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Good morning, folks! No problems today, here's a success story.
Last week I made a 2000 mile road trip, and the car performed beautifully. I headed out at 4 AM, skirted down the long side of VA on I81 until it turned into I40 in Dandridge, TN; drove through Knoxville, Nashville, then reached my destination in Memphis. Except for a 45 minute stop in Sevierville, the car drove continuously for about 15 hours without a problem.
The return trip took me up and down mountains, down to Asheville NC, then I40 to I85, up through Greensboro and past Durham, then up to Richmond; I95 took me all the way home and the odo reached 2,017 miles.
The only tense moment was in Knoxville. I pulled out into traffic, trying to jump in front of another car. The car would barely move. I had been driving for several hours, it was 95 deg. and the car was blistering hot, and I had my 300-pound friend and a ton of his stuff in car.
I ran the A/C almost the whole time (just cool enough to keep us comfortable), and even with all the added weight, driving 75 or 80 miles an hour, I got 25.5 MPG on the trip.
And the amazing thing is that I never felt cramped or uncomfortable. In my opinion, there is no better road trip car on earth (well, maybe a 245).
Sean
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--"And the amazing thing is that I never felt cramped or uncomfortable. In my opinion, there is no better road trip car on earth (well, maybe a 245)."--
Ha! You've obviously never done a long trip in a Volvo 850 (or S/V70 or newer model). The 240 simply does not compare. On our 2-week, 7000 mile journey to the left coast and back I never once felt an ache in my back or a numb leg. And that includes two nights spent sleeping in the car. The same cannot be said for the combination of my butt and a 240. Like our Mini Cooper, after a couple of hours my right leg starts to ache something awful.
Come to think of it, while not quite as comfortable for folks like us due to the higher seating position, the Volvo 960 takes the cake as far as road trip Volvo's go. Plenty of power, lock-up TC for extra long legs and tat six is oh-so buttery smooth.
Regards,
Will
--
850 / 240 / Mini
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Purists are willing to forgo a bit of comfort in order to stay awake and be comfortable. I'll take that approach any day over our 06 XC-70 which lulls one into a false sense of sleep!
jorrell
I'm so comfy now, I think I'll hit the sack!
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92 245 278K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
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Sean,
Glad to hear the new tires solved the handling problem and allowed you to have a great road trip! Please note, if you came down I-40 out of Asheville and passed crossroad 801 on I-40 before hitting Clemmons, you were five minutes away from our home! Icy cold drinks and free oil changes are offered to all out of state 240 brick-heads at this address... as long as they are BB'ers! Yes, that includes a Mann filter!
If you didn't take I-40 out of TN into NC, do it the next time, ignore the speed limit and enjoy the ride... awesome high speed slalom course! Sorry, I won't pay for your tickets!
Seriously folks, next time your driving by on I-40, let me know ahead of time and we can meet up!
While you were in Memphis, did you hear "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn, or perhaps "Silver Thunderbird"? The first one did more for Memphis than Elvis ever did! The second one will just choke you up with emotion!
jorrell
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92 245 278K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
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You know, John, I thought about you while I was on the road. Yes, I took I-41 down to Asheville (fun drive!), stayed a night there, then took I-41 to I-85. I thought to myself, "Doesn't John live somewhere hereabouts?" If I'd had your phone number, I would have given you a call! Next time.
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Sean,
An off-line email will follow with contact info. Back in 2000, I smoked a set of tires, front wheel bearings, rotors, and pads having fun on I-40E out of Knoxvegas, yes, she was stock but still one heck of a ride for a 240! Since my garage and tools were in Oak Ridge TN at the time, the local mechanic got a big smile one his face and one heck of a laugh! "A 240 with blue rotors"!
Seriously though, a great part of the country to take an easy drive through and enjoy the scenery!
jorrell
--
92 245 278K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
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I've driven those NC mountains before...in an old Corvair, then in a VW bug. I'm sure you were MUCH more comfortable than I was!
Seriously, comfort for the front seats was one of the main reasons I bought my "new" 89 745.
Harry
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>> In my opinion, there is no better road trip car on earth (well, maybe a 245).
preaching to the choir - the more I drive it, the more I think that way. Laminated some boat parts on Saturday - stiff back, drove home for 1 hour, the back is fine.
but then there was that 11 hour trip from Detroit to NJ in MB C230K hatchback...that was nice too.
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I'm 6' 4", about 250 lbs. by buddy is 6' 5" and over 300 lbs. We took up the whole cabin, but we were comfortable for 2000 miles. It's amazing.
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Sean:
Thanks for the update. The last post noted was related to tires for the trip. What did you get?
Did you spot Elvis?
Thanks
Al
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I got stock-size BFGoodrich Touring Pro tires from Costco. They've been good tires, much less sidewall-flex than the old worn out Michelins. Not much more road noise, excellent grip.
Spot Elvis? I got my picture taken with the microphone he used at Sun Studio. Man, I spotted Elvis everywhere.
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Sean:
You can not beat Costco just in case you have a tire issue you can always stop by one of the 400+ shops in the USA and Canada.
Hope you got the $70 Coupon discount.
Was Elvis in his early low key clothes with thin build or the sequined obese later era?
Glad to hear the trip went well!
Al
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Great post, I too do that trip occasionally in my Cobra which I vote for the WORST car for long trips, (but worth it for the car-on-rails drive in the mountains)
But what's the year and mileage of your 240?
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1993 Sedan, 147,000 miles. I might have to make the trip a yearly thing. Like Paul Simon said, "For reasons I cannot explain, There's some part of me wants to see Graceland." Memphis might be a rough town, but there's some kind of magic there.
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Memphis IS a rough town. Count yourself lucky that you weren't mugged while on Beale Street and then have your car stolen from the police impound lot.
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lol. Yeah, no muggings on Beale, but we did get mobbed by pan-handlers. It was worth it to say I've been to B.B. King's Blues Club. I also stayed two nights at the Super 8 on Lamar Ave. There was barbed wire around the back, the Pizza Hut girl said that NOBODY delivers to Lamar, and a hooker knocked on the preacher's window, two rooms down, in the middle of the night. IIRC, the conversation went something like this:
"Need any company, honey?"
"No, but you do. You need to get acquainted with Jesus!"
The girl at Sun Studio who gave the tour also looked at us like dead-men-walking when we told her we'd stayed on Lamar. Guess I'll know for next time.
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That's really wonderful, Sean! I'm glad you enjoyed Graceland and all that it had to offer.
By the way, the '84 242 that your neighbor once owned (the one I purchased last year) is no longer with me. I had to sell it last October when I ran into some financial difficulties, but I'm all right now. The only Volvo I have at the moment is my '96 850 - unfortunately, it's still in storage, having been in my parents' garage since late last year. It only has 86k miles and is still in perfect, mint condition.
p.s. If you get ready to sell your '93, let me know! I may want to have a look.
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Sorry to hear about the 242 - I wish I'd bought it, but I didn't have the money at the time.
As for my '93, I'll sell it when all four cylinders are seized, the tranny blown, the floor pans rusted out, and my hands have been chopped off, leaving me unable to fix it. :P
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That's okay, Sean.
Actually, now that you mention it, I do have a rare opportunity to acquire another vintage Volvo, one that I should tell you about. The car is an '87 740 GLE, and it is owned by my college buddy's father. It has been in their family since it was brand-new. Here's the kicker - it only has 142k miles on it, with original drivetrain components. And he's likely going to give it to me at some point in the fall for practically next to nothing because he's tiring of it. (Or so he says.) If it's free I'm definitely going for it. Mint 740s don't come around very often, wouldn't you say?
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