1981 Volvo 240 DL review from North America
"Fantastic! One of the finest cars ever produced"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Power steering unit leaked for a while, but sealed threads with teflon tape and it's still holding 3 years later.
The front seats needed to be replaced - $45 from a wrecking yard.
Timing belt went at 260K - $175.
Replaced factory rotor cap and wires 6 months ago.
Fan motor started making noise for a while, but stopped - fixed itself.
Has leaked a tiny amount of ATF since purchase, but has never worsened.
General comments?
I am the third owner of this Volvo. Other than fuel, regular tuneups and oil changes, the car has cost me almost nothing in repair costs. Also, most of the DL model parts are interchangeable - this makes finding inexpensive parts a breeze.
It has passed tough California smog inspections without any problems - sometimes producing ZERO measurable emissions!!! - This car is over 20 years old and is still cleaner than almost all new vehicles...
Recommended reviews
| Never underestimate Swedish technology |
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| Went across the continent, gets me to work |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 1995 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 190000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 298000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 4th June, 2004 |