Hi there. I'm looking to buy my family a safe used Volvo wagon and have narrowed it down to the above 3 choices. What would be considered to be the SAFEST model - 245, 745 or 855 and WHY? I've done a fair amount of research online and have seen that MOST of the safety stories (i.e. the volvo saved my life) seem to center on the 245. I wonder why? Is it the safest?

I suspect it rather depends on the type of accident you're in. I currently drive a V70 2.5 litre turbo diesel. The brakes on it feel way worse than any other Volvo I've driven. Being front wheel drive it tends to torque steer a bit and the car is more easily upset by bad road surfaces, It has a nasty habit of following ruts in the road to see where they lead it.

I reckon the V70 probably has more safety systems built into it than a 240, the 240 relies on brick shithouse type technology. Probably in a big accident the V70 would protect me better than a 240, I also know that the way the V70 handles and drives, and my personal preference for rear wheel drive that I'm more likely to crash a V70 than I'm a 240.

The V70 drives well though, it sits easily at a 100MPH, tolerates long stretches at 110 and I've done more than 850 miles in a day in it more than once.

I'm not a great fan of the V70. It's replacement will more than likely be a Mercedes and after that I'll buy no more modern Volvos. Incidentally the thing I dislike most about the V70 is that it's desigm is such that when the car is covered in water or dew and you open the drivers window your shoulder and arm get soaked. Been shocked into full wakefulnes more than once like that in the morning.

The 240 is getting long in the tooth, the '93 I had was screwed together shockingly badly. I've still got a 940 and its a nice car, though I preferred the 740. Probably I'd search out a late low mileage 2.3 litre 740 with a manual/overdrive box.


Regards


Pete

All else being equal, the 850 is probably the best choice. IT simply offers things the others can not that may prevent a specific type of accident or trouble.
The 850 can be had with side airbags (96+ standard). Dual front airbags on all. I'm not a big believer in airbags, but in highspeed accidents they're LIKELY to help. At low speeds not so much- my mother was actually burned by one in a Chrysler in a minor parking lot crash. (Volvos supposedly don't deploy below a certain speed). The cars all have massive door bars and body reinforcements- I'd say the shell of each is about equally strong, but the 850 has the advantage of 20+ more years of design and engineering work. The 240 shell goes back to '67 and was a landmark of that time... today a lot more has been done in regards to design.
The 850 has active safety features as well- 4-channel ABS brakes, Traction control (don't get one without TRACS!), Winter mode in the trans, and simply having FWD improves foul-weather traction. The 240's have RWD and open differentials- this makes winter driving not impossible, but more challenging. There are advantages both ways, but for the most part the 850 is better where traction is poor. They handle better as well and stop so short that they scored one of the best braking ratings Road and Track magazine had ever seen. That alone might save your bacon someday.
Why don't I have one? Because I don't have the tools and knowledge to work on them myself. They definitely need to be serviced by a shop oncesomething goes wrong with them. The 240, or 740, I can fix myself for the most part. So that's what I own. What'll I get next? PRobably an 850 but there's no guarantee.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 221K, 88 744GLE- 202K, 91 244 181K, 88 244GL 145K

Well My wife and I drive 245's and untill recently that's all I knew...I just bought a 760 sedan and I am very impressed... it also is a very well made automobile... I don't feel as safe in it but only by just a little...but then again air bags scare the bejebbers out of me... I can't see how an exploding device that has actually killed people can be sold to the public as a "saftey" device...

I'm not real keen on seatbelts either...you hear lots of statistics but the science is flawed... I've done the drill...your in an accident..."where you injured, yes or no...where you wearing your seatbelt yes or no...(it's the law...what's your answer going to be)... Seat belts save lives!!!

you could get the same statistics asking if they where wearing clean underwear...(with about the same % of lies?"

Clean underwear saves lives!!! Mom would be so proud...

