1992 Volvo 240 GLE Wagon 2.3
Summary:
Bloody good car!
Faults:
Broke one front shock driving on National Park gravel roads, due to over-sized 16" Hydra wheels and overly stiff aftermarket sway bars. One should not screw around too much with the stock suspension if you like it comfortable and reliable! Lesson learnt.
Odometer stopped due to heat wear. Easy fix.
Alternator regulator wore out. Uses replaceable regulator! Easy fix.
Rear tailgate central locking wiring broke. Easy fix.
Central locking works to lock, but not to unlock.
Rear seat folding lever broken.
Interior light door switches had to be replaced (cheap - buy direct fit suitable substitutes from Jaycar if you're in Australia)
Reverse some times fails to work - probably needs a readjustment of gear lever linkage.
Antenna broke - easy to replace with aftermarket.
Driver's side door hinge spring broke. Common problem. Easy fix.
General Comments:
What a great iconic car.
Took me from Sydney to Perth, around a lot of WA and then back! 10,000km in 4.5 weeks.
Steering and handling are very old fashioned in feel, but this car is designed to last a long long time.
Cheap to buy and own.
Very fuel efficient for a large car.
Suggest that people look for cloth trims models instead of leather ones that tend to get worse for wear in these older cars if not looked after (most aren't).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd May, 2009
4th Sep 2010, 04:56
I am the original poster:
I didn't go from an 850 (T5) to a 240. I own both. The 240 is my weekend or long distance driving car. They each have their pros and cons. The 850 clearly looks more presentable ;-) and has heaps more go. I installed an ECU upgrade, and it's now got 420Nm of torque and more kW that I ever need for normal driving.
The 240 however is the car I'd bet my life on for very long roadtrips, and if I need to haul lots of things at the back (it's a wagon). I can camp 'in' the car if need to on roadtrips as it's pretty comfy when you put in self-inflating camping mat. It's really easy to DIY maintain and repair, so a good car if you're into long distance driving trips like me. I carry a lot of spares in the storage well at the back.
I hope you got a nice 240 in the end. I too bought my from Melbourne and drove home to Sydney in it!
Word of caution: whilst it is a reliable car in general, it needs to be maintained for it to be reliable, like all cars. Use a good quality oil and change it every 5000km. If you don't know when the engine oil, the auto trans oil, timing belt and other belts were last changed, change them right away including all three engine seals in front. I'd also put in a new alternator regulator and clean out the flame trap including the oil trap box. Parts are cheap (e.g., AU$19 for a MOOG branded ball joint), but make sure you use quality ones that last.
The only vehicle I'd trade up from the 240 is a VW Kombi ;-)
26th Dec 2009, 21:46
Hi mate, just thinking to get my 1st Volvo and making decision between '93 240 and '95/'96 850s. It's interesting to see you went from 850 to 240 - any major issues with the 850? My gut feeling is telling me to take a flight down to Melbourne to get the 240 and drive it back to Sydney. Thanks for your review. Happy driving.
Pete.