HI-
I would like to buy an 850 sedan next spring. I live in Vermont and would like a front wheel drive Volvo. Presently I own a 90' 740 wagon and a 90' 240 wagon and I believe they both perform terrible in the winter. I am lost when people say, "They do fine in the snow". I am assuming they live where it snows about 5 inches a year, it's not the case here by far! Well anyway I would like to know what is the favored year for the 850 in a sedan as far as repair costs ect.? I will be looking to buy one from the southern states and bringing it up. Thank you for all responses in advance!


Regards,

TPH
90' DLW
90' GLW

Tim

Well, you now have recommendations and cautions for just about every model year of front drive Volvo. Good thing you didn't ask about Volvo's awd - there isn't enough web space for the traffic that generates.

One consideration apart from model year. You mentioned that you are going to purchase a southern car, and bring it north. I suspect that cars delivered to more southern destinations will not include the cold weather package. I am not sure the total package contents, but it certainly includes heated front seats and headlight washers/wipers. The headlight wipers are a blessing and a curse. You must remember to free the wiper blades of ice in the morning, but visibility is much improved in conditions where your headlights would otherwise be covered with a film of dirt. The headlight wipers/washers are activated by your windshield washers.

Neil
--
1997 850 awd, m56 5 speed manual, 1989 740 GL, m47 5 speed

I'd focus on mileage and maintanence records. When I got my '95 850 Turbo it only had 39k miles and all records, and I couldn't of been happier!

--
'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows

I have the 97 850 wagon and have had only one problem in two years owning the car...an AC on-off switch was replaced. The car's been great in the Minnesota snow. I agree with you about the RWD volvos. We have a 240 that mechanically is excellent but forget about driving on any unplowed roads.

The trick about driving a 740 or 240 in snow is to add a couple of sandbags in the rear end of the trunk!

What's really amazing is how bad they are in snow, yet look where the are made. I love my Volvo's except for their shortcoming in the traction world during the wintertime. My 89' Saab was like a snowmobile!

I was told by my dealer mechanic 95-97, 97 being the best, and to stay away from 98-newer--quality is not there and they are in for more repairs from what he sees.

I've had a 240 sedan (forgot the year), '88 740 sedan turbo, and now a '94 850 N.A. The FWD 850 has been great in the winter but we don't get much snow in KY. I haven't had any major repairs other than the typical servicing - brakes, oil, filters, etc. I've got 108K miles on the car and recently had to work on (a poorly designed) horn switch on the steering wheel, replace the PNP (transmission) switch, and deal with the notorious leaking A\C evaporator. Ohterwise, I have enjoyed the car and love the engineering that makes it easy to work on.

I can't help much on newer models.

97 - 2000 (S70) I'd stay away from earlier years.

I'd probably avoid '93s because they were the first year and have a lot of non-common parts, the '94 and '95 because they're old. For the '96-97 850s and '98-00 SV70s you have the tradeoff of unreliability because they're older ('96-97) vs. unreliability because Volvo cheaped out with the parts vendors ('98-00).

I would go for a turbo because they're much more fun to drive.

I like the ergonomics of my '98 V70 better than the 850 and appreciated that they relocated the window switches from the console below the cupholder where you will blame spilled drinks when the switch fails to the door where you will blame the part manufacturer when the switch fails.

OTOH I like the styling of the 850 better.

There are deals to be had on the '99/'00 SV70s since they're a bazillion coming in off leases and little demand. Volvo dealers include a 100,000 mile warranty with the CPO Volvos, which removes a lot of the risk.

Pay your money and take your poison.....

-Punxsutawney Phil

http://www.groundhog.org