Faults:

Everything. Maybe my car was a fluke but everything failed on this car. Particularly all the sensors for the engine. At the end I had to junk it because it was glorified parts car with a new transmission. But I couldn't drive it too well when I got rid of it because the rear axle things wore out and it violently vibrated back and forth. The transmission mounts sank and the overdrive occasionally worked.

General Comments:

In the year I owned it I spent 4000 dollars on all the repair. The previous owner spent 3500 dollars in the few years he owned. It handled okay and was comfy but with this car I just threw and burned money at it. This car is only good if you love it and don't mind spending 2000 dollars a year on it.

Faults:

Starter went around 275,000 miles, replaced the distributor cap around.

The same mileage along with the spark plug wires. general things like oil.

And filters... all in all a reliable solid car... oh kind of a rust problem as.

Well.

Faults:

The heater blower motor was replaced under warranty at 25,000 miles.

Replaced the water pump at 64,700 miles.

Replaced the ball joints at 80,300 miles.

The odometer quit at 114,500 miles and I replaced the gear.

I replaced the tailgate struts at 115,000 miles to keep from getting hit in the head any more.

Both windshield washer pumps went south and I replaced them at 115,500 miles. The internal gears were gunked up and seized. Lesson -- use windshield washer liquid and exercise the pumps once in a while.

I'm not including normal stuff like batteries, bushings, mufflers, windshields.

General Comments:

I bought this 1986 240DL Volvo wagon new. It is my first Volvo. I chose it partly because Toyota priced me out. Having owned three Toyotas previously, naturally I went shopping for a Toyota in 1986. And I wanted a wagon. I never did get into the SUV craze.

Disappointed with the huge price increases of the Toyota wagons from 1977 to 1986, I took a look at the Volvos. After comparing prices, features, and reputation, I went with Volvo.

This car has turned out to be the best car I've ever owned, considering price, reliability, endurance, and performance. Perhaps the word performance should not be applied to a 240 Volvo. But, hey, it's a little 2.3L four-banger engine and it performs better than expected.

Some of our friends made fun of "the box" when we first got it. But 21 years later the box still runs like new.

The B230F engine doesn't burn any oil and easily passes periodic Calif. smog inspections. The AW70 automatic transmission has been flawless.

The original factory radio is terrible, of course, and needs replacement.

Not a speck of rust on the body courtesy of the Calif. weather. However, the exhaust pipe, catalytic converter, and muffler were all replaced at around 85,000 miles due to corrosion.

We have driven this car only 11,000 miles in the last 10 years. So most of the maintenance items recently are due to age rather than mileage.

I expect this Volvo to be my daily drive because my 1993 Ford is falling apart. I'm thinking of improving the handling of the Volvo by beefing up the suspension, lowering the car an inch or two, and replacing the steel wheels with alloy.

With proper maintenance I'm confident I'll be able to drive it another 115,500 miles. But the car might outlive me.