Hi I'm new to this forum and thought I would seek some experienced 240 advice.

I came across a 91 5 speed wagon in my neighborhood that the owner is unloading for pretty cheap. He said the car has a ton of miles (odometer stopped around 220,000 miles) and ran great but the transmission developed a problem and he couldn't shift into a few gears so he bought a new car and parked it. The owner estimates that it might have as high as 700,000 miles.


From a visual inspection the car is solid. It was a Texas car and it only has a little bubble starting near the bottom corner of the driver's side windshield and a little bubble on the rear driver's door above the door trim. Paint is good and interior is fair. The tires are almost new. Other mechanicals such as brakes and suspension seem to have been maintained.

I think I could get it for about $300. I am mechanically inclined and don't have an issue swapping a transmission. It peaks my interest because my wife loves old Volvo wagons, I had a '84 240 GL as my first car, and I wouldn't mind a cheap beater. I do not want a big headache of a project. I also don't want to invest a lot to get it fixed. I would want to keep the total budget around $750.

What do think would be the value of such a car if I did fix it up and drove it for a year or so before I sold it?

 

Id go for it. Keep in mind it will be a project car for awhile. Be kinda neat to get to milion miles.

 

300.00 is a steal for a good 240 shell. The 5 speeds are becoming a bit rare so that does add value but with that said, with you maybe needing a transmission you may want to source one out before hand to see what your getting in to.

If your total budget is 750.00 and your 300.00 in to get the car thats 450.00 for a new transmission so that is very doable.

BTW it can't be a million mile car if the odo. is broken because if that was the case I can say that my 93 sedan with a broken odo. at 260k is at a million miles...

Thats one thing that I never even look at with these 240's the odometer means nothing to me.

 

to estimate mileage on older cars I look at the steering wheel and drivers seat.