Faults:
One clutch replaced.
Power steering fluid tank replaced.
Drivers seat not so great anymore.
Everything is getting a little worn in the car eg. door trim, console. Surprisingly the carpets and seat covers are still fine.
The boot has rusted, but no other panels.
Exhaust was replaced by our mechanics at about 150,000km as the original rusted, and was made slightly larger as they said it helped performance, the originals are a little restrictive.
The windscreen has been replaced.
This car has a bullbar which has basically caused the front bumper to warp and hang down a bit, and all the trim around it to fall off. Saves us from kangaroos though!
Very minor oil usage, probably nothing above normal.
Radiator has been replaced, the car really didn't heat up above normal though until it was completely out of water! Only then did we find out.
Starter motor has died once, and so has the alternator. All replaced with reconditioned parts.
General Comments:
Basically this car is an all-original 500,000km car. About 350,000 of those were long distance kms, and I was about 5 when we first owned it. As I am now 20 and have driven the car for 4 years I can safely say we are not fanatical about keeping the car perfect, it just keeps going. I believe this is partly from such a good product, and partly from mechanics who know the car extremely well. They are not the local Volvo dealer, because they are useless. They are an independent mechanic and they have serviced the Volvo for as long as we have owned it, and done a mighty fine job too.
This car is content to move around town, but is really happy out on the open road where it can get a full head of steam.
The engine has enough power to move and move quickly if needed, but nothing that would ever make it sporty. It does have plenty of torque though.
The brakes could stop a train and the steering is wonderfully light with the power steering, but still retains all of the feel of the road.
Fuel injection is a real winner on the economy stakes (10L/100km on highway)
The air conditioning is a necessity for the summer.
If there is anything I dislike, its the fact that after the high amount of kms, there are a few rattles and squeaks appearing, mainly from that problematic tailgate.
It seems like a long list of problems, but they come few and far between in the 14 years of ownership, and especially considering the kms. I know the car will be charging on long after all my friend's cars have died.
21st Feb 2005, 08:50
I have recently purchased a nice Volvo 240GL 1988 model from a car yard. I paid $3,000 for it and had to spend about $1.000 getting it right. The four fuel injectors were blocked by the previous owner putting about four bottles of additive attempting to unblock them.
I live in the Adelaide hills and work in the city so it is about 37 kms each way. The Volvo, although not overly gutsy, seems to love the freeway, and is surprisingly economical. It costs about $5 each trip, which isn't too bad.
It has 188,000 kms on the clock and I presume it has many more kms left in it. I am interested in anyone who might know how much more this motor will have in it.
Overall, the car is very straight and clean, and everything seems to work.
Happy motoring.
Don Johns.