This is a cut/paste of a post that I put in the 700 forum. Those of you who own 850 wagons and earlier V70 FWD wagons are very well qualified to help me with this choice, and your thoughts are very welcome:

We have, and will keep, our beloved 1991 745 Turbo wagon. But, we need a second car. The second car will be, primarily, our 25 year-old daughter's. She and her mother will use it for a daily driver, and the two cars will be back-up for each other in times of maintenance (scheduled and otherwise).

While I love the looks of the 745 and 945 (exactly the same sheet metal as far as I can tell), I thought that my daughter and wife might like to drive something that looks a bit "newer."

I've begun to be mesmerized by the numbers of 850 wagons and earlier V70 wagons available at reasonable prices. In many cases these cars are equal to or less expensive to purchase than a good, but older and higher mileage, 745 or 945. Hmmm, maybe that should tell me something.

I have read the FAQ about the problems that the 850 and its heirs (V70, etc) have.

What are your opinions? Should I really stay away from the FWD wagons, and stick with the good, very reliable, 700/900 series cars? Are the 850/V70 as bad as I fear? Would YOU buy one for your wife and daughter? Or, should I stick to finding a nice 745 (my preference) or 945 wagon?