Spotted 240s

[volvo always]

Yesterday on my way to Birmingham I saw a dark grey I think 240 estate turning onto the A38 from the Wychnor turn off in Staffordshire.

James

[peter740]

I saw a nice tidy late model GLT in white yesterday leaving the Drive it Day show in Lisburn Co Antrim. If you're on here cracking looking machine and I was in the Saab 96 waiting to turn into the show.

[halfnelson]

This morning, Truro, 9am - lemon 240 Estate passing Treliske Hospital, then a black 480 ES thirty seconds later, then a silver 240 Estate heading towards Chiverton Cross roundabout. Three in five minutes!

[Angie]

That's amazing, I haven't seen a 240 of any kind for weeks and I've been in and around Truro and Treliske quite a bit lately.

[Sig the V40]

Me in my 240SE, a nice 740 infront and remarkably another 240 estate in front of that! Travelled like this for a couple of miles. Much looking in mirrors snd such going on. Excellent.
Also, a big hello to the beautiful red glt estate with the spotlamps who travelled alongside me all the way around the ring road. Lovely, lovely, lovely car.Convoy.jpg

[Angie]

Where are all these 240s coming from? Is it the fine weather encouraging people to use their cherished classic or are there just more being restored and enjoyed?

Incidentally I was chatting to a 940 owner a couple of days ago and she said they'd always had 240s before. She didn't like the 940 half as much, which surprised me as it was quite a late model, 'R', with all the bells and whistles. She also said they had some 'dead' 240s at their farm but foolishly I didn't ask for her address or I could have found a source of spare parts.

[volvo always]

Originally Posted by Angie

Where are all these 240s coming from? Is it the fine weather encouraging people to use their cherished classic or are there just more being restored and enjoyed?

Incidentally I was chatting to a 940 owner a couple of days ago and she said they'd always had 240s before. She didn't like the 940 half as much, which surprised me as it was quite a late model, 'R', with all the bells and whistles. She also said they had some 'dead' 240s at their farm but foolishly I didn't ask for her address or I could have found a source of spare parts.

Strange as if my 240 died terminally ie extensive rust then I would replace it with a 940 to get the luxuries of ABS and aircon. Ideally CD Specification.
Saying that I really like the simplicity of my GLT and it's proved very reliable in the nearly 6 years of ownership. Mine is my only car so used as a daily.

James

[Sig the V40]

Originally Posted by Angie

Where are all these 240s coming from? Is it the fine weather encouraging people to use their cherished classic or are there just more being restored and enjoyed?.

I'm a 30 something who's loved them since I saw a Group A 242 at the Motor Show. Only just been able to afford one, and very glad I did before they probably would have become out of my reach.
I figure there's a heck of a lot of people like me who lust after a brick. They are after all one of the most iconic shapes of the 80's and as my generation become a little more affluent, we'll buy 240's and Saab 900's in favour of the Healeys and Triumphs our fathers lusted after before us.
Life's ambition of ownership fulfilled for less than a set of Tyres on my friends utterly rubbish shapeless German car. Bargain!

[Angie]

Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, there are more and more younger owners, at least judging by comments here. I've also met a very young, 20s maybe, owner of a 145 who loves it, and the 200s too. I suppose for the 'petrolheads' there are so many ways to give the bricks some more power, and for others it's a matter of having a car with real style rather than being embarrassed by driving a modern 'blob'! As you say, a 240 can still be bought for peanuts, far less than even the most unappealing modern car. And no depreciation either.

[Sig the V40]

Originally Posted by Angie

I suppose for the 'petrolheads' there are so many ways to give the bricks some more power, and for others it's a matter of having a car with real style rather than being embarrassed by driving a modern 'blob'! As you say, a 240 can still be bought for peanuts, far less than even the most unappealing modern car. And no depreciation either.

No depreciation ever. Only going to go up. I get so many comments about mine and find other RWD Volvos park next to you, which is lovely. I just think the following this car has will only serve it well in future years. According to howmanyleft.com over 8,000 240's were scrapped in the years of the scrappage scheme and traded in for new cars, the demographic of previous owenership fits perfectly (unfortunately), leaving some 4,500 examples still registered. You consider how many of those will become "parts cars" in the next couple of years, or turned into track day missiles as people try to replicate the Group A 242 for absolutely no money and demand will far outstrip supply.
Sorry for hi-jacking this thread by the way, but it's really interesting!