Anyway ...sorry about the rant... I vote for the 245... but the least safe of the group would still be head and shoulders above the compititon. and just a guess but maybe more 245's where built??
Bret
--
rust free in west Texas

I've been watching the papers for accidents since Esther was nearly killed
in 2000. I have seen one fatality in our papers where a car was struck by
a train and the driver wearing a seatbelt was killed, but hundreds where
there was a fatality and the person who died was NOT wearing a seatbelt.
Dead folks don't tell lies (but they do lie on the ground near accident scenes.)
I conclude that in a car with a strong shell, like a Volvo, the seatbelt will
keep you from being killed by the steering wheel, dashboard, etc.
In a car with a weak shell you can get your legs crushed between the dash
and the floor.
I suspect that the most effective safety device is the nut behind the steering
wheel, but seatbelts help to control you when you can't control yourself.
Airbags are BAD about breaking arms (broke both of Esther's).

--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

I have a theory about the human race: 'We have evolved to the point where natural selection no longer works as it should.'

This is proved each and every day when people do very stupid things and survive without consequence. I put driving without a seatbelt in this cagegory. However if you know anyone who has been a witness of a serious accident where the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts they will have a grusome tale to tell --- bad consequence.

Glad you are driving a Volvo. Please start wearing your seatbelt and have all your occupants follow. I too was casual about wearing my seatbelt, but 21 years ago I couldn't explain to my then 2 year old daughter why it was a good idea for her to wear a seatbelt and not me. I put my seatbelt on that day and every time I have been in a car since. Today if I am driving, you wear a seatbelt or find another ride.

P.S. I wear clean underwear every day. I guess this is what keeps me safe. Thanks for the reminder - got to go put them in the dryer for tomorrow morning. Nothing more uncomfortable than damp underwear at 7:00 a.m.

My $.02.

Dan W.

If you read the Darwin Awards, which come out yearly, you'll get a good laugh and realize there is some cleaning of the gene pool.

"...each and every day when people do very stupid things and survive without consequence..."

Ah, yes, but they're likely to continue doing very stupid things. Eventually statistics wins and they become one.

The sad part is when their statistic includes someone it should not.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Ahhh but don't equate no seat belts with poor driving or reclessness, I have logged nearly a million miles profesionally with out a single accident and have probablly driven half that many recreationally with only 1 back in 1980, I suppose it is not really the belts its the law that bugs me, I don't need to be protected from my self. and untill I see stats on inocent bystanders being injured by flying bodies thats what it is.
Bret
--
rust free in west Texas

They are all well built. It is easier to find a 900 or 800 series with ABS, side impact rails and air bags so I would have to judge them safer.
Howard

The 245's so ugly that nearby cars just naturally move away. Therefore, there's less chance of a fenderbender.

In fact, the damned things are so fearsome looking that I have four of 'em....
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

I suspect that it may be a population thing. There are a LOT of them
on the road (still!), probably more than the later models and they have
driven a lot more miles too, so exposure is a consideration.
--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

I think still that a 245 or a 240 is the loveliest damsel on the road. But I guess there are other opinions. I happen to notice that other cars shy away from mine especially when I have a mountain bike on the rear rack (my "life boat" cuz mine car's really old and a little feeble from lack of diy skills being learned here) and usually a ladder or load of lumber on top on the gutter mounted thule rack. When fully loaded with my usual 300 pounds of tools and etc, etc...I guess my "damsel" is pretty fiercesome to all those jelly beans on the road. I am surprised Don say they're ugly...but maybe in Cape Cod he's getting some sour looks for driving aged vehicles.

'nother vote for 240..... they're so damn slow with those 4 cyl. engines with only 116 horses.... of course they're safe.

I guess for looks, I'd wish I had one 240 with a classic "Light" Blue (older volvo blue), sunflower yellow or even that woody tan color instead of my nice safe white.... Colors to avoid for safety are grey, silver, dark blue, dark green, ....all the modern favorite Conservative colors.

in the 70s and early 80s there were some nice colors that were discontinued for more conservative business type colors. I miss that cornflower or sunflower blue and a butterscotch color that ol' 1800s had (# ? sportscar look)

my second choice would be a V70 (just about the best looking new car on the road)....but heard about the overpriced problem side of it....so will stick with 240s...as I don't have the mullah anyway...) 850s are nice too...but heard about the regular 2k or 3k repair bills for things you can't fix yourself.