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I can tell you all the stuff that is wrong with our 1994 model:
It is fairly high mileage (240,000km) and had a fairly harsh
life before we bought it, although I didn't know that until
the problems started appearing. The paint and interior were
fine and I figured that high-Km in a Volvo probably didn't
matter much if the service book was stamped (which it was).
Anyway, in less than 3 years, this is what happened:
1) Air conditioning system: The evaporator inside the cabin cracked
and had to be replaced with a factory kit (it is apparently very
common). Entire dashboard out job and about $2000 AUD. It started
out being an A/C system that would not hold a charge and rapidly
got worse. If the 850 you are looking at has no cold A/C, walk away.
2) Turbocharger needed replacing. Factory reconditioned unit installed
with new oil lines and replacement heat shields. About $1500AUD I think.
Not bad value, doesn't actually look too hard to replace yourself but
I was too busy with other vehicles at the time.
3) Automatic transmission died at 210,000km. Volvo dealer wanted over $5000AUD
for a replacement "refurbished in sweden by naked, nubile blonde mechanics"
We skipped that and went to a local auto transmission place. It still
cost $2500 but they found General Motors replacement parts (from an Isuzu)
which were an order of magnitude less expensive than the genuine Volvo
plastic bit that was actually busted. Transmission itself was in
reasonable shape, but reverse gear disappeared hence the rebuild. Just
because the gearbox is a bespoke Aisin-Volvo unit doesn't mean it
doesn't use the same bits inside as a Holden Camira (I wish I knew
which Pontiac that particular car corresponds with, I saw thousands
of the ugliest styled contraptions in the US last time I was there based
on the "J" platform we know down under as the Camira).
4) The front suspension is now completely stuffed - the upper strut
mounts are worn out and most of the ball joints and tie rod ends
need replacing. I actually think this is OK on a 240,000km car
though.
5) Other old car stuff - tailgate struts are now bad and the tailgate
panel is falling off (apparently both easy to fix). The stereo
drops one channel consistantly and drives me crazy. The CD
changer needs yanking every 3 months to extract a stuck CD.
There is a persistant oil stink from the (bodged) oil
separator and it appears no way to change it out other than
removing the entire intake system (forget it!).
This is all fairly normal stuff on an 850 Volvo as far as I can
ascertain. The best non-factory Volvo place we first approached about
the turbocharger and automatic were nonplussed when we told them how
high the KM were - they said the auto transmission in the T-5 rarely
lasts longer than 200,000 and the Turbocharger generally has a life
of around 100,000 in Australia due to the heat (they coke up the oil
lines).
One caveat to all of this: we drive the car quite hard, it is
rarely off the road at all. We have driven it over 1000km in
one day with both kids and all our luggage in it and arrived in
pretty good shape, stopping for fuel once and never travelling under
the speed limit. The concept is fabulous, the execution however...
If you want an 850 T-5 or R, buy the latest, lowest K car you can find.
It is very hard to check the state of the transmission (it failed with
fine smelling fluid and was overall in OK shape, but the plastic part
that broke in the reverse mechanism still meant a full rebuild).
I can live with the Turbo replacement and the worn out suspension, but
the A/C system problems are just plain stupid.
Cheers,
dave.
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