In 1985 I bought a new 1985 Volvo 240 DL Wagon to replace my 1978 Cutlass. I loved everything about it with the exception of the weak A/C. I drove it until 1993 when I was involved in a serious accident and walked away without a scratch although the car was totaled (it had rolled).
So I purchased a brand new 1993 240 Classic wagon. I put down the settlement from my 1985 model and financed the rest over 3 years. Since 1996 I have had no car payments. The car is just about to turn over the 100K mark and there is not a thing wrong with it. I still have my car serviced at the dealer along with completing the maintenance there, and the expenses are reasonable. All I pay for is gas, insurance, and maintenance expenses - no car payment. On top of it, due to the fact that my car is garaged and washed a lot, it looks perfect. The interior is immaculate, and I replaced the floor mats recently, making it look even better.
Not making any car payment since 1996 has allowed me to spend more money on things like new clothing and trips to Europe, unlike my friends who must make a car payment every month in order to have a new car every three years.
I love my 240!
-Cathy