Thank you all for the kind words. In the days after the accident we found that in fact our 2 year old was quite shaken (mentally) by it so we've been talking with him about it to try to help him.

As it turns out I found a very nice 1990 240DL just a few hours from me. I drove it home today. It's a prettier car to look at with it's chrome trim and burgundy exterior but it's not as mechanically sound, no service records. It just so happened to have incredible snow tires on it that look like truck tires, perfect! AWD may be in my future but I need more time to research and find a car before making that leap. What do you all think of the newer Volvo's? I was trying to stay away from them, they seem very expensive to maintain and I prefer the old ones that I can actually wrench on.

The 1993 that is now RIP had complete service records back to the day it left the lot, about $18k in service. So I'm planning on pulling as many parts as I can for myself and everyone else. Once I've decided what to keep I'll post the rest here for sale. I won't be keeping the glass which is all good except the windshield. The rear doors and rear hatch survived intact, there is/was some rust that I took care of with POR15. I have a 3rd row seat with all hardware that never got installed, detachable face radio/CD, etc.. I should probably start another thread for this but if you're interested in something in particular, let me know.

I was thinking of pulling the powertrain and putting it into my storage unit on a pallet. I figure I should spray fogging oil into it first and cover up the intake and exhaust ports. Anything else I should do for long term storage? Someday I can drop it in to my 'new' 240 when this engine/tranny are done.

Glad to hear your family is fine. Your choice of vehicle to transport them just paid off, in a big way. Once again, the Volvo sacrifices itself to protect it's occupants. You, and your family couldn't be in a more safe vehicle. The main reason our daughter drives a 240. Stick with the 200's.

Al

Sorry to hear this. I have a 230k '93 with ratty interior. Are you going to
part yours out? Where are you located?

Don't forget to thank the good Lord for their safety, bricks are good, but they have their limits!

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

I am also happy that your family is all well... Paul

While it is painful to hear of another 93 245 biting the dust, I am glad you wife and kids are safe.

You do live in a snowy part of the country, so I suggest you look for a replacement with AWD. Not 4WD, where there is a seperate transfer case to give front wheels traction, but AWD which automatically supplies traction to the wheels that need it.

Also find a car with traction control so that applying gas the car will not spin any wheels.

I realize newer cars require more wrenches, and the Volvos need Torx drivers to do most anything. New cars also have computerized everything. BUT, they are safe, with curtain airbags, airbags for the driver and passenger, side airbags for the front and rear seats, better crumple control, etc.

I happen to like the V70 with the 5 cyl engine. Still DIY for the most part, and 2003+ have the newer Haldex awd. An OBDII scanner is a must for anything 5 years old and older.

Just scan all of michigan for Volvo, Audi, Subaru. There might be a bargain or two.

Klaus
--
Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

It is good to hear that no one got hurt! Will your wife agree now to drive another RWD in snowy weather? I enjoy to drive my 240 in low traction conditions ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L1Kgin8G-o ), but I would choose FWD or AWD (=70% FWD) for public roads in snow if I have a choice and someone else in the car with me...

Wow! Glad to hear everyone is apparently okay, and sorry to hear that your beloved wagon is a done deal. On Christmas Eve, 1994, my ex-sweetie and I rolled our 1988 Isuzu Trooper 5 times before it came to a stop, sitting upright on its tires. The fellow on the other side of the road in the ditch got out of his Camaro and, after checking on us, offered to get the wrecker and a second ambulance coming for us. My ex-sweetie was shaken up quite a bit from the wreck, and took about 6 months to feel confident about her driving again. Once again, thank goodness everyone is okay.

Thank God everyone is ok! That's why my fiancée drives a 240! I can feel assured that she's driving one of the safest cars ever made!
If you're in North Carolina or close to it, there's an effin awesome '78 245 on eBay.

Glad to hear that your family is OK.
--
Harold Thompson '84 245 Virgos

What year was your 240 wagon? I'm glad to see that your family was well-protected and that they are all right.

If you'd like I can ask my dad and see if he'd like to sell his '99 S70 to you. 104k miles, automatic, mint condition. He's in the market for another Volvo now.

must have been one hell of a roll not to mess up the sides or roof much

Actually, it is one hell of a car !!

Sorry for the accident, but glad it did not result in any serious injuries.

Randy