Don't know if anyone else has seen this, but in my local paper this morning in Ray and Tom's column, someone wrote in and said that he and his wife were offered 2 different cars from 2 of their grandmothers. One was a 95 Volvo 850 with 50-something thousand on the clock, the other was a 92 Camry also with 5-something thousand on it (low mileage - the proverbial trip to church once a week in the car?). Anyway, the writer wanted to know which car to accept. Both Ray and Tom said that although both were good cars, they should go with the Camry, suggesting that the 850 would need alot of mechanical "attention" over the next few years while as the Camry wouldn't need much of anything. The remainder of their response involved advising the guy how to tell the one grandmother that they didn't want her 850 without hurting her feelings! Pretty amusing.

I tell ya, we 850 owners, we're like Rodney Dangerfield, we get no respect!

Steve Kammerer
94 854 NA, 129K

I'd 'Yawn!' tke the 'Yawn' Toyota 'Yawn'.... NOT! Very reliable cars but oh so dull to drive...

*knocks on wood*. The 850 I have is pretty trouble-free, but let's face it. Such a car like an 850 has character that only an enthusiast would appreciate. I definitely wouldn't recommend an 850 to someone who needs a daily driver. You have to love the 850's quirks and design to appreciate and enjoy it.
--
'94 854 N/A.

I bought it with 82 miles on the clock. Maintain it regularly, or at least try to. I don't know why people say they are expensive to own. They aren't. I had a Pontiac that cost me so much to own I could have purchased a brand new car.

They also said the timing belt cost $800. I don't remember it being that much when I had it replaced several years ago. :-)


Mike

I only paid $175.00 to get my timing belt changed at a volvo specific repair facility...That even included an oil change

I have a 1993 850 GLT and had my timing belt done at 96,000k this past January for only $250.00 (approximate), at a Volvo Indy and I live in San Francisco. Sounds like they're trying to rip you off. I would say $800.00 is RIDICULOUS!

This guy must be like my dealer that I avoid like the plague. I changed the front end bushings on my old 740. The "cone" strut rod bushings were $5.00 each at FCPGroton. I had to go by my dealer for something else and just asked what the strut rod bushings cost. Take a guess... $49.00 EACH! THe guy would steal from his own mother. I'd probably need a home equity loan to have this jerk do a timing belt. I think my indy charged me about $125.

bl

Do you think at least they autograph the timing belt cover???

I just had my TB, TB tensioner, and idler pulley replaced and an oil change too, and it was still less than $800!

-Punx

Yeah, the toyota will probably have less problems. And it'll never be a Volvo.

Yep,
I gotta question this whole thinking. These are 2 wayy different cars. A 92 camry and a 96 850??? Are you kidding? Thats like settling for a VCR player rather than DVD technology.
Lets face it ...those 4 years make a BIG difference. It wasn't until 1999 that Mercedes and BMW installed Side Impact Air Bags (as an option) try searching for even a 96 or heck even 2005 CAMRY with side air-bags????
Ok?? What about the steel reinforced passenger cage?? Sure they MAY have the crumple zones but that pales in comparison to those chunky steel bars that make your door feel like a heavy castle door when opening.
Then look under your dash by your knees.If you tap it, you will feel solid steel beams (knee-braces) that protect those legs from breaking...I can go on with safety.....
Then you also need to look at the design. The 92 CAMRYS were the typical plastic toy-like interior. You felt as if there was a rationing of steel in their days...very light flimsy paneling used.Pop the hood and you should be convinced by then..look closely at the Amateur-like wiring and eletrical harness compared to the German components for the Volvo's and Toyota sedan with 4WDs, Turbos and Intercoolers are just imagination and eons away. Get Real now.
I really dont know what planet you guys are when you keep whining about Volvo maintentance costs? I take it many of you go straight to your dealer at the slightest hiccup and (yeah, I've seen some questions on this board that make me feel sorry for the suckers), agree to everything he says and pay up your nose, then come and lament here. I've had my current Volvo for near 30,000 miles and I'm starting to feel guilty at the little in repair I've had to cough out. If you inherit other people's problems then yeah, you will pay more, but that goes for any car.
Finally I must agree like someone said Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans are assembly-line worker's cars and not with the same effect as being a Volvo owner and nowhere nearly as engineered as Volvos. You just cant compare the two.

I'd take a Volvo anytime over these over-hyped Toyotas. Remember they look great and last compared to American cars but pale when forced to compete with the Euros in demanding severe collision Autobahn-like environments.Period.