I purchased my 850 sedan about 17 months and 15K miles ago. Since that time I have regularly followed this board and have occasionally contributed. Ultimately, long-term experience with a vehicle is the best gauge of its value. I'm just getting started with this one - my other cars have 230K and 130K miles on them - but I'm at the point where I feel a meaningful opinion is beginning to emerge.

Let me note that mine is a base model with no upgrades. It has no indications of having been driven hard although the first owner put almost 60K miles on it in about 3-1/2 years. Consider me a beneficiary of the relatively high Volvo depreciation commented on by others on this board. I had not started out looking for a Volvo because I doubted that I could find one in my price range. But I was surprised to find a number priced far below original sticker and well below comparable models from other manufacturers.

The first thing I did was install an aftermarket security system and an Alpine CD changer. The security system is much superior to the Volvo option for that year. It has performed flawlessly. I've also installed a cabin air filter, at the recommendation of this board, headlight protectors, a stone deflector to protect the lower part of the radiator (found this one mentioned in a TSB), and a few other things aimed at steering off problems down the line. Shortly, I will be replacing the SAS valve to avoid a potential air pump problem. So you can see that preventing problems is part of my strategy.

I've been well satisfied with the car. Averaged over all driving (full tank to full tank method) it's done 26.3 mpg after the odometer correction is taken into account. Obviously, a high ratio of freeway driving. The tires are good for at least 60K miles at the current rate of wear. Brake pads and rotors will last 30K to 40K miles for me and I don't know how much the previous owner had on them. I also appreciate that the insurance is about as good as I can find in an equivalent price range vehicle. I like the way it is put together - sometimes a puzzle to take apart but almost always logical and solid. And it drives at a much higher level than anything I've owned before. Admittedly, that's influenced by the age of my fleet and the fact that I've never had more than 100 hp under the hood before but I am the beholder, after all.

There have been some of the problems encountered by others. I just had to replace the battery and I don't believe it was the original. I'm used to 7 or 8 years for my other cars. The recirc air damper link just slipped off its shaft for the third time. I'm going to have to do something more permanent like a set screw. There is one dash rattle in particular that bugs me but not enough that it's been high priority to fix it. I was not thrilled to pay to replace the left front wheel hub ($300.). And I've had to recharge the refrigerant. Could be the evaporator but I'm not jumping to conclusions. I'm willing to consider the possibility of some gradual leakage from seals although the only previous car I had with A/C went 12 years without any A/C service. I am happy that I spared myself the host of problems that seem to be related to ECC, power seats, seat heaters, and so on.

I have not had any dealings with VCNA but am a bit disturbed by what some others have said. In my limited experience with Volvo dealers I have developed a wide variability in my confidence with them. Fortunately, there seem to me many capable indie shops in my area (Seattle) so I'm not at anyone's mercy. If it works out like my other cars, I will know more about it in a few years than any shop, anyway. My conviction is that it pays to know what makes your cars tick. Saves a lot of trouble if you can anticipate some problems and recognize others when they occur. That is one of the motivations for particpating in this type of forum.

So, to answer the inevitable question, will I buy another Volvo? Certainly will consider it, pocketbook willing and if there are models that appeal to me. I have to say that I prefer the 850s in appearance to what they're coming out with now. It looks like Volvo has borrowed designers from other manufacturers and has lost some of what set the brand apart. And I will also have to consider Toyota because mine is beyond question one of the finest cars ever made.