We have had our '96 855R for 4 years and 40,000 miles.

I have never had any issues in stop and go traffic, at worst it accelerates like our base 850s when the turbo lags.

ALL white engines need to be wound up on a regular basis to keep them sharp, occasionally an Italian tune up is in order. Klaus is right, they really can honk when you jump on it entering a highway, If the highway is empty, you can pull from 40 to 140 with the same acceleration - probably higher, but that's my limit on public roads.

The car rides HARD - I swear that it bumps when you drive over the shadow of a telephone pole! I'll say this, my car probably needs new shocks and a suspension tune-up. I brought a B16 engine and transmission home last year, the back dropped 4 inches, but came up level after a 1/2 mile.

We got 28.5 MPG driving from Boston to Indianapolis, and I drove 65 to 70, playing with trucks all the way.

With snow tires, it is well-behaved in Massachusetts winter, even my wife does not complain.

The R is no different than the other two 850s as far as repairs go.

I smile every time I drive it. (Of course, I actually sing when I drive the PV!)
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 435,000 miles put on 9 bricks

The R is a fun car with sport suspension, so it handles great but can be a pain in rough road conditions. The mileage is decent, 20 city and 27 hwy. But the engine need to be revved up to keep it in top form. The Volvo high pressure turbos are not very happy in stop and go traffic, but they sure can merge on the highway on ramps :)
Same problems as all other 850s. Make sure there are service records.

Klaus
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Please answer your responses. We need to know if the advice is good or bad. The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are 2 turbos :)