I have been looking for a 93 or later 945 Turbo wagon for awhile. (I have a 1992 240 for my daughter and my wife gets to zip around in a 1997 850 GLT. Now I want a Volvo to play with and upgrade). Here in SoCal all 940 wagons, even non turbo, seem to command a premium. For example, some are asking $10 to even $12K for a nice one with 110,000 miles. Even though I think I would prefer the 940, I have been noticing some 1996 or 1997 850 wagons, even Turbos or LPTs, for nearly the same asking price ($10 to $12K). There also seems to be more 855s around than 945s.
Specific questions:
1. Is the 940 drivers seat and legroom slightly larger than the 850? I'm 6'2" and not that comfortable in the 850.
2. Reading the board, my sense is that my maintenance and repair costs will be less for the 940 than the 850 especially between 100,000 and 200,000 miles. Will there likely be that much difference?
3.Will the 850 be as likely to make it to 200K as the 940? How many of you have 1996 or 1997 850 wagons with much over 100k miles and what has your repair experience been?

I will also post this on the RWD.

Thanks,
L

Q. 1. Is the 940 drivers seat and legroom slightly larger than the 850? I'm 6'2" and not that comfortable in the 850.

A. I'm 6'3", size 13s and the V70 is "perfect" for me. The "next generation" S60-V70-S80 is even better. I always thought the RWD Volvos were a squeeze. IMO.

Q. 2. Reading the board, my sense is that my maintenance and repair costs will be less for the 940 than the 850 especially between 100,000 and 200,000 miles. Will there likely be that much difference?

A. Yes.

Q. 3.Will the 850 be as likely to make it to 200K as the 940? How many of you have 1996 or 1997 850 wagons with much over 100k miles and what has your repair experience been?

A. Given "by the book" maintainance, 100k should be a lead-pipe-cinch, 150k should be a piece of cake. Service records and a clean bill of health by a Volvo mechanic are essential. I don't know how easy 200,000 will be, if you scroll down the page there's someone who posted with one that's gone well over 200,000. The 850-SVC70 is, in my opinion, a more MODERN car than the old RWD Volvos. Conversely the 240-740-940 Volvos are much CRUDER. If you look at the way the 2 cars age, the 850s look much better when they age, the interiors aren't falling apart, but the additional modern complexity of the 850 is likely to lead to higher maintainance costs.

I wouldn't have bought a 940 for myself, but I frequently recommend them to others.....

The asking prices on the 940s are just that, asking prices. The Edmunds and KBB.com sites have "private transation values" that are probably more accurate.

Check what the 7xx/9xx FAQs say about the 960 and SV90 ("any Volvo with a 6 in the model number") before yoiu sign the check.

-Phil Punxsutawney

The 940 (don't buy without a turbo) will give you fewer problems on the way to 200K, and it IS a little roomier. My 945T was an unbelievably reliable car and had the advantages of RWD - once I added the sway bar and tower brace. The S70 (basically a restyled 850 with minor engineering mods) has better build quality, is quieter, more powerful, more amenities. Except for the usual (light socket recalls, ABS/TRACS controller) I've had none of the problems other bricksters mention here...knock on wood. The FWD implementation is pretty good, but I still wish it were RWD. And I live in snow country.

You could compromise and get a late model 960-S/V90 (1995 or later) which will get you the 850 interior and amenities. The engine is basically the same as S80 in a RWD implementation but I don't know about its reliability.
--
(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)