240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!

Okay, here's a question for you, just for your gut feelings, as I know you
haven't seen the car.

If you had a chance to buy a well running 1993 240 wagon with perfect leather
seats, cruise control, good cold AC, perfect body, one owner, all service
records BUT nearly 190,000 on it, would you think it worth $2500? I'd really
like some opinions on this.

Thanks!
Patricia

 

Patricia!

Where is this wagon? $2500? I'll buy it!! would be a twin for our
"93, which we wouldn't part with at any price (almost..... ) after eleven
years.and 220 000 Km.

Happy Motoring!
Andy I.



| Okay, here's a question for you, just for your gut feelings, as I know you
| haven't seen the car.
|
| If you had a chance to buy a well running 1993 240 wagon with perfect
leather
| seats, cruise control, good cold AC, perfect body, one owner, all service
| records BUT nearly 190,000 on it, would you think it worth $2500? I'd
really
| like some opinions on this.
|
| Thanks!
| Patricia

 

Maybe.

I assume you want a wagon more than a sedan.

If well serviced and not abused, the 240 engine will handle 300,000 miles,
or more. Likewise the automatice transmission. So, pay close attention to
the service records to make sure all of the scheduled maintenance was done.
Actual receipts showing the replaced wear and tear parts are needed to see
the details, since the owner's scheduled maintenance manual is usually only
date-stamped by the dealership at time of servicing. Frequent oil changes
are the bare minimum. Find out the last time the timing belt was changed
(due every 60,000 miles), as well as other belts and hoses. Probably, the
air mass meter (AMM) has been replaced once, maybe twice. Find out how many
miles ago, since this can be an expensive part ($300 - 600 with minor labor,
depending on mechanic's markup). It's an electronic part of the fuel
system. When failing, it may reduce engine performance. May even cause
stalling and rough running. Also look at records for last time the AC
Compressor was replaced. Depending on usage and region, these tend to last
from 7 - 11 years, so this one may be due. Replacement with labor,
including a new drier cannister and refrigerant is around $1,000.

If you are in a harsh winter region, inspect underside closely for weather
damage. The 240 is pretty well weather sealed, but not indestructible.

When driving, check the steering for even-ness - no pulling either right or
left. Check that there is not excessive play (when you rotate steering
wheel left or right, tires should immediately respond). When braking, check
that the car does not drift left or right. Try a slow easy braking, medium
braking, and hard braking. Listen for clunks and rattles during braking,
indicating worn suspension or loose braking system components.

None of the braking system, steering system, or suspension system parts are
very expensive, though can add up if several items are needed. Check the
records for date of last brake pads, brake system master cylinder, shock
absorbers and struts, ball joints and bushings. If none of this has been
done in the last 4 years, this is an indication that the owner has probably
stopped keeping good care.

If you don't have detailed dates, but the car passes your own test drive, I
would strongly recommend a mechanic's inspection before you purchase. This
costs around $70, and will give you a detailed report of the car's overall
condition, plus a list of parts due for repair/replacement, along with cost
estimates.

If all the wear and tear items are replaced on schedule and never wrecked,
then this car is easily worth $2,500.

 

Buy it. Have a reputable indepentant Volvo mechanic take a look at it first.
If there are no major mechanical issues present. You'll be fine.

 

Hell yeah! In a heartbeat! You've just described *THE* dream car.
There are a couple of things that I would automatically do, right after
buying it, that would put the total cost at about $4, depending on what
the previous owner did with the suspension and a couple of other things,
that I would do to any Volvo. I'd still call it an ok bargain.

 

Subject: Re: 240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!

Thanks very much to everyone who responded. I just bought it, for $2250. It
was Item #2488085548 on eBay if anyone wants to check it out while the photos
are still up. I'm off to Massachussetts this weekend to pick it up. Wish me
luck. I'll give you a full report!

Thanks again,

Patricia

 

| Okay, here's a question for you, just for your gut feelings, as I know you
| haven't seen the car.
|
| If you had a chance to buy a well running 1993 240 wagon with perfect
leather
| seats, cruise control, good cold AC, perfect body, one owner, all service
| records BUT nearly 190,000 on it, would you think it worth $2500? I'd
really
| like some opinions on this.
|
| Thanks!
| Patricia

Had you mentioned that it was on eBay, my advice would have been to avoid it
at ANY price.

LH

 

Hi Larry,

You said it! Me too!

Andy I.



|
| | | Okay, here's a question for you, just for your gut feelings, as I know
you
| | haven't seen the car.
| |
| | If you had a chance to buy a well running 1993 240 wagon with perfect
| leather
| | seats, cruise control, good cold AC, perfect body, one owner, all
service
| | records BUT nearly 190,000 on it, would you think it worth $2500? I'd
| really
| | like some opinions on this.
| |
| | Thanks!
| | Patricia
|
| Had you mentioned that it was on eBay, my advice would have been to avoid
it
| at ANY price.
|
| LH
|
|

 

Subject: Re: 240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!

Why? I've purchased several cars though eBay without problem. eBay also
offers many protections not available with direct purchase from individuals or
even dealers. Why would you have avoided it? Did you look at the car (the
listing I mean, obviously you didn't look at the car!). Why the bad feelings
about eBay?

