Below Art B comments on my mention of "poor designs" in 240s. Thinking about it, I probably need to separate "poor design" from "things I don't like".

Poor design to me is based on some formula that looks at longevity, ease of replacement, cost of replacement.

In that light, badly-engineered 240 items include IMO: heater blower, the inability to remove the shifter cover without pulling the knob (or cutting the cover in front, as I usually do), taillight ribbons, rear TABs, post-85 seat frames, the glovebox (too fragile for a 240), front cowl sealing and water drainage.

The shiftlock and the ABS are weak additions to the car - probably imposed on Volvo by NHTSA-driven legislation but not useful on older cars IMO.

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Shifter console wiring? 200 1993

- posted by Art Benstein on Wed Nov 30 13:52 EST 2011

... Hmmm. Whore's nightmare was probably viewed as an improvement over the previous two years, but I do understand the engineering criticism that essentially goes "anything not immediately understood by the shade tree repairman or replaceable in modular fashion after 20 years" is a "poor design." It is an outside view looking in through dirty windows on the ground floor, deserved or not. Remember the ads back then, "lasts 11 years in Sweden where many roads are not paved," or WTTE. The 93 was certainly an answer to some already noticed shortcomings, as evidenced by the radical shifter redesign and glovebox overhaul. That's quick response in the automotive industry.


- posted by jfh0jfh on Wed Nov 30 13:14 EST 2011

.... the shiftlock and the ABS are weak additions to the car. Poor designs right up there with the heater blower, the inability to remove the shifter cover without pulling the knob, taillight ribbons, rear TABs.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars