For the price it aint bad...but 170K miles is a bunch if the car hasn't been maintained. Don't mind RU Kidding...he says the same thing on just about everyone's posts. He's just pissed about his Volvo...which you will be pissed about yours too if you assume it's well maitained. Most likely the big items for repair have come up and the owner doesn't want to put the money in it. Such things as:
1. New A/C evaporator ($1200+ as the entire dash has to come out).
2. Transmission is having issues...check it out...poor shifting...black fluid smells burnt, then you do want to run from it.
3. ABS module is bad and light is on...actually pretty cheap...$150 rebuilt by a guy here named Victor.
4. Bad rear main seal that leaks...$1000 to take the engine and transmission apart to replace that seal...caused by an unmaintained pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) system, which you probably need to replace anyway....about $350 including parts if you can get a good indy guy to do it for you.
5. Other annoying clicks, humms, rattles and clanging sounds out of the dash, internal car accessories and suspension. You can expect to pay upwards of $1000 to change your shocks, struts, swaybar endlinks, shock/strut mounts and front spring seats as well as inner and outer tie-rod ends or A-arms.
So, if all of these things are bad, you're looking at putting at least $2700 into this car...more than the car is worth, and that's having it done by someone that is NOT THE DEALER. Expect to pay 50% more if you take it to the dealer...so that's $4000 to get the car up to par....so get it all checked out very well and make sure the owner has previous maitenance records for the car.
Sorry for the long post. If all of the things above are good...then by all means buy the 850 and enjoy it...just wanted you to have your head up and be knolegeable about the potential issues an 850 with 170K miles may have.
Oh, I didn't even mention the Timing Belt...hope he changed it on time at 140K miles along with the water pump...if not, you'll need to do these immediately...not real expensive, but can be more than pocket change because at this age (if not changed out already) you'll need to also change the timing belt tensioner, pulley an roller and should go ahead and change the serpentine belt with it's pulley as well...guess that will be maybe $6-700 chaching....
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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