I recently purchased a 93 240 (to replace the one I totalled in the snow-now a parts car), as I wanted a car with fewer miles, less rust, ABS, AC, etc.

I still have my 89 240 with 233K miles. It has some rust on the underside, and some quirks like an occassionally rough idle and no AC, but is in generally good condition, I've put a fair bit of effort into keeping it looking good and running well. I've owned the car for 6 years now, it was my first car that I actually owned, and I'm rather attached to it.

I dont actually need a second car, but on the other hand, I doubt I could sell it for much, considering the mileage, and it costs me less than 300 a year to insure and register. I'm a 25 year old grad student, so I dont have a lot of money, but I could afford to keep it.

What would you do? Keep it cos you love it even though you dont need it, or go ahead and sell it?

I have an 81 242 that was my first car. I've had it for 10 years and for essentially 2 of those it was broken/parked. It was worth more than the 500 bucks tops I would get, just to see it sitting in the driveway. Now I am in grad school and she is back on the road. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, when I get out of school and have a 2nd car and a garage where I can work on her - until then I am just tring to stay out of accidents and get to and from class.

It sounds like you are already a step ahead of me, with the 2nd car. If your lifestyle supports it, and it makes you happy, then keep the car.

I will say that the couple years mine got very little driving were tough on the car - much harder than when I was driving a lot and on the weekends etc. She's been back on the road for about a year now, and every time I get the oil changed, I also put about $300 into odds & ends. Of course, those are things that I would try to do myself if I had a 2nd car and the condo association let us work on our cars. In the last 4 years, I have a new alternator, both fuel pumps, steering rack, injector seals, and a relay for the O2 sensor that was causing rich mixture.

The 89 spent about a year broken/parked as well. When I crashed in the snow last year, I was very glad I hadnt let me parents talk me into getting rid of the 89, as I was able to get it running and have a car to drive while I found a replacement for the 93.

As for parking lot repairs, so far our condo associataion hasnt complained, but I've also never done anything that wasnt back together in a day. Both cars need some work, but this way, I can take my time on each, and get them both in top condition (if I only the had the time, that is).

Glad to hear you are leaning towards keeping it.

I couldn't part with my 83 245GL even after it was rear-ended and 'totalled' twice. I looked for a comparabale car at that time and couldn't find one. It's far from collectible but it is a GL with a stick and like you, I know what I have put into it and it's fun to drive. Also like the other posters said, useful to have a spare when working on the other one.

Keep it!

I would sell.
An extra car that you don't need except for maybe a few times a year is a money pit. The $300 you spend on insurance/registration/inspections would pay to rent a car for 10 days or more, should you temporarly not be able to drive your 93 - never mind the money and time you will spend on routine maintenance or if something on it breaks. If you have sentimental reasons for wanting to keep it, that's one thing. But from a practical point of view, in my opinion, it makes no sense.

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Matt L. -- Cary, NC -- '91 740 wagon

this is your trusted old car. its been with you through the wiles of college and then some. it costs barely anything. and the few bucks you'd get from selling would soon be squandered on food other non-lasting, non-gratifying items. who cares if the miles are high and it isn't used anymore. just because our grandma is old and doesn't really give us very many days of fun each year doesn't mean that we should sell her, does it? keep it.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards keeping the car. Really I think I just wanted people to agree that this is a good idea, as I knew most folks on the brickboard would. I know and love this car, that makes it worth much more than any other volvo out there. And with a spare car, now I can do the projects that take time (like the rust repair I need to do) without worrying about being carless. Besides, I dont think I could bear to sell the car and watch some moron screw it up. Guess I'll just have to keep it.

I've owned an '88 240 for some time, it was actually my first car. It's got 170K and isn't in the best shape anymore (it hadn't been really well maintained by the previous owners). I bought a '93 around the first of the year, and had to decide what to do with the older one. I've ended up keeping it, it's always nice to have a spare car around, you know? Anyhow, I very much recommend keeping it, unless it becomes a burden or too much of a hardship to maintain.
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1988 240DL 170K(?) 1993 240 118K

For the little pocket change that you will probably get when you sell it, you'd not likely be able to find a suitable replacement for the same money. Additionally, you have spent time and money getting it up to a condition that you feel comfortable with. You know the maintenance history.

Their will come a time when you will need to have the car (i.e. accident, servicing of other vehicle, lend to friend, etc.). I just sold a car that I spent a great deal of money on getting it very much up to snuff. I guess I got bored with having done all the maintenance, there was not a whole lot to do. Becuase of this, I reluctantly agreed to sell it for market value. MISTAKE! I would give anything to have it back, even offered the owner more than I sold it to him for, but too late. He totalled the car.

Just my experience, it may have nothing to do with yours, but best of luck whatever you decide.

Sincerely,

JBeechcraft

as a 23 year old law student in a similar position as you (from the sounds of it) I would recomend donation....does the term "charitable deduction" sound good to you? My family has donated 2 cars...a 1995 saturn sc1 with 150,000 miles and a blown engine and recieved a $1200 fed income tax deduction....and my 1986 ford ranger 2.3 liter turbo deisel....yes turbo diesel...that got a $400 deduction. this was way more than either of these were worth in trade or sale, despite that the ranger was one of only 200 made for the american market...can u believe i actually had to pay to have a charity take it?...(the deduction covered it though)....good luck

Keep the '88 as the daily beater. Use the '93 as a weekend car.

$300/year is less than a dollar a day, so it's affordable.

-- Kane
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While I would never deliberately mislead anyone, take into consideration that any information and advice provided was at no cost to you.