Greetings all,

I've been on a slow, patient hunt for my first 240 Wagon. I owned a V70 in the past and still tell folks it's the best truck I've ever owned, all things considered.

I'd like to find a good wagon and "refresh/restore" everything to daily driver status. I've restored a '69 VW Westy before and do all my own work. However, I do have a reputable Volvo specialist (actually 2) fairly close to where I live in Atlanta. So, if I ever ran up against something I don't know how to do or it's just too dang hot (like now) and I don't feel like doing it, I can take it to one of them.

I'd love to hear opinions from folks on the Wagon market. I see some listed for $2,500 and up to $4,500 around here at the moment. But then every once in a while I'll see one list briefly for under $1,000. And they will go so dang quick.

I think I know the market fairly well, but what I love about communities like this is finding other enthusiasts who may bring up something I didn't think about.

I prefer the 1990-91 non-ABS cars. The ABS seems more trouble than it's worth. The 1992-93 cars have unique rear axles and speedometer units. For me parts availability is key.

I marvel at the prices I see on this board (I'm in OH)

- A friend just sold his red 1993 wagon 180K miles for $2100. He had it for sale for 2+ months at $2500. Nice car, well-maintained for his 2 college daughters.

- Another sold his 1990 wagon for $1600- again after being for sale for several months.

Both of these were Southern US cars: paint faded but solid underneath, no rust, little-to-no Ohio Winter driving. Neither needed any work.

I looked at a rust-free 1991 wagon for a friend last week. Brought here from VA in 2013. Needs tires and some of the usual maintenance items: in-tank pump, rear-position a-arm bushings, fuel filter, timing belt, driver's seat bottom. I think he'll get it for ~$700.
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio

Re the ABS - the '91 sedan in my family was most definitely equipped with ABS.

Yup, every 91 I've seen had ABS. 91 was the first year but maybe the early 91's didn't have it. My 90 didn't. There were a few times on snowy/icy roads when I wish it had...

No, ABS was an option in '91 and had nothing to do with early or late in the model year. Choice of the buyer.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A marine biologist developed a race of genetically engineered dolphins that could live forever if they were fed a steady diet of seagulls. One day, his supply of the birds ran out so he had to go out and trap some more. On the way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road.

Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with...transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.

A little more background and plans:

I just finished my VW restoration this year. So I'm gearing up for my next project. Though, I'm not looking for something in a shambles. I love the idea of re-doing a fairly modern car with parts that are easier to find and has luxuries like.....air conditioning.

I also like the utility of the wagon. I do a lot of tinkering in other interests and plan to use the wagon to haul lumber, metal, plastic, etc.

I love going to junkyards and finding parts for my vehicles. I like the idea of parts interchangeability among the 200 series.

Too bad you're not just a hop away from Phoenix... SOG (Son of Rumblegutz) is for sale, and it sounds like it fits your needs. After 27 years of 240 wagons, I'm going over to the dark side... AWD.

I think those 240 hobbyists who had VW backgrounds have the easiest time learning the ins and outs of the Volvo. If you want the best of the best, look for a 93. Squirters and r134a native.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A man rushed into a busy doctor's office and shouted, "Doctor! I think I'm shrinking!" The doctor calmly responded, "Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

I found a 93 yesterday that I liked cosmetically. It was obviously a "flip" by someone but it had the service stamps for the maintenance in the logbook.

But, it didn't start. The mechanic selling it said the battery was bad. The mechanic was actually selling it for his brother.

Well, the brother wanted $3,500 for it. A '93 with 154k miles.

Since I'd really like a 3rd row seat and factory roof rails, neither of which it had, I passed for the moment. I told the mechanic to ask his brother if the price was firm. I haven't heard back from him yet.

Ultralite,

Agreed. Välkommen till Volvo 240. Rear Wheel Drive Volvo. The real and genuine people's car. Later is better. 1989 or newer so long as you have the OBD-1 and as modern accoutrement as is later model Volvo 240 as possible. 1991+ is perhaps best. Be aware some 2.4 LH-Jet models sold in Germany, California, and elsewhere may have EGR. The EGR valve can fail, usually, inconveniently. (Downgrade to LH-2.4 no EGR, or upgrade to Bosch LH-3.1.)

You'll want to get that Volvo 240 running. You want a compression or leak down test. If at least to hear the engine. Bring your tools. Negate the lies of the seller, if any. I've gotten innumerable non-op Volvos running. Not all were as promising as they may be while inert.

I suggest that you please click FAQ at the top of this page.

FAQ links to the Volvo 700-900-90 FAQ. Read about OBD (Bosch LH-Jet 2.4 or 3.1 and EZK Bosch ignition), Keeping it Rolling, and all that is relevant to Volvo 240 as the series shared systems while co-manufactured.

You have a host of 240s for sale in Atlanta on the Atlanta craigslist. Please see the CLASSADS on the front brickboard.com home page. iPd USA offers free classified ads. Though the condition can be variable, see the thread title something like "Orphaned Volvos" on turbobricks.com.

Many foibles in VW, save for no more K-jet, at 20+ years out, are similar in Volvos. Corrosion is oft-mentioned here, be it the ends of fuses in teh fuse box [spin 'em] and along the wire harness connectors and bonded grounds, as are vacuum leaks and such.

Preference for manual transmission, certainly.

Congrats and Välkommen to the brickboard.com, also.

Brickboard.com, the mightiest and most powerful web site ever.

Questions?

Thanks,

cheers.

B

Not a bad price if the mileage is real and well maintained. Is it a southern car or a transplant from the salty north? Get a car fax it might help verify mileage and where it spent it's life.
It is getting hard to find good 93's the best of breed!

Dan

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I did not know that about the roof racks, I'll bypass those.

This '93 I found started in Tampa and moved to Atlanta. Atlanta has many Tampa transplants for some reason so I wasn't surprised by that or thought it strange.

I hope to find one from an owner and not a "flipper". I think I can ask better questions in those cases...

Third row seat is a matter of preference, and it is easy to add, but let me tell you, you do NOT want factory (actually dealer) roof rack. You want a smooth top. If you need to carry something up there, get a Thule bar kit which mounts to the rain gutters.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Back in the 1800's the Tate's Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products, and since they already made the cases for watches, they used
them to produce compasses. The new compasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California . This, of course, is the origin of the expression,..."He who has a Tate's is lost!"