I'd probably have come back with something smart assed like, yep still driving her. Don't have to be like you and worry about repossession if I miss another payment.

I have two company cars...one with personal use permitted. (long story). The personal use car is soon to go away. So, I had been squirreling some money away in anticipation of purchasing a car strictly for fun use. Well lo and behold I find out how cheap I can insure a 1985 car (classic car 25 yrs old), and I start the search. I figure, why pay a ton of money down, monthly payments, depreciation on the way home from the showroom, and the pricey insurance? Looking for a 25 year old car that will last a while longer brought one car to mind...A Volvo!! of course. I had an aunt who drove 70's Volvos for years before finally settling on a new 1986 240. That one was T-Boned at an uncontrolled intersection, and she took the insurance money and bought a slightly used 1987 240. That one is still running after being credited with saving her life in another wreck that was repairable. Durabilty, and kinda cool looking I think.

Anyhow, back to present day. I pick up an 85 Dl Sedan from the orig owner, an elderly lady much like my Aunt. The car is babied, garaged, and she's heartbroken to give it up, but she is turning back her license. Knowing a little bit about cars, I pick this car up and start scouring the internet for info on repairs, maintenance, etc. I love this car, have only had it a short while, but I am definitely a disciple. No car payments, no more big SUV's for me. I hope to keep this baby running (with some help from the brickboard crew)for a long time.

Some of us just love to tinker. Sure, an old 240 ain't gonna be a problem-free car, but that's why we all love them (and they're great looking). That's why we have brickboard, you know? I almost look forward to something going wrong so I have an excuse to dive elbow deep into the engine or dash or whatever. It's the reason I have always been so willing to fix friends' and family's cars for them--I love to pick up a tool and start fixin'.

Those character-less car driving fools can turn their noses up at us if they want to, but WE will be the ones laughing when they get a 3-4 figure repair bill, while we order a $50 part from ipd and get back on our way.

Go ATX! I'm on North Loop Blvd.

Charlie
--
1985 244DL B230 M46 170k (my 5th 240)

In 1999, I bought an S80 T6. I was very excited for the first week. After that, it became apparent that the Volvo was suffering separation anxiety. It kept returning to the dealership for repair. For two years, it seemed like I spent more time in dealer loaner cars than I did in the S80. I dumped the car and swore that I would never own another Volvo. Fast forward a decade or so. My son sold his still running 245 with about 365,000 miles on it. My daughter still has her VERY well running 1984 245 with about 275,000 miles on it. I now live in Florida. As I drove past a Goodwill store, I noticed a very sun damaged 1988 244 GL sitting in their car lot. I could almost hear it saying, “Rescue me”. Now, with new paint, AC, a JY interior, timing belt, belts, hoses, and a full tune-up, it has become my daily driver. Hard not to like a car with so much character.

At work (and in Australia in general), old Volvos like the 240s and the 740s (which aren't that old are they?) and even 850s and 900s (to some extent) are seen as 'shit' boxes - i.e., real crap.

As a 240 driver who had a 740 turbo, my work mates think I am just some strange fellow with no taste in cars, and a poor pennypincher (which I probably am!).

A lot of them shut up when I took the 240 on an 11,000km road trip across the continent and came back with fabulous images.

Also, I get a lot of respect from friends and colleagues when I help them troubleshoot some basic issues with their newer cars with the knowledge learnt from basic maintenance and tinkering with the 240 and 740T, and my fastish 850 T-5!

I have to endure that conversation more often than I would like. Helga is a 1985 245 GL that came to live with us on 10 December 1984. She has pretty much always been babied, and has just turned 130K. The Volvo dealerships performed all the service maintenance until about 70K when she began to puke oil from every seam and orfice. A little sleuthing on my part found a plugged flame trap. After cleaning the trap and the mess, no more problems. I did invest in a Bentley manual, a Haynes manual and even a Chilton manual. I now do all my own services and feel that she is a much better car for it.

Helga is a Southern car, and so rust is not an issue. Hardly a day goes by without an offer from someone wanting to take her off my hands. A few days ago a gentleman tried to trade me some cars that you would not believe. I just keep on refusing, and Helga keeps on being reliable.

