OK...need some sound advise. '97 850 T-5 with 170k. Still love the car but have put in $1600 over the past month; two pulleys, a belt, a computer, radiator. Figure the car would fetch about $4500 now that it's fixed.

I have read the posts of 200k + as you have, but is there really a way to know you are in the "money pit" phase. Sell it while it's worth something or drive it into the ground ?

Unfortunately, Volvo makes nothing new that I'm even interested in. PLease weigh in !

Thanks.

well I enjoyed reading this post and everyones input. I myself have toyed with the idea of buying a a newer one. my 96 glt with 163k on it has needed many repairs, a,c compressor, pnp switch, suspension, brakes rotars, the list goes on and on, but THE CAR ALWAYS RUNS!!! I had one day last winter when it was soo cold the throtle stuck had to pull over husband was there with a screwdriver in 5 mins. I take mt car to the dealer to get the list of repairs get a nice loaner for a day. husband dose the work, or if he caint I have dealer do it. I have driven the new s40, s60, s70 and the s80. I must say the s70 and the s60 are very close to what I drive and if I caint find a convertible in a couple of years the s60 turbo is the car for me. I was told by my dealer if I want to come down and take a new or used one home for the weekend please drop by, they are not pushy at all. go drive one, looks arent everything. Kelly

645,000 km and running strong, real strong. ive had a couple of expensive stretches also (i tend to put off repairs then do a bunch at once) but ive then had some great runs after. once went 94000km without spending a dime. im currently on an amazing run, spent 2 grand (canadian too) in the last 112000km. most people doubted that the transmission would last this long because i tow a half ton trailer with me most of the time. two, yes two, tranny fluid changes all this time. i also tell people i wont be buying another one. like you, the new ones dont appeal to me. theyre also cramped on the inside.

Breadboy-

645km ... you are an inspiration. My wife and I discussed it today and decided to hold out and see what happens. I have my indy mechanic searching for a '98 S-70 with fewer miles and when it happens and the car is OK, that'll be all right too.

By the way, how often do you chage the oil, etc and do you use synthetic ?
Thanks again

i certainly dont follow the maintenance schedule of most of the volvophiles on here. ive used cheap filters and oil, gone 20000 between changes, always a litre short, i never yank the dipstick. when i hear the lifters making noise i add some. in the last year i have switched to 15/40. quiets it up and i lose less through my numerous leaks. i just put on my first volvo quality filter. stupid of me to be cheap about that.

I think you need to amortize the $1600 over 170,000 miles, in which case it's less than one penny per mile!

I have about the same "problem" -- not much in the Volvo lineup that's vastly superior to what I've got, and the V70R that I lust after is gonna be impossible for my local Volvo indy to work on.

I'd like to commute via G5 Mac, buy a Carrera 3.2 cabriolet for fun, and keep the V70 for a few more years as my daily driver. Anyway, that's my fantasy!

What color is that 200,000 mile badge? :D

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 166k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

The only way these puppies make any sense is if they're driven for a "long" time.

It just doesn't make economic sense to lease a car that's supposed to be good for 250,000 miles and turn it back in after 3 years and 35,000 miles.

No matter WHAT the mechanical repairs are, it can almost never be cheaper to buy a new car!

I don't want to take mine on my daily 5AM 100 mile commute anymore, but within a 20 mile towing radius of the indy Volvo shop, yeah, sure.

I'll keep it for 10-12 years, and it just turned 8.

When to trade?

1.) When leaves me or my "significant other" stranded frequently -- not awfully likely if it's well maintained by a competent shop.

2.) When vastly superior technology is introduced. My previous SAAB had no airbags, no traction control, and no ABS.

3.) When it develops terminal rust -- maybe on a 240, but not likely for a FWD-AWD Volvo.

Mine is developing a nice "patina" now, but it still doesn't use any oil, and it's still fun to drive. And I don't have to worry about all the door dings in shopping centers.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 166k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

i would say go with your gut...if you have problems your having issues solving, or an accumulation of smaller isues that are goign to build up that your aware of you may be well advised to bail....if there is nothign you know of and it all 'feels' fine i would say hang on....

also if you know a good indepoendant take it to them and say 'guys if i keep this for 3 years what can i expect to have to do...' and expect to pay them for looking at the car and their experience...they may go over it and say your in for a whole suspsnsion rebuild withint the next 12 motnhs...they may not!

As your averaged monthly repair and maintenance costs approach what you would pay each month to buy a replacement car you have to make the decision if you're looking at this strickly in a dollers-and-cents point of view. But it's not always that easy when dealing with cars because so many other personal things can come into play. Assuming you car's payed off do you want to spend "replacement car" payments, new or used, to maintain your present vehicle? How attached are you to the car? Some folks think spending $1000/yr to maintain a car is OK. Some think $100/yr is too much. What are your expected replacement car payments? $300/mo adds up to $3600/yr. That's alot of repairs! Maybe.... Lots of room for discussion here that's why there's so many different cars on the road and so many repair garages. Personally if I had the money I would buy a different classic car every six months, drive it for a while and then sell it for another. Porsches, MG's, Mini's, Healeys, Citrons, Alfas, 1800's, Jaguars .... So many cars and so little time. Just dreamin'. Sorry to get so carried away.

With your miles, I highly doubt that you'ld really fetch anywhere close to $4500 despite what any sources might claim.
If you're not sure of the cars overall condition, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a trusted technician give the car a good look over. A tech experienced with 850s would know what to look for and could tell you how yours fairs in general.
I own a much older RWD Volvo, have owned it for 11 yrs, now has almost 270K miles and I have no doubts that mine will reach 400K miles and another 10 yrs before I think about replacing it. I also do not like newer Volvos (past '99) and will not own one ever.

I know the feeling. I got rid of my 97 850 turbo with 109K for $6900. Still have (wife does) have a 97 850 turbo with 74K. We had matching ones. The upside is that I found a mech at a dealer that will do her care on his sched for about have the cost. I have a very boring Toyota Avalon. It is boring, but it hasn't been to the shop for any repairs. Only maint items that I can't do.

Went through the very same thing on two of her BMW's. I had a Mercedes 420 with 165K. No repairs, only maint. But I am anal about maint.

A belt, 2 pulleys and a rad. over an 8 year period of time does not sound like a money pit to me. Climate is a factor to consider....extreme hot or cold can create problems. A computer in addition to the above for $1600 sounds like a bargain. The money spent would be 2 or 3 car payments? I say hang in there.

Boy, you seldom get this much agreement...

You're at that terrible "choice point" where you are experiencint a sudden rush of expensive repairs, and that makes any sane person stand back and think.

But if you look at it from the perspective that you're seeing here, you really aren't suffering any repairs, averaged over a period of time, that are unreasonable. You've just been spoiled by your car's overall reliability.

These things that have needed attention are things that will always occur during such a long vehicle life. The longevity of the parts is such that most of them simply went a looong way. Now they have to be replaced.

If you like the car, if you're comfortable in it, if the engine runs well and isn't consuming oil, if the fuel mileage is still good and the tranny is in good shape, what will you get that would better serve your needs for a lower cost?

The best points about Volvo ownership are the safety and reliable performance that they provide. The worst point is that it costs a few bucks to replace things when they finally wear out.

I'd have a pro give it a real good going over too see if there's anything catastrophic looming on the horizon. If there isn't, I'd keep it for another year and then revisit the issue.


Marty
'96 855T