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I'd guess the price difference is mostly due to the styling change. Given the choice, and all other things being equal, I'd buy a car with the side curtain airbags. But only 1 of our 5 cars has them, and in fact only 3 of the 5 even have airbags. I don't lose any sleep over this.
BTW, the later P-2 platform V70 is also significantly heavier than the earlier cars, so the earlier 850-70s are quicker.
NHTSA has crash tested the 1997 850 and the 2000 S70 (same platform) and gave it five stars for frontal impact and four stars for side.
So has IIHS http://www.carsafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/95005.htm
Both NHTSA and IIHS have also tested the S80. They gave it five stars for both front and side.
-Samurai Jack
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