Need input - looking to buy a Volvo

I'm looking to buy my first Volvo, on the recommendation of my parts guy. I'm historically an older VW/BMW guy, but he has owned six 240s over the years, and his wife is driving a 740 Turbo. With the third-row seat available in the wagons, the Volvo would suit my current needs as well.

I'm on a budget, and I'm trying to stay in the $3-4k range. My parts guy recommends the '88-89 740 Turbo wagon if I can find one. I think a 240 would be easier to come by (the Lafayette, IN area is nearly devoid of cars that are of interest to me - everyone either drives brand new cars or older junk like '80-90s Cavaliers and stuff, but there are a few Volvos around).

If I buy a 240, will I really wish I had a 740? How much nicer is a 740 than a 240?

If I buy a 740 NA, will I really wish I had a turbo?

I understand the jump seats are optional...how common are they? I would be putting my boys (3 1/2 and 5 1/2) back there, and my new baby in the second seat. Are they reasonable for daily use? Are they actually designed to fit kids, so I could nix the belt-positioning booster seats? I know there has been discussion on the Brickboard about hte third row seats' safety, but driving is not a safe activity, and they're probably safer there than in my Pathfinder. Someone else will always be on the road in something capable of hurting anyone, regardless of their seating position or orientation.

Thanks in advance for any advice. Aaron '88 MR2 NA '92 Pathfinder '70 Beetle project

Reply to
Aaron and Aimee Ness
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Depends what you're looking for, 240's and 740's feel distinctly different,

240 has a bit more of a basic no frills solid feel, a bit tighter, the 740 feels more luxurious. Mechanically both are very similar, 240's interior is simpler and easier to work on, 740's blower motor is much easier to replace, AC is much better, it's a tossup really, just depends which you like better.

The turbos are much more powerful and tend to come with more options and a sportier ride and look. If you have one you may find it hard to go back, though the N/A 4 cyl's are impressively powerful for what they are.

Reply to
James Sweet

The 740 and 240 are basically the same size and the same power plant. The sheet metal and furnishings are different. On a used Volvo, a turbo is a risk. It is the only part of the car that will probably need maintenance. Without turbos they are much more reliable. My only bad experience in those years was an '84 240 that had a soft cam. After the cam shaft was replaced early on, the car was just fine.

Regarding the 3rd row seat. You may find one at a junk yard. It was not a very common accessory.

Reply to
Stephen M. Henning

Reply to
don hodgdon

By and large the 700s are an improvement over the 200s. Two exceptions come to mind: the brakes and the interior. The 700/900s are built with the cheapest possible interior bits. It's complete crap. The brakes are debatable, but I prefer the four piston calipers of the 240s. Having ABS on my car doesn't help with the pedal feel either. The 700s/900s use one or two piston floating calipers depending on the car.

If you're looking for something really utilitarian, the 240 is the way to go. The seats are what really make the 700s worthwhile for me. Altho you'll find plenty of people who find the headrest in the 700s extremely uncomfortable.

If you are okay with driving a Beetle or Pathfinder around, you probably won't feel a pressing need for a turbo. I wouldn't have it any other way.

For reference I paid $2000 for my wagon (and I'm in California where car prices are really inflated). Mostly complete service records, non working A/C, needed motor and transmission mounts, dome light, driver's window regulator. I went ahead and finally threw in new tires, strut rod bushings, and Bilstein shocks in the back.

AFAIK they're not designed as a replacement for a booster seat or what have you. I would consider putting the baby in the front seat, and the two older children in the rear seat.

I the end you should drive em and decide which one you like. I miss my

240s..
Reply to
Alex Zepeda

I would argue that the interior on a 740 was an improvement over the 240, yeah it's more complex and harder to take apart and put together, but it's much more luxurious and the plastic parts seem to hold up a lot better. I rarely see broken plastics in a 740, but in a 240 those stupid door pockets and parking brake covers are *always* broken on the older cars. The C pillar covers tend to be quite brittle as well and often snap when removing. One real downside of the 700's though is the headliner, when (not if) it starts to sag it's a real project to redo, much worse on a sedan.

Reply to
James Sweet

you may want to look at the eBay used 940t & 960 wagons...they are not too much $ and not a bad duy for the $$..basic cars w/nice features...not too complicated...and can be made to move...fast...if you want to throw some $$ at them......i guess i would look at 1993-1997's.....or, what ever the last year of the 960 wagons were...good luck!!! you wont be sorry (imho)...i am an x bmw driver....both the volvos and bmw's are nice cars...in there own areas...

Reply to
~^ beancounter ~^

Reply to
Rob Guenther

Hi,

I am also a BMW (&Volvo) guy.

Other than the good advice posted here on the various models to look for in your price range (I'm partial to the 900 series), if it were me, I would try to find a year/model that has the newer R134a refrigerant in the A/C system. Much cheaper to deal with if the A/C system goes out (which is likely on a car of the vintage you are talking about). I don't know when Volvo switched over to R134a from R12. BMW switched with the 1993 model year.

It's not something people normally think about when shopping for a used car, but it should be on the list of things to consider.

Bob '95 Volvo 944t '92 BMW 325iC [with an R12 A/C system :-( ]

Reply to
Aleric

That's not really much of a concern, the 700/900 series AC system is easily converted and works well with R134a, shouldn't cost more than a few hundred bucks to have it ressurected and converted assuming the compressor, evaporator and condenser are in functional condition.

Reply to
James Sweet

They were available everywhere, they're really only suitable for children though, I think the weight limit is 75lbs/person. They also take up the entire rear storage compartment and require holes to be cut in the headliner and rear floor board. I'm not sure why people want them so much, my mom's

245 had one that I rode in when I was little, it was cramped on legroom and made me seasick to ride facing backwards, much better to get a van or something if you need to move that many people on a regular basis.
Reply to
James Sweet

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