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So, much to the wifes dismay I have always wanted a Volvo 240. I realise that the 3dr 242 turbos demand silly money, but has anyone got any inspiration to get me away from my Vito surf/camper van and to go and buy one?
Any experiences of one in the last few years, ie how well have they aged, common issues, if a T5 transplant is a simple task, etc.
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Hi, I've owned more than a few 240s. All of them have been solidly built, rust has never been a major concern, but then nor has speed or handling. A 3dr 242 turbo is very rare and to be honest, in stock form not that great. Plus you'll pay a premium for it because collectors seek them out, and you'll probably have to import it. Looking around the market place for under or around a £1000 you'll get a running, MOT'd 240 estate or saloon, which will be a bit scruffy and probably have 150K+ miles. That's not a scary proposition, but for that you'll get a car that can hustle along with modern traffic but feels old. Any 240, be it a 2ltr or 2.3 will give you somewhere high teens to mid 20s economy if you drive it like you don't care about mpg. Common issues are many and varied, rust does form around the rear end of the estates, bushes wear out etc. Just go through it and check everything does what it should. Look out for a good service history and oil changes using a Volvo filter and replacement of the flame trap in the intake. It's like any older car, you can get good ones and bad ones. Sounds obvious, but then it is! Parts are still fairly straightforward to get hold of, although I have noticed body and trim getting harder to source. Modifications wise, they respond pretty well to lowering and the 5x108 PCD means you can pick up some larger Peugeot or Ford steels and have them rebanded. When it comes to the engine, you can convert the NA 2.3 to a turbo, with bolt on bits but it will never set the world on fire, 250bhp is pretty much the limit of the stock 5-spd gearbox and clutch. Diff choices are severely limited unless you want to weld it up. I know this because my own 245 (the last number signifies the amount of doors), which I've owned for 14yrs has got way out of hand. If I had my time again I would have dropped a small block Ford or Chevy LS motor in there with a suitable manual gearbox and the back end from a BMW M3. The latter will probably happen anyway.   |
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,339
Club RR Member Number: 84
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Yeah, what Bryn said.
I drive mine daily, it's modern enough to not be annoying but not bland.
Prices are rising, later ones are easier to turbo swap as they have the same engine management so ECUs are plug and play.
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240GL - best car I've ever owned  |
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I still regret selling my 245. Lowered slightly with cut springs and all the external trim binned. It was a 2 litre auto and had enough oomph to surprise modern cars plus had huge carrying capacity.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Mar 19, 2016 23:17:56 GMT
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Diffs not a problem it's a dana axle.
Gears are cheap in states but shipping/import duty may hurt a bit!
Massive scene tax on 242 as said.
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"To Big block or not to Big block?" Thats the question!
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Mar 20, 2016 11:50:54 GMT
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Show a reason to buy a Volvo 240? "Always wanted one" sounds pretty perfect!  |
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Mar 20, 2016 13:50:32 GMT
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I am a Volvo man .The merc was mine just by chance , as she was given to me on my birthday.It was only to keep it in the family .And he knew how i looked after them. And that i would get it back up to scratch. But my choice would have been the 740 GLE After 6 of these and never looked back ,plus the 240 i had .Ican say i have never seen a rusty one yet .Only those that have been knocked about. Get one ,i would. True volvos stoped after these were made in the 90s .With the introduction of mondeo floor pan.
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