Welcome to a new column here at Curbside Classic where we explore the glorious rides of years past and try to morph them, in a Back To The Future DeLorean-esque time machine, into their new car incarnations.
Our first car is nothing less than the rolling embodiment of automotive longevity: the Volvo 940.
The Volvo 940 was nothing short of a multi-decade culmination of four essential classic Volvo ingredients.
1) Rear-wheel drive
2) A four cylinder, B230 engine, commonly termed the ‘Red Brick’
3) A unique interior that was durable, functional, and high quality.
4) A reputation for safety that was second to none.
It’s this last ingredient that deserves special attention given the fact that these days nearly every SUV, crossover, minivan, and inbred vehicular combobulation can lay some type of claim to that safety mantle.
This wasn’t the case back then. While BMW’s were busy laying their commercial claim to the ultimate driving machine, and a Lexus was relentlessly pursuing perfection, Volvos throughout the 1990’s remained boxy, but the pinnacle of safe.
They could take on most anything. Cliffs. Trucks. Crazy drivers who crossed the double yellow line.
While Cadillac Cateras would zig their way past those double yellows in commercials that offered a bit of risque along with a heaping load of stupid, the Volvo 940 owner was a risk-averse customer who valued their family and the ‘enduring qualities’ of their automotive investment.
Many years after these commercials came and went, I started buying Volvo 940s at the local auctions here in Atlanta. I would buy them at dealer auctions, public auctions, tow yard auctions. Heck, there was even a time when I got paid for my bid calling by receiving a perfectly running Volvo 940 turbo sedan.
Like all the other Volvos of that time period, the 940 was hard to kill and usually easy to fix once you became familiar with the car’s weaknesses . With a brief cleaning of the throttle body, one moderate repair (usually the ABS sensor or the rear main seal), and some minor cosmetic work, I could sell these Volvos to folks seeking the European equivalent of a Toyota appliance with a bit of Swedish design tossed into the recipe.
This was an easy lay up by the time I started retailing cars on a daily basis. Thanks in large part to the fact that by the mid-2000’s, Craigslist was still a bastion for IT professionals and other educated folks seeking a worry-free ride. The conservatively driven and well-maintained car of that time was hot in demand and I had no trouble racking up dozens of 940 sales. The prior owners of these vehicles made it easy.
The original new car 940 owner almost always brought these vehicles to the Volvo dealer for maintenance during the early period of ownership. As these vehicles aged and dealer maintenance began it’s climb into the nether-regions, a lot of these cars would be kept up at Volvo specialty shops.
Here in Atlanta these specialty shops were a huge booming business. These rear wheel drive Volvos were surprisingly easy to maintain. But they were sold to folks who usually had little to no familiarity with wrenches and auto parts stores. As the years went by, I began to see receipts that reflected a real-time hourly labor rate of around $150 and even beyond.
It was farcical and a bit insane. Throttle body cleanings that took less than five minutes would often be changed in $79 and $99 increments. Automatic transmission drain and fills, which required all of one bolt to be removed whenever the oil got changed, were charged another $99. An ABS module would cost $700… but you could have it shipped off and rebuilt in better than new condition for all of $100. The business maintaining these near luxury vehicles became obscenely profitable.To the point where some long-time Volvo mechanics started working out of their garages and charging a more modest multiple of the local labor rates.
From my experiences, the new car Volvo 940 buyer represented a unique recipe of consumers who could be categorized as the following…
- Risk-averse
- Safety Conscious
- Willing to pay a premium for repairs
- Apathetic towards real world performance
- In the case of wagons, a need to sometimes seat seven in a pinch.
So what cars of today would best represent these types of virtues?
I would say at the high-end, the modern Lexus RX350 would come closest to these qualities. Lexus is still primarily a favored brand for the conservative new car buyer, and in the case of the RX350, it appears all those bullet points I mentioned above are firmly checked off with a few others thrown into that mix.
The RX350 has a pleasing exterior that has been far more emulated than the right-angle happy Volvo 940 over the last 10 years. But to me, that’s a debatable point.
Whenever I used to see Ford Five Hundreds and a Ford Flex, I would always ask myself, “Why didn’t they make a Volvo version?” The evolution of the Subaru Forester from upright wagon-like SUV to today’s rolling blah-ness of curves, may represent how tastes in the family vehicle have morphed from the Clinton Era to the present day.
