I'm new to Brickboard and Volvos as a whole, but joined the forum due to my increasing interest in the possible purchase of a 1997 850R Wagon w/ 170k miles. All I can currently tell you about the car is that it's in good condition externally, but I'll get a chance to give it a closer inspection in a few days. I know it gets old when newbies show up and start asking questions that have been answered dozens of times, but I've searched around, found some good information, and just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. I know what basic automotive things to look for when purchasing used cars, but I would be very interested in learning what to look for from a Volvo standpoint, as well as specifics for a '97 850R Wagon.

To better inform you of how the car will be used, I don't necessarily plan for it to be my daily driver. This would be a 'road trip' car. My wife and I make a monthly weekend trip to visit our families that's around 700 miles total, and due to the need for more room I'm looking for a reliable vehicle to carry that load. So, I would also be interested in your opinions on whether this would be a good decision for the task at hand.

Thanks.