posted by
someone claiming to be Swede in Colorado
on
Mon Jul 31 08:23 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Is this a good year? Been driving Volvo for 35+ years, 140,160,240,(own now '86-740,'99-V70T5), and have been pleased.(740 is 220K & still strong.)
Spotted a 96 850 GLT Sedan with 72K avail. locally.Any "holes" in this model to be aware of? Many say the turbos on the newer ones are as strong as the engines.
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posted by
someone claiming to be AK
on
Tue Aug 8 15:24 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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I have a 95 850 220,000 miles. Currently my odometer does not work, automatic door locks lock and unlock whenever they want to, ac and heater fan on ly works on speed 4, electric antennae sticks all the time, have replaced seat cable, radiator, rear main seal, have owned the car since new. Still I love her, cannot part with her.................. tough love I guess.... still runs strong ...you make the call
AK
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1997-up the GLT received a "low pressure" turbo but it doesn't have the reinforced engine block and the forged crankshaft that the T5 turbos have. By todays standards (the Toyota Camry has 268hp now) even the T5s are almost slugs so I don't know what you'd describe the '96 non-turbo performance as. "Leisurely"? "Relaxed"?
The metal doesn't rust but the plastic and rubber rot, so expect to replace everything plastic in the car and anything in the AC system that hasn't already been replaced at least once.
-BTC
'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 169k mi, velour cloth seats, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, V-1, Mobil-1 since new. Goal: "Moonshot" (227,063 miles at it's perigee). Wanna bigger turbochager.
"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 Noel Adams (1952-2001)
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posted by
someone claiming to be Mr. Norm
on
Tue Aug 1 10:33 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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a 96 GLT is NOT a turbo, 97 is LPT. When these cars get to 10 years of age, you are going to spend some money replacing every rubber part.
When the car gets to 100k, you are going to spend money on electrical stuff like the ABS module and the O2 sensors.
If you spend the money to do this stuff, which will seem never ending for 12 - 18 months, you are good for another 50 - 80K before all the same stuff again needs to be replaced.
My car turned 100k at 10 years of age, spent a 3 - 4 killo bucks over the last two years. But the damn thing now drives better than when I bought it. I personally am willing to drop the money in return for another decade of service.
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'96-'98 850/70 series are the best years. The drivetrain/turbo are bulletproof with regular maintenance.
Electronic gremlins, well that's another thing..... in these cars
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 -John, Tampa Bay
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posted by
someone claiming to be rwaltco
on
Tue Aug 1 02:47 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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I'm sure I'll wreak the havoc of Swedish Gods with this post. The drive train and turbo may be about all that's bullet proof with these. How about the numerous a/c issues, ABS/Tracs control unit, air pump failure rate and related components, that have truly higher failer rates than many cars. Leather seats that are of poor quality and too mant electrical gremlins. Unless you love to work on these yourself and have deep pockets, think again. Like say, Japanese. Wish I had. My 97 850Turbo is my 3rd and last Volvo and theres not much that hasn't been replaced and I don't see an end and this was a carefully serviced car.
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My 1997 850 GLT light pressure turbo with 120,000 miles has been probably better than average regarding maintenance and repair costs, and still a joy to drive, but it is hitting the magic 10 year mark, and listening to the other posts I am thinking more and more about dumping it for a newer Accord/Camry which should be less likely to strand my wife on the fwy. I don't think I'll part with my 1992 and 1993 240s though.
--
1993 240 Classic; 1992 240; 1997 850 GLT; Mitsubishi 4 cyl.
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posted by
someone claiming to be rwaltco
on
Thu Aug 3 10:05 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Since I made that post two days ago, I've just been informed that the a/c evaporator is gone on my 1997 850 Turbo wagon and Im looking at the pretty much standard $1300.00 repair from a very reputable shop. This is on top of the $600.00 I recently spent for other a/c work and they haven't got to the compressor yet. Ive owned the car 6 mos, have spent $2100.00 and have done a lot of work myself. The previous owner had just spent $2600.00 on turbo leaks, engine mounts chains etc.
Im truly beginning to believe the only reliable thing out of Sweden is Anita Ekberg and pancakes. I sold imports for many years and believe me, old Saabs, volvo 164s and all the others cannot be construed as long-lived. If GM hadn't bought Saab, they'd have been gone along time ago. We bought a new 98 Volvo GLT and it had more electrical and oil consumption issues than anything I ever owned. We got out of it at 55,000 just in time. It lost its rear main in the dealers lot. We walked next door and leased a new 2001 Merc Sable and it was trouble free as well for 57,000 miles. When the lease was up, we bought a used 2000 Lexus RX300 with 55,000 miles and Im putting the first set of brakes on at 100K.
Our 94 Mercedes E320 with 145,000 has had over $11,600.00 in scheduled and non-scheduled maintaince and that does not include a $2250.00 a/c problem on it I wont pay to have done. With the Lexus, other than oil changes, air filters and one brake fluid flush and a timing belt and a washer pump, we've spent absolutely NOTHING. No squeaky plastic, no MAF going out, NOT A SQUEAK, no probs Zip Zero, Zilch. You're on the right track. Or, the 2006 Impala is fantastic as well.
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My '98 T5 uses no oil between routine changes, the 5-speed manual transmission still shifts like new and it still has the original clutch. Basically it's everything bolted to the drivetrain that's been an issue.
I had my '86 Porsche out today (104F) and the sunroof jammed open. And the garage is full of construction materials. Gezez -- I don't have the time for this crap. Spending my free time keeping this rotting Eurojunk going is not a particularly sane thing to do IMO.
At least we have three (3) Hondas in the driveway.
-BTC
'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 169k mi, velour cloth seats, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, V-1, Mobil-1 since new. Goal: "Moonshot" (227,063 miles at it's perigee)
"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 Noel Adams (1952-2001)
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One the other hand, the 1997 850 GLT is fun to drive, has good pickup, and isn't worth much on the used car market compared to the cost of a new Accord or Camry.
"Money is like nose hair. To remove little is painful. To remove much is painful" Old Turkish proverb
--
1993 240 Classic; 1992 240; 1997 850 GLT; Mitsubishi 4 cyl.
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