240 General: how many 240s left

[Clifford Pope]

"the last one was green built on 5th may 1993 ".

Are you sure? Mine was registered on 28 May 1993, and that's only a K reg. I've seen several L and even an M reg.

I can think of about a dozen I regularly see around. The agents near where I work still have several regularly coming in for service, two of them with over 700,000 miles. Neither is VOC registered nor listed in the high milage list. They are just used as normal everyday cars. One regularly commutes from West Wales to London.

I'd say 15,000.

[LankyTim]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

", two of them with over 700,000 miles. Neither is VOC registered nor listed in the high milage list. They are just used as normal everyday cars. One regularly commutes from West Wales to London.

.

Wow!!!!! Looks like there well on track to crack the million mark. I wonder how a 700,000 mile 240 drives comared to one with say, 50k on the clock?......

[Velorum]

Originally Posted by LankyTim

Wow!!!!! Looks like there well on track to crack the million mark. I wonder how a 700,000 mile 240 drives comared to one with say, 50k on the clock?......

No reason that it shouldnt be just as good if its been looked after well. My estate is just about to hit 200,000 and drives better than cars I use at work with less than 20,000 on the clock!

[LankyTim]

I find that cars with 120k on the clock often drive better than cars with 90k on the clock as things that wear and affect the drive like shocks and bushes have been replaced but 700k? Thats enough mileage for everything to have worn out, the gearbox, diff e.t.c could be clinging on for dear life.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Originally Posted by LankyTim

I find that cars with 120k on the clock often drive better than cars with 90k on the clock as things that wear and affect the drive like shocks and bushes have been replaced but 700k? Thats enough mileage for everything to have worn out, the gearbox, diff e.t.c could be clinging on for dear life.

Or they could be just run in..


Des. . .

[LankyTim]

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Hi,

Or they could be just run in..


Des. . .

in all probability for a 240, yes! It just goes to show what these 240s are capable of. if a car can last 700k with proper maintainance, surely it can last indefinately?

[gary austin]

hi thanks for all the input into this thread cant wait to se what the dvla come up with the last 240 came of the production line in may 1993 but remember these cars have stock piles to go through before they are all gone there was probably a few thousand lying in docks and in sweden at the factory that is why they are some on L and m prefixes never saw one on an m plate but ive saw a few on an L plate mostly white or blue/green cheers gary

[radiomark]

from memory, mines registered 24 august 1993 on a L plate, in boring blue

[Clifford Pope]

I bought mine 8 years ago when it had 180,000 miles. It looked and drove like new. It has just passed 362,000 miles, and feels exactly the same. Obviously it doesn't have quite the same kind of new-car shininess that it did, but that's as much down to my failure to keep things clean and polished as to real deterioration. On the rare occasions when I hoover it out and shine up the interior and Autoglym the paintwork it still looks pretty good.
I do 25,000 miles a year so the effect doesn't last for long.

Obviously lots of consumable parts get replaced quite regularly. The reaction arm bushes only last about 50,000 miles, I've recently done one of the trailing arm bushes (the other may well be due any moment). The brake discs are original, but due probably before the next MOT.
The axle has a slight hum on drive, but will I hope last a good while yet. The gearbox has probably done over 400,000 miles, because I swapped the 5 speed for a 4 + overdrive from an earlier car just because I like overdrives.
The engine is untouched apart from cam belt changes and ordinary servicing like oil.
The cat and oxygen sensor and injectors are original, as are both fuel pumps, and steering rack.
I replaced the clutch when I swapped the gearbox, but there was nothing wrong with the old one, and no apparent wear.

The only major replacements have been an Air Mass Meter (fried because of a failed hot air valve in the air filter box) and the alternator brushes, which failed at 235,000 miles. And the rear prop shaft joints.
Irv Gordon says that windscreens only last 500,000 miles because of abrasion from the wipers. I think I can see what he means. I am finding it very difficult to stop mine squeaking, despite trying all the usual remedies.

The drivers seat collapsed at about 200,000 miles, so I swapped all the interior from an older car I had been given for spares.

So I can see no reason why a car can't still be just as viable after 700,000 miles, if the usual programme of rolling replacements is continued. The odd secondhand gearbox, axle, etc. I don't know what symptoms of engine wear I might be looking out for. It uses very little oil (about a pint between 3000 mile intervals), returns 32-36 mpg, and runs quietly without any knocks or rattles.

[Mike_Brace]

Have to agree there. Keep onto top of the routine maintenance and replace things as they wear and no reason not to achieve very high mileages. I wouldn't consider 300,000 miles a high mileage for a 240 at all. The biggest enemy to their survival other than fuel consumption is the salt and a government obssessed with supporting the sales of new cars on environmental grounds.

Mike