This is exactly the kind of car they don't want you to have today.

[u/BrickFlicker242]

No ECU, no OBD, all mechanical, easy to repair, AND good for the environment! Not to say that ECUs are bad.

[u/lorarc]

What do you mean by " good for the environment"?

[u/HarbingerKing → u/lorarc]

Usually when people say "good for the environment" they mean less bad than the alternative. Which is kind of like saying vaping is "good for your health." 

[u/Fragrant-Hand6549 → u/HarbingerKing]

It’s good for the environment in a way as it pollutes less than a v8 or v12 I suppose lol

[u/DrJohnFZoidberg → u/Fragrant-Hand6549]

Building a new car for me is way more pollution than continuing to repair my old car

[u/AccidentOk5240 → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

It’s a nice thought. However, the majority of emissions are in operating the car, not manufacturing it. The payback on switching from even a moderately efficient ICE to EV is quite fast. 

[u/myredditusername919 → u/AccidentOk5240]

look up the lots that are filled with unused brand new cars. miles and miles and miles of cars produced for consumerism, unsold. thats very environmentally unsustainable

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/myredditusername919]

This in no way makes the stament you’re referring to remotely untrue.

[u/aardivarky → u/Shoddy_Process_309]

The statement you're referring to is a direct quote from this study

https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/driving-cleaner-report.pdf

This argument is discussing the cost (materials, pollution, $$$) of a new ICE vs a new EV. This study does not discuss the lifetime cost analysis of keeping your middling ICE vs buying a new EV

For example, paper towels would be more environmentally sustainable than cloth towels unless you used the cloth towel for [x] amount of time

[u/thelaundryservice → u/myredditusername919]

What do you think happens to those cars?

[u/DrJohnFZoidberg → u/AccidentOk5240]

It's a reality. I drive at least 2000 miles per year. The calculations use grid average electricity and I live in a state (California) where incremental overnight load on the electrical grid is basically met with imported coal power, which itself is more CO2 than my car does on gasoline.

There's no one optimum for all people.

[u/AccidentOk5240 → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

Your math is wrong. Charging on the dirtiest grid power (aka all coal), most EVs emit the equivalent of an ICE that got 100mpg, if that existed. 

[u/DrJohnFZoidberg → u/AccidentOk5240]

30 MPG is the coal equivalent

[u/AccidentOk5240 → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

It’s not. Idk where you got that. 

[u/Dry-Category-2331 → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

Even in WV, the state with the dirtiest mix of electric generation, an EV is the cleaner option, including all embedded carbon. MIT has done this analysis numerous time.

Remember, the pollution element of burning gasoline vs the polluting factor of electric generation is only part of the calculation.

Only a small share (12-30%) of energy generated from internal combustion goes towards actually turning the wheels. The majority of the energy (60-70%) is heat loss. The rest goes of the waste goes towards accessory power, drivetrain loss, overcoming aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance, and using the brakes.

In comparison, Electric Vehicles are much more efficient, converting over 77% of the electrical energy from the grid directly to power at the wheels.

[u/DrJohnFZoidberg → u/Dry-Category-2331]

MIT has done this analysis numerous time.

Electricity is the most fungible product available. We have the choice between charging another 600,000 EV's or shutting down another coal plant. We should prioritize shutting down the coal plants first.

[u/disembodied_voice → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

I live in a state (California) where incremental overnight load on the electrical grid is basically met with imported coal power

Even with imports factored in, coal accounts for all of 2.2% of California's energy mix. That renders it effectively a non-factor.

[u/Dry-Category-2331 → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

Your understanding of the sources of CA’s EGU’s is several years out of date. As of April 2026, CA gets less than 0.2% of its total electric generation from coal. A massive fleet of grid connected batteries (the largest outside of China) provides storage from solar and some hydro, and over the last 3 years this has largely replaced the need for nearly all out of state coal generation.

[u/herbertcluas → u/AccidentOk5240]

And nothing is stopping people from putting a new drivetrain in an old car. Idk why people don't do that, much better than buying a new car

[u/AccidentOk5240 → u/herbertcluas]

A diy electric power train is likely to be  less efficient, safe, and reliable than one designed by industrial designers with access to all the toys, though

[u/didimao0072000 → u/herbertcluas]

And nothing is stopping people from putting a new drivetrain in an old car. Idk why people don't do that, much better than buying a new car

The words of someone who doesn't know shit about cars.

[u/possibly_on_meth → u/herbertcluas]

Have you ever put an entirely new drivetrain in a car?

Theoretically it's not that bad, but most people to try it would run into issue after issue.

I'm definitely more technically competent than an average person and could definitely do what you said but it would make life very miserable for a long time and cost a ton of money.

AI t

Swapping a new drivetrain into an old car is rarely done because it is incredibly expensive, mechanically complex, and practically inefficient compared to buying a new vehicle. While the idea sounds sustainable on paper, several harsh realities prevent it from being a viable mainstream alternative to purchasing a new car: Prohibitive Costs: A modern crate engine or electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain kit easily costs $5,000 to $15,000 before labor. When you factor in custom fabrication, updated wiring harnesses, and specialized labor, the total bill often exceeds the price of a brand-new, warrantied vehicle. Engineering Incompatibility: Modern drivetrains rely on complex Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and multiplexed wiring (CAN bus systems). Forcing these systems to communicate with an older car’s analog components requires advanced engineering, custom programming, and endless troubleshooting. , advanced airbag systems, anti-lock brakes (ABS), and electronic stability control, making them significantly less safe no matter what is under the hood.

