Listen up Volvo! I want a new 240.

Discussion in 'Volvo 240' started by shrike, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. shrike

    shrike Guest

    I want it new, I want it with manual windows, I want it with the dirt
    reliable 4 banger and I want it now.

    What is your problem! I've got a whole set of metric wrenches, and a
    wax kit. All I want is a car built lilke a brick outhouse that
    _doesn't_ have an interference engine. In a nutshell, I want ONE new
    car on the market that is designed to be owner maintained. I _want_ a
    240. What is _so_ wrong with that concept?

    I don't want your rice burner wannabee, I don't want your souped up
    boosted ford-a-zilla piece of crap that will eat valves if I forget
    maintenance. I want a VOLVO.

    Did you just wear out the dies and were too damned lazy to cut new
    ones? I want a new 240! Why did you ever stop building this car? I
    _want_ a new 240!

    -psy
     
    shrike, Apr 23, 2006
    #1
  2. shrike

    Robert Guest

    Sign me up for one too!
     
    Robert, Apr 24, 2006
    #2
  3. shrike

    Sammy Guest

    A bit off the OP's post but..... can anyone advise me where to put the auto
    transmission fluid? My 240 is kind of changing down a gear and I'm fairly
    sure that the fluid is the problem. Should probably buy a Haynes manual but
    apart from being a tight wad, I didn't undertstand the one I got for my 2
    stroke moped.......and they're easy :-(.
    I have Googled and found good stuff re. how to do it properly but no basic,
    labeled under bonnet pics for the completely uneducated, like me.
    I believe I just need to top it up a bit.
    Any advice and especially caveats like, 'just make sure you don't do X or
    you'll ruin your car' would be very welcome.

    I should probably post this as an OP too. Hmm, I will.

    Regards
    Sammy
     
    Sammy, Apr 24, 2006
    #3
  4. shrike

    Inno Guest

    Doesn't it go down the tranny dipstick tube? Need a skinny funnel.
     
    Inno, Apr 25, 2006
    #4
  5. shrike

    zencraps Guest

    "I want a new 240! Why did you ever stop building this car? I
    _want_ a new 240!"

    I feel your pain.

    There is light at the end of the tunnel, pilgrim: buy a used Volvo that
    is in good shape, and maintain it diligently yourself.

    I could drive any car I want, and I choose to drive an '82 244 Turbo.

    Crazy, like a fox...

    240: accept no substitute.
     
    zencraps, Apr 25, 2006
    #5
  6. shrike

    John Horner Guest

    Sadly it will never happen. Volvo has completely changed it's
    philosophy and will never again build a car anything like the 240.

    Your next best bet is do completely refurbish a late model 240.

    There used to be several companies doing just that to Jaguar Series III
    XJ6s. I wonder if a market will develop for 100% rebuilt/remanufactured
    240s.

    John
     
    John Horner, Apr 26, 2006
    #6
  7. shrike

    zencraps Guest

    "I wonder if a market will develop for 100% rebuilt/remanufactured
    240s."

    It already exists.
     
    zencraps, Apr 26, 2006
    #7
  8. I have to dissent. While the 240 was a good, solid, likeable
    car, the fuel economy and reliability of the secondary systems
    was very unimpressive. I'd like to see something very close to
    the 240, but with a smaller, more efficient (but still bulletproof)
    engine, mated to either a 5 speed or a CVT automatic. If our Camry
    can average 30+ MPG on 'Summer gas', then it should be possible to
    build an updated 240 that gets 30MPG, doesn't need things repaired,
    serviced or replaced every three months, and doesn't make you choose
    between adequate storage and space for your legs.
    --







    http://freevision.org/michael/index.html
     
    Michael Cerkowski, Apr 26, 2006
    #8
  9. shrike

    John Horner Guest

    I market requires both supply and demand. Are there shops doing full
    240 refurbs as a business?
     
    John Horner, Apr 26, 2006
    #9
  10. shrike

    zencraps Guest

    "Are there shops doing full
    240 refurbs as a business?"

    I don't know, but I fully refurbished my '82 244 Turbo.

    240's in great shape can command a premium price, especially back on
    the eastern seaboard.
     
    zencraps, Apr 26, 2006
    #10
  11. shrike

    jbincyberia Guest

    Unfortuantely, I missed the beginning of this thread because my ISP
    deletes pretty fast.
    I just posted on another thread a couple of minutes ago about my XC70.
    I also have a Two Door Turbo that I bought new.
    To tell you the truth...I want to be buried in it. It's "almost" the
    greatest car that I ever had. And...the Aire Conditionado worked fine!
    I absolutely LOVE this car!
    If I ever commit suicide, it will be in that car in my garage with the
    engine running. Don't worry, I'm not thinking about it...just a
    hypothetical. That's just how much I love my old, silver, two-door
    Turbo. It actually looks better than the guy who posted the pix of his
    2 Door a few weeks ago...at least I have the real Turbo Rims...and a
    real one in the trunk!
    I really love the old Volvo 2 doors. To this day, I'm looking for a 162
    (Is that the right number?) to buy and restore. I've only found
    rustbuckets.
     
