cr80442
So I'm thinking should trade my 1988 240 5 speed for an 1994 Volvo 850 T5, both cars are in good nic. Kinda wanting a newer turbo Volvo the 240 is painfully slow compared to mates e30s and things.
TerryA
Keep the 240 and modify
cr80442
Nothing much I can do it for cheap. Turbo swap is difficult which I was going to do. I pretty much have all parts but the EZK conversion kills it for me
TerryA
I'm doing the same swap with the LH 2.2 from a 740. Going to get it running then some simple mods inlet and exhaust. With the 240 being late and with around 200 hp+, as long as the power gets to the ground efficiently should be all good. If I can get 250+ rwhp that's a bonus. The car will always be a nice cruiser. I had a 850 T5R loved it but fragile, so if I wanted a later turbo I'd be looking at a S60R or even a later S40 T5 AWD. Plenty of Volvo choices or even a XR5
jlfents
Hold on.
*Licks finger and holds in air
E=mc^2
Yes, you should swap.
Yep I'm being a smart ass. But all it comes down to is this. If you want to beat your mates in a straight line then certainly go for it. Or better yet, get something else known for being quick (besides, p plates restrict how fast you can go). This is a never ending process.
On the other hand, stick with the 240. See it for what it really is. I've seen your car at downshift, and it's a nice one. If you want to turn heads, then you need to do the hard work and modify. Lower it. Big wheels. Fat exhaust. Etc...
There is no escaping the cost of modifying a car. It's all the same everywhere you go. Even s chassis cars claim to be easy and cheap for aftermarket parts. They still require the same dedication as any other.
I have been in a very similar situation to you not that long ago. In fact, I think nearly every owner of a na rwd Volvo has. You just need to do what makes you feel happy. Hope this helps
nickm
T5 is quicker handles better and more comfortable. Dollar for Dollar spent will remain that way.
240 is a classic Volvo
cr80442
jlfents;108132 wroteHold on.
*Licks finger and holds in air
E=mc^2
Yes, you should swap.
Yep I'm being a smart ass. But all it comes down to is this. If you want to beat your mates in a straight line then certainly go for it. Or better yet, get something else known for being quick (besides, p plates restrict how fast you can go). This is a never ending process.
On the other hand, stick with the 240. See it for what it really is. I've seen your car at downshift, and it's a nice one. If you want to turn heads, then you need to do the hard work and modify. Lower it. Big wheels. Fat exhaust. Etc...
There is no escaping the cost of modifying a car. It's all the same everywhere you go. Even s chassis cars claim to be easy and cheap for aftermarket parts. They still require the same dedication as any other.
I have been in a very similar situation to you not that long ago. In fact, I think nearly every owner of a na rwd Volvo has. You just need to do what makes you feel happy. Hope this helps
To be honest the reason I got into bricks was because a mate of mine had a 740 turbo wagon. When I searched for my first Volvo I wanted a 740 turbo or a turbo 850 of some sort and yes P platers can't drive em but exemptions are super easy to get for Volvos. I feel like the 240 doesn't have the 80s retro-ness of the 740 does nor the turbo aspect of an 850. When it comes to turning heads I'm not a fan of stance and big wheels. Some 16-inch Simmons b45s or something similar and lowering springs is all I would do but I'm more into performance. Its hard to make a 240 quick as now I'm into the +T process I understand it is not worth doing it. I think ill have a look at the T5 and if its good ill do it.
Ex850R
Look at its suspension bushes and struts, the pcv, radiator, the usual wear items that get left till failure.
How much of the +T stuff have you got?
Pm me.
Vee_Que
Does the 850 have a full service history? They are fragile and if doing an ezk conversion is too expensive to you, then an 850 breaking cc joints, suspension bushes, the lower profile tyres fitted, well, maybe stick with the 240. Besides, your mates can only go that speed limit and diff gears would bring it closer to a 318i pos.
Ex850R
What's this fragility spoken of?
They use up strut top mounts, drop links more than others and that's it.
morgan
@nickm I have to disagree, the t5 may be quicker but after swapping my 240 for a month with jack grahams t5r the 240 is definitely more comfortable but does not handle as well in stock form
heavy_dd
Mate, do the +t. In my opinion it's way more fun than a t5
sucksqueezebangblow
Or be like @jamesinc and have both?
cr80442
I think if I plus T the 240 it would always have something wrong with and it would probably get abandoned
cr80442
The 240 is my daily driver and doing a cheap plus T isnt a good idea to do for a daily
Spac
Personally, I'd have a manual 240 over an auto anything. But if the 850 is a manual, it will blow the doors off any NA 240...
While a 240 has a remarkable ability to continue moving forward when badly neglected, for an enthusiast owner neither car stands out as being more likely to give mechanical/electrical dramas at this stage in their life.
They both have their good and bad points.
Also, T5R ride quality is not T5 ride quality.
goodenough
Keep 240. 850 full of small issues amounting to one fast pile of shit!!
nickm
Yes the T5R and 850R ride is harsh but seats and creature comforts make up for it in daily use.
Good seats, Cruise control, ABS and working a Heater air-con system are standard.
Transmission wise the Auto 4 speed white block is a far better box than any auto the B200 series ever came with.
Manual boxes and turbos the whiteblock wins again.
They are also less fatiguing to drive on long distances because the car is a newer design.
A T5 on 16" wheels it is night and day to a R on 17" wheels.
The T5 white block platform is no less reliable than the 740 or 240. And my experience more reliable mainly due to wiring issues and relays. The wiring harness of the 1980's Volvo is a shocker.
Fragile...Over heat a car or run it out of oil and you are in the same boat. The white block motor and transmission are harder to work on but only marginally. Maintenance is more important on a whiteblock. Probably remains more robust due to the need to do the regular work.
Drive train and suspension parts are on par just which part fails is different. All FWD cars need attention paid to the CV joints. Replacements are cheap and easily available.
240's and 740 are great cars too. If you really like them keep it and work on it.
As a spirited daily driver a 850 wins.
And finally Oscar being a young driver safety is important. Airbags and better chassis design wins out there.
cr80442
The T5 I'm thinking of trading for has 15-inch wheels and stock suspension.
nickm
Just make sure it is well maintained or walk away.
Just to add my 740 turbo wagon was a blast to play around with. But my stock well maintained 850R is an easier car to live with.
One other option for a cool Volvo wagon would be a pre 2004 series 2 V40T4 manual. They are not fetching big dollars.