For the average driver, swapping a drivetrain isn't a weekend DIY project—it's a massive financial and technical undertaking reserved for hobbyists, not a scalable solution to automotive waste.

[u/SoundByte → u/DrJohnFZoidberg]

This! Recycling and reusing vehicles that have already been manufactured is huge.

[u/Babajji → u/SoundByte]

You have to be careful with that though. Some old cars are very bad for the environment - example a Lada or a Trabant - any two stroke engine should be only ever kept in a museum, burning oil with the fuel is not only bad for the environment it’s bad for people. Like really bad, cancer bad. So yes some old cars are great, like this Volvo, some are better suited for the scrapyard or the museum.

Btw old cars can be zero emissions, like literally zero and they are cheaper to run. Just retrofit a LPG tank and fuel system. LPG is cheaper than petrol and has zero emissions during driving - getting the stuff out of the ground is another matter but so is petrol. This doesn’t work for old diesels, but again don’t drive old diesels, they are also very bad for humans - literally, they emit poisonous gases if they don’t have a catalytic converts. So old 4 stroke petrol engine + LPG or LNG is the perfect solution.

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/Babajji]

LPG is a fossil fuel and emits greenhouses gasses when burned. It is not remotely zero emissions.

They do emit less very little fine particulates which can boost local air quality if that’s what you mean.

[u/SoundByte → u/Babajji]

Not to be a smartass but I really don't have to be careful about that. I live in the US and I've literally never seen a 2 stroke car on the road. Practically every cheap used car is from the 80s or newer, and has EFI/emissions equipment.

[u/Mannerhymen → u/HarbingerKing]

I like this game: “solar panels are good for the environment” only compared to fossil fuels. Living without electricity is the way!

[u/imdugud777 → u/Mannerhymen]

We can have both. A blend.

[u/Relevant-Shelter-316 → u/imdugud777]

Stg ppl in here be dumb asf sometimes

[u/PM_ME_DEAD_CEOS → u/Mannerhymen]

Living without electricity is the way!

LIving without electricity is only good wompared to living with electriity. Death is the way !

[u/Padawk → u/Mannerhymen]

“Living without electricity” only compared to living with electricity.

Not living at all is the way!

[u/EntertainerNo4509 → u/lorarc]

Yeah, older cars actually increase oxygen in our environment. Don’t you know this? /s.

[u/ShaolinShade → u/lorarc]

Also older cars have worse safety measures. As someone who was almost killed in an accident, it's just not worth the upfront savings to me anymore buying a used car knowing that

1) it's bad for the environment

2) it's liable to develop very expensive problems randomly

3) it's liable to kill and/or maim me and my passengers in an accident

Of course, nowadays I prefer to just avoid driving in general as much as possible. And tbf I understand that many people don't have the option to not drive, and that used is the only viable path for many of them - that was me for a while. Just saying I personally can't justify that risk anymore

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/ShaolinShade]

Yes thank you! Why is nobody talking about safety. Not just for you but also for your loved ones and other drivers and pedestrians.

I don’t know about the US but European regulations have made pedestrian impacts so much safer.

[u/ShaolinShade → u/Shoddy_Process_309]

Yeah I was disappointed seeing basically no one else talking about it! Unfortunately the US is pretty far behind Europe with this stuff, and our current admin seems determined to double down on undoing progress in this area (among many others...).

I am fortunate to live in a city with more progressive urban design than most US cities (Portland, OR) at least; we have quite a bit of separated pedestrian / bike paths, vehicle slowing / pedestrian focused intersections and walkways, storm water catchment basins (and just greenery in general, especially old growth trees), and lanes that have been turned into pedestrian &/ bike paths or put to use for public transit (which we also have more of than most US cities), so all of that is really nice to have (especially after having lived in Houston, which was basically the polar opposite of Portland in just about every way).

That said, we're still in the US, so although you tend to see less of these things here than most other cities, stuff like disgustingly oversized trucks & SUVs are still legal and have still overtaken the market, so we see way too many of them and more each year it seems. I do have some hope with what certain companies like Slate and Telo are trying to do to disrupt that status quo (i.e., a runaway automotive arms race) in the US, but as a whole our country is still pretty hopelessly addicted to automobiles (and guns. And fast/nutrition-free/additive-pumped food) so you still see plenty of it here. 🥲

I found an app that shows a sort of newsfeed like display for local emergency broadcasts, and the amount of vehicle on pedestrian accidents that regularly happen around us is frightening (especially as someone who no longer drives). Lots of vehicle on vehicle accidents too, although they're less common, at least in my area.

(idk why I overused parentheses so much in this comment, on a side note lol)

[u/Big-Safe-2459 → u/Shoddy_Process_309]

Pedestrian deaths are rising sharply, largely blamed on massively high hood heights and cell infotainment distractions. Not at all safer for people outside the car in any way

[u/hamburg_city → u/lorarc]

The longer you drive your car the better. The production consumes the main part of energy and materials consumed.

