Hi, I own both of the above cars and have answered this question a few times. The '94 944 I have has 175k on it and runs pretty good. The 854 I have has around 88k on it and has been trouble-free since I bought it with 72k on it (knock on wood). They are both pretty durable, but I feel the 940 being more rugged than the 850. Bottom line is that 850 can be more maintenance-intensive if the previous owner neglected it. If you find a well-maintained 850 that feels REALLY well-taken care of, go for the 850. It's niceties and feel are superb to the 940. If you want another rugged RWD car, opt for the 940. I use my 940 as a daily beater car for work (I haul people around all day), and use the 850 maybe once every two weeks or so. I really miss the 850 everytime I get in and drive it. The ride is much nicer than a 940. But FWD cars have a terrible turning radius compared to RWD Volvos, not a pleasant suprise in traffic. Your choice, but above all, give any car you are considering buying a good look-over, and remember, a better car for cheaper ALWAYS comes around after you buy your used car, so don't be in a hurry.