1984 Volvo 240 DL from North America - Comments

It sat for five to five and a half years before I acquired it.

Had all the fluids, hoses, filters, belts, and battery changed.

Had the gas tank replaced with a used one - included a new in-tank fuel pump.

Needs A/C replaced.

Needs paint job.

Needs water pump.

Needs the windshield replaced.

Windshield wiper mechanism needs lubrication.

Windshield wiper arms need replacing.

Dome light fell apart when I touched it. Had to replace it.

Okay, it sat for five and a half years, give or take. After having all the fluids, hoses, belts, filters and such replaced, it runs great!

The interior has held up extraordinarily well. The seats are still comfy, the fabric covering is undamaged.

The trunk is very roomy - plenty of room for luggage, camping, and fishing gear.

This car seats four *very* comfortably, could seat five okay.

For a twenty-three year old car, that sat doing nothing for ages, you'd think it would barely move or be worth nothing more than scrap. You'd be wrong - this is a great car!

You appear to be a Volvo hater. Ask any one who has ever owned a 240 or 244 series Volvo and they will tell you that these cars are supremely reliable and absolutely undemanding compared to the new cars these days which require plenty of pampering. All you need to do is your oil changes regularly and attend to your wear and tear items immediately and these cars will take care of you for life.

Sure, they may seem like lumbering old giants, but once they get up to speed they can hit 140 km/h on the highway, with ease. And they are safe, too. At 1800kg kerb weight, very few other cars will come away unscathed in a collission with a 244/240.

You should consider that life is the most important issue and being in collission while in a volvo will probably ensure that you walk away to live another day.

Please take the time to consider all these before you summarily and arbitrarily compare these cars to a bullock cart or an ox cart.

By the way, have you actually been on an ox cart before?

I have and I know the difference!

No, the 240 is unique and has a wonderful charm about it - they don't like to die! They are more friends than cars.

Me? A Volvo hater?? Me? I wrote the original article, and if you noticed, my title says, "This is a great car!"

In point of fact, I bemoan the fact that this is the first Volvo I've ever owned. I wish I could go back and start over, because I'd have gotten a 240 new and taken good care of it down the years!

In my article, I was simply listing the things that have been neglected for at least five years (probably MUCH longer) and that I am going to fix or have fixed.

Oh, and just where did I say anything about an ox cart in my article? Where? Nowhere. You brought up that straw-man. I said it was a great car, and I still think it's a great car. I'm going to hang on to it for a very long time!

My apologies. That comment was meant for another review. I don't know how it ended up in yours. So sorry again. Webmaster, your response please.

Oh, and... Volvo rocks!

My Wife hit a pretty large deer in our 240 wagon (and this lady knows what that gas pedal was put in there to do) She was doing every bit of 70 at impact. THE DEER LOST. As it turned out the hood got a small bend at the latch, the grill was toast and the left fender was bent, but sure repairable. But that was it! Had it been a lighter car, she may well have ended up as a statistic. I retired the car since we had another and it is a brick. I don't know if I have ever had a more solid car since my '37 Olds. Keep them repaired and they are eternal and not bad looking either. The only bad thing is the insulation on the wiring harness. Before you repair THAT, MARK everything, what a nightmare of a repair that is to do.