We will be taking her to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to see our Son off for Iraq at the end of January. I fully expect her to deliver just as always, and make the trip without event. We took her to Columbus Georgia a year ago for his graduation from AIT, and she returned 29.3 MPG for the trip (that's with an AW-70 transmission).

We do own other newer cars, and could well afford a new Volvo, but why? The Wife makes me drive her heavily Modded Mustang GT Convertible quite often so that she can use Helga for her shopping excursions. The Mustang is a lot of fun to drive, but I'd rather drive Helga on a daily basis. The ride is smoother, the noise level is much lower, and you appear to be invisible to the traffic cops.

For Christmas, I gave Helga a new set of 195-75R-14 tires for her Corona wheels. She seems to like them very much, and I had the alignment checked in our service department. Everything was still in spec., so off we go again.

I hope that all of you have the same level of experience with your
Bricks.

I think your friends/neighbors are just jealous...
It's doesn't take much effort or skill to write a check to a car dealer, but
it does require some dedication and persistence to keep your brick going.

I've been driving Volvos since 1968 and feel safer and more secure in a brick.
After several crashes and other mishaps, I would rather be in one than any spanking new concoction. I taught my four kids to drive a stick shift and 3 of them still drive 240's.

Rather than feeling insulted, we should all be mighty proud.
--
-Cool Volvo- 1982 240 4 Spd OD w/ 266K, 1989 240 5 Spd w/ 269K. Past proud owner of 1966 122, 1968 144, 1970 145, 1972 144, 1980 245

By the way, it might be a good time to repost a classic Volvo love story I lived around 10 years ago...

http://kourt.dehaas.com/volvo/

Most have probably already read it--but maybe some have not. Explains a lot about how I came to the car, and why I'm sticking with it.

kourt
87 245
austin, tx

PS E-codes are on the way for my brick. Excited!

I'm 28 years old and have had my 90 244 since 2000. My wife and I bought a 92 245 last year, which she drives. In the past I always had the mechanics fix anything that went wrong, which they would sometimes bungle the repair job and I would end up having to take it back a short while later. "Your car needs fixed again...maybe you should get something else!" everyone would say. Irritated, but I knew better and I stuck with the 90 244 which is at 241,900 miles.

In the past year I have studied the Bentley and Haynes manuals and read hundreds of entries here on the Brickboard-having never worked on or maintained a car before and knowing nothing about cars, I started from scratch. In that small amount of time I have gained much knowledge and pride in making my own repairs. I have loved both cars since the beginning-I wouldn't take anything over a 240.

I want to thank everyone on this site for all the help (and patience) they have given me and others on maintaining their vehicles. Without it I might never would have had the confidence to start out.

And on top of all that, I will take the company (here) of 240 owners any day, rather than the company of...(insert new $$$ car owner here)!

Knowledge, endurance and love for our vehicles is king around here NOT self absorbed and hollow materialism.

I would have answered, "so you still with the old lady eh?" Just because it's old don't mean you need to get a newer model. Hell if it did I don't know what I'd drive, hahaha.

My 1980 242, which I purchased new, has not only become a member of my family (I have ad it a year longer than I have been married to my wife), it has also become iconically identified as a part of my character. Like me, the body now has a few minor dings, but in terms of performance, reliability, and real world capability, it has no equal among contemporary cars. A few years ago, having not bought a car for 25+ years, I went a bit crazy and bought a used Ferrari. When friends saw me driving the F-car, they were amused, but then their smiles turned to faces of concern as they asked, "what has happened to the Volvo ?" Relief soon returned to their faces when I told them that it was still in fine shape and is the mainstay daily driver.

I enjoyed reading all of the responses. The fact is people like most of us look at the people driving $30,000+ cars and think they are crazy, and most of them look at us and think we are crazy for driving an old "junk" car. One thing for sure, no one driving a 240 is "upside down" in it.

Like most of you, what I enjoy is how well these old cars were made, and how easy it is to fix most things that happen to them. We have driven our 760T (1990) to 302,000 miles. I spent about 2500.00 on maintenance over 9 years. I now have the 760 plus two new 245s (1988 and 1990). One is auto and one is a 5 speed. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed finding little parts at the pullapart place and fixing it up.

