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Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

posted by  Bob Wennerstrom on  Tue Nov 20 16:16 CST 2007
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last visit: Fri Jul 15 12:01 CST 2011
[RELATED]

The farmer of Volvos had grown himself his first ever wrong-wheel-drive car.

I would never ever have done this except I have been adopted by a Volvo indie and he will help me maintain it. Found a '97 850T5 (not a R) on Craigslist and bought it a few days ago. This is the wife's new car to replace her '91 740T sedan. Nothing much wrong with her old car but it's got six years of our ownership and is getting stale, and a little long in the tooth with 230K on it.

I really really like this car so far. I wish it was going to be MY daily driver. It's beautiful, fast, luxurious, safe and utilitarian. Here's what always freaks me out. MSRP on this car ten years ago was $35,000. I bought it with 145K on the clock for $3600. Buy a new car and hold it for ten years and lose ninety percent of your investment value. Thank goodness someone is doing it or there'd be no used cars.

The white 745T is my daily driver. I still like it, despite it's lack of bells and whistles.





--
Volvo Farmer.

24 Volvos, '58-'91, all RWD








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    Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

    posted by  someone claiming to be Dr. Chip on  Wed Nov 21 05:36 CST 2007 [RELATED]

    I was wondering just recently on the V90 board if FWD is right for me (sounds like a contraceptive commercial).
    My V90 has 172,000 on it now and am reluctant to look at the V70's (millions in NY area to choose from though). Don't really want an E350 Wag but will assess at them too.
    Please keep us posted.

    Dr. Chip
    Westchester County NY

    PS looks like you need to update your signature...








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    Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

    uid 4751's pic
    posted by  MittenHed on  Wed Nov 21 04:04 CST 2007
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 02:03 CST 2014
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    Welcome, Bob. I did it almost seven years ago, and love the ride and the comfort. I'm nearly old enough to be one of the fat fogies...Seriously, the 850 may be better on gas than the 740, specially if you can manage to keep the revs down. But ain't it fun to open it up and listen to the (odd) sound of five cylinders?
    --
    01 V70 2.4 M5 and a Mini








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      Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

      posted by  Bob Wennerstrom on  Wed Nov 21 13:02 CST 2007
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      last visit: Fri Jul 15 12:01 CST 2011
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      Thanks for the reply.

      I seriously doubt the 850 will be better on gas, Wife's '91 seemed to consistently do 25 to 28, with her light foot. My '87 is also getting 25+, with 16" Hydras (worse) and a M46 (better). We live pretty rural, but here in Phoenix, I've only seen 20 on the first tank on the 850. We'll see how it runs at 6500ft on wide open roads when we get home.

      Agreed that 5 cyl is a weird sound. The wife starts grabbing for door sills and center consoles when I put the hammer down. Doesn't really feel like 220hp to me. My 740T at 13lbs and stock everything else feels only slightly slower. FWD is still a weird feeling on uneven surfaces, etc. It turns like a pig, but goes like stink.

      I'm starting to see poorer examples of these inn the $1500 range. There might be a time to collect up a few sub $500 ones in the years ahead.

      --
      Volvo Farmer.

      24 Volvos, '58-'91, all RWD








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        Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

        posted by  hardknocks! on  Wed Nov 21 13:25 CST 2007
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        last visit: Sun Oct 12 06:42 CST 2014
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        hello
        i seen a 95 850 with 67,000 miles the other day, they were asking 2,600.00$
        many selling for much less where i live.
        still sticking with the redblocks for now.
        good luck
        mike
        --
        95 944T, 94 945T, 85 244T.








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    Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

    posted by  will rehsper on  Wed Nov 21 03:28 CST 2007
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    last visit: Tue Jul 3 14:55 CST 2012
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    Yeah, isn't it great to be a second hand Volvo buyer? I think these 850s are terrific values. A lot of car for not much money. Plenty to choose from too.

    -Will
    --
    850 / Mini








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    Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

    posted by  rhaire on  Wed Nov 21 02:53 CST 2007
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    last visit: Mon Aug 4 10:16 CST 2014
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    I have to agree, 850 and S70 are sweet. Still square enough for me, I am not sure I want a blobby-shaped Volvo. Depreciation is rough. I am awake at night worrying about depreciation on the great '89 240 I bought a few years ago for $450.








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      Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

      posted by  Bob Wennerstrom on  Wed Nov 21 13:09 CST 2007
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      last visit: Fri Jul 15 12:01 CST 2011
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      I've been sitting in a lot of newer cars at the Volvo indie's shop. The second generation V70 is way too "cockpit-like" for me. The 850 still has some open space between the front doors and I seem to prefer that.

      The white 740 in the picture was free. Needed a $80 junkyard head. I've got almost a grand into it now, but it's pretty darn nice for a 20 year old car.
      --
      Volvo Farmer.

      24 Volvos, '58-'91, all RWD








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    Went to the dark side...OH nOes, FWD! 700

    posted by  volvosfive on  Wed Nov 21 02:49 CST 2007
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    last visit: Sun Aug 21 08:01 CST 2011
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    Nice ride! I wish our '97 850 were a wagon. I'd imagine that you'll find the 850 is pretty decent as far as reliability goes. Mine rarely has problems except for a rear main seal leak that just started.

    Congrats on the new Volvo!






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