23rd Jun 2006, 23:22

I have a 1976 Volvo 242 DL 2 door, it is my every day driver and I wouldn't trade it for a newer one. It's just too nice, there just so many things I could name about the car that it would fill the page, so I'm just going to leave it at, it's a nice, old, reliable, gas saving car...

23rd Mar 2010, 22:59

I noticed you said it had an inline 6...this would mean it's a 262 not a 242...

16th Aug 2015, 01:47

My experience with the 242 were not so good. I had the manual transmission 2-door version manufactured in Canada in burgundy red.

I recall very rough idle and expensive parts. The alternator failed in the middle of highway driving. The front seating felt cramped with a huge center hump leaving a narrow tunnel for feet to operate the clutch, brake, and gas pedals.

The seats were very firm and comfortable, however. The car was heavy, felt like a tank, and gave the impression of a high level of safety and impact protection.

However, I wouldn't want another one again and glad I became a Toyota convert. Much better reliability, longevity, and reasonably priced parts in those rare moments when needed.

16th Aug 2015, 20:03

The 1970s were terrible for most non-Japanese car makers, as they were adapting smog control devices to engines which were never designed for them, hence the drop in performance, poor economy, and the reliability issues were compounded, whereas the Japanese engines sold in America by that time were designed from the onset for Californian emissions, and that helped a lot. They also had less complicated electrics.

18th Aug 2015, 10:46

I don't know about longevity of Toyota models in the real world. Toyotas here in the UK last about 10 years before they all rot away! 10 year old Volvo's don't do that!