I would argue that the Volvo recipe of firm lines and minimal curvaceousness has already been tried with mixed results. The new car buyer of today’s time simply prefers the smooth curves of a Lexus RX with a higher up seating position.
The Lexus RX350 seems to offer the most direct bullseye in the higher-end of the market. A popular premium family vehicle that is catered towards those who care for safety and durability above all else. Yes, the RX350 contains plenty of power in today’s time. As the Volvo 940 turbo did among the four-cylinder brethren of twenty years past. However, the new car shopper who ended up picking one of these two vehicles likely considered real world performance a secondary issue.
So on the high end, the Lexus RX350 likely represents the modern day vehicle that best caters to those seeking a modern day version Volvo 940. Or maybe not? Perhaps I am looking too heavily on the wagon side of the equation? Well, if that’s the case, the brick enthusiasts of the modern day are going to really hate me for choosing a sedan that I have no doubt best represents the virtues for that Volvo buyer of times yore.
The Lexus ES350. I can almost hear the online groans in earnest, “Not another Lexus!”. Well, in my opinion, the RX350 and ES350 represent the two Lexus models I would recommend if that 1990’s Volvo 940 buyer took a time machine right back into the modern new car showroom… and I will tell you why…
These cars are bought primarily for their perceived lack of faults and their ability to last well into the time when the keys are handed over to the kids for college, and beyond. This may not sound like the enthusiastic rallying cry for the hardcore auto enthusiasts that frequent this site. But as we all know here at Curbside Classic, new cars that were never intended for the budget enthusiast eventually morph into old cars with a loyal following.
I see the Volvo 940 baton passed off to these two Lexus models. But maybe I’m wrong. Would you consider a Forester? Or a Santa Fe? Or dare I even say it, another Volvo?What would be the true successor to the Volvo 940? Feel free to post your thoughts. It’s going to be a long hot week.
Hmmm.
When I think Lexus and Volvo.
I think Free masonary and Golf clubists.
So yeah they are a good fit.
Can lexus drivers be ignorant sods as well as Volvo drivers?? Not sure.
Any time I ever see a car late brake as I pass an exit on a roundabout ..It’s a Volvo.
Or when I’m driving down the road and and there is an obstruction on the on coming side,and the vehicle on coming refuses to stop, crossing into my lane; even though I have right of way..Yep, you guessed it’s a Volvo.
Only Audi’s are driven as badly.
Never noticed a Lexus been driven badly..Or could just be I never notice a Lexus.Fullstop.
So for driving habits Volvo is nearly equal to Audi.
For Social pursuits of Golfing and freemasonary Volvo and Lexus are a match.
10 years ago, I would have agreed wholeheartedly with you that Volvos with their safety reputation were the haven of choice for bad drivers. Now, however, those same drivers seem to have migrated en masse to the Toyota Prius. I say that based on observed driving habits and the many diehard Volvo owners of the 80s and 90s that I have known who have switched to the Prius. It is uncanny how many former Volvo owners have switched to the same model.
If I ‘m in the USA i’ll keep an eye out on Prius (es)
But over here it’s Audi drivers.
Surprising the New BMW’s are driven quite well.As they get older these cars demographic changes and the Youth with testerone take over.
It’s good that Volvo drivers have migrated to Prius..Now you know what car to avoid!!!! It’s a public service.
Pity about SAAB the best driven car on the road And Alfa Drivers are Good also.
Have to agree on the haven of choice comment, also agree that now it seems to be Prius drivers who are the most inattentive. Back in ’92 the only accident I’ve ever been a part of (at the wheel at least) was when a 940 driver struck me while I was sitting in the breakdown lane in my Nissan Sentra. She told the officer I was pulling out in front of her so she had to swerve into the breakdown lane to try and avoid me (and not the unoccupied left lane, hmm). My less plausible story was “she just drove straight into me!” He promptly wrote me a ticket. Another lesson learned in the life ain’t fair booklet. Of course these days I’m a Volvo driver …
I’ve always felt the Subaru Outback (and Legacy to a lesser extent) pretty much picked up where Volvo left off with wagon buyers in the later part of the 90’s as Volvo’s became more expensive.
+1
What is popular to the average driver is not popular with those who wish to stand out from the crowd. There is a large market for people who don’t want to blend in with the crowd.
