Looking for opinions - what models are trouble?

I'm unfamiliar with all the Europe-only models (300, 400) but the late

240s have improved air conditioning. The 740s and 940s also have pretty good A/C, though you might want to get a '91(?) or later which already is designed for R134a refrigerant. I'd avoid the V6, but 760s with the turbo-4 are fine. No real experience with the 850 and 960 but they seem to be pretty well designed cars. Oh, I would also avoid pre-88 760s with the vacuum operated climate control unless you like pulling your hair out tracking down leaks.

All of the above have more bells & whistles to break than your 70's 240 but since you desire more features there's no getting around that.

If you want a similar car without having to do lots of little repairs, try a 940 with low miles and full service records. As for your '78, using the narrowest acceptable tires (prefereably with a softer rubber for decent grip) and running them about 5 psi under the tire manufacturer's maximum pressure, should help both the heavy steering and lousy fuel economy - at least a bit. And you can get aftermarket A/C installed for about $800.

The closest thing would be a 90s 940. They were still engineered and built in the fashion of the 240. The 850 and later vehicles are in my experience much more costly to keep going in the over 100,000 mile range.

John

i've driven volvos since 1963, p540, 122s, 240s... my latest was a 1986

245 and i got 460K smiles from it and look to give it away to anyone willing to put up with the rust. my 1981 245 is still resting in the driveway. the 1983 244 sedan has found a good home... i'm now in a great 1990 245 with 80K on it. it's great, and may be the last volvo i will ever own. STAY WITH THE 240 series, *nothing* is better.

janos

The factory aircon in a 90's 940 with the 2.3 litre normally aspirated motor will impose significant drag, meaning you have to turn it off if you want to accelerate quickly. The turbo may not have this problem. A more efficient after-market compressor may not have the problem to the same degree either.

Yep, I hear you... Our 1976 had very light steering - I could turn it with one finger and with wide tyres. The steering on this '78 is so heavy, it's ridiculous. If I drive it a lot in a week, I get a sore shoulder and wrists. It's got air conditioning, but of course it doesn't work. I paid one guy to fix the air a few years ago when we bought it, and it made no difference.

So... No comments on the 440s anyone?

Allan.

I wish! (I'm in Australia.)

Volvo built their reputation for reliability on the 240, and cashed it out on the 850.

The 940 was the last of the 4-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive, legendary Volvos, with a little more comfort than 240, but a trifle underpowered without turbo.

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-RL

They were not. Nor were the 3-series. The only Dutch made Volvo to make it here was the old S40/V40 (pre-2004.5).

AC

We had a '94 440 with the 2.0 engine It was reasonably quick and probably as comfortable as anything else of the same size. The snag was it used vast amounts of oil about 2 pints every 1000 miles and it had only covered 120,000 miles. I also think they were more prone to rust than the larger volvos.

Nope, the 300 and 400 series never appeared anywhere in North America. To me they don't even look like Volvos.

I know... The x's and c's don't to me either. If you saw the Australian Holden Commodore or Ford AU or BA Falcon, you'd know why ; )