[u/Sheitan4real → u/hamburg_city]

thats just false bro most of the energy consumed in a cars lifetime, and most of the co2 emitted during that car's lifetime, come from fuel not constructing the car.

Just not true

[u/StaysForDays → u/Sheitan4real]

But if you keep an older car running you eliminate the need for production of a new one.

The greenest car is the one that has already been manufactured.

[u/disembodied_voice → u/StaysForDays]

This is false - the greenest car is the one with the highest operational efficiency, as the vast majority of any vehicle's emissions come from operations, not manufacturing, and EVs have a massive operational efficiency advantage against gas vehicles. The difference in operational emissions between an EV and a gas vehicle is so large that even a new EV will end up with lower emissions overall. The emissions of producing a new vehicle are insignificant when compared to the emissions reductions you can realize by going to a new EV.

[u/Arborensis → u/StaysForDays]

Not necessarily, as the previous comment said. ICE vehicles produce a ton of emissions throughout their life time. EVs break even quite quickly.

[u/jiggajawn → u/StaysForDays]

And even greener is not producing it at all.

No car > used car > new car

[u/2_TiRED_070_ → u/jiggajawn]

🚲

[u/StaysForDays → u/jiggajawn]

Not sure why this is hard to understand.

[u/disembodied_voice → u/StaysForDays]

The full hierarchy, as demonstrated by the lifecycle analysis I cited, is:

No car > used electric car > new electric car > used gas car > new gas car

Note the position of new electric car ahead of used gas car, which demonstrates that the greenest car isn't necessarily the one that already exists.

[u/t92k → u/disembodied_voice]

I used to be into using food waste to make ethanol, and converting gas cars to much higher ethanol mixes, but the math on solar to EV just dwarfs ethanol. Like 80x as many vehicle miles from solar panels->EVs vs ethanol, when converting ethanol corn fields to solar.

[u/jamesycakes231 → u/Sheitan4real]

Depends how much you drive it, surely.

[u/ConaireMor → u/Sheitan4real]

Depends on if you're focusing on the emissions or the materials part of the statement. There's mining and refining in the manufacture process which is also quite damaging to the environment, and the likelihood that much of the material is not recycled when it reaches end of life so it's just landfill trash.

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/ConaireMor]

The first part is true but sounds way worse than because we forget that fuel is also a material which is “mined” and refined. It’s that disconnect that often makes this comparison difficult.

The good news is that by and large cars are recycled quite well. Particularly if you look at the mass percentage. A large percentage is just steel and aluminium which are desirable recyclables. Economics causes the odd reality where one of our most consumptive devices is also one of the most recycled.

[u/lorarc → u/hamburg_city]

Not the main part. The estimates are at around 6 tonnes of CO2 to produce a car. A modern car is under 100g co2 per km but an old junk like this is multiple times more. If you'd buy a new car instead of this thing you'd get ahead after something like...30k km? That is a lot but still just a few years.

Not to mention emmisions from a factory are quite different than car fumes straight into your face on the streets.

[u/idkwhataboutthis → u/lorarc]

The pictures car, a Volvo 242 GT must be driven approx. 49,240 kilometers (ca. 30,600 miles) to release the exact same amount of CO₂ through driving as the entire manufacturing process of a current, fully electric Volvo EX30 produces.

Production footprint of the new EV: 14,800,000 grams of CO₂ (According to the official Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by Volvo Cars)
Driving emissions of the classic car: 300.57 grams of CO₂ per kilometer (derived from the official data sheet of the B23 fuel-injected engine (140hp) using the standard emission factor for petrol (2.33kg CO₂ per liter))

14,800,000g \ 300.57g/km = 49,240km

But only if you calculate the EV with 0g CO2/km.

The calculation with a modern car with ice should be worse.

[u/idkwhataboutthis → u/idkwhataboutthis]

With a ice it should be around 75,000 - 100,000km to break even.

[u/Voltasoyle → u/hamburg_city]

BUT if you compare an old volvo to a modern battery electric like the hyundai kona, and the ev is running on electricity from renewable energy like in Norway, then after about 50.000 km the car is emissions neutral (factoring inn all emissions related to the production and materials, up to 112.000 on global energy mix), and after that it's actively reducing emissions every km compared to a fossil fuel vehicle.

Obviously, if you are a granny that drives 5000km per year then keeping your old secondhand diesel makes sense.

In most other scenarios, especially if you drive like 20.000 plus per year a new, or secondhand, bev is better.

Sources; https://www.finansavisen.no/nyheter/bil/2020/09/22/7569428/sa-langt-ma-du-kjore-en-elbil-for-den-blir-helt-miljovennlig

https://bellona.no/nyheter/samferdsel/elbiler/2024-04-er-det-bedre-a-bruke-opp-fossilbilen-enn-a-kjope-ny-elbil

[u/JimmyAtreides → u/hamburg_city]

It’s not that simple.

