Hello all-

I'm currently driving an '89 244 and have an opportunity to pick up a '94 850 wagon. I don't know much about the 850s, but have heard that they are the best. Any advice about what to look for in a used 850, etc? It should have all service performed and be in great running order next week. I'll take it for a spin next week to see what i think.

I think it's a 94 wagon with roughly 130k. Any really expensive fixes to look forward to? It apparently just had a timing belt, water pump, etc. and misc other stuff.

Any advice is much appreciated---

aircon can be iffy (and expensive)

autoboxes seem to be fragile (look at the posts on here!) - but then again people also get high milages (me thinks it may be to do with if you change the fluid...)

top engine mounts are a consumable (but cheap and DIY)

brakes seem to require a lot of upkeep (but are bloody good!)


All that said I drive a 95 sedan (2.5 20 valve auto) that i have had for a year, put 23k on (now done 83k) and i LOVE it...and its been reliable, so far its needed (or had because it seemed like a good idea! - note it also had a FULL service history, wouldnt touch one without!)

New front disks & pads (twice)
New front calipers
Timing belt (8 year or 80k limit)
New fuel filter
New wires, distributor cap & rotor arm
New plugs
Tranny oil change
6 new tyres (fronts last about 20k)
3 oil changes
cd multichanger fitted
sat nav fitted
mobile phone hands free kit fitted
exhaust gaskets replaced
strut brace (gen volvo!) fitted
aircon regassed

ouch...that lot adds up! - but its agreat car to drive and cost less than the 940t to keep on the road!

Look for service records, and have it checked out by a tech who knows the cars.

My V70 (the '98-00 SVC70 is essentially an 850 mild restyle) still uses no oil between changes, the transmission still shifts like new, and the clutch is the original one.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 155k 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, Michelin Arctic Alpins

Bill-

Thanks for the advice. My current mechanic learned that i was interested in a newer car and offered to let me look at a few he was going to re-sell. his is a foreign car shop and seems pretty fair. i guess whatever he sells he'll see again, so i figure it'll be pretty well gone over. i guess you never really know what future problems may come, but he claims that it'll have everything done to it that it needs. will the maintenance costs be higher than on my 240?

apart from these concerns, do i trust any mechanic?

Too bad you won't be able to see the tranny fluid before it is changed, at least it will be flushed. The AC tends to leak down slowly on all 850's so make sure you have the abillity, to add more r134a. Check the CV boots for cracks, the uper engine mount for same, and make sure all electrical functions work, like rear wiper, door locks, etc. If it has a key fob, make sure that works too - all 94's came with them.
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

I'm just a bit skeptical. this car seems more complex and luxurious than my 89 brick. am i looking at a money pit here? i want a newer, safer volvo for a couple of yrs. is there a better way to go? i won't buy new, so what's a reasonable approach to getting a fairly reliable volvo?

It certainly is more complex than your '89, but no-where near as scary as a brand new vehicle. The problem with new stuff as I see it is you need Bill Gates to diagnose and a rocket scisntist to fix.

At least with a '94 you can still do routine stuff. Manuals are out there to decipher diagnostic codes, and of course there's the 'board to help you through.

Don't even dream of wrenching on a 2004 anything without a computer science degree!

KenC '91 240 with 206000K, soon to own '95 850 stick with 155000K (thanks to advice from the 'board!)

Ken-

why did you decide on an 850? just curious. mechanic that used to work on my 89 said that the 850s were the best volvos. i guess he had seen his share, so i took his word for it. the wagon that i just looked at has 130 k but looks as if it's done a bit of living. i've been driving my 89 for close to 4 yrs now and am accustomed to that solid volvo feel. realistically, i should be looking at a subaru or something, but i do love swedish cars...

I've always liked the look and the sound of the 850's - wagons and sedans.

My 240 is nice, I've had it for four years, but it is leaking in the rear end, the air doesn't work, I popped seats in from an '84 because the original drivers seat failed, the taillights are cracked and faded, the belly pan and cowl up front is gone, front passenger door is rusting after the trim piece peeled off, front lights are cracking and fading, parking brake is siezed, glove box opens when it wants to......she's just getting old. Still starts and runs every day, though! I've put new brake pads on it all around, new tranny cooling lines, an ECU about two years ago (ouch), new exhuast about two years ago. I was seriously thinking of restoring it, but the cost just doesn't warrant it...she may be too far gone for that.

I also enjoy a stick (in fact I prefer a 5-speed where fwd is in play). The 850 is more refined and comfortable, and (probably) as durable as the 240 series. I don't car if the air quits in the 850 - I haven't had it for years in the 240.

Not an easy decision. "4volvos" said s/he would keep the 240 and get the 850. I may just do that; throw the old girl into storage and clean her up when cash flow warrants it. The 850 is a nice car, is still a volvo (i.e. not a ford) but in my mind nothing says VOLVO like the 240.

Ken-

Thanks for all your thoughts on the 240/850 comparison. The 850 certainly seems to be solid and quite a good sized car. Like i was saying before though, the maintenance on the 240 is becoming relentless as parts fail due to old age. I guess i'm still wrestling with the idea of buying another needy car. I want a volvo, but not a newer one. My gut says it'll be costly. well, i guess i have some deciding to do...