Buy '86 240 with rust?

Unless he's giving you the $900 to take it - he didn't price it in.

Take it from an ex rusty '86 240 wagon owner - run away from this rustbucket!

Think nice rustfree '90s 940 or 960 instead.

For $900, how long do you want the car to last? One year? Two years? Ten years?

If you are buying the car to use for a year, the rust almost certainly won't end the car's life. If you want it to last ten years, then you may have a problem with the rust ending the life of the car.

I'd get a mechanic to check and see if the car is driveable and the structure isn't compromised, I'd consider the car. Get a CarFax or see if a friend can get you a CarFax. If you're car shopping, a month of CarFax reports is $25, so you can check as many cars as you like. You can perhaps save some money by getting a Consumer Reports Used Car Purchasing Guide or similar book or magazine and follow the diagnostic steps before you pay a mechanic to look at it. You might find something that rules the car out all on your own. Consumer Reports is available at most local libraries.

In this case, I'd try to pay less than $900. The buyer can't go wrong by offering less. Use Edmunds or KBB to get a price guide for this car in this condition. I surfed to Edmunds.com and plugged in 200K miles for a 1990 (Edmunds doesn't go back further than that) in "average" condition with both options, and Edmunds suggested a private party price of $384. Since you're looking at something that sounds like it could be described as "rough" (a step down from "average") and 4 years older, you have a starting point for discussing price.

We had an '86 240 wagon and, after about 16 years, it got rust holes along the rocker panels. We live in the Rust Belt, so this wasn't entirely unexpected. It also developed some other problems (needed about $700 to $1000 of work all in one go) and we decided we'd be better off investing the money in a newer car, so we gave it to a charity and took a big deduction. Maybe you're looking at it now.

CarFax will tell you where the car's been.

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I bought a "project" 1985 245 wagon several weeks ago for $470.

It has some fairly minor rust issues, and as they're minor and hidden under the carpet I repaired it myself: grind off the rust, use anti-rust coating, primer, rustoleum cover paint. Should be OK.

Of equal or greater concern: how is the engine, trans, and heater motor?

They are all good on mine, so I took a chance.

So far, lots of hours invested and about $200 in used parts and supplies.

When I'm done, I should have a sound car for under a grand that will last many years.

One question: why rust on a So. Cal car?

offer him $500 cash...take $25 of the $500 you saved, drop by home depot and spray on some rustolieum...i have owned old 240's w/rust that looked the same 3 yrs later...heck, you may want to repair someday...no biggie...so calie is pretty dry as the avg year goes by...make sure everything else works w/out any problems...

Thanks to those who responded. I've spoken with the car's mechanic - a Volvo specialist - and there's nothing suspicious in terms of the car's history -- same owner for 10 years. I tend to agree that I shouldn't place undue weight on the rust factor. I don't plan to own it more than 4-5 years, and not in a snowy, slushy climate.

My other concern is an oil leak of unknown origin, which the mechanic wasn't aware of because he hasn't seen the car in over a year. He replaced the rear main seal in 2003. If the source turns out to be the *front* main seal, that might be a disqualifier. But, as I've said, the source is unknown.

In any event, I also tend to agree that the asking price of $975 is a bit rich -- and did I mention the odometer stopped at 225K sometime between

2001 and 2003? (Assuming normal habits, it probably has 260-300K miles now.) I'll need to have the odometer fixed before my insurance company will provide coverage, but I don't know what that would cost.

If anyone has anything else to add, given what I've just shared, I'd sure appeciate it. In any event, thanks again for your collective advice!

-Inga (pseudonym)

Working speedo's odos at parts yard usually $10-20. My 85 245 had lots of rust when I got it in 1999. More rust now but have put 70K miles on it (210K to 280K) and it still runs strong. I would be more worried about engine wiring harness than minor (or even moderate) rust.

Howard

:> My other concern is an oil leak of unknown origin, which the mechanic :> wasn't aware of because he hasn't seen the car in over a year. He replaced :> the rear main seal in 2003. If the source turns out to be the *front* main :> seal, that might be a disqualifier. But, as I've said, the source is :> unknown. :>

:> In any event, I also tend to agree that the asking price of $975 is a bit :> rich -- and did I mention the odometer stopped at 225K sometime between :> 2001 and 2003? (Assuming normal habits, it probably has 260-300K miles :> now.) I'll need to have the odometer fixed before my insurance company :> will provide coverage, but I don't know what that would cost. :>

:> If anyone has anything else to add, given what I've just shared, I'd sure :> appeciate it. In any event, thanks again for your collective advice! :>

:> -Inga (pseudonym)

: Working speedo's odos at parts yard usually $10-20. My 85 245 had lots of : rust when I got it in 1999. More rust now but have put 70K miles on it (210K : to 280K) and it still runs strong. I would be more worried about engine : wiring harness than minor (or even moderate) rust.

: Howard

soundz like a brother to my '86 245 that faithfully served me since it was new... ya the driverside rocker panel is gone, the rear is likewise rusted, the rear axle mounts are gone, the center driveshaft mount is scorched from a glowing catalytic converter after distrib cap cracked, it dripps oil, replaced alot of normal stuff, but after 375K smiles it still runs fine... i gave it to a friend with handshake agreement to pay me $600 whenever... got a '90 245 w 80K for 3K, and i'm happy, and so are my friends who drives the '86, and so is my wife who worried that gas fumes would poison/ kill our irish setters... guess who rules the roost here? anyway, if you can get it for $500, it *is* a great car! buy & use it!

js

Personally I wouldn't buy a car with rust other than as a parts car, but if all you want is a beater to get you around or haul stuff, that car will probably run for years and do just that.