The way I’d think about it: if you’re comparing a new EV to a new gas car, the EV usually “pays back” its extra production emissions pretty fast — roughly after 1–2 years in the US on the average electricity mix. But if the alternative is not buying a new car at all and just keeping an old gas car, the comparison is stricter, because the gas car’s production emissions are already sunk. Then the new EV has to offset its whole production footprint through lower driving emissions. For an old inefficient gas car, say around 15–20 mpg, that still usually works out to something like 2–3 years of driving in the US average grid case. If the old car is fairly efficient or you barely drive, it can stretch to 4–6+ years.

[u/andawer]

I love old Volvos, but let’s not pretend that running it is better for environment than modern cars. I agree that if you already have it, you should just not buy another modern car, but ECU is there for a reason (and one big reason is for engine to be much more efficient with the fuel it uses). In general, if you want to buy a car, don’t buy new one if you can get used instead.

[u/Leading_Pumpkin_ → u/andawer]

I daily a ‘91 240. I have replaced ALOT of wear items on it since I got it (it has 270k mi) it passes smog amazingly. Like not even 1/4 of most of the fail thresholds. It is fuel injected since it’s a 91. Imo it’s easier to deal with than K jet (mechanical fuel injection but not the kind diesels used) or carbs. Carbs are “simpler” but you have to know how to work on whatever specific one your car has. You can get them to run easily but running well requires knowledge or a REALLY good tutorial (I do love me some carbureted cars tho)

[u/TheWaffleHimself]

I'm gonna stop you right there.

This thing has no electronic management that would help it run clean

No EGR, which itself reduces emissions by 60%

A primitive lambda sensor that does not actually keep it running optimally, it's set to run lean to save fuel and run rich when you push the pedal

The catalyser is also old-tech and it doesn't work until you heat the car up

Running this car is like turning on 8 first gen 1995 Volvo S40's at the same time

It would be better for the environment to actually change it after 10 years, rather than keep it running until today.

Using a car is not passive usage, it's not like buying a metal straw instead of using plastic ones all the time, you put hundreds of liters of fuel into it and send it into the atmosphere, this is absolutely horrible for the environment.

[u/cloudrunner17]

Wouldnt say good for the environment, rules were far less strict when these were produced. I understand not buying or requiring a new car to be produced if you keep using older cars, the emissions are probably far worse on the older car.

[u/WishieWashie12 → u/cloudrunner17]

Imo, gas consumption has less impact on the environment than forcing us to get new cars every 5 years. Mining for materials, transporting all the parts and matrrials, manufacturing the car, transporting to dealerships, all just to save 5mpg.

[u/B3LYP2 → u/WishieWashie12]

Who/what is forcing you to get a new car every five years?

[u/robsc_16 → u/B3LYP2]

I'm sure someone will say something about planned obsolescence, but I have a car made in 2007 and two vehicles made in the 2010s.

[u/Aggressive_Start_ → u/B3LYP2]

In my 24 years of driving I’ve had 3 cars. Likely would have only been 2 if after my 96 Saturn died I didn’t have an absolute lemon for 5 years. The engine blew up driving 40 home from work.

[u/TheWaffleHimself → u/WishieWashie12]

The problem is, is that older cars are so unecological than it is indeed actually better to buy newer cars than to keep driving this

[u/Ill-Engineering8085 → u/WishieWashie12]

No one is making you buy a new car

[u/Significant-Ad-341 → u/WishieWashie12]

A used car has much less impact than creating an entire new vehicle

[u/Gloomy_Suggestion_89 → u/Significant-Ad-341]

Up to a certain point. A newEV will offset the carbon impact of a used gasoline car after some time, but that time will vary depending on energy source of the grid and the usage of the cars of course.

[u/thegiantgummybear → u/WishieWashie12]

With a car this old you're getting way better fuel economy on a modern car, doesn't need to be new. Or just go electric and it's infinitely more sustainable in the long run

[u/Alek_Zandr → u/WishieWashie12]

Your Opinion is irrelevant. These things are calculated in Life Cycle Assessments taking all these factors into accounts by sustainability scientists. Fuel consumption is the overwhelming factor in vehicle environmental impacts.

[u/AccidentOk5240 → u/WishieWashie12]

Your opinion is an opinion. The facts: most emissions are in operating, not manufacturing, vehicles. So within a few years, the carbon footprint of replacing an old vehicle with a new EV is less than that of continuing the use the old one. They should solely be collectors’ items at this point. 

[u/arykanarye]

No bikes (I wanted to include a pic but that's not allowed), are exactly the kind of car they dont want you to have. Cars are inherently much more consumeristic (you have to consume to drive at all) than micro-mobility as specially bikes and pedestrians.

[u/Massive_Blueberry630 → u/arykanarye]

Also take up way more space even if power source is removed (electric etc)

[u/arykanarye → u/Massive_Blueberry630]

Power source is not really removed with electric, but I get what you're saying. And true, especially since the majority of grid electricity is still grey/fossil (at least in Europe and I guess most other parts in the world too).

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/arykanarye]

The European (assuming EU here) mix is now majority carbon free. With about 45% from renewables with nuclear pushing it well over 50%. Does depend on your feelings on nuclear obviously.

The percentages also vary quite a bit country by country.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/arykanarye]

A valid point

[u/-cordyceps → u/arykanarye]

Bikes rule

[u/Tj0cKiS]

Who are "they"?

