1990 Volvo 240 GL Estate 2.3 petrol

Summary:

A good family workhorse

Faults:

Radiator replaced at 150,000 miles.

Windscreen leaked.

Rear shocks replaced.

Rear tie bar bushes failed twice!

General Comments:

Very well built car that is easy to work on.

Lots of room inside and easy to clean out.

Not a car to worry about if it starts making a strange noise, unlike some tin boxes I have owned.

Handling is not sports-like...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th March, 2001

1990 Volvo 240 GL Estate 2.0

Summary:

It's too thirsty

Faults:

Mainly, IT DRINKS, nothing major.

General Comments:

It is big and solid, a strong box and can take heaps and heaps of punishment as everyone says. But it takes a lot of petrol, 11-15 mpg. If you can afford it go for it, or a BMW will work out cheaper.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 23rd December, 2000

3rd Jan 2001, 09:48

I have got 8 Volvos and not one of them is heavy on petrol. And I think they are a really nice car to drive, even though the one I am driving at the moment is an A reg it is the most safe car in the UK and other parts of the world. And when I put a gallon of petrol in the beast it lasts for 3 days.

Yours sincerly,

Mr John Joseph Percival

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1992 Volvo 240 SE Estate 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Solid and reliable

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

One of, if not the safest cars I've ever driven. Although I've only had it for just over 2 weeks, I'm sold. Definitely built for comfort and reliability, although it has guts when needed. Very good value for money.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th August, 2000

1989 Volvo 240 GLT (Auto) 2.3 EFI

Faults:

Fuel/air mix has gone out of adjustment leading to rough idle - fixed by dealer on third attempt; electric window switch contacts beginning to wear; cassette player auto reverse mechanism failed.

General Comments:

A car with character, reliability, and overall sensible design. Boots when overtaking, sometimes sluggish off the lights. Good overall spec (leather, sunroof, alloys, electrics) - well worth maintaining.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th September, 1999

1985 Volvo 240 GL 2.3 auto

Faults:

Small amount of welding needed under back seat for MOT.

Headlights replaced at £10 for the pair from a scrapyard.

General Comments:

A comfortable and reliable car. Now rather old-fashioned, and handling not the best, although steering is light. Generally well made and solid. Acceleration good around town, but blunted by square shape on the motorway. Worst aspect of the car is fuel economy - I average 23mpg, but this is offset by reliability.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th January, 1999

16th Mar 2001, 07:47

Your fuel economy at 23mpg is awful - something must be wrong.

People always accuse the 240 of drinking petrol, but in my experience the normal is 27mpg for a carb model, 30mpg for injection. Driven carefully on a long run I have got 30 and 35 respectively.

Very careful tuning is the key.

Cliff.

25th Jul 2001, 05:54

Nah. Ignore the previous comment. My 2.3 estate returns about the same as yours about town. if I strip naked, lay horizontal, smear myself in vaseline, clench buttocks and drive like a nun I can coax this up to the low 30's on a long run... provided I don't have to stop anywhere!

15th Sep 2001, 03:55

Cliff,

Did you take into account that a US gallon is about 20% smaller than an imperial gallon? That makes 23 mpUSg around 27.5 mpImpg.

My 240GL gives 27 mp (imperial) g, but it needs its valve clearances adjusting so there may be even more mpg to come! I'm told these engines are particularly sensitive to valve clearance adjustment.

Garry.

26th Nov 2001, 21:13

I had a V Reg 240 GL Saloon which had a 2 litre petrol engine and a 3-speed Automatic transmission.

It would only return 22mpg.

It didn't matter if you drove it hard, soft or anywhere in between, you still got 22mpg.

It was very reliable and solid, but parts prices made it unsustainable.

A new radiator cost over £300 and few non-genuine Volvo spares were available.

1985 Volvo 240 Estate 1.7 petrol

Faults:

Suspension beginning to sag at back - this could be because of gross mistreatment in the form of overloading it and then expecting it to climb up mountain roads in N.Wales.

General Comments:

Great workhorse, bought for carrying loads of gear long distances - and it does it very well. Quite thirsty though.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th December, 1997