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Ok i can chip in here as i have a 940turbo and an 850...i just bought the 850...
for the record
91 940turbo (170bhp, 4+od stick shift, 1/2 lether interior, wagon, 140 some k)
95 850Gle (170 bhp, 20valve 5 cylinder, 4spd auto, full leather, sedan 60k)
the 940 is easy to work on...but the 850 doesnt look much worse to be honest...after 96 they got the fault code reader socket that means u NEED a reader rather than just pulling the codes off the led....
my 850 is certainly much more refined than the 940turbo, it handles better, is far more comftable nad quieter and does 30 ish to the gallon (the 940 turbo does 24 ish, but a non turbo should do better....)but...i just had it serviced (80k service inc disks & cam belt) and your talking £540 ($750) at a independant using genuine volvo parts...
the 850 should on paper be as fast as the 940...but you would have to drive it harder to make it happen in reality...in fact it feels slow by comparison (even if you are going as fast!)
now the t5 IS faster usably...but the penalty is fuel consumption thats about the same as a 940turbo AND tyres that last 8-14k miles! (so im reliably told) - in fact i talked to one guy who smoked a set of fronts in a day because he was 'having fun'...
also t5's tend to get driven VERY hard...certainly given the reputation of the auto box on the early 850's i wouldnt touch an auto t5 myself...or one with a less than PERFECT service record....but then again I wouldnt buy a 940turbo with with an auto box or a less than perfect service record either (bitter experience talking)...
to sum up the 850 is a good car, the engine is really just like a b230 only laid sideways and with an extra pot and a few more valves...if your gona rebuild it it would be trickier but for everyday oil changes etc if anything its easier (filter on bottom at front, no horrible 4th plug....)
the volvo design life for the 850 engine is 200k....
be warned the 859 drives VERY differently to the 940...try before you buy!
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