The success of foreign cars was in large part the needs of this market to not blend in with their American car driving neighbors.
Volvos could not be confused with Monte Carlos, Cordobas or Plymouth Caravans. Instead of an affordable plushmobile or an affordable family hauler, Volvo appealed to a market whose drivers wanted everyone to know they were intelligent and smarter than a Monte Carlo, Cordoba or Caravan driver. Volvo drivers wanted their neighbors to know they could afford a vehicle that came from a country they could find on a map, made for a market they admired overseas, and cost more than what others drove. Volvo drivers want folks to think they are smart.
Prius owners want folks to think they are smart too. More intelligent than you. Willing to sacrifice to save you. Smart enough not to be fooled by whatever is the passing auto fad among the Average Joes. Prius drivers want you to know that they are willing to pay more for a ride because their personal values are worth it.
Subaru owners want folks to think they are smart too. Able to do what an SUV or a 4WD vehicle can do, while sipping less gasoline than a Jeep, a Tahoe or an Explorer. Subaru drivers know that a lot of folks on the road they consider mouth breathers would never consider anything called a Subaru. The fact that the Average Joe would consider a Subaru too expensive to tool around to WalMart, haul a “pull-behind” loaded with three-wheelers, and a boxer engine unattractive to a V8, just makes the Subaru attractive to a similar buyer as the Volvo owner.
But the Volvo owners I know, have bought Lexuses. These people are looking at retirement, or have arrived at retirement after raising the 1.3 kids in Volvos, shuttling them to soccer fields at private schools, and paying for their Ivy League college degrees. They’ve often had spent time with Mercedes, seen European cities, and want a vehicle dependably Japanese without the European overengineering found in their Swedish rides. Their parents drove Oldsmobiles, Mercurys, Beetles, and consider those cars old fashioned, along with every other US brand.
While the Lexus is no box, what turns these old Volvo owners into Lexus owners is the fact that the Lexus makes them look smarter, more successful and better educated than the folks driving around in Impalas, Camrys and Sables.
Like the old Packard ad – “Ask the man who owns one” – (if you personally know any of them).
NO, no, no, NO. Volvo is all about SAFETY. Lexus/Toyota is NOT. Volvo=safety. Visit the scene of an accident; Lexus≠safety!
Very interesting article – I have to second Doir’s statement 110% – have been a first responder in the military and have swapped stories with quite a few other first responders. Here in Japan, the Japanese Police and fire rescue folks will tell you quite freely that even today, Japanese makes are inferior to European brands, and especially Volvo, in terms of their crashworthiness. Can’t remember how many times I’ve heard, “if they weren’t in a Volvo, they wouldn’t have made it….”
And while most brands have certainly enhanced their safety ratings since the 940 first came out, no one brand yet equals Volvo – if you haven’t had a chance, just look at the lower portion of a Volvo seat with the standard WHIPS anti-whiplash system – there was some real engineering and money put into that.
When it comes to wagons, I vote for the Ford Flex.
In fact, doesn’t the Flex share some platform engineering DNA with a certain model (?) Volvo?
A quick look on Wikipedia says you’re right. Flex is on a revised form (called D4) of Ford’s D3 platform, which was a cost-reduced form of Volvo’s pre-acquisition P2 platform:
* Volvo S80, 1998-2006, 4-door sedan
* Volvo S60, 2000-2009, 4-door sedan
* Volvo V70/XC70, 2000-2007, 5-door station wagon
* Volvo XC90, 2003–present, 5-door crossover SUV
Ford’s Flex, Taurus and Explorer, and Lincoln’s MKS and MKT, are all current descendants of this Volvo platform. Fascinating.
That’s completely true. But that platform is rather old and heavy, and sedans on that platform aren’t able to utilize space as well as, say, General Motors’ “Super Epsilon” platform…which is a stretched Epsilon II platform and which underpins the 2014 Impala, LaCrosse and XTS.
Steve,
Always enjoyed your writing. I had the experience of using a 940 wagon as a company car. Not new mind you, it was the owners old car one of four Volvos at the time. My thoughts were that the seats were the worst. It might have been since he weighed 240 and was 5’9 and I at 6′ and 175 the seat conformed to his shape. By the time I drove it the pieces were starting to fall off. I do remember that first gear was rather quick, but it buzzed when I tried to move fast. I don’t remember the mileage being too good either. Ditto about the shops making a killing repairing the things. I move into the next series after that with a 5 cylinder(?). I didn’t feel it was much better other than the engine more suited to the real world of traffic.