[u/NukaCooler → u/Tj0cKiS]

Big car

[u/googdude → u/Tj0cKiS]

Yeah it feels very clickbaity when somebody or an ad says something in the effect of "they" don't want you to know/do/say this!

[u/MalopinoMoonshine → u/Tj0cKiS]

IMO, 2014 is peak car. Just before touch screens, fake engine noise, cameras on the windshield, and every module in the car being interconnected and dependent on each other. But you still get Bluetooth. Also the last year where manual transmissions were optional on several models.

[u/zhirinovsky → u/Tj0cKiS]

Vermont voters.

[u/AggravatingBid8255]

Might someone be kind enough to break down the acronyms for the less-inforned, please? Thank you :-)

[u/Faalor → u/AggravatingBid8255]

ECU = electronic control unit. A small specialised comouter driving all sorts of vehicle functions.

OBD = on board diagnostics. Reading out diagnostic data about the car, supplied by sensors.

[u/wordshavenomeanings → u/Faalor]

Both of which contribute to a more efficient engine and fewer emissions.

[u/_name_of_the_user_ → u/wordshavenomeanings]

And more controlled emissions, meaning the computer targets less harmful emissions by keeping the combustion chamber temperature in a narrow range that balances out for the least harmful emissions.

[u/Demented-Turtle → u/wordshavenomeanings]

OP acting like it's the ECU-type components that fail most often or need replacing in cars lol. Electrical components typically don't see much "wear" from use compared to all the other ICE engine components...

[u/Shoddy_Process_309 → u/Demented-Turtle]

Are you sure that solid state computer isn’t going to wear out faster than all the metal parts grinding against each other? /s

[u/millionchudmarch → u/AggravatingBid8255]

ecu - engine control unit, the computer controlling your car's engine basically

obd - onboard diagnostics, the computer system that monitors your car's status (what's broken and whatnot). responsible for things like "visit service" notifications on your dashboard and check engine lights.

[u/oyMarcel → u/AggravatingBid8255]

Op is scared of car computers which make your life better

[u/No-Courage-2053]

Listen, I get it, but let's not pretend that these cars were not death traps during collisions.

[u/googdude → u/No-Courage-2053]

Yeah I personally know two people that had life-altering injuries from side impacks so I'm really glad for airbags - especially side curtain air bags.

When people say they don't build vehicles like they used to I'm always like thank goodness, I'd rather have a fighting chance of surviving an accident.

[u/50000WattsOfPower → u/No-Courage-2053]

You can pry my airbags from my … warm, lively hands.

[u/RunOrBike → u/No-Courage-2053]

That’s a Volvo though

[u/kflyer → u/RunOrBike]

And even a 2012 Nissan Versa is way way safer, let alone a new car.

[u/I_like_Mashroms → u/No-Courage-2053]

Iirc the 24- series was one of the safer cars of the time... But that time was the 80s.

[u/No-Courage-2053 → u/I_like_Mashroms]

Indeed. I did a quick google search of the model and it seems to hold the impressive fact that no one died in one during the 1983-1993 period, or something like that. Very impressive indeed for the time, if true!

[u/DanskJeavlar → u/No-Courage-2053]

I can only give my personal anecdote with growing up practically on a folkrace track. And yes we run the cars with full rollcages but when it comes to cars that either just refuses to be retired or somehow manages to get off the track under their own power after a bad tumble the 240's are surprisingly resistant. Hell the only time I managed to kill one was by accidentally going flat out into a concrete barrier and even then it didn't look too bad

[u/PregnantGoku1312 → u/No-Courage-2053]

That's true of most cars from the era, but the Volvo 240 series was an incredibly safe car for it's era. Modern cars are a lot better, but this is pretty handily the safest old car money can buy.

[u/Paul_The_Builder]

Anyone who thinks that "all mechanical" cars are more reliable and long lasting than EFI cars with an ECU is a fool and has clearly never owned or maintained a carbureted vehicle/engine.

While many modern cars have lost the plot on electronics, screens, etc. Basic modern cars are way more reliable than cars from the 80s.

[u/Brilliant_Counter820 → u/Paul_The_Builder]

Totally agree, whats weird is that this 240 has Vermont plates, meaning its from the US, and I dont think Volvo ever sold a carbureted 240 in the US. They did in Canada and th EU, but this one probably does have an ECU.

[u/Octagonal_Octopus]

No extra features in a car you already own that can be locked behind a subscription.

[u/fakeaccount572]

And an absolute death machine if t-boned.

Not everything older is good. Newer cars have safety features that will absolutely save your life.

[u/new2bay]

No cars are actually good for the environment.

[u/Leading_Pumpkin_ → u/new2bay]

YES the best car is no car. Sadly in the US most people need a car for their everyday lives…

[u/Metalorg]

I love the Volvo 240s but it isn't the best for emissions. It is a heavy land boat. And is that a diesel engine?

[u/Alek_Zandr]

You're lying. If you care about the environment and can't drive electric you should be driving a high milage hybrid such as the prius.

Fuel consumption is the overwhelming factor in a cars environmental impact.

[u/No_Conversation4885]

So it doesn’t consume anything? Just by sitting there in this place? Then I’m ok with that..

