Ignore them. I've had my Volvo since I was 27 and I don't have children and don't live in the suburbs! It's a great ride and if any of your friends drive it they will agree. My friends fight over who gets to drive when I don't.

I like that I am the only one around my age to be seen driving this car. My 850 was my first car and has carried me into college. All my friends drive Hondas and Toyotas and they don't understand why I would want to drive a frumpy looking Volvo. Then I tell them people in Hondas and Toyotas shouldn't talk about style since there the most anonymous looking cars made. Its ok to be different; and I like that I can spot my car in a crowded paking lot. And as far as reliability, my car has been just as dependable as any Japanese make. Since Ford took over Volvo, I'll probably never drive another Volvo again. Soon, the same thing that happened to Saab with GM will happen to Volvo with Ford. People driving the new Saab 9-3s are driving a car with the same platform as the new '05 Malibu & Grand Ams. Not that Ford is bad; but I like having a Volvo because it is unique to other cars, and Ford's cost cutting techniques are sure to be implemented to maximize profits. Soon, all Volvos will be Ford replicas.

Be proud of your car, man! I have a '95 850 Turbo sedan and all my friends (those who know something about cars) always want to ride with me. Those who think it's just a typical slow Volvo sing a different tune when I give them a blast of the high pressure turbo during a full throttle run. :)

--
'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows

Ryan,
First new car bought, '97 GLT. This was 2 years post Blacksburg.
Have fun.
Kele'

I'm 29 and have driven a Volvo since I was 20, I still have my original 760 and now an 850. I like the 760 more (it's a Turbo). Who cares what your friends think Volvo's are the safest sports cars out there.

Well, I'm 18, and I drive my '93 850 because I love it. I've driven other cars, and just don't see what makes them so good.

Around where I live, I'm an oddity. People don't drive volvos. It's "uncool" to be seen in anything that's not an SUV, a Benz, a BMW, a Lexus, or an Acura. They mock me, but when I take them for a spin, they're shocked! I can only imagine if it were a turbo.

My goal one day is to upgrade this as far as I can, then pick up a T5-R and fiddle with that. It may not be cool (Because a volvo could *never* be fast, right?), but I love how these cars handle and how they work. I also love working on them. I'm very happy to fix almost any problem that comes up when I'm around. I actually just bought another '93 850 for parts, and might make it my future project car considering it's got a five-speed and a nice interior (although I'm probably going to transfer it to my car).

I think it's amazing. My parents got the car as a beater (for $100, no less) to drive around until we got a "real" car, but we all ended up just falling in love and not wanting to part with it. So far, though, we've spent $1400 in parts. Thanks to this site, we've saved an estimated $9,000 to $10,000 in parts and labor from volvo, and will soon be driving the savings up even further with the purchase of the wreck (so many small, costly parts needed replacing due to damage from the past owner's multiple collisions, and most never require much--if any--maintainance).
--
Proud owner of a 1993 850 GLT

I'm 16 and my first car is a Volvo 850, and not even turbocharged. It has plenty of power, but I dream of the T-5 engine. Several kids my age drive Volvos that I know of. My friend, 17, has a '89 240, another also 17 drive a '89 780 Bertone Turbo, and six or seven kids at my high school also own Volvos, notably 850s and one 940. Being suburbia, some of these cars are hand-me downs from their parents, but I bought my car with my own money becasue I love it. So, I'm even younger than you and I never feel like I'm driving a car that's too old for me.
--
Matt in MA, '93 850 GLT

Got my 1995 T5 when i was 21, people kid me but stop when i tell them the bhp.Awsome car!!!

Your friends are jealous! Enjoy your 850. There are tons of performance mods available.

I drive a 95 855 turbo, also a 93 VW Corrado both cars very clean. I will be 62 in July.

volvo 850 turbo's kick ass,