Great article, Steve. I’ve owned Volvos for years, and my wife’s car currently is a ’97 960 wagon with 194K on the odo. This is the 2.9-liter non-turbo straight 6, and it’s a great combination of practical, comfortable and durable. And while we won’t embarrass any Mustangs, neither do we dawdle.
Might I suggest an answer to your thread question? I think you should wait for the introduction of the V-60 wagon, which I understand will be rolled out later this year or early in 2014. Since it’s based on the proven S-60 fwd platform, reliability should be better than average – and, it looks great.
Dare I bring up the British study back in either the late 90’s or early 00’s that showed that a motorcyclist had a better chance of being run down by a Volvo than by any other make of automobile? All due to Volvo’s drivers being less attentive to the traffic around them than any other marque’s drivers. After all, when you’re driving something that safe, who gives a damn what you hit?
An acquaintance of mine who owned an insurance agency in Effingham once joked that all drunks should drive Volvos. To which I responded, “No, everyone but drunks should drive Volvos!” We both got a laugh out of that.
I was in the dram shop insurance business at the time–saw/read plenty of drunk idiot crash reports from the police, depositions, etc…so did Jim, being an agent.
Spent the night in Effingham one night. The next morning at a local diner I had the Effing Ham and Eggs.
How was the Effing motel?
Effing wonderful.
I remember that report, which I believe came out in the early to mid-90s, because I got licensed for motorcycles in 1995 and read the report at around the same time. It confirmed what I had seen of Volvo drivers while in cars, although all of my several near-collisions during my first two years of riding motorcycles were with Cutlass Cieras and their GM cousins, driven by elderly people.
I don’t know if there’s currently a used car that fits quite the same niche that the Volvo 700/900-series existed in 10-15 years ago, although the Lexus ES is probably pretty close.
Back in 2000-2001 I spent most of the time I should have been attending community college classes killing brain cells and learning how to make a clapped out old Honda go around tight curves quickly. My normal stomping grounds were the north shore of Long Island, an area with a never ending maze of outstanding backroads and home to – almost exclusively – disgustingly wealthy people living in Gatsby-esque mansions. One of the first things I noticed peering up the few long driveways where the homes were even visible, was that a huge percentage of these people kept an old Volvo around as a third or fourth car, most of them wagons. From various dealings over the years, I’ve since learned that most of those people bought those cars new and kept them around for their kids to drive, or for hauling junk that would untidy the S-class, or letting the hired help run errands and whatnot. Obviously, these weren’t the only people buying Volvos, but they seemed much more popular with the 1%-ers than any other demographic, and there was some weird cachet to being rich and owning an aging Volvo that I can’t really explain. It seemed to have been a badge of honor at one point to park your S600 or A8 in the garage and leave the 240 wagon in the driveway. Weird? Yes, but there are few things I understand about wealthy folk.
Now, when I drive around those same areas, the old Volvos are gone completely. In fact, to see anything more than 5 years old in those same driveways is a rarity. The newer models are still seen (XC90s and S60s, mostly), but they’re nowhere near as popular as their predecessors were. If I had to guess, I’d say that the old Volvos appealed to pragmatic used car buyers for the same reason they appealed to ridiculously wealthy people: they were one of the few rugged, durable vehicles that didn’t have appliance-level driving dynamics and build quality. Plus safety, plus an air of European exclusivity. Repair shop price gouging definitely hurt, although in my experience this isn’t just limited to Swedish cars (a friend just payed over $900 to replace an A/C compressor on a ’98 Buick LeSabre), and I think that’s something that has scared people off from buying used cars in general. As for Volvo specifically, while most of their post-940 efforts have been good cars, they weren’t notably better or more unique cars than their competition. The playing field has been leveled considerably in safety and reliability and I don’t think the “Volvo” name has that same flair it once enjoyed. The Richie Richers of the world now seem to drive much more complicated and FUBAR-prone machinery, but none of them are keeping those vehicles beyond the warranty period… hence, the people that drove the Volvo new-car market have largely moved on and Volvo has changed the way they build cars to try and keep up (a losing effort, mostly). I think you’re right in saying that the Lexus ES and RX come pretty close to filling that niche, but only by default… not because they were actually meant to serve the same purpose used 740s/940s once did. I hate when people bitch and moan that “blar blar blar a Lexus is just a Toyota for stupid Americans”, but I do believe one of the key reasons that cars like the ES and RX are so dependable and affordable to maintain is that they have tons of commonality with a Toyota Camry under the sheetmetal. Personally, I’d never buy either of them – but having driven and been in quite a few of these, I do think there’s enough of an upgrade in trim and feel to justify the higher cost over a Camry, especially as used cars. That’s a huge difference from the 940, which was purpose-built to serve the same function, but to the average Joe Schmo used car buyer, there probably isn’t much of a difference. Also, the disgustingly rich do buy Lexuses, but they certainly don’t hold onto them like they did with their Volvos!
