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"240's command a considerable premium over the early 90's 740 and even 850 body styles. Anyone have theories why?"
240 Volvos are "cult cars". The 240 technology is the "cutting edge" of 1967 technology, so for people whose view-of-the-world clocks stopped in 1967, nothing else will do!
The '93 850 has a lot of parts that are unique to the model year. The timing belt is narrower and is replaced at 50,000 miles instead of the later 70,000 miles. The wheels are 4-bolt so the brake rotors are 4-hole instead of the later 5-hole rotors. The automatic transmission is different. Even the headlights are different.
NO, the '93 does NOT have side airbags. The side airbags started on turbo models a couple years later. (You can look up the years-models on the Volvo website.)
Just a couple of weeks ago I was looking at a very nice, very well kept 1997 850 Turbo for my own kid. I thought about it for a couple of days and decided I really don't need another headache.
Unlike wine and whiskey, Volvo electrical systems do NOT get better as they get older.
If you're looking for a SAFE car for you kid, try the latest study from IIHS http://www.carsafety.org (click on the box in the upper right hand corner of the web page) and pick one of the "top 10" for safety that makes sense to you.
Volvo is not on the list.
-BTC
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