Thanks to those who replied to my note from a few days ago about selling my 1996 855T with just 99k. I finally got the thing sold. I got $6,000 for it; a fair price, I guess, although KBB said it was worth several hundred more in my part of the world. Glad to have it gone and ironically, an IPD catalog arrived just as I sold it.

I suppose this is also a farewell to Brickboard, as I am no longer a Volvo owner. I've enjoyed this BB but wish I hadn't had to consult it so often. My 850 ownership experience was...not great, and quite expensive. Despite religious maintenance and a dynamite mechanic, the car let me down several times, and once stranded my family in a dangerous sitution. At one point I made a list of all the known trouble spots on the 850; I then ticked off all the ones I'd addressed and realized what lay ahead. It was depressing. And so expensive. The car was, by far, the least reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

It's a shame the 850 doesn't hold up better. When it was right, that was a very nice, fast, safe car that I truly enjoyed driving. It even got decent mpg! But the cost of ownership was outrageous, and more than I could stomach. So it had to go.

Thanks to all who helped in the past, and best wishes for the future.

--Dan L.
1993 Saab 900s, 128k
1993 Camry wagon, 121k

Formerly 1996 855T, 99k; also '99 New Jetta, '90 Integra, '88 Scirocco 16v, '79 Rabbit, '78 Buick Opel

I've been putting off buying a V70R for a couple of years now, and I hear they're not going to be produced in 2007 so if I just wait a little longer I can't be tempted any more!

Yeah, I now think of my Volvo repair receipts in terms of "pounds". Tho by the time my SAABs were 8 years old the transmissions were ground into a metallic gravel and my Volvo still shifts fine.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 166k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

I posted the below information earlier but after reading your farewell, I'll do the same with my 1995 850 GLT so I don't have to worry about the next expensive repair bill. I'll miss driving the car but not the repair bills and will probable sell it early next year for about $3,900, try mass transit for as long as I can hack it and then use the savings to purchase a 2002 Audi A4, 2001 Lexus GS300, or 2002 BMW 3 series.
------------------------------------------------------------
Purchased 1995 Volvo 850 GLT Sedan in October 1994, have over 132,000 miles on it and spent about $10,000 to maintain and operate it.

Breakdown of the expenses with routine items on top:

Regular maintenace (40k, 60k, 90k, 120k, etc) = $3,065
Tire replacements and alignment = $2,040
Brake replacements = $900
Oil and filter changes = $580
Replaced 2 batteries = $162

Transmission related work = $1,516
Recharged AC multiple times = $545
Replaced ABS Control Unit = $501
Replaced 2 Antennas = $238
Electrical repairs and replacement = $188
Replaced Brake Sensor = $166
--------------------------
Total cost to date = $9,901 (46% of the total expenses occurred during the last three years, 2003-2005)

Of all the cars I have owned, my 1986 Toyota Camry was literally maintenance-free but a very boring car to drive. I sold it 4 years ago with 140,000 miles on it but still see it driven around town. My 2000 Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor with 60,000 miles has cost very little because MB paid for all work for the first 4 years or 50,000 miles and my 2000 Lexus RX300 with 63,000 miles has had no problems to date.

The Volvo cost quite a bit to maintain but for the past 11 years, it has been an enjoyable car to drive. When I drive long distance (6 hours or more), I don't feel worn out and unlike like my former Toyota, I feel very safe in the Volvo. Its a tank. I just wish it had about 20 more horsepower.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Just out of curiosity how does the 93 Saab compare? I think I can guess how the Camry compares.

Comparing tyhe old 900 to the 850 is not really apples to apples - it is maybe more "accurate" to compare the old 900 to a 240/740. That said, the 1993 Saab 900s (n/a) compares favorably. The maintenance principles are the same as for Volvo -- regular fluid flushes, preventative changes of t-stat and similar items, etc. The Saab has a timing chain, not a belt, supposedly good for 200k with no servicing or changing. The car is also far easier to work on than the 850 Turbo (more room), parts are cheaper and easy to come by too. It gets 32 mpg, even with 128k. It has had a couple of age-related issues, but these were nothing serious. And, thank goodness, I have *never* seen a check engine light in this car (knock wood); the CEL in the 850 fired off all the damn time.

As you guessed, the 1993 Camry wagon is 100% bulletproof. Not a worry, ever.

-Dan L.