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..recommends the '96-'97 850, and has the '99 S70/V70 and '98 S70/V70 AWD on it's "used cars to avoid list". (The 850 and the 70-series up to Y2K are essentially the same car.)
By my reckoning, if one examines at the Consumer Reports "Frequency of Repair" charts, the 850 is actually a little bit better than the 240 and 940 Volvo series.
If you scroll around here, you will see that this is an unusual website. At the VW Passat website, most of the posts are about things like claims of beating Lexus GS 400s in road races and fitting 18" wheels.
Here, the posts they tend to be about two topics; either problems, or problems where the dealer and/or Volvo NA are clueless.
I've had more problems with my V70 than I've ever had with any car.
Would I buy one again? Not a new one, at least not right now. But I'm thinking a used one for my kid. While I'm less than happy about reliability, dealer service and Volvo NA support, there aren't many comparable choices. There are only two other auto manufacturers who are halfway serious about safety: Saab, which has even spottier reliability record than Volvo, and Mercedes, which may be more reliable, but goes for many, many more $$$.
I'd avoid a '93 850. They invariably have automatic transmission problems. Also, most 850-70s will eventually need their AC evaporators replaced. This is not a job to be taken lightly, the evaporator is buried deep in the dash, much like the 240's blower motor.
The "optimal" 850 -in my opinion- would probably be one that has had both it's evaporator and transmission recently replaced, at which point the former owner threw in the towel and traded it.
Also, I'd try to find one with as few electronic gizmos as possible, ie. a base model, without power seats or automatic climate control. Or a sunroof.
Good Luck!
-Uncle Olaf
1998 V70T5M 57k mi.
2001 Odyssey 1.5k mi.(and THREE problems already!)
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