I know this question has been asked several times. I've read some of the replies about common probs and solutions. I guess I'm looking for value opinions and thoughts on what I can do to evaluate this car before buying it. There is a '96 850 Wagon I'm looking at that has just over 100,000 mi on the odometer and is avail. for about CDN$12,000, or around US$8,000. It comes with winter and summer tires all in very good shape. I know the A/C doesn't work (evaporator) and the timing belt was changed in the last two years. The car has had regular maintenance and has been given the once over by a local independent Volvo mech. He says it's tight. I can do most minor repairs and am not too worried about a vehicle that occasionally needs attention. Our present car is a Camry wagon with about 440,000 km (275,000 mi) on it. I expect the Volvo to require more maintenance than the Toyota but I don't want a car that is likely to shut down on a long trip with our 6 month old in the back seat.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Graham

The 850's are hit or miss. Mine was a total piece of garbage. If it weren't for such poor support from a variety of dealers and Volvo corp. I may have tolerated it. However, the car was a complete money pit. Every problem the 850's are known for, I had.

You'd be much better served buying another Camry or a Subaru. Even a Taurus will cost hundreds less during dealer visits. My Mom has had a bunch of them and they've all held up well.
--
96 850 GLT 5-Speed- Sold due to astronomical repair costs.

Mine had so many problems as a newborn that it seems to have gotten better with
age. AT is as good as when new; engine is better. Parts (the inevitable brake
rotors, fuel filter, etc) are not excessively priced... You could do a lot worse,
though I think you need some kind of digital tool to be able to read ECU error
codes on the US '96. I've always run a cabin pollen filter and never had an AC
problem (that I'm aware of; haven't turned it on since last year), though I have
had blower motor and pollen filter (Volvo changed filters, I had to buy a new
housing to take new filters, newer Volvo filters totally SUCK; I have to make my
own now) problems.

850s have their idiosyncracies. Weak AM radio reception is usually messed up by
static the car makes while rolling, which varies according to tires and road
surfaces. My transmission-brake interlock microswitch sometimes doesn't release
the shifter solenoid any more. There's a rattle or two on unsmooth roads. And
ride quality was never these beasts' strong suit. The radiator reservoir cap
failed at a young age (they all did before Volvo came up with better caps),
but the underhood hoses are all still original!

This car has aged better than any other car I've ever known, except for its many
significant congenital/teething problems. I'm still being rewarded by it for
having endured them.

I left my distributor cap/rotor on until they failed at right around 100K mi.

- Dave; '95 854T, 139K mi

I would say my wife's T5 is very well maintained. We've taken a 2500-mile trip in it no problems (through the Southwest desert in July!!). It's a reliable car if taken care of. It is a high maintenance vehicle, though. But if you're willing to do the work yourself, it's pretty conventional and straightforward- but can get expensive on some items, esp. the A/C.

good luck!