I'm with Bill a few posts below - the definition of "best" can be quite varied.

I can tell you that my indy mechanic doesn't think much of 850's in comparison with other Volvo's. He pointed out when I had my crinkled fender in my hand, and was looking for a replacement, how flimsy the fender is compared with other models (I can't recall which). He went on to explain how Volvo's reputation was built on other models, and that if the 850 had been the benchmark, Volvo wouldn't have become so well thought of.

Personally, I find the car among the most comfortable I have owned. The climate control and seats are two main reasons for that. Certain aspects of the handling I do not find superior to other cars I have owned. The engine is nice, but the tranny seems like a weak link. The fit and finish of the body I like. The suspension/handling/brakes I do not like. In this category, my 280ZX turbo was a dream. After riding though a winding, hilly canyon road, all I wanted to do was go back and do it again. In the 850 I wouldn't be pressing the accelerator much in the curves. This is a somewhat unfair comparison, since the 280 is RWD.

I like the styling; for its age I am still happy when I look at it if I don't look so closely I see the age defects.

One of the world's best cars? In some categories, perhaps. I hope there are many better overall if a critical examination were to be performed.

I bought my 97 850 for $5000 in 2006, it had 93k miles. I have since put 63k more miles on it, and have spent $4000 in repairs on the rear main seal and every kind of suspension issues, but it has always run great, and is a ball to drive. World's best car? Well I haven't driven enough cars to even think about that, but it is certainly my best car.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as a "world's best car," unless you have a very explicit definition of what "best" means.

that said, we have a 1996 850 that we love enough to have named (Arabella), and a 2001 Ford Taurus that reminds me regularly why the American makers are in trouble. Arabella is lively, practical with those fold-down rear seats, and gets better gas mileage while holding about as much stuff as the Ford; the Ford's back seat doesn't fold down, mileage is marginal, and it feels positively hippopotamatical in comparison to the 850.

I bought my '96 850 about 1 month ago from a family that used it as their back up car for the last 5 years. Car was in nice shape for it's age. It has 126,000 miles. The guy said it was always properly maintained. After I bought it, I took it right to my mechanic for a state inspection. I ended up spending $1900.00. Yikes!
So, now that I have a small fortune in this car, I hope it's the world's best car!!

Just curious but what mechanical or other major changes were made on the 850 series over the years? Early ones had a stiff ride I am told. When did they soften it up? Was the 97 850 the same as the 98 S/V70? When was the last year they used OPD II (if ever)? The only major mech problem I have heard about is the a/c evaporator. What actually fails? I hear that once it is repaired it seldom goes again. True? If so, what is the fix?

Bill

Before you guys start tinkling on yourselves . . .

. . . let's be honest.

If, when the 850 was available, you looked at its reliability record in the back of the Consumer Reports annual car buying guide, you would see that its records were less than stellar--much less. Where the Hondas and Toyota charts were almost solid red (good) and the Jeep and other American manufacturers were solid black (bad), the Volvo brand was somewhere south of the middle. By the way, I'm not a fan of Consumer Reports, but the reliability charts are the best system we have for gauging comparative reliability.

Some of you may have had reliable 850s, but on the whole these cars were NOT reliable (as the CU charts show). My car, bought new (and which I still own), and maintained well, suffered failure after failure.

Their basic structure is more durable than most all cars, I will give you that. But the cars, in general, need constant attention and parts to keep them running. Hondas and Toyotas require much less, at a much cheaper cost.

Everyone likes to think that the car they own is the best. It's natural. I can't tell you how many times people come up to me (knowing I am into cars) telling me how the just bought a new [piece of junk] and how its the best car in the world. I just smile.

And, there are many people out there who can sense that you are looking for approval concerning the car you drive and will tell you that that "'96 850 with this engine and that option is exactly the best car in the world," because they know that is what you want to hear.

On the continuum of worst/poor/average/good/best the 850 would be in the average-to-good range.

I don't know much about other cars, but my 94 855M (original owner) had over 330k with a huge number of original parts still on it (inc. engine, tranny, exhaust, O2 and all other sensors except cam shaft, alternator) before giving it to a needy friend who has put another 30k on it.

What did crap out was the A/C at around 200k. Starter at 220k; rear main seal at 253k (gave me an opportunity to finally swap the clutch!) rear suspennsion bushings at 330k (I moved a rock wall in the back of the wagon load by load, that did not help!)

The car has rattles today and is no longer pretty, but with 4 snow tires on it, I have hard time imagining a better or more durable winter car. Just not having to replace the exhaust and water pump every 2 years (like on my old 240's) is a Godsend.

I'm a bit tempted by the newer XC70's all over eBay for very short money, but my rational side says there's a reason they are going so cheap. I'm surprised I cannot find more info on them on this site....maybe I'm bad at using the search engine?

I don't get it - why 850? I thought S70 was just a name change. And why 1996? I thought 98, last of the pre-electronic throttle actuator, was supposed to be the best year.

The Mercedes-Benz 240D is indisputably the world's most practical car.

Juan,

Practicality? Sure, a long standing Volvo characteristic.

Safety? Of course, Volvo set the standard for US automobile safety in the '70's.

Durability? As long as you keep replacing parts the 850/70 series cars, or any car, will go on forever.

Using your mechanic's definition of "world's best production car" I would say that the 850/70 series is likely in the top ten.

Enjoy!

Bryan

'98 S70 GLT rolling on to its 2nd 100K miles.

I have had a '95 volvo 850 turbo for the last 13 years. Once it was out of warranty, it cost at least $1,000 a year for repair and that is without replacing the A/C that went out for the second time. That being said, the 850 is the best car that I have owned including a 1966 mustang 289 with a 4bbl carb.
My wife and I vacation in Europe every year and have rented a wide variety of Europen cars. My favorites were an E class Mercedes and an Alfa Romeo. The Mercedes was much nicer than the 850, and the Alfa was more fun to drive. One year we got a S60 volvo, what a dog.

The 850/70 series was one of Volvos better products. Like the 140/240/740 cars, they have a pretty good engine and easily get to 200K miles. BUT, they are maintenance heavy, meaning that if they are not maintained they will be found on the side of the road.
Typical of European cars, they are fast and safe. But, Volvos ride like dump trucks, unlike American/Japanese cars that "float" down the road.
Maintenance is actually cheaper than the Mercedes, BMW, and Audi for the same milage. When Hondas get over 150K miles, even they get expensive.
I like both of my cars, but if I didn't know how to turn a wrench, I would not be able to afford to keep them on the road.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

If someone would like to trade me even-up for a new Porsche 997, I will consider it.

My'98 V70 is the best $3800 winter-beater and grocery-getter in the world for me. Other opinions (including Consumer Reports) may be different.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 177k mi, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck tape, zip-ties, two Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

My Mechanic, a 35 year veteran says the same thing. Here in NH, the climate is tough on cars. He says by far the 850/S70 is the best car Volvo ever built. He has tons of customers with 200, 300 thousand miles with all original componenets and the engines seem to never die. AS for my own experience, I have a 1999 (actually a 98) Volvo S70 with 161,000 miles on it. The only problem I have ever had is:

I just had to fix the muffler system (80 bucks)
A rock hit my radiator from underneath and it started leaking.

My mechanic says in over all build quality, longevity, safety they blow away Honda and Toyota (His words not mine).

They have definitely been good cars.

i like my '95 850 pretty well. but i've only had it 3 weeks. i also liked my 2door ford exploder (no comparisons implied) but it reminds me of something my uncle used to say.
"opinions are like a$$holes, everybody has them and they all itch"

cheers!
-woodsytf
'95 850 wagon