BTW, love your writing, Steve – keep up the good work.
Part of the aura was liberal politics. My late wife, open to just about any crazy motor vehicle idea I could come up with, absolutely drew the line at a Volvo. Would not drive one, own one, or be seen riding in one if she could help it.
Little matter of that she was an old line conservative. Back in college, at the liberal University of Vermont in the early 70’s she was a member of the campus chapter of Young American for Freedom – probably the most hated group on campus. Absolute Goldwater conservatives.
She hated Volvo’s for the image they projected. Probably the same image that some of your rich people happily tried to project.
Volvos having anything to do with liberal politics is a completely foreign idea to me. I know they’re favored by many aging hippies and Vermont residents, but both are a tiny demographic and often the same thing. Aside from the ultra-wealthy people I observed owning them, who were overwhelmingly Wall Street hot-shots or came from old-money families (hence some kind of Republican), the only other group they seemed to be really popular with at one point was upper-middle class soccer moms who shunned minivans. Likewise, they were also mostly Republicans (or at least their husbands were) and even those who didn’t identify as such were still social conservatives at heart.
In my experience, during the 80s and 90s Volvos (especially wagons) were popular with both right-leaning wealthy people and with liberals, but were almost a mandatory uniform for the latter. Both groups would have appreciated Volvos as an intelligent choice of vehicle for their safety and durability. The old money or new money would often choose a Jeep Grand Wagoneer or full-size American wagon as their family hauler, though, while for liberals a Volvo was the only choice once they reached a sufficient level of income. It made exactly the right statement about one’s politics and self-image, with its image of being intelligently designed and its avoidance of American excess. Volvo has lost its market share and its image since then, though, so I can see how aging hippies clinging to their old Volvos are the Volvo image now.
As an aside, like Syke’s late wife, I also despised Volvos for the political statement that they made and would not have been caught dead owning one. Now that it has faded, I can appreciate them for being good cars and have seriously considered the idea of picking up a beater Volvo wagon as a utility vehicle.
The Lexus RX is a good choice. You can probably include the Audi Q7 and Subaru Outback, too.
Crossovers are the new station wagon and SUV’s of today, combined. The car market has been essentially flat for the last two decades; all of the growth has been in light trucks. Drivers like to sit up high — it provides them with a sense (illusion) of control and safety — and I doubt that anything is going to change that anytime soon.
Steve, you’re making me miss my frequently-mentioned 1991 940SE. I love my current V50, but oh that 940…
I miss that car so freaking much!
I would say (and have for a while), that Subarus and Prius are the primary successors to the older Volvos in these parts. The Prius V makes it even easier for an old Volvo wagon driver to make the transition, if a Subaru isn’t their thing.
I would tend to agree. My local Volvo dealer played it smart–they acquired a Subaru franchise a few years back 🙂
“Oh, sir, the S60 is too much? Let me show you this Legacy…”
Still, I cling to Volvos. I admit they’re not what they used to be, but I still like ’em.
+1
From an internal dimension standpoint, the Prius v is awfully close to the wagon (945). New prices of $25.3k up to $32k loaded are a notch below what Volvo charges these days.
Speaking of new: I’m not sure why they’re bothering with the V60, are there really that many Volvo wagon loyalists who want something less useful than an XC70? Now, an affordable V40 Cross Country, not much more expensive than a Subaru Crosstrek might attract new buyers to the old brand.