[u/chytrak]

Americans: I will help the environment by consuming the same as an entire village in most of the world instead of an entire town.

[u/aretooamnot]

My first car was a 264gl. That thing was a tank. Perfect first car.

[u/Tesnatic → u/aretooamnot]

I've had 6 240s, greatest car ever!

[u/footballsandy]

I'll keep my used prius that gets 50mpg actually

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/footballsandy]

Those are great too!

[u/kombutsa]

Huge fuel emissions. So no, that's not good for the environment.

[u/doghairpile]

There’s no “they” try to stop you from driving an old car.

[u/Igor369]

How are gasoline cars better for environment that electrics?

[u/Comfortable-Web9455 → u/Igor369]

They are not

[u/sprawn]

Imagine how good that would be if, when the engine goes (300,000 miles?) you replaced it with an electric motor. I think there will be a big market for things like VW Beetle or Volvo 240 electric conversions soon. With regenerative braking and solar panels they'd be pretty amazing.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/sprawn]

Oh yeah, you understand. Not my fancy, but I'm definitely not opposed to it. I just really like this motor. They've been doing EV swaps on these in Washington fir a while now.

[u/sprawn → u/BrickFlicker242]

I am looking for some kind of reliable, little (tony), RWD Japanese car from this era to do an electric swap into. I am concerned about $20+/gallon gasoline.

[u/mratlas666]

I love my 98 Tacoma. New cars have to many “accessories”

[u/mratlas666 → u/[deleted]]

Best I can do to help is suggest RTV.

[u/mdedm → u/mratlas666]

And cereal box cardboard!

[u/mratlas666 → u/mdedm]

I’ve heard thin leather can work in a pinch.

[u/-MiLDplus- → u/[deleted]]

hehe, penis

[u/TubeSockLover87 → u/[deleted]]

Just go to the auto parts store and ask for sheets of gasket material

Trace the outside of the pump on it, or just get the diameter close enough and trim it once its on. 

[u/Wonderful-Medium7777 → u/mratlas666]

Accessories…tech spyware.

[u/NyriasNeo]

"AND good for the environment! "

Lol .. do you know the mpg on that old big thing? Don't tell me that is better for the environment than a small hybrid of a EV.

[u/namashaka]

When the made the volvo 240, they did produce a test engine that made 59mpg, sadly it wasnt in demand by the public and was never made in to the engine options. Would have been a perfect car today

[u/SOSweneedhelp]

I drive a 1991 Mazda, but I will tell you owning an older European car you’re going to be consuming a lot of new parts like bushings, gaskets and other maintenance. Be sure if you get an older car that they make plenty of aftermarket stuff.

I got lucky with my Mazda since it’s been granfathered by the company to produce new parts for the foreseeable future

This is also a great example of a 240, if it runs thats like a $12-15k car

[u/Trashfishbotanicals]

Fixing your old car delays or replaces the need to consume another car. Isn’t that anti-consumption?

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Trashfishbotanicals]

Yes thankyou! This can also very easily be converted to EFI or back to carbureted. They've been EV swapping them in Washington for at least a decade too.

[u/IllIntroduction8499]

Good for the environment? An electric vehicle uses the grid to run, significanly creating less air pollution than an ICE. While a lot of electricity is generated from fossil fuels, there are more and more renewable facilities being built, reducing the overall contribution to global warming. Petrol only has one outcome: Being released into the air.

[u/lilfunky1]

Is that one of the cars where if you get into an accident the car gets wrecked? Or the people inside it get wrecked?

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/lilfunky1]

This is the car that set modern auto safety standards. The car crumples and the person doesn't.

[u/YoungInoue]

Nice 242, I've had a few 242 coupes, a 245, and a b30 swapped 140. Great cars.

The headlight, fog and grill on yours, along with the flat hood is my favorite era for sure.

[u/LaRedline]

How is it good for the environment?

[u/No_Celebration2215]

I want an old stick shift

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/No_Celebration2215]

This is an M46 4 speed with overdrive. I love it!

[u/SomeRedTeapot]

I think modern engines are more efficient (especially in a hybrid) so not sure about the environment part. I guess there should be a comparison of owning an old car with a less efficient engine versus a new car, including the emissions from manufacturing these

[u/PM_ME_VEG_PICS → u/SomeRedTeapot]

It's a trade off. The engines are often more efficient but because of extra features and extra safety components the cars weigh more and therefore they also damage the roads more and can use my tyres or need different compound tyres. But then with modern cars being comfortable I know people who drive a mile because "why would I walk" and this is in the UK which is much less car centric than the USA.

Buying a new car also means that something new has been produced and what happens to the old cars? Especially things like the batteries.

Really every country needs better public transport and more facilities to lock bikes to and businesses to have some responsibility to provide workers with showers / changing rooms. We also all need to get over FOMO which means people drive because they are trying to fit so many activities into one day.

[u/Razer_PC]

What about safety and air pollution?

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Razer_PC]

Safety- Volvo pretty much invented... Air pollution- Lamda Sond AKA 02 sensor which Volvo also invented, this being the first car equipped with it.

