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I have to very much agree with Steve S. I'm in the market for a 1995 850 Turbo wagon - moving up from my 1989 760 Turbo wagon. I've just put about $2500 into the 760 this year. I've owned it for 5 years. I've put about another $2500 into over the previous 4 years. This year was exception because I just had it with a lot of the "old" parts and started replacing items that I didn't know the history. I'm the fourth owner of this brick. It's been completely rebuilt on the rear-end (new door, gas tank, etc) from a previous owner. I've had the odometer die, the fuel gauge was bad from the factory (service records of first owner show 30 stops into the dealer for fuel guage problems). It's a brick and, yes, it has high-quality parts for a reason - so it lasts.
But, I'm trying to "move" myself into a "newer" version of the 760. I like the price of the 1995 850's. Yes, FWD is a B**CH to work on - so tight. But, I've decided to try and keep my 760 for two more years - minimum. My other vehicle is a Chevy Suburban (Like a ROCK - which it is). That transports the family. The 760 handles my wife's business and my commuting to my two jobs. It's been tough to work on the 760 at night or weekends because it's constantly on the go. My wife is a Creative Memories consultant hauling bags of stuff. The low-lift wagon is ideal for her. She and I both love the turbo models - just wish the 760 had cup holders.
As with all newer vehicles comes more complexity - because the manufacturer has to keep putting newer technology into it, else they go out of business. When computers (ECU's) were placed into cars, mechanics used to complain they couldn't work on the car. Now, the mechanics depend on that computer for information about problems with the car, which makes their job easier.
This is my personal motto: If I can ascertain, maybe even diagnose, the actual problem with the vehicle - I can better control the repair costs. Some things will be out of my league to repair - but if I can buy the parts cheaper and still pay my favorite mechanic, then I still win. I lose when I pay list price for parts and labor.
I just love the volvo power plant and transmissions. I had owned several Chrysler vechicles before owning my 760. I had a tranny go on a 3 year old car - new when I bought it. Chrysler said they only build them to last 60,000. I believe it. Volvo may have electrical problems, but that's all they'll be - annoying electrical device problems. Unless it's part of the ignition or fuel delivery or tranmission system, most electrical problems are annoyances. I lived with several on my 760 till I realized I could by the service manuals from Volvo for my car. Then, it was easy to fix. Plus, I found used parts online and new parts at 1/2 price online. Now, she's wonderful to drive! She's a rocket again! But I still want an 850 Turbo to start the next generation. Plus, if one breaks, I can wait and give myself time to do repairs. Having three vehicles seems like over-kill, but they are cars I love to drive.
In my book, it comes down to a personal decision. No matter how you spin the wallet - it's going to pay for a car; new, used-old, used-new.
Lastly, a small piece of information about life-cycle of parts. Mechanical and Electrical parts all have a designed lifespan. But, as with life, there are infantile failures (infantile mortality rate) which is usually caught by QC. But, when something leaves the plant, it still has a chance to have a failure within the first minute it leaves the plant. This is called a Bath-tub curve. The Y-axis is failures and X-axis is time. Starts high at time=0, comes down to small number from leaving plant to end of warranty period. The point is at no time is the failure EVER zero. High in the beginning, low in the middle (where that is for Volvo's I don't know), and high at the end (elderly death rate). Buying a used car you have no idea where the car is in the bathtub curve. People buy new cars and live on the warranties - to save what money? They drive a BRAND new car that could be plauged with MORE bugs than repairs of a used car. Still spends time in the shop. Still costs them the monthly payment - even though they can't use the car while it's in the shop. Or, if the bug is intermittent and the mechanics have never seen the problem before. This is reality. How much you can control or want to try to control becomes the question. Not how little money will and 850 cost me.
That's my take.
Bill Prehl
Allentown, PA
'89 765T, '97 Surburban - Always looking to learn something new and exciting.
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