1982 Volvo DL 240DL 4 from North America

Summary:

The best car ever made

Faults:

At about 185,000 miles, I replaced the electrical system. The A/c went out about 200,000. Otherwise, it has been a perfect car with normal maintenance, oil changes, tires, etc.

General Comments:

The car handles beautifully, even today. I just bought a preowned Mercedes 2007 C model, and actually prefer driving the Volvo - it is a better fit, smooth, and but for no A/C or updated airbags, and the bells and whistles of the new cards of today - it is PERFECT; and I am keeping it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st March, 2008

1988 Volvo DL 240 4 cylinder, 113 horse power from North America

Summary:

Old, Rusty, Like a box with a role cage, Very reliable

Faults:

The air conditioner has died, the brakes have been completely replaced, and the overdrive no longer works, clutch is very worn, the lumbar support in the drivers seat is broken. There is also something wrong with either the clutch accelerator or computer, or all three, this makes the car stop accelerating and slow down just after the first 5 to 10 seconds of driving, but then the car is fine.

General Comments:

This Volvo 240 DL is still owned by my parents, but is basicly my car. It has 262,921 miles on it, but considering that most Volvo owners think 100,000 miles is low mileage I guess its not that bad.

I learned to drive in this car and am hoping to take it to collage, besides the problems it has it runs very well and is very reliable.

This car gets really good gas mileage, roughly 30 miles to the gallon highway and 22 miles to the gallon stop and go driving. meny new cars get this for mileage and are considered to get high gas mileage.

Have been driving these volvo for two years and think it is a great car. It is however the in the worst shape of any Volvo 240 I have ever seen or been in. it came from somewhere in PA. that gets hammered with snow so it has a fair amount of rust on it, and the hub caps have been really messed up. but it is a very reliable car.

The car has meny features including, heated seats, and the front seats can be made softer or firmer.

I really like this car and would only sell it if someone offered enough money for me to bribe Volvo into making a brand new one just for me... or I might settle for enough money to get a mint condition 240 GL from 1993,1993 was the last year the made the car.

All my friends think that my car is from the seventies because besides the headlights and some extra features the 240 stayed basicly the same from 1976 until 1993, in fact the repair manuals for 240's are for Volvo 240's from 1976 through 1993.

We have a antique car show near where I live, and once when I went to look at the cars someone there made a serious comment about my car, they said "So you need to work on yours a little more before you put it in the show?" I looked at them and was like "Huh? What are you talking about?"

I really like my car and hope to still be driving, or at least still own a Volvo 240 when I am in my 40's and I am only 19 now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th July, 2005

15th Jul 2010, 00:44

Great review. Very helpful.

16th Jul 2010, 23:39

These old Volvo 240's were extremely well built cars. I owned one of these and loved it. Had over 300,000 miles on it when I finally sold it. Never had any serious issues.

These things were BUILT. I remember opening the hood for the first time and thinking "Wow, that's pretty heavy". The sheetmetal used for the body was pretty darn thick.

I loved mine. It was heavy and slow, but it was incredibly reliable. Never left me stranded anywhere. Real safe car too. You can keep your SUV's, if I'm in an accident, I hope I'm in one of these.

Volvo used to be a good car company... Then Ford came along. And of course they sold it to a Chinese company! I'm sad to say I'll never own another Volvo, unless it's one of these old 240's.

17th Jul 2010, 10:57

To the above... don't write off Volvo just yet... they still make some of the best cars in the market place today... my S60 is proof of this! It's great, and feels so solid in comparison to the Lexus IS, BMW 3-series, etc I compared it against. I love it!

18th Jul 2010, 09:22

Once they start making them in China, you'll think differently.

18th Jul 2010, 09:53

To comment 10:57.

After Volvo was bought out by Ford I saw a huge quality drop. I'll never buy a Volvo that's any newer than 1993. '93 was the last year the old 240 was built. Those things were built like tanks.

Does anybody else know the car accident fatality rate for the old Volvo 240? ABSOLUTELY NONE HAVE BEEN RECORDED. Nobody has ever died in a car accident driving one of these.

12th Nov 2010, 23:07

I have an 88 240DL, and an 01 V70 T5 running around 268bwhp. The DL is like driving a little tank-work of art, and the T5 will peel out at 50 if I want it to. The 240 is fun to drive around town, and the V70 makes 1000 mile trips like a joke. Volvo 4 life... Now I want a 740 turbo... My wife is going to kill me... I have a lifted and locked Land Cruiser too. LOL.

7th Jan 2017, 05:43

Citation for your outlandish claim, please.