Hi BB's,

I was just given a 93 wagon 240. (I already have a 93 wagon with about 300,000 miles). The question is: should I keep this as a parts car or is it worth fixing?

The car is in good shape - no rust, about 220,000 miles. It had been sitting for about a year.

I changed the oil, added fuel and additive to break down varnish. It started up quickly, ran at a slow idle, and then started smoking from the back of the engine - I suspect the rear seal is kaput and leaking badly. There is a hole in the exhaust pipe running to the catalytic converter - right where the two pipes become one. When I rev-ed it up it would backfire on the way down. Again I suspect that the backfire is due to the hole in the pipe. It would move in forward and reverse, but because of the low idle, tended to stall.

It does have one cool feature - the hideaway 3rd seat. Never seen that before.

Would the bad seal or hole in the pipe cause it to run poorly and idle slow? Any other obvious culprits?

Any input would be definitely appreciated!

Thanks,
John