Someone offered to buy my 88 240. Thinking about maybe going towards a 89 740. Should I do it and what can I expect from the 700 series?

Hi,
I have a 85 240 and would never think of going for a 700. I really don't think they are the same quality etc. screws instead of nut& bolts. 240's rule!

If your 88 is beat and the 89 is clean then that would be an idea. The 240s have a cult following, look at all of us working and thinking Volvo 240. In my area clean 740s sell for less than clean 240s. I saw a clean low mileage 92 740 asking $1200 couple months ago, the same 240 would have been 2-3 times that. For good reliable transportation the 740 will be fine, but I would keep the 88 unless its beat.

My opinion.

The non-turbo 740's for 1989 year was the first year for LH 2.4. For this reason, I'd avoid it because bugs/problems are always worked out in the first years of production.

As someone else mentioned, the '88 240's are good models too (I'm gathering that data from this board btw).
--
Norm Cook Vancouver BC; 1989 745T 204,000KM

Unless the 740 is a turbo, why bother? Sell your 240 and find a 1993 240 with fewer miles.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Really really depends on each individual car. Maybe your 240 needs some work. At least you know it and what it needs. If you start with a new used car you are starting from zero. Who knows what work it needs ? Soon though you will find out. Might end up needing more work(and $$)then your current 240. In my personal opinion I think 240 series is much nicer looking then the 700 Series. In any case good luck and you are smart to stick with Volvo.

A lot of people on this board say that '88 was the best model year for the 240.
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

Considering the age of these cars, condition and mileage on the clock will mean a lot.

If yours is running well, with no particular 740 found and examined, then you're probably best off staying with your current car.

But you haven't said anything about vehicle condition, known repairs needed, etc. That's what usually would make the decision on something like this.

I think you usually can count on needing at least $500, more like $1000, to get a new-to-you Volvo roadworthy. Seems there are always a few things needed on whatever you just bought. Or else you buy it from a truly fine dealer, in which case they get the $$ in their higher price.

The Volvo rear wheel drive family ended in '97 with the last 960 (OK, someone will find a way to contradict me on this, I'm sure). You won't find a car of this family that's new enough in years and low enough in miles that you can just drive it around like an almost-new car. If that's what you need, you'll need some other car - that thread's been discussed here before.

Most of us on this board have found we prefer to keep the old 240s running, usually doing as much work ourselves as possible, to keep the maintenance costs down. Paying a shop to do it all can really add up.

About two inches less headroom if you've got 'big hair', a few inches wider, and oddly some parts are way more expensive than those on the 240 - distributor cap for example ( and that particular component is also much harder to get at as well on some engines).