There's been discussion about this in the past. Used cars lose value
ludicrously quickly over there, which makes me wonder why anyone would ever
buy a new one. I recall a few years ago clean 240s were still fetching over
$10K in the US, and Brits were scoffing at for sale posts from people in the
US, many of which I considered to be bargains.

Of course fuel is far more expensive there, a while back a friend of mine
calculated it out to about $9 a gallon, which makes a 23 mpg Volvo a bit
less appealing I suppose.

I paid 240.00 GBP for a very tidy 1991 960 Turbo last year, only 125,000
 miles.  It's now done 138,000 miles and going strong, the main reason
for the low price is fuel costs, we are paying $10.00 a gallon!!

Steve H

Why would they rust? They are galvanised.

I disagree with the others, the reason for the low price is not fuel
costs, plenty of new SUV owners used to own a 940 and do less mpg now.
Fuel cost is really only now starting to sway purchasing, even then I'm
not sure, I mostly work at home these days.  LPTs tend to return a good
30mpg.

The real reason is fashion.  They are still identifiable as an old car
due to the design (not rust).  Old cars mostly don't last as long here
due to rust, small engine design and short driving distances.  Also the
fact that in GB the number plates have a year letter has created number
plate snobbery.  Combined effect is people here are used to changing
their cars much earlier than in the US with its better weather, bigger
engines and rugged designs.  Mention a car more than 5 years old and
most people will shy away remembering their first Mondeo, Escort or
Astra, Volvo's reputation doesn't extend that far for those people.

Old 240s/940s really stand out here amongst older cars, they nearly all
have good body work and good paint too (still shiny and well coloured),
and of course reliable, everything still working usually.  A good 16
year old 940 will overtake (in condition) a typical 5 year old Ford, and
IMO a 10 year old 850.  The Fords and Vauxhalls (GM?) here are really
not built to last.

The only people that want older Volvos are the poor and the well
informed / enthusiasts.  Although I still see specials ed 97 ones in
ebay dealers for GBP3,500.  (I paid GBP4,000 for my 1995 SE Turbo 8
years ago).

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TonyS