I'm looking at purchasing a 94-96 850 Wagon but am unsure whether I should avoid a turbo. I want leather and a sunroof and it seems that all the wagons I look at are all Turbos. I've driven GLE's & GLT's and realize the performance difference. This vechile will be typically driven small distances, 5-20 km verus 80-160 km per day. I'd love to hear your comments, good or bad.
Thanks

We have a 95 GLT wagon, with a normally aspirated engine. It has
been a nice car and is driven for many short trips. This is my
wife's daily driver. I have a 98 S70 T5M (turbo) and it also has
provven reliable. The turbo is not really an issue -- there are many
other things to watch on 850/s70s and turbo's aren't really on the list
of problems for these cars. After owning both, I'd go for the
turbo with any future Volvo and I think my wife would agree.

Note that the 97 GLT came with the low pressure turbo engine. Not quite
as powerful as the high pressure turbo but it might be in your price
range. Also, the low pressure trubo maught be in other model years
depending on your market (97 was for North America).

Depends also on whether it will be driven hard. Turbos like the cool down, so short distances arn't as good for them, but I wouldn't avoid a turbo becasue of reliability, that's quite a bit of a myth in this case. I've rarely heard of an 850 with a bad turbo. 95 is probably the best year out of that (I am biased) because it has the newer styling and you can pull your own engine codes (most of the time). Sunroof, trip computer, an 16" wheels are all standard features on the turbo, and most have leather as you have said. It sounds like you're basing your decision on whether or not you have power...becuase everything else is the same. If you're interested in tuning the car, a turbo is alot cheaper and easier to do that to.
--
Brandon
95 854T 92k
Pictures =)