1983 Volvo 240 GL Diesel review from North America
"This car is what it is, slow and tank like, but safe and solid"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Headlights on one side do not work due to a wiring issue as the relay, headlights, and headlight switch were recently replaced.
The head gasket is leaky, causing oil to burn. This makes it difficult to drive up long hills.
The jack broke while I was using it.
The leather seats are ripped.
The A/C no longer works.
The heater fan no longer blows.
The battery goes dead if the car isn't started for a month in the wintertime.
The front right turn signal does not work due to wiring problems.
The power steering fluid leaks sometimes.
General comments?
I will state this right now. This car was badly abused when I got it (well for the 8 years prior to purchasing it. Before that detailed maintenance records were kept.)
This car is very solid. It is a pleasure to drive, and I rarely have a problem starting it. I feel very safe in it.
It has stalled twice on me however (in the exact same location coincidentally).
I cannot drive it up long hills due to the gasket. The engine gets smoke coming off the surface of it and there is a terrible smell which goes along with it.
There have been various electrical problems with it such as headlights and turn signals.
Regardless of that, it is very reliable and always starts for me. It handles well and has a relatively tight turning radius. The acceleration is however slow and I cannot drive faster than 40 km/h up hills.
I love my car very much regardless of its issues. It is what it is for being 26 years old.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1983 |
| Year of manufacture | 1983 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | D24 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 156000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 157500 miles |
| Date of Entry | 23rd February, 2009 |