I guess I wouldnt say quite high. Im just picky haha. And I was just going off my personal buying experience, my first 240 a 90 auto I traded a non running rusted out major electrical issues mk2 supra for. Then sold to a friend of mine for $300 after I made it basically road worthy again. And purchased my 1 owner 760 with mint interior black leather. No rust and all origional paperwork for $1000

Fair enough, but I also see 240's and S70/V70's that are 10-15 years apart in age advertised at $1500 - 2500. The 240's are holding value while newer models continue to depreciate. If you're picky, nothing wrong with that, you are going to need to be prepared to travel to find a decent 242. There just aren't that many around these parts, and most are pretty rusty by now as you have found out. You should watch the "Tonights Volvo Orphan" thread on TB, lots of cars to choose from and you might be able to get a TB'er to check it out for you? Flying out and driving back a rust free Southern car is definitely cheaper than doing rust repair.

Buy Matt's 780 - rebuild engine, clean, runs well, new exhaust, motivated seller.

Look, to my way of thinking, the days of getting cheap clean 240's for a song are gone. They don't appear at the JY in any great numbers anymore so the ones that are on the road are probably either later cars (90+) or wagons that are going up in value all the time. Anything that is out there is minimally 20 years old. The JY analysis is an indication of what's left on the road and there aren't many. I recently saw the numbers for the UK and in the last decade they went from having 30,000 to 400 cars registered over that time.

With the sort of care that these cars often get, they are pretty rough. I maintain a virtual fleet of them here in Lethbridge and they are all covered in oily goo and not very pleasant to work on in that state. I berate the owners for their slovenly ways and try to guide them in the rolling restoration and maintenance of these cars. Years of abuse stemming from the attitude that they are tanks and just don't break...I've got news. They do brake with that many years of solid neglect.

They will have broken interiors, plastic stuff falling apart, bad smells and a host of other "character". Many Volvo people that go for rides in my 242 remark on the fact that it doesn't rattle...because I've replaced most everything in the car that usually creates this annoying trait. Some of us here scour the classifieds for good deals and occasionally one pops up, probably a 244 auto that is more boring to drive than just about any modern car experience imaginable. When was the last time you had to WILL a car to get up a hill? Drive an automatic 240 with lots of miles and a clapped out engine - it'll drink fuel like a luxo-liner and deliver more frustration per mile than a group of ADHD children in the back seat on a long road trip.

I'm not trying to sell you on this 242 - just saying that you're looking for a unicorn in a field full of wart-infested pigs. 240's rust - that's what they do. Fixing it is no big deal. Interiors can be changed (though on a 2 door the door cards are hard to come buy...I just made them because I'm that guy). That's like the easiest part. A properly sorted B23E is supposedly the next best thing to a turbo with 134 hp. In my experience with my B23E - it was terrible. YRMV.

Yeah I'm not specifically looking for a 242 just any 244 or 242. That's in drive able shape with the proper colours. That's pretty much my only criteria on a 240. I'm actually more interested in a 740ti. But I just need something with a manual gear box. And my 90 240 auto was pushing 500,000km hahaha I know the problems you speak of. My friend has done nothing but fix things on that car since I sold it to him and loves it. I do have some patience to find my unicorn car. As I've jumped on a few before and regretted it. I'm willing to spend what I need to on a decently sorted car that fits what I'm looking for

Gotcha, kind of got off track on the 242, just noticed the thread title even has 740 in it duh. I know what it's like on the 740Ti manual quest as well, I lost out on my wagon only to get a year later. Either way 2 or 7 they are getting harder to find, nice ones harder yet... The Volvo Lady http://www.volvolady.com/ comes up with some unicorn 240's every so often, never called for pricing but have heard it's not cheap...

Yeah in the 8 monts I've been on the search I've only seen two 740 turbos for sale both gone before I had cash. And 2 manual 240s. not easy to find but I feel I need one. A guy a while back had two 240 turbos for sale one manual but no keys

How much do you want to spend on a manual 740 Turbo? I've got one I could be talked out of. It's my summer car...

I'm not sure it all depends on the car. I'm not looking to break the bank. Not looking for something perfect just a decent car I can daily

Nothing special...



Oh...picture is 4 years old...

Hahahaha yeah tooooooo nice for me I would be scared to dive it

Why the objection to rolling in a super sexy 780...it's auto, but it could be converted to manual (I think) - and it's super smoking and everyone will think you're driving in a BMW 6 series. Not that we're pushing or anything, but the 780 wants to go to a new home.

Nothing against the 780 they are very nice cars. Just have my heart set on a 740 turbo. When I went to look at an 88 240 manual from a fellow volvo club member who saw my kijiji ad. He rolled up In a pre facelift 740 turbo and first time seeing one in the flesh I was hooked.

Then the red one above is the one you want.

I definitely couldn't afford it even if I wanted too hahaha

You haven't said what your budget is. How do you know you can't afford it?