    jbincyberia, Apr 26, 2006
    #11
  12. shrike

    jbincyberia Guest

    Oh, yeah??? WHERE?????
    I will personally give you ten grand if you can show me where Volvo will
    give me a New 200 series.
     
    jbincyberia, Apr 26, 2006
    #12
  13. shrike

    jbincyberia Guest

    Wait a second.....
    Fuel economy on my '84 was pretty respectable for it's day.
    Just what do you mean my "Secondary Systems"?
    You can't get any more bullet-proof than the 240, Red Engine...either
    regular or turbo.
    With today's electronics, seven MPG (7) wouldn't be that hard.
    FORGET the CVT. It's a loser. Look at the Ford cars with CVT. They
    get 2 to 3 miles less per gallon than an automatic.
    I'm 6'4" and my old 240 doesn't even have the driver's seat back to the
    last notch.
    With my XC70, my seat is all the way back, and the seat is adjusted to
    give my thighs support, but I can't get out of the fuckn thing without
    forcing the steering wheel up. The adjustable steering wheel won't go
    up far enough.
    I'm going to start another thread about this next subject.
    Volvo used to say that something like 80% of all Swedes are over six
    feet tall.
    What happened to that?
    I could get in and out of my 122 and my 144 with no problem.
    Volvos are getting progressively smaller for normal sized Americans.
    Hey...I'm 6'4" and 185#. I'm pretty thin for my height.
    But, I'll tell you something... I just bought a Town Car for $10,000
    less than my Volvo, and I can get in and out of it just fine!!!!
    And, it has MORE options included in the base price.
    Don't get me wrong, I love my Volvo. But,where is the ingress and
    outgress comfort?
    Granted, Town Car seats are Shit after about 30K. But for 10K less, I
    could have the driver's seat fixed for about $400. U.S.

    I know that I have rambled a lot, but, HEY...Let's call the Volvo what
    it is. At least here in the U.S. of A...I'ts WAY overpriced and I think
    that my Town Car will have a better resale than my XC.
     
    jbincyberia, Apr 26, 2006
    #13
  14. shrike

    Ed Guest

    I have a dark blue 1988 240, 4 door with 71,000 original miles, always
    garaged, Volvo serviced till 60,000 miles (my mother owned it), one crack
    in the dash ( I think I did it whilst removing the clock for tachometer
    changeover), I put some Virgo wheels on it, some IPD sways and their
    "performance" exhaust on it. Anyone interested, I need a truck for work! I
    flushed the brake lines and the auto transmission. It runs as well as it
    could according to my local Volvo mechanic. New MAS last summer.

    Ed
     
    Ed, Apr 26, 2006
    #14
  15. shrike

    M-gineering Guest

    not likely. Volvo did only one or two prototypes with the inline 6.
    You're probably thinking of a 262 with the PRV engine
    --
     
    M-gineering, Apr 26, 2006
    #15
  16. shrike

    bfiske Guest

    Where is it?

    BF
     
    bfiske, Apr 26, 2006
    #16
  17. shrike

    shrike Guest

    Howdy,

    I would have to ditto the mileage on the red engine. It was always
    fairly good considering the size of the car. Yeah you _can_ get better
    mileage by thinning the mixture till the head glows, or running a
    higher compression with a smaller engine and winding it up further or
    cutting the tin out and running skinny tires.

    If you do that you increase your depency on electronics to manage all
    that crap, increase the wear on the internal parts causing shorter
    total engine life, and have a car that you can't drive confidently in
    hard city driving. A Volvo would make a good taxicab, a camry would
    make a good recycled pepsi-can under the same driving conditions.

    The 240 is/was just one of the most balanced systems ever put into
    sheet metal. Everything went together so that the car was just right.
    Not sporty, or luxury, but right.

    I think there is a nitch market for a new 240. That market is all the
    people in the world who just don't think all the BS features are that
    important. I want a car, not a fricken vibrating barkolounger
    entertainment center. Thanks for the cupholders at least, but you can
    keep everything else! I want a 240!

    -psy
     
    shrike, Apr 26, 2006
    #17
  18. shrike

    Paul Clark Guest

    Well, has'nt this lead to a large thread of replies!

    I have to admit that I too would like nothing more than to see a 'new' 240
    line.

    I think there would definately be a market for them if someone out there had
    the ability to start up a business. Lets face it there are plenty of garages
    in the UK selling refurbished Moggy Minors & Travellers. They claim that the
    refurbs are BETTER than the originals. Would'nt that be a good 240 - better
    than a original. Wow!
    Paul.C
    www.gitessouthbrittany.com/Car.htm
    www.gitessouthbrittany.com/Car2.htm
     
    Paul Clark, Apr 26, 2006
    #18
  19. I agree even my 740 turbo doesn't seem as user friendly .I did my sons car
    up and wished I had of brought a 240 for my self but I do love the turbo
    when the traffic is thick and I see a space .The 240 1990 is a fine car
    basic and comfortable like old slippers .
     
    John Robertson, Apr 26, 2006
    #19
  20. shrike

    Clay Guest

    as a guess, looks like Ed's in Albany NY area.
     
    Clay, Apr 26, 2006
    #20
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