Patricia

 

| >Subject: Re: 240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!
| >From: "brackenburn" [email protected] bit- ca
| >Date: 8/25/2004 7:03 PM Central Daylight Time
| >Message-id: <7N9Xc.216656$gE.1341@pd7tw3no>
| >
| >
| >
| >Hi Larry,
| >
| >You said it! Me too!
| >
| >Andy I.
| >
| >
| >
| >| >|
| >| | >| | Okay, here's a question for you, just for your gut feelings, as I know
| >you
| >| | haven't seen the car.
| >| |
| >| | If you had a chance to buy a well running 1993 240 wagon with perfect
| >| leather
| >| | seats, cruise control, good cold AC, perfect body, one owner, all
| >service
| >| | records BUT nearly 190,000 on it, would you think it worth $2500? I'd
| >| really
| >| | like some opinions on this.
| >| |
| >| | Thanks!
| >| | Patricia
| >|
| >| Had you mentioned that it was on eBay, my advice would have been to avoid
| >it
| >| at ANY price.
| >|
| >| LH
| >|
|
| Why? I've purchased several cars though eBay without problem. eBay also
| offers many protections not available with direct purchase from individuals
or
| even dealers. Why would you have avoided it? Did you look at the car (the
| listing I mean, obviously you didn't look at the car!). Why the bad
feelings
| about eBay?
|
| Patricia

First, I would not buy such an old, high-mileage car without driving it and
looking it over--that's just good sense (the term "buying a pig in a poke"
comes to mind). An eBay seller will present the car in the best light
possible--he wants to sell it to someone--and anyone will do. Second, for
every good "I bought it on eBay and I'm tickled pink" story, there are an
equal number of bad ones of people being not quite so tickled.

LH

 

A perfectly valid point. And here's an example. In this article,
posted on June 3, 2004, <Google groups link: http://tinyurl.com/4msx2>,
the protagonist of this thread purchased a 1992 240 via eBay, and
appeared satisfied with the purchase (although the car had not been
inspected).

Barely a month later, after picking the car up, at least one problem
was discovered with the car, as indicated in this post on July 20, 2004.
<Google groups link: http://tinyurl.com/62egz>

Purchasing cars, sight unseen, through eBay may not be the wisest thing
to do. Caveat emptor.

 

First, I would not buy such an old, high-mileage car without driving it and

Have you ever used eBay? I mean I understand what you're saying, but you do
sound like someone who's not really familiar with eBay and the protections they
offer. The dealer I bought the car from is an eBay "Square Deal" member, which
affords certain protections and guarantees above and beyond what eBay already
offers. If something is misrepresented, I do have several avenues of recourse
through eBay. Again, did you look at the listing? Perhaps that would address
some of your concerns.

Thanks,
Patricia

 

| >First, I would not buy such an old, high-mileage car without driving it and
| >looking it over--that's just good sense (the term "buying a pig in a poke"
| >comes to mind). An eBay seller will present the car in the best light
| >possible--he wants to sell it to someone--and anyone will do. Second, for
| >every good "I bought it on eBay and I'm tickled pink" story, there are an
| >equal number of bad ones of people being not quite so tickled.
| >
| >LH
|
| Have you ever used eBay? I mean I understand what you're saying, but you do
| sound like someone who's not really familiar with eBay and the protections
they
| offer. The dealer I bought the car from is an eBay "Square Deal" member,
which
| affords certain protections and guarantees above and beyond what eBay
already
| offers. If something is misrepresented, I do have several avenues of
recourse
| through eBay. Again, did you look at the listing? Perhaps that would
address
| some of your concerns.
|
| Thanks,
| Patricia
|

I am familiar with eBay and have used it since its inception. There have been
many "Square Dealers" who have been "NARU'ed" by eBay, that is, they've had
their accounts suspended for less than honorable dealings. Ultimately, eBay's
protections and guarantees are of little value and serve only to encourage
buyers to buy, thereby putting money in eBay's coffers. Everyone on eBay is
selling something, especially eBay. I would echo Bev A. Kupf's advice, buyer
beware.

LH

 

Which is not to say that all sellers on eBay are disreputable. A local
Volvo dealership sells some of their trade-ins on eBay. I would probably
deal with them online, but have the comfort of knowing who they are, and
inspecting the vehicle before placing a bid.

But I would not purchase a car from anyone who buys them at auction and
then sells them on eBay - I'm told that's how most of the smaller
"auto-dealers" on eBay operate. Their margins are small, and the
less that's said about their inspection programs, the better.

It isn't too difficult to make an AC "blow cold" for a few weeks

Beverly

 

Buy now before I do.

 

Subject: Re: 240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!

Thanks -- I did!

;-)

 

My last Volvo was nearly identical with 230K on it - all highway miles.
It was a superb car, but since it wasn't a wagon, it eventually was
sold. Finding a mint condition 1993 240 wagon with black leather
and stick is really hard, even here in California.

But I keep looking

 

I just donated my 86 240 with over 200k running perfect and am sick
because I kept my 92 940 just as good with over 200k. In California.
Both are excellent cars. However the blue book on the 86 is around 1500
to 2000. 2500 for a 93 looks good.

 

Subject: Re: 240 Worth It? Opinions Wanted!

When my friends in Northern CA were looking to replace their 1983 240 wagon
(manual transmission) with a newer 240 wagon, they actually hired a search firm
to find the perfect one for them. They ended up with a nice one (of course), a
1992.

 

Probably, the air mass meter (AMM) has

I have a 1989 240 wagon. Everything that you mentioned has been done to my
car except it still has the original AMM, original air con compressor, and
the original brake system master unless they were replaced before I bought
it in 1995 with 60,000 miles. It also has the original fuel pump and
alternator. The water pump was changed out twice - once after a sudden
failure and once last month because I didn't want one to fail suddenly
again. The care currently has 183,000 miles on the odometer.

David
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved"