1981 Volvo 245 GL from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

The things that have gone wrong with the Volvo are not really surprising given that it has done in excess of half a million kilometres. The vacuum assist booster for the brakes failed and was replaced with a reconditioned unit and I have had to replace a unreliable thermostat. Nothing else in the past 2 years.

I really had to add this review so that my remarkable 500K+ kilometre Volvo had a spot on the Web. I bought it from my wife's uncle (A$500 = US$250) who owned her from new and clocked up 510,000kms on her. So really the 20,000kms I have added are inconsequential except that these have been at the more 'mature' end of her life. So what can you say for a car that is in excess of 20 years old, has travelled to the moon and halfway back, and looks set to make it home.

I really don't want to comment on her other than she really is a marvelous piece of engineering. I couldn't recommend her highly enough.

Hey there. I've got the same car and I absolutely love it. Mine (light blue metallic with blue cloth interior) is currently driving around the South of France. I bought it with about 200,000 kms (now add another 50k plus) from a retired Navy Captain who raised his navy brats in it before turning it over to them as teenagers. He couldn't have cared less about the outside (although it's not that bad) but he did run that light blue boat's mechanics through a shipyard style regimen. Basically all major parts have been replaced. I was so impressed that I decided to go ahead and replace the entire suspension. Now THAT made an unbelievable difference. I can once again pump air into the rear suspension through that valve under the bonnet, when the car is fully loaded up in the rear. I had forgotten how 240 estates normally ride that high in the rear because all the ones you see around are basically shot, since you can't simply slap in regular shocks and it's expensive as hell to have Volvo do it. Makes the car look great though, and the driving difference is incredible. I do recommend putting in a Brochet fuel catalyst though. For £70, I ordered one over the internet from the UK. It now takes unleaded fine and has run far better with zero valve wear for 5 years now! Worth every penny as the new potassium lead replacement is crap and those additives do add up. Putting in low octane regular unleaded works perfectly. I figure I have saved a fortune as leaded gas around here is very expensive. Anyway, enjoy cruising your Volvo. JohnB.