1981 Volvo 245 DL from North America - Comments

Sucked in a valve seat, and needed to have the head machined, at about 700 bucks, when all was said and done. Rear main seal went bad, I mean, real bad, it was dumping oil out as soon as I poured it in. That was another 700 or so. Needs brakes, and front rotors right now. Tail gate wiring is toast, I think water leaked in. The seal between the exhaust manifold and downpipe is shot, so it's really noisy. I keep trying to kill this thing, so I can justify getting a new vehicle, but it's stubborn, and won't die.

Slow, noisy, old, ugly, smelly, cumbersome. Reliable, boxy, safe, oh, and slow.

Funny, I am not one to really take care of my cars, thus I can truly predict its life expectancy. My '82 Volvo DL I cannot predict. It has taken some serious punishment and it still seems to 'tick' as if it were saying, "is that all you got"? THIS - CAR - WILL - NOT - DIE!!! I have to agree with the statements: slow, ugly, smells, slow etc. AND, yes, I know its greatness is overshadowed by its monstrous looks, its toxic smell, and its 'pedestrian like' speed but you know you have to give it up for its reliability. THIS - CAR - WILL - NOT - DIE!!! I guess with all the "BAD (s)," the "GOOD" is pretty good. Just think of it like the movie "SHREK" although it's ugly, gross, and stubborn, it has a good heart.

I have an 82 244 diesel wagon, and I have to agree with the above comment, these things just won't die. My wagon has over 400k on it (odemeter stopped working four years ago) the engine was only rebuilt once, tranny and clutch were replaced at 300k. The car is still my daily driver. It always runs poorly, but it always runs. I can't kill it.

I was the original poster. I am sad to report that this beloved Volvo wagon threw a rod on the freeway, and is no more. Since I posted, I've gone through an 88 corolla, that got totaled in front of my house, a 91 SAAB 9000CD, which was a piece of crap, and now I have a 2002 F-150. I miss my old wagon.

245 DL 79. I bought it after 2 car crashes, and in a way trying to find driving confidence again.

Have change the engine with an 86 model.

If I wanted a speedy car, wouldn't buy volvo estate

Driving at 160kmh, is not bad, still not ugly, not smelly

unless not washed..

No time to look after, but still like to run it although

few serious problems occured.

If any one can advice me to find auto gear for engine of 2316 cc, will appreciate

jonmitakides@yahoo.com.

I have a 1981 Volvo 245DL wagon. It is FANTASTIC! It has some dents, a couple of rust spots where improper sealing was done to replace a rear window. I have replaced typical items as they wore out (wiring harness, radiator, alternator, brake booster drum) and tried to keep it tuned when I had the money. It has about 189K miles and is running great on the ORIGINAL automatic transmission and engine.

A word about the engine in my car: it is the stock B21F 4-cylinder fuel injected type. About seven years ago, I had to defer routine maintenance and was just moving the car around the block to avoid parking tickets in the City (SF). I did not know that constituted HARD USE. Anyway, the #4 cylinder fouled and for months I was basically running the car on THREE cylinders (although I didn't know it.)

By the time I took it to my mechanic, he said I could either overhaul the engine or try a $2 fix by putting an 'extender' sleeve in the #4 cylinder to prevent the spark plug from getting oil on it. That was three years ago. It's now 2006 and my trusty 25-year old 'brick' (love the term!) starts up every time - in hot or cold weather - engine runs fine, and it LOVES the highway. It also often is "the first out of the gate" against much newer cars at stoplights. This car is built like a (steel - not plastic) tank and has pep!!

It totally shocked me last year by passing the strict California smog II test - this after flunking the test several times and being labeled a gross polluter. Turns out it just needed a Volvo mechanic who thoroughly understood the fine adjustments possible with the fuel injection system.

I'll take my boxy (lots of room) 'brick' over just about any much newer car. I've owned it for 15 years. Even if I win the lottery, I'm keeping this car!!

PS - Just to clarify, I went for the $2 extender and it works great. I just carry an extra spark plug or two to replace the old one from time to time. It was a lot cheaper than an engine overhaul.

I have a 1982 244DL with a petrol carburettor engine. It has done almost 400,000km and is still going strong. The body and interior are in good condition, and it always starts and runs really well. This car is by no means a sports car, but what it is, is a well built reliable car.

My 81' Volvo wagon is totally dorktastic. I love being tailgated constantly because of my cars pedestrian like speed. One of these days some rich person is going to hit me and I'm going to buy another old Volvo. It's very roomy and safe. Works for me!