Here is link to something one of my friends sent me.

http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2009/12/21/old-cars-love-personal-finance/

Get away from the big cities and you will see that people don't judge people by what the wear or what they drive and much. Not because they are "above" judging but because they know the old man in the overalls is loaded, he just likes wearing overalls.

Who the heck wants a car payment anyway!!!!!

Having just read the other 11 (so far) responses to this post, and seeing yet again how quickly another year has drawn to a close, I have to say that there is indeed a kind of quirky reverse psychology that compels me to keep up with the three Volvo wagons that own me. I can for the most part diagnose and fix them, they aren't going to be worth much less money at the end of next year, and at this stage of their advancing age they are pretty well sorted out. I kind of look at them as a really durable good, not just a consumable that "the market" tells me I should own this year, and in what color scheme. I don't think they are necessarily the greatest value out there, (I would have to hand that award over to more of an appliance like perhaps a Honda or Toyota), but there is something about surprising a lot of the front-wheel drive, coffee-can exhaust annointed Asian imports through the twisties with a now 25 year-old Swedish brick that still puts a smile on my face. Another year draws to a close, next year will arrive, and we'll see what it brings. To all,I wish peace, a modicum of prosperity, safe families, and happy wrenching!

Many good comments here. I think the sports analogy is a good one, but I believe that, to some degree, any number of professions or pastimes could be inserted. The issue is enthusiasm, or perhaps passion, if one wants to go to that extreme. A passion for anything starts with simple interest and then morphs to a higher level. For those of us driving Volvos more than, say, ten years old, there can be no question that we do so for reasons that transcend practicality, economy, reliability etc. But like any interest that grows, these characteristics have impressed us so, that they have grown into a passion for the cars. I daresay that anyone reading these posts isn't doing so because they own a old 240 strictly for its low cost of upkeep. Support it or deny it, a greater enthusiasm has grown out of the vehicle's inherent ability to serve. You may buy the puppy because it's cute, but by the time it is grown, grizzled, somewhat worse for wear, you love it for more than what it was initially. For those of us turning our own wrenches and crunching our own knuckles, enthusiasm comes from the vehicle's ability to be maintained at home providing that self satisfaction that tinkerers crave. And, of course, there is the hearty pat on the back one gives oneself after a particularly trying repair. Certainly there are different levels of enthusiasm and passion. Scanning the posts on the Brickboard reveals people who love their Volvos and happily take them to someone else to change the wiper blades. They seem no less enthused for the expense. Every once in awhile we see a post saying "I've had it". I've also seen posts saying "Sold our last one five years ago swearing them off, but bought one today...." etc. Obviously something's up! For those of us who have taken Volvotism to the next level, it's satisfying to note that there are so many supporters. The fact that the vast majority of the car enthusiast crowd still looks at us somewhat cynically is just as enjoyable as driving something you don't see on every street corner. I have spent over twenty years listening to friends and family members make comments about what I drive. It bothers me not in the least. Especially when I turn to other friends and family members and wink in silent, conspiring recognition of a passion shared.

Wishing a happy and prosperous New Year to all.
DS

Its funny how people nowdays think they are progressing by buying something new just to look good or is the status quo. Well with the volvo cars that is not true. I think the 240's have a timeless look that never really goes out of style but just fits in no matter what year it is. I have bought 2 240's from local pick and pull yards for reasons unknown, but the most likely is that its old and has a bunch of miles. Well I now have a wagon that has 232K and runs like a top, havent even tuned it yet. Why throw a good car away? Easy for the common man to work on figure out and the car pretty much respects you back with longevity and comfortness. The car with the most miles on it is a volvo 1800 with 2.6 million. So with all that I would just let your neighbors keep on asking you, still in that volvo? Well he is either wondering is it a really good car or wondering why he wasted money on his last five.