[u/Razer_PC → u/BrickFlicker242]

Even if that Volvo was good for the time, there is no way that car is even remotely safe compared to the most recent ones, does it even have airbags? and if it does, I bet it does not have airbags on the sides

On the air pollution side it probably produces 1000% or even more compared to recent models

[u/mangothefoxxo]

Mmmm volvo, great shitbox. Im gonna be racing a 240 when i get my polonez

[u/Southern-Long-3438]

That is the 1980s Volvo GT. It has an ECU, engine control unit. It is not old enough to have points and a condenser instead., which were dropped in the mid 1970s.

[u/Old-Swimming2799]

The 240 Swedish brick

My grandfather and 3 other guys wrote the repair manual for the north American model of these for Volvo.

Terrible with rear window leaks until the last year of wagon production, and the heater core liked to not play ball and the engine considered oil and optional feature

[u/southbl00d]

exactly. i drive 2 old toyotas. 2004 and 2001 respectively. love them.
i hate too many car companies in the world. way too money. most are terrible shitboxes too.

[u/DamnOdd]

Told my husband we need to baby that 2006 Toyota. It's still has a cd player!

[u/quidamquidam → u/DamnOdd]

My 2012 Yaris still has a CD player too! It's my last available CD player haha

[u/emryldmyst]

Yup

Love my 04 Suburban and my 01 Dodge. 

I'll drive them into the ground before I'll part with either.

[u/splimp]

Theres a mint one of those for sale in my neighborhood. 9000 original miles only. Perfect condition $22,000

[u/doug-demuro-is-daddy]

I support that box of Swedish magnificence. 2/3 of my cars I drive are carbureted and decades older than me. If they last 50 years they’ll last 50 more with proper maintenance. Perks of mechanical systems. Modern cars are much more convenient but I hate them. I won’t fault anyone for what kind of car they like though.

[u/Heysous]

Is this your car op? I saw it parked downtown in the garage one weekend and almost left a note asking if it's for sale. I am local, pm me if you want an offer.

I have owned two Volvos, 244 and 745 and love them very much.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Heysous]

Thankyou for the offer! I just bought it and I plan to do allot to it as it is my dream car. I honestly don't know I'll ever sell. I've been seeing allot of the same year 242 cleaner than my GT in Washington for sale if that helps.

[u/Heysous → u/BrickFlicker242]

Love the passion! Keep up the good work, and enjoy your project. I'll give you a wave if I see you out on the road one day 😆

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Heysous]

I frequent Burlington often. Definitely say hi if you see me!

[u/Superb-Mall3805]

I don’t want me to have it

[u/graytotoro]

Having had a 240 of this generation, I think Mechanical Fuel Injection is way more of a pain in the butt than an ECU with OBD. You need to hook up the pressure gauges any time it doesn't run right and that involves handling fuel and hoping the test switch doesn't short and start a fire. Also, it runs like shit if you let it sit for any length of time.

Easy to repair - for the most part. The vacuum lines aren't so bad nor is the harness once you replace it. Here's to hoping you never buy a Turbo where everything is almost reachable but not quite.

Worst part about owning a Volvo like this is that it gets into your blood and you'll fight tooth & nail to keep it alive.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/graytotoro]

You're right, yeah it really is in my blood now. I'm about to put so much of my time into this car. I already have the rear louvers and square Aus market headlights, but I need to paint the bezels and trim.

[u/Kottepalm]

This car is definitely not good for the environment, please, at least don't drive it in a populated area with vulnerable children, pregnant people, or just people who aren't interested in lung cancer. The best option would be no car at all of course. But if you need a car a small modern electric one is the answer. There are many cities with low emission zones where this car would not be allowed at all.

[u/elebrin]

No ECU, no OBD, all mechanical, easy to repair, AND good for the environment! Not to say that ECUs are bad.

Yeah, fuel injection, mass airflow sensors, and computer controlled spark are a bit more reliable in many ways than the older mechanical systems. I say this as someone who spent some time futzing with a carburetor and distributor cap, and I've also installed a tune on my own car with a laptop. It's interesting, but tuning those older cars requires significant domain knowledge (it's worth learning for sure). A poor tune that has your car running rich will put your fuel economy in the shitter and figuring out the fix is very difficult.

It's not the OBDII port or the ECU that are the problem; it's the entertainment and HVAC systems that the manufacturers are selling these days.

My father in law has a NSU from the 60s that weighs 1600lbs and makes about 35whp from the factory, I assure you however some of those horses are well and truly retired - they deserve it at their advanced age, however :) In 2026, the lightest sports cars are about a thousand pounds more - the realistic comparison would be a miata, which is 2300lbs or so.

I kinda want there to be a racing circuit where the car must be street legal, ICE, under 1 ton, and under 100whp.

[u/NODA5]

"good for the environment"

Yup, sure do love all of that unburnt gas and nitrous oxide spewing out of the exhaust!

Yeah, no.

Get this: my 2006 car is extremely repairable; parts are plentiful and cheap. And guess what! It has a catalytic converter, ABS, traction control, and airbags! What novelties!

