• 

  Aug. 23, 2010 5:49 p.m. thestig99 New Reader

  ...horrible idea?

  There's a couple on local CL well within my budget (aka, they're $300). I'm looking for a Saab because, well, that's what I know.... but something tells me an '84 Volvo can't be too difficult.

  Weighs roughly the same as my 9000 Aero, but with l well under half the power. Can't imagine the RWDness would be too horrible? Granted I do drive 90 miles/day in mountainous Vermont surrounded by idiots...

  Thoughts?

  Edit: It should be noted that it'd probably spend most of its time on studded Hakkas... with a little bit on bolt tires...

• 

  Aug. 23, 2010 6:16 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

  Thats a long drive to white knuckle it in a RWD sled. On the other hand for $300 you could bounce it off a few mountains and leave it in the ditch and not be out much more than the cost of the tires. Bonus points if its a wagon.

  I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

• 

  Aug. 23, 2010 7:01 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

  With decent modern winter tires in a classic width, you ought to be fine, from anything I've ever heard. I mean, Sweden does have the occasional snowfall, after all. Also, I understand Volvos have great heaters, which is another big consideration.

• 

  Aug. 23, 2010 7:03 p.m. EvanR New Reader

  I drove 240s for years. In Michigan. In winter. With 4 snow tires; studs are illegal.

  Did I ever wipe? Sure, but never hard - never damaged the car or myself.

  Buy it, love it, learn lessons about car control.

• 

  Aug. 23, 2010 7:08 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

  It would be great car for winter.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 7:00 a.m. tuna55 HalfDork

  RWD rocks in the winter if you know how to drive and have good tires. It's a comfy car that's reliable to start with, so you're 7/8ths of the way there to a great winter car. The rest is in the tires.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 7:43 a.m. pilotbraden Reader

  I drove a 242 turbo for a winter car, it was great. I put cooper snow tires on it. It went anywhere with less than 15" of snow. If you keep your speed up it will bust drifts headlight high. Now I want another one.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 7:45 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  Sounds like a good winter car to me.
  

  Slow enough to keep you out of trouble.
  Strong enough if the above statement is proven wrong.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 8:20 a.m. tuna55 HalfDork

  pilotbraden wrote: I drove a 242 turbo for a winter car, it was great. I put cooper snow tires on it. It went anywhere with less than 15" of snow. If you keep your speed up it will bust drifts headlight high. Now I want another one.

  Totally second the cooper snows - way under-rated.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 9:46 a.m. PubBurgers Dork

  Stealthtercel wrote: With decent modern winter tires in a classic width, you ought to be fine, from anything I've ever heard. I mean, Sweden does have the occasional snowfall, after all. Also, I understand Volvos have great heaters, which is another big consideration.

  Good heaters is an understatement, my 740 will burn you out within 3 minutes of firing it up. Sorry, can't tell you if they're any good in snow, i bought my 740 turbo wagon this spring, so I've yet to find out.

  Jacques

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 10:01 a.m. paanta New Reader

  RWD is fine in the snow, though the 240 can definitely benefit from a couple bags of sand in the trunk. My E34 is about the same size and weight and it's nothing but good times on bad roads with snow tires. Really almost as good as my Passat if you use your head.

  Last few years I've had the Hankook w409 on my cars and they're unbelievably good.

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 12:49 p.m. HiTempguy HalfDork

  If you want to wait, I'll be able to tell you what its like when the first snowfall hits this year. I finally got the non-rust perforated struts put on the 242 GLT. Coupled with the brand new winters, it should be a blast to beat on :D

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

• 

  Aug. 24, 2010 5:01 p.m. car39 Reader

  2 series cars are much better in the snow than the later 7 & 9 series cars. The weight distribution on the 7 & 9's was waaay to the front. It's to the point where it's recommended to put a stand under the front end if you were removing most anything on the rear using a lift.

  Can you drive and count to five? I can (sometimes)

• 

  Aug. 25, 2010 8:19 p.m. thestig99 New Reader

  Good food for thought here. My only concern is my total lack of experience with RWD in any situation. But, hey, empty parking lots aren't THAT hard to come by....

  You guys are pretty much thinking what I was; slow, built like a brick, and cheap enough to not care. If it works out THAT badly I can always ditch it and get something else...

• 

  Aug. 25, 2010 8:43 p.m. Hoop SuperDork

  I have owned a 240 wagon for 4 years now, and I live in the snow belt. with four good snow tires (I use Hankooks) I have never, ever been stuck. And I purposely go out in the crazy stuff. If it's a sedan you may need to put some sand in the back to even things out. IIRC, the wagon has near 50/50, but do not quote me on that.

• 

  Aug. 25, 2010 8:45 p.m. Hoop SuperDork

  Almost forgot: with RWD, you drive with the gas pedal in the snow. Practice in an empty parking lot modulating the throttle.

• 

  Aug. 25, 2010 9:06 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

  thestig99 wrote: slow, built like a brick

  Whatever you do, don't start reading at turbobricks. It won't be slow for long

  I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

• 

  Aug. 25, 2010 10:00 p.m. Streetwiseguy HalfDork

  mmmmm lincoln locker mmmmmm

• 

  Aug. 26, 2010 8:52 p.m. thestig99 New Reader

  ^I do want to make sure my 240, if I get one (probably looking at one for $250 w/ a bunch of extra parts on Saturday) is a galactic POS, so as to remove that temptation.

  Plus, that's what this is for (unless I decide to sell it for a c900)

  

• 

  Aug. 27, 2010 5:07 a.m. 11110000 New Reader

  No problems with a 240 in the snow. Drove mine daily for 13 years and never got stuck. Use 4 quality snow tires, as described above. You may find yourself driving at odd angles sometimes, but that's just the way the car works.

• 

  Aug. 27, 2010 6:49 a.m. fornetti14 Reader

  I'm going to rock a 850 this winter. It's a nice car.

  All cars are now running. Time to go shopping for something that is broken.

You'll need to log in to post.