The best proof of the quality of this workhorse of Jan, a Volvo 244 GL from 1981, is that he has owned the car for 15 years and the counter stands at 450.000 kilometers. Despite his advanced age as a person over 40, the high degree of comfort remains intact. And do we still need to talk about sustainability? What do you think about that? Are classics sustainable? Your comments can be placed under this post.
By: Dirk de Jong
No, the Volvo 244 GL is no longer the most beautiful in the country. Jan is all about the pleasant certainty that the car is reliable. As an entrepreneur, he has been independent for more than 30 years and with his beautiful sailing ship Lena-Adriana he offers his guests a lot of sailing pleasure in summer.
Classic Conversation
Jan: “I still think the Volvo 244 GL is the most beautiful Volvo, nice and sleek and angular. Aerodynamically perhaps not so favourable, but very functional. It is my workhorse and it has already carried very heavy loads. But the Volvo 244 GL is also my holiday mobile that takes me throughout Europe. Resistant to any climate and any bad road surface. Cleaning is not so much necessary, but of course technical maintenance is. And that gives me no problems, I can carry out most repairs myself.”
Read AMK for only € 3,75 per song instead of € 5,99.
The roots of the Volvo 244 GL
In 2007 the car was registered in the Netherlands by a Volvo enthusiast as a surprise for his son, and because he also wanted him to make a choice, he took two Volvo 244 from Sweden, one red and one green. His choice fell on the green one so that Jan was able to take over the red one. That was the beginning of a long-term commitment, the then 26-year-old Volvo 244 GL had a mileage of 125.000 km. It goes without saying that the car was often used commercially, so the choice for a gas installation was quickly made. He drove an additional 15 kilometers in 325.000 years.
A product of superb Swedish engineering
Volvo has a rich history and fortunately many have been preserved. We see him regularly on the road. This Volvo 244 GL also paints a picture of the time of the 80s: A quality car for work and leisure. A car with character and personality, and for Jan as owner a constant source of joy, because he knows how to appreciate the quality. You will not be surprised that Jan has the 'Volvo feeling' for his classic?
Also read:
– What's up Volvo for sale is in our section Vintage cars for sale
- Volvo 240 – driving with a smile
- Volvo 140 series. Swedish strongholds with ingenuity
- Volvo 242 custom restoration
- The Volvo 740 estate car. a real Volvo
Well, old versus new.
Drive a 6 Audi A2006 and a 200 1986 Turbo Quatto Oettinger
I'm not a mile-eater with either one
New is more economical, but where is the turning point between consumption and production?
My buddy drives a lease Astra, boss paid, so the km's do not matter, even on the weekend.
Yes, the car is more economical, but throughout the lease construction there are many empty “fun” km's.
And I wonder whether these "economical" cars (3 pitter 1200 cc in this case) can really make a lot of km's, or whether they are "disposable cars".
The Smart was such a car, where after a ton the block was just gone,
Is a new Smart more environmentally efficient, or is the older car a "smart" choice? † †
Isn't it about time that the road tax for driving a diesel is halved now that the price of diesel is almost equal to petrol!!!
Our government thinks differently about sustainability. In 2011, based on the then new tax law (from 25 to 30 years), I bought a Volvo 740 estate from 1986 that was eligible for this. Considerably invested to be able to drive "clean" on LPG for a longer period of time at affordable costs.
I have another letter stating that this arrangement would last at least until 2023, but in 2014 this was converted to 40 years, so that I suddenly had to tap off € 1200 per year and the value fell drastically.
The idea of the government was that there would be too many tax-free cars on the road that would be polluting.
Older diesels are often polluting, but LPG is one of the cleanest fuels. For the sake of convenience, the government in all its stupidity has lumped both together, which has sometimes had the opposite effect. For example, I now drive an older "sjoemel diesel" for which I pay less tax than for a cleaner LPG Volvo, and I'm not happy with that at all.
A big setback for me at the time, but even worse is that many old-timer companies have gone bankrupt as a result.
Intention was good, execution was not.
It is not surprising that few people still trust the government.
Yes, everyone sees it from their own experience. I don't think it's wrong if a large-scale study were to be devoted to this. I myself also think with my 1967 Volvo Amazon that if you don't always buy a new one, it is better for the environment in its entirety. On the road it would also be much nicer than all that impersonal look of 13 in a dozen. As a side note, I would like to add that those old creatures should undergo a combustion inspection every year and if necessary be adjusted or adjusted.
Beautiful 244! I had a baby blue GL from 1980 but US spec, was registered as 264, believe it or not… B21F with original 107 horses but had some work done on the head, camshaft and exhaust and that was a healthy grip. Sold with 252000 miles on the odometer in 2012 and the Tank still had plenty of joie de vivre.
I also ride classic. But I doubt it is sustainable. If everyone would have adopted that thought in 1960, grab it, we would now be driving a very polluting fleet. I think driving less is the best solution. I see, in particular, among friends with lease cars that they do not find it a problem to travel 1000 times a week to work. After all, the boss pays. You also saw in that group that they barely plug in the plug-in hybrids. I think that group should be more aware of that.
The only kind of environmentally friendly cars are in the museum, because they do not drive.
Peter, WHY are you reading this magazine ign ??
In principle, you can assume that every + 15 year old car is sustainable. From that age it has certainly (economically) been written off and you also support the local garage owner with the maintenance. Mine Alfa 156 1.8 TS that I use as daily transport now also has 235 xxx km and is 18 years old and in perfect condition. I also own a BMW 525i from '84 and a BMW 318is from '90 that are used as oldtimers in the summer. All wonderfully driving cars that still guarantee the real driving feeling that you will no longer find with the new cars ...
And what the thoughts of and about my Volvo 965. A 1996 Estate with almost 554554 on the counter.
Running on LPG.
A 6 cylinder, spinning like a proverbial sewing machine.
A lot of overdue maintenance can now be done yourself.
Why not a classic, because 'someone' figured out that 40 is the number.
Hans Visser
Also keep on driving with mn aufi 100 1.8 from 1984. Average consumption of 1:16.
And one from 1989
Decent vehicles are not very common nowadays. Enjoy it in comfort and space
I saw the cars, and just knew who it was
I agree with Bart. Driving as long as possible, preferably in something that is now labeled as an old-timer should be subsidized. How sustainable electric cars are remains to be seen. Which member comes into the room with a contribution towards the maintenance costs for our cultural heritage.
I'll keep riding in my 1966 goddess as long as I can.
Still the most beautiful Volvo ever made. Keep him driving.
I think that driving a car for as long as possible is still more environmentally friendly than buying a fresh one every 3 years.
That's why I own a BMW 535 from 1986. (Now 302xxx km)
And my brine proof carriage (Renault Laguna)
In the meantime, he is only 20 years old with 213xxx km on the clock