QuestionI am considering a 1983 Volvo 240 dl 4dr as a "training car" for my daughter who turns 16 this summer, and as a spare 3rd car. This car is one owner, 110,000 miles, and has been well maintained (father of a friend, so I know all is legit). Price is $600.
My questions are fairly broad in nature. Was this a "good year" for the 240? Any unique problems or particular things to consider in owning this year model (electrical, ac, etc)? Will not get it for a couple of months if at all, so have plenty of time to research. I have a good, trustworthy mechanic, also.
Thanks very much in advance for your insights!
AnswerThe 83 was a pretty good year, with no known drivetrain quirks that set it apart from the others. There are a few things to keep in mind though...
First, the wiring harness on Volvo's from 1980 to 87 suffered from a defect which caused them to begin to flake and short out after a few years. Unless your harness has been replaced, I would expect to find some of this under the hood. Problems relating to this can range from dash gauges not reading right, to the car not starting at all. Ask about if it has ever been dealt with. Volvo offered a free replacement to owners during the problem, as a response to customer outrage. If it is flaking, and hasn't been replaced, its a job you'll want to consider doing, for saftey sake. A mechanic will probably charge about $600, but you can do it yourself in an afternoon for about $150. I did this to my 1980 a while back, and it wasn't bad at all, but a job you should assume you'll have to tackle if it hasn't been taken care of all ready. This is by far the worst problem for this year range.
The other thing to consider is AC. Most likely, unless they had extensive work done on the system, it doesn't work, and the compressor is probably frozen. Obviously not an important system, but something to think about if your area gets warm in the summer. Again, mechanics will charge $1000 or more to repair and retrofit your system to R134 (the new chemical), but you can do it yourself for $200 or so.
Other then that, there aren't any major issues I can think of. Make sure, if it is an automatic, that it has an overdrive unit. You can tell because there is a button on the side of the shifter. That forth gear is important, it allows realistic freeway speeds. At 110K miles, $600 is an amazing price, even if it has all the above mentioned problems. I think the reliability and saftey you'll get for that price is a better value than any other car (which is why I own one I guess).
One other bit of advice. You mentioned a trustworthy mechanic, however, it's been my experience that taking these cars to anyone other than someone who specifically knows older Volvos, you can get yourself into trouble, especially if you're paying someone to diagnose a particular problem if it arises. They have nuances that most general mechanics don't know about, and even if they don't have mal-intent, a general mechanic can cost you a lot more trying to find a problem that someone with Volvo experience would know in 10 minutes. I would suggest doing a quick search for someone in your area that does work on Volvo's, or at least European cars, which were all a little "different".
Good luck! Don't hesitate to send me any other questions you have as you consider purchasing the car.