Well, I hate the stupid black cladding on the XC70…
Would I consider a Forester? Sure. My wife currently leases one, and when the lease runs out in 2014, my bet is that she will get another one. Why not? Zero problems and high residuals. That’s the beauty of leasing. Prior to my wife’s Subarus, she leased Camrys. Delightful vehicles and equally trouble-free, just a bitch to get up our driveway in the winter.
The Camry has high residuals due to its perceived (and actual) quality. Any Subaru in Salt Lake is a good lease option due to the strong secondary market. Old ladies love the things, as do old guys.
“Would I consider a Forester?”
As long as you like some shade of GREEN!
I may have repeated this story many times and wore some people’s eardrums out but upon seeing this piece I just had to chime in.
I own an example of the 940’s spiritual predecessor, a 1991 740. Actually, Volvo people consider the last two years of the 740 (’91 and ’92) to be essentially a 940, but with the older body style (applies to sedans only). The 740 received all of the upgrades the 940 already had upon introduction in 1991, including new front seats, updated dash design and a new instrument cluster. Yet the safety and durability remained.
My other Volvo is a 1996 850. I love it, although not as much as the 740.
dunno. i grew up in volvos. i’m very familiar with the 940. great machine. only flaw was the stick blocks the ashtray. i drive a 2002 v70xc. it’s a helluva car. that being said, if the still made 240 wagons, i’d buy one tomorrow.
btw, i only drove a lexus rs350 once but i thought the suspension was as floaty as a buick and it didn’t have anything by the way of torque. maybe it was the particular car that i was driving.
My next car may very well be a used 2012 or 2013 ES350. I tested one and it drove very well. Beautiful interior, too. In a few years when low milers are like half the list of a new one is when I would buy one.
I have both ridden in and driven several models of RX and I can see the attraction. They are a solid, reliable, powerful, roomy luxury car that is absolutely turn key. The people that drive them love the cars. I don’t like them as I see them as just too soft and large.
I didn’t know that the current Lexus ES was now based on the Avalon instead of the Camry until I watched that video up above. I’ve been wondering how the ES had gotten so much better looking than the Camry in recent years, and that finally explains it. I like the look a lot, love the interior and I’m amazed that the hybrid version does 40mpg city (based on the EPA figures). I could get very used to that as a daily driver if I had that kinda money to burn, and five or six years from now I’d probably be very interested.
Dont get too excited the avalon is only a camry too
Nar nar narrrrrrds, that statement is as accurate as saying a Kiwi is nothing but an Englishman with a suntan and a sheep fetish.
This is actually a subject I think about a lot while I fix rust on my ’90 245, slowly restore my ’73 1800ES and contemplate what is going to break next on my low mileage ’96 855T. My girlfriend’s ’94 944 base model trudges on with little drama. And close to no rust (albeit being a New England car). I think the 940 is not only the last and best RWD Volvo, but also one of the best cars ever made. Sure it’s slow and boxy, but it’s such a quality car. The interior has held up really well, the AC and cruise still work, and it’s a really comfortable road-trip cruiser. The visibility is great.
I’m currently thinking about acquiring a ’94 945 with tranny issues and I’m trying to help the owner plan her next vehicle. There just aren’t really many new cars that tick all the boxes that the 940 does. We’ve considered Subarus, Toyota Matrixes, etc.
I guess if I had to buy a new vehicle, I’d look at Subaru Outbacks. I can turn a wrench, so I’m not too afraid of their inherent, niggling problems. The current Outback is a little too tall for my liking, but at least you can get it in a manual (one of the 940’s only major flaws).
I can’t get excited about anything that Volvo currently offers. Sure the XC60 is sexy, but I don’t predict that it’ll have the same reliability/durability of the 940.
Although I love my 855T, it sorta scares me away from FWD/white block Volvos.
