Faults:

Air mass meter failed not long after I got the car.

A/C compressor (clutch?) quit last Summer, during a heat wave.

Fuel pump relay.

My mechanic last year replaced all 4 shocks, front brake pads, exhaust.

I did preventative maintenance when I acquired it (fuel filter, flushed the tranny, etc.)

General Comments:

What can I say about the Swedish Brick that has not been said before? I bought this car when it was already 13+ years old, from the original owner. She gave me the receipts of the many repairs she had done (totaled over $10,000 in the last 3-4 years alone!).

I wanted something more roomy than my old 90 Corolla, with cargo room as well. Found this Volvo with AC and everything working, it was a really good buy ($1700). My main intent was to drive it in the winter (salt) because I have an older Mercedes that I don't drive in the winter.

Now I am completing my 3rd winter (during which it has performed flawlessly), and am contemplating whether I keep it longer (likely some maintenance will be required this year, it will need new summer tires and some brake work in the back), or buy something newer.

However, I don't think there are many/any modern cars that are as reliable and cheap to own as this 245 wagon. A year after I bought it, I bought a 91 wagon that someone didn't want to fix, for $300. I stripped it of all the parts I could, then sent it to the junkyard. So I have lots and lots of used spare parts to keep it running. I will probably get sick of it before it fails on me seriously...

Faults:

In the last year I have owned the car I have replaced the muffler, air mass meter, O2 sensor, overdrive relay and radiator. These are the major things not counting maintenance items (spark plugs + wires, air filter, oil, flame trap). Keep in mind I'm an anal car owner and usually replace things when the start to go wrong, or before they break.

General Comments:

This is a very late model car as the 200 series was produced since 1975! This final look was produced since 1986. The design for this car in the 90's is not going to look as modernized as cars of the same era as this design was getting dated by the time 1990 rolled around. But if you do like the look, the 90's 240 series were a great way to get a classic, reliable design with a few modern features like driver side air bag, ABS, and in 1993 CFC-free A/C.

The car is a little under powered for its weight (114HP), but it keeps up with traffic and does 80Mph on the freeway with no issues. I also get about 27MPG. Also, you can't mention Volvo and not mention safety. Mass amounts of steel involved with this car coupled with many, many years of safety design from this company since at least the 1960's.