Until 2006 my main drivers were a 1966 122 wagon (had it since 1984),
a 69 164 I bought in Panama in 1971, and the Yellow Peril, the notorious 73 145E.
In 2000 I had borrowed a 92 Taurus after Esther's accident because I was leery
of driving
the oldtimers on numerous 1000-mile trips, and eventually bought it after putting 6000 miles on it.
I have never owned a 240 but certainly served my time in previous models, driving
a dozen of them over the past 40+ years.
They got (and still get) plenty of stares!
"REAL Volvos don't have struts!"
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

Kourt,

I have driven numerous 240s over the years and I have found an interesting thread of consistency in people's responses. I have driven our 244s and 245 onto numerous college campuses in order to use their technical facilities or to assist in technical investigations. The really funny part is that when I'm on campus and a student sees me getting out of a 240, I get a "Good morning professor". When I have driven the modded Eclipse onto campus, I get the "Nice ride dude".

That tells me that the 240 has a history, a trusted one that transcends decades and generations. And yes, I have the "mad professor look" despite just being an engineer. Far more people understand the "240 thing" than most of us realize, perhaps that's because so many college students are still "forced" to drive a 240 by their parents... for good reason! If one wishes to stay in their good graces, carry a spare fuel pump relay!

My contract employer was "concerned" that I was driving a 92 245 with 288K miles as it potentially indicated a "lack of reliability" on my part to get to work every day. I handed him the book on what I did to the car 50K miles ago and his concerns melted away.

Yes, the Volvo 240 series has a following for good reason so don't even consider being embarrassed if a friend shows up in a new $60K ride, he already lost $20K driving it off the dealer lot! Just keep that 240 running!

jorrell
--
92 245 287K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

My 1980 245 has been in my family since 1988. I was 3 years old when my folks bought the car.

For many years, it was the car the family took to get the christmas tree. Dog in the back, sister beside me, my mom up front adjusting the heat, and my dad driving.

20 years later the car now belongs to me. My Dad always tells me how amazing it is to see the wagon still trucking along. Some Family and friends are the same way.

I will never understand the need some people have to change cars every couple of years.
--
http://dylans122.blogspot.com

What better way to reach the next rung than not wasting money on the worst investment possible - A car... Your friends 5 year or less cars won't be around when you are still rolling in the wagon either. I've never understood the whole look how much crap I have mentality. Good for you if you make a nice living. I do pretty well, and we have a 96 850T wagon (wifes) and my 90 240. My neighbors, for the most part, are car and house poor because they were trying to step up in looks before they had the capital to do so. Now the houses are emptying out and I've seen more than one mercedes SUV repossessed. As I see it, by not buying new cars, I can just put that much more money into our beautiful swedes (wife still won't let me IPD stage III the wagon though). Good for you dude! Keep that wagon rolling!

Great story. I can relate in some ways.

I come from a working class background and my dad is certainly a penny pincher. He's also been a big three man forever with not much love for imports. No matter what happens I never see him owning a Toyota/Honda/Nissan ever. Just the way he is. The only car he ever bought new was a Duster back in the 60's.

That said he has developed an admiration for those "Vahlvos" I drive. Always makes a point to talk highly of them at family get togethers. Don't see him ever owning one though. They're not one of the big three.

mormit
--
02 S40 , 98 V70 T5 Koni FSDs, IPD swaybars and HD Endlinks, 85 245DL 278,000mi V15cam It takes a licking and keeps on ticking

"...and are surprised to see the next generation not aspire to achieve an even higher economic rung."

Actually, by keeping the old Volvo and doing your own repairs, and avoiding car payments year after year, you are putting yourself in a better position to "achieve a higher economic rung." Do these folks ever add up their car payments over, say a 10-year span, and think of what else they could be doing with their money if they managed cars like you do? I know what you mean. I'm of your parents' generation and drive an 81 242 as my daily driver. My car is the oldest one in the parking lot pretty much wherever I go. I don't know what people think, but I don't really care. Some of them probably think it's admirable because I maintain it myself. Others probably think I'm eccentric, and some probably think I can't afford a newer car. I often listen to my colleagues talk about their new cars or the prices they pay for maintenance, etc., then complain that they don't have any money left over to save or invest for the future.
--
Thanks for all the help. DougC 1981 242, IPD bars and Turbo wheels, M46 :::::::::::::::::: 1993 245, B230 NA L-Block, M47, Turbo bars::::::::::::1984 760, B23FT, M46, waiting to donate engine to 242