240 or 850 wagon

wylie_snoop · Post by **wylie_snoop** » 03 Oct 2006, 12:58

I'm looking to buy a used volvo and I'm torn whether to get a 240 or a 850. I am nervous about getting a 240 because of it being +- 20 years old, but I hear they are extremely reliable. I'm also interested in a 850 because it has more of the luxuries and maybe alittle sportier, but I hear they are not very reliable and plagued with problems. Any insight on which would be a better investment. I would like this car to last and I am somewhat mechanically inclined so I would like to be able to work on the car myself as much as possible.

Thanks

LaRy · Post by **LaRy** » 03 Oct 2006, 14:37

The 240 is an old car and has older solutions giving rust problems. I would suggest that you buy a 740 or the newer 940. Especially the 740 is easy to repair compared to the 240 and very little electronic equipment. The 850 was the first front wheel drive car Volvo designed with a brand new 5 cylinder engine. Of cource this new construction would cause problems. What we have noticed in Sweden is that some years ago, the 850 had a higher price as an used car, but now a 940 from the same year is more expencive. Why, because it is more reliable an rather simple to repair.

brucepick · Post by **brucepick** » 08 Oct 2006, 20:51

Here in the US the last year for 240s was '93.
740s ended in 92.
940s with non-turbo 4-cyl went through '93 I think, and the turbo 4-cyl ran through '94 or '95.

For our next car - whenever that will be - I'm thinking a late 240 or a 940 turbo 4-cyl. I've heard very little good and plenty bad about the straight 6 and its cousin, the 5-cyl that's used in the 850/70 cars.

The biggest drawback to the straght six and the 5-cyl is that they are interference engines. Even with timing belt changes done at the proper intervals, a belt can still break or jump teeth - and when that happens you're in for major engine work, as in bent valves and damaged piston heads.

the 240/740/940 cars use a non-interference design. On the rear drive cars with the "red block" 4-cyl engine, if the timing belt breaks, you get it towed, and get a new belt installed. Just as if you had driven it into the shop for a scheduled appointment.

wojeepster · Post by **wojeepster** » 10 Oct 2006, 18:36

I absolutely love my 240. the 740 is a great car too. The later volvos are in my opinion not worth having. They cheapened the design, the brakes suck, and they are less reliable. Now if manufacturers would realize that good brakes, reliable cars that are easy to fix are the cars that people will buy. I guess you see that with hondas and toyotas but I just can't bring myself to buy one until my volvo is undrivable and I can't find another one. 250,000 miles and still going strong. My mazda miata lasted 25,000 miles before the thrust bearings fell out of the engine. I will NEVER buy a mazda again.....and so it goes. go for the 240 if you can deal with an older car.

Martin Dombroski · Post by **Martin Dombroski** » 12 Nov 2006, 08:27

I own one of each and my 850 is for sale..This is my second 240 and granted its a older vehicle with alot less features and power I feel a whole lot better in it. My 850 does have 170,000 miles and has been relatively reliable , its had some odd problems. I did have tranny problems which I understand is typical of the early cars (mine is a 94), and now electrically things are seemingly dropping off. lights, wipers, door locks, which I don't bother to fix because the car has little value. It also has a terrible exhaust leak which makes it no fun to drive. I have to use the recirclation system to avoid the smell (not entirely) and then all the windows fog. The system is complicated and I'm guessing that the dealer could sort it but at what cost? The 240 is a great relaible tanker with a great history. It's huge inside, comfortable and a nice highway cruiser. I have a 4/od trans and its goes ok, no speedster though. I feel good driving it, sort of that old retro look and you often get smiles from other rear wheel drive Volvo drivers. Kind of like your "saving the whales"...Good luck.. Look and drive at alot of cars..

Mart in CT

Rule .308 · Post by **Rule .308** » 12 Nov 2006, 12:04

You guys need to understand that Volvo is not interested in you racking up a million miles on their cars anymore, their interest is in selling you another car. If you look at if from their side it makes pretty good business sense. The engine that they made that million mile rep with is the 4 cylinder red engine that you will find in the 2/7/900 series cars. I have been servicing these cars for 5-6 days a week since 1985 and the big difference that I find between the red engine and the white engine cars is not so much the drivetrain as it is all of the other stuff. Look at your typical 850, ABS control units, worn out driver's seats, leaking a/c evaps, upper strut spring seats, rotting vacuum elbows, expensive belt and tensioner changes, cracking door stops, odo gear failures, disintegrating plastic dash boards and other parts, wiper arms that won't touch the glass, and the friggin' list just goes on and on. However, if you do your part and maintain the engine and trans you should be able to get a minimum of 250K good miles out of it and considerably more but all of the other crap that it takes to make a car is what will either bleed you dry or leave you driving a miserable car.

Now the red engine cars have their problems too but because they are a better made vehicle and they do not subscribe to so much high tech crap they will on average give you more quality miles and cost less to do it. They are also more user friendly when it comes to the do it yourself arena. If it were my choice I would get an absolute cream puff of a 240 wagon, no later than a '91 or I would finance myself into a late model, 94-95, 900 series car.

Mark