repair I have made to it, it has provided me with nothing, but excellent service! At 177k miles it still cranks on the first attempt. The engine runs so smoothly at idle it could rival a Rolls Royce.

This car is very comfortable. The plush seats and supportive lumbar make it a joy to drive long distances especially for me. I have a bad back and the lumbar is a real life saver! The seat heaters are awesome; they really keep you from getting frostbite and in summer they are great when my back hurts! However there are a few things I wish Volvo had added to this car. No cruise control makes a long drive hard on your legs and the lack of cup holders is an inconvenience. I use the space between the hand brake and seat, it hold a 20 soda bottle nicely!

This car is not very fast on take off. You could compare its acceleration to that of a lead sled. However once this car gets moving it likes to walk until you reach about 80mph then it's a real push to 100 mph.

This car stops on a dime. When it comes to brakes Volvo has the right idea. It is the only sedan that weighs 4k lbs that stops like a Honda Prelude that I have seen.

If you are looking for safe car then this one is for you. I feel extremely safe driving this car. It is 4000 lbs of solid steel! I would hate for any one to hit it. I believe if it were hit by a Mack truck going 65 mph I would walk away unharmed! This model does not have air bags which suits me just fine!

When it comes to gas mileage this car is OK. Considering the weight and size of the vehicle, it is actually very good. It gets about 22 mpg on the highway and 16-17 in town. It is by no means a gas saver. However it does not drink gas like it is going out of style either. I would say it is just average, nothing to write home about.