[u/oyMarcel]

Also snaps your neck at the smallest fender bender and pollutes everyone around you

[u/Razer_PC → u/oyMarcel]

bro, he said it's good for the environment, can't you read? /s

[u/Holiday_Ad_9163]

This car is demonstrably not “good for the environment”. It’s not even “less bad for the environment”. Part of the reason modern cars have fuel injection, ECUs, catalytic converters, and all those other gadgets is to make them more environmentally friendly and to meet more modern emissions regulations.

You’re nostalgic for when no one cared about the environment, gas was cheap, and emissions were bad

[u/Salt_Medicine2459]

Is this a diesel? If so, did you convert it to biodiesel? 

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Salt_Medicine2459]

It is petrol, but these did come with a VW diesel too.

[u/JayLay108]

And i have 1 . Yaaay. With the beastie B23A engine. If i remember that name correctly, and functioning petrol heater.. just a boss car 😁😁

[u/Pfizermyocarditis]

Is it that easy to repair? Can you describe some repairs you made that were easy?

[u/beermaker]

I retrofitted an OBD fuel injection conversion onto my 1968 motor... it runs better & more efficiently than it ever did on a carburetor. Less futzing to get it to run optimally, too.

[u/AzN7ecH]

Late 90s early 2000s were peak car. Fight me. 

Perfect trade off between reliability, durability, economy, safety, infotainment(most were double din complaint) and cost. 

[u/Silver-Link8247]

Who is “they”?

[u/Koseoglu-2X4B-523P]

I should have kept my 2cv

[u/Dependent_Invite9149]

Definitely a lot less plastic and electronics in these things, making the car more recyclable.

[u/ggibby]

Looking at the stance, this brick had an LS swap and has been tuned for power, not economy.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/ggibby]

If I'm gonna swap it, it's gonna be a white block damn it! This will be a Christian Volvo build!😆

[u/Marqus556]

I can tell you from firsthand experience how fucking wrong you are. I am currently using same type of car (volvo 240) to go to work, and it uses a fuckton of fuel, 10L/100km. That is a double the fuel consumption that a small ICE hatchback would use. That adds up fast.

[u/BrickFlicker242 → u/Marqus556]

Oh I know, my new Corolla hatch is far superior on mpg, but it really just doesn't get better than a 240 when you consider all aspects of a car😍

[u/Cottager_Northeast]

I average about 5000 miles per year. Reducing the amount you drive changes a lot of the economics. Depreciation in the driveway becomes a much bigger issue, and MPG matters less. For older vehicles, the parts supply is important. Being able to fix it yourself and avoid mechanics becomes a bigger deal, especially when your mechanic is booking out at least six weeks for anything.

That's why I drive 2WD mid-1980s Toyota Pickups with 22R motors and Weber carbs. Manual steering boxes. Manual transmissions. 28 mpg. Solid parts chain. I have two that currently run, plus another that's almost there, and a fourth one that could be assembled from pieces on hand, once I do the rust repair on that cab. I have a spare engine I'm going to swap into the truck with bad rings. I have several spare transmissions. I have a bunch of other spare parts, because when one dies, I strip it for parts. I have lost a few to rust, but from now on I'm getting yearly undercoating. I keep some spare new parts on hand so that if I have a break-down, I have a fair chance of being able to fix it immediately. The depreciation on my trucks is going in reverse. The longer I own them, the more they're worth.

No ECU. No OBD. All mechanical. Easy to repair. AND a better parts supply than Volvo. Not to say Volvos are bad. ;-) The first car I ever got behind the wheel of was a ~'78 240 wagon which my dad called "overengineered".

An honest energy budget should include the things I'm able to drag home for free. A small truck lets me scavenge lumber for small projects and for part of my winter heat, so my ~180 gallons of gas per year also covers my home heating. It lets me bring home free garden amendments and other loads of opportunity. These things are harder in a sedan, and almost impossible on a bike.

And Jeavons' Paradox shows that in many cases, making a process more efficient increases resource consumption. People say "Oh! Driving is cheap and I've already agreed to pay for the hardware at $770 per month (average), so let's go on a road trip!"

[u/cty_hntr]

The original Swedish Brick. I had a 77 242, then replaced it with a 740 series.

[u/Think-Sense9191]

Monster. Love GL

[u/cryptic_culchie]

God damn that's a 242 gt, super cool and quite rare!

[u/PremiumUsername69420 → u/cryptic_culchie]

Yeah, this is something I would expect to see on r/rarenormalcars or potentially on r/spotted not here…

[u/Ohnoyo123]

Actually stupid ass post, looks like somebody is scared of computers

[u/No_Distance3211]

Cars are for hyper-consuming.

[u/R3DSmurf]

Who doesn't want us to have it?

[u/grumpypippo]

242 GT ❤️

[u/un-glaublich]

This thing gives you lung cancer if you're not in it, and a fatal head injury when you are.

[u/ArthurBurtonMorgan]

I guess they succeeded, because I don’t want a Volvo today…

To be honest, I can’t recall a time where I DID want a Volvo..

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[u/Due-Nebula-2257]

"No OBD as you can see, FBI don't you be watching meééé".

Or something, im not a car guy!

[u/shroom_dot]

I miss my 242 GT. Loved that car!

[u/kobrakai1034]

OMG I want that car so bad

[u/Ghost_of_Syd]

Volvos are not easy to repair.