As long as the Chinese don’t ruin the brand, I don’t see any reason why the endearing characteristics of old Volvos shouldn’t translate directly into the newer ones. I’ve had several old Volvos over the years (obviously) and one of the reasons I like them is that they don’t feel like an appliance in the same way that a camcord does even though that’s exactly what they are. Lexus’ are nice cars that more or less fulfill the same role that the Volvos of yore once did, but I’ve always felt that they’re more for the typical camcord type of buyer with deeper pockets. Safety is really a non-issue with most newer cars and Volvo has struggled to stay ahead of the curve with mixed results. People looking for safety no longer have just Volvo as their exclusive provider. Safety aside, I think one of the things that is appealing to me about an old Volvo is that they offer a degree of European flair and could still be reliable enough to use as a daily driver. I would never think of driving an Audi or BMW on an 80 mile round trip commute to work every day. Never. And when they do break, although not cheap, they are significantly less to fix than any other Euro brand, Volkswagen included. I would buy a Camry or an older Lexus if they weren’t so boring. Driving a beater Volvo can be fun in a way that is hard to explain to anyone who has never owned one. Besides, try fixing your old Lexus with a rubber mallet and some electrical tape. Fuhgeddaboudit. I don’t think the new crop of Volvos are any less reliable, comfortable or safe than the ones being built 15 years ago. In fact, they are probably better in every way except for their obvious levels of complexity compared with the dinosaurs of yore, but that can be said about any newer car. For buyers in the market for a $40k+ new car I think the issue is just that, while still good, there’s little you can say about a Volvo that you can’t also say about a Buick or a Subaru.
Great post Steve. You are very right that the old Volvo 940/740 and 240’s were very easy to maintain. A tool set with sockets, wrenches and a digital muiltimeter were all you really needs to keep one running.
The Red Block engine with dang near unkillable. The only real issues you had with them was the following
1. Ball joints
2. Electrical gremlins(more on the 240 because some genius designed it with the fuse box close to the drivers door so that water run off got int othe box(99% of the electrical issues could be fixed by cleaning the fuse box) )
3. diligent maintaining of the flame trap(Volvo speak for the PCV system)
4. Charging issues(must likely due to a ham fisted oil tech damaging the exciter wire on the back of the alternator)
5. Dead helper fuel pump in the tank
I honestly think the Prius(especially the 2003-2010 and the Prius V) have taken on the mantle of the old Volvo wagon.
The Prius, and also the Subaru Outback and Forester. The Outback is a Japanese Volvo 240 that’s better to drive and since the 2000-2004 generation, safer than any 240.
Great write-up Steven. The bricks are superb cars that can be picked up for a pittance and will run indefinitely with minimal fuss. I’ve had my ’94 940 Turbo for almost four years, and aside from filters, fluids, brakes, and the odd window switch, the only thing that broke unexpectedly was the crank pulley. A sterling performance for a $1600 car.
In my estimation what makes the old RWD Volvos so special is that they constitute the perfect beaters for someone who wants to stand out from the crowd. Sure a contemporary Camcord will prove to be just as durable, and will likely be more economical to maintain, but the old Volvos do the same basic tasks with a flourish, and for some, that’s enough.
The 940 also came with a 6 cylinder in-line turbo diesel from Volkswagen.
I think the only true alternative to a Mercedes W124 (E-class) 6 cylinder diesel from the same era.
My 1995 940 4dr sedan served me well for 20 years, and I affectionately named her “Vixen”, the lunchbox on wheels. I am retiring her this month at 330,000 miles, mostly city driving.
Her turning radius was AMAZING, beating out most cars, even much smaller cars. She might not be as pretty to look at as my S60, but I am going to grieve over the end of “Vixen”. What a vehicle. Cost of ownership in retrospect was pretty low, considering I owned her for 20 years.
She is still running, but her emissions system is shot, the door & trunk hinges are worn out, and she needs other things like a radiator. Goodbye old friend, and THANK YOU (Swedish) Volvo. I hope the Chinese bring the great Engineering back. My S60 was made in Belgium.(Ford Volvo, but good ownership reviews for the yr.)
Please do not include Lexus in the same sentence as Volvo! Lexus is nothing more than a Toyota dressed up to appear to be a Luxury vehicle in my opinion. When you think of Volvo most people automatically would say “Old Money”! Lexus on the other hand is just a rip off of Mercedes Benz Aesthetically with no legacy whatsoever so please keep the plain Lexus ES and RX out of this conversation. Both cars are sold to the masses like the Camry and Accord so if you are selling cars like that to the masses that does not cut it for me! I know people that live in the ghetto driving Lexus so its not like a Volvo! Volvo instantly gives the person respectability, I can’t say that about Lexus point blank! They are bland spinoffs of Mercedes and Toyota just being real! Nothing more!