1994 Volvo with 227,000 miles--running strong. My previous 240 went to 240,000 miles before I sold it. Not a problem, but just a question: Irv Gordon aside, how many miles have you all got on your cars without rebuild?

Just wondering if the legend matches the reality.

Been out of RWD Volvo since I sold my 940 wagon, daughter tried to kill it but couldn't. Sold at 200 kmiles, but did head gasket at 180 kmiles. I attributed head gasket to short trip usage until daughter took over. Took it to college and it ran well.

Been thinking of getting back into a 740/940 turbo, so this is good info.

Mike

I have a 92 945T with over 300,000 and a 91 240 also with somewhere near 300,000. Hard to tell, both odometers quit several years ago.

No major work needed on the 240, just changed timing belt after failure, and the rear torque link bushings this year. 945T needed a head gasket about 8 years back but the previous owner had probably overheated it somewhere along the line. You need to keep up on replacing coolant hoses for long term use.

Had to replace wiper motors on both last year.

Neither are perfect by any means, but you can let them sit for months and they fire right up.

Brian Mee

93 945 with a B230FD, 340 kmiles
One head gasket due to leaking oil, three AC repairs, two coolers, generator, servo pump, catatalytic converter once.
M47 dropped due to bad pilot bearing, also replaced clutch, which wasn't really needed, rear main and tranny seals while in there.
All front end rubber once, all rubber fuel lines and cooling hoses once as prevention.
Numerous other parts in addition to wear items as brakes, disks, shocks, springs and front window.
I poured a lot of money into it when I used it daily for my living, still cheaper then monthly payments for a new car.
Wheel bearings and steering rack still original and strong. Rear end and prop shaft rubber bushings likewise. Rust is beginning to take its toll though.

HTH
Mila

These are all very interesting accounts. I have owned my '94 940 for 22 years now. In that time, I have had three head gaskets--though I never overheated it, a tranny, a steering rack, a few radiators, as well as most of the rubber parts.

I think the headgaskets may have been due to poor work performed.

I have had a lot of relays and other items replaced to ensure reliability.

I think I keep the car because I honestly think it is a pleasure to drive.

93 945 ,,about 290,000 2 speedos & several times disconnected so easily over 290,000

93 945 ,,about 290,000 2 speedos & several times disconnected so easily over 290,000

It's hard to get past 250,000 miles without sinking a large sum of money into these cars. Our family has a 245 that has done 510,000 miles, but the car has rebuilt one part at a time. Some parts have been replaced 2, 3, or 4 times. The car was pretty reliable until it hit about 250K and then it needed a lot of work. It's needed a large cash infusion every 75-100K since then.

I wouldn't mind driving one of these to 300 or 400,000 miles, but I would not buy one with that many miles on it.

Things that go bad > 250K:

-Rear suspension bushings
-Clutch if a stick, auto trans. rebuild if it is an automatic
-Front end bits (wheel bearings, steering rack, control arms)
-Fuel system parts: ECU, both fuel pumps, fuel pressure regulator, IAC Motor, dirty fuel injectors that don't respond well to cleaning, etc.
-Head gasket will eventually fail
-Hall effect sensor in distributor / crank position sensor on 89 and newer cars
-Power window motors and regulators, power locks, interior door latches that break
-Leaking windshield, leaking window seals

There's more stuff that I can't remember now.

Right on the money about needing work above 250k! Ran my 90 244DL to 300k+ before I sold it. Car was stiff reliable but above 250k the work required was endless. One thing after another...

Same thing with my 95 855GLT. Just like the 240 the engine and tranny were bulletproof but everything else seemed to started to go as it approached 250k so it was time to move on.
--
Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

1994 940 - 507,660 miles. Installed new head gasket in 2010. Engine overheated due to slipped water pump-power steering belt during highway driving. Kept on driving until R&R due to safety concerns over stopping at roadside.

Amarin.

357,xxx on my 1994 944T. I had to install a head gasket last year. The cylinders did not have a ridge, and the factory hone marks were very evident.
--
john

1980 245 w/M46--310,000 miles.