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Lukeball,
Thank you for your additional comments and advice. My ’96 850 may be worth $1,500 or less. I will probably spend more in getting this car repaired than its value. My justification is that it is still cheaper than going out and buying a new Volvo. Your comment “I have done too much work on this car” resonates with me. I own 3 Volvo wagons: two ’96 850 GLT wagons (both manuals) and a ’99 XC. Over the years, I often feel “I have done too much work on these cars.” I once read a comment by a fellow 850 owner on this column, who described Volvo 850s (and I this this comment may apply to all Volvos) as “maintenance hogs”. You must maintain them if you want them to last. But sometimes it can be overwhelming. I like my Volvos and forgive a lot because of the inherent safety they provide. This safety have been demonstrated to me on each Volvo I’ve listed when it was involved in a serious accident.
But you are right, it always seems that I am fixing something on these cars. I’m fortunate, my private mechanic is honest and competent which goes along way in being able to afford to hang onto these cars. Yet, just today on my ’99 XC, my mechanic has told me that cylinder #3 has no compression. The car only has 160,000 miles. Since day one I have only used synthetic oil and have changed the oil every 5,000 miles. My mechanic suspects it is the one if not both of the exhaust valves in cylinder #3. He won’t know for sure until he takes it apart and checks all the valves. I’m very disappointed this has happened. My mechanic said he has seen this on other XCs and believes the valves themselves are defective. Again, I really like the Volvo brand, but they sometimes seem to demand so much in terms of repairs. Over the years I have often read on this forum how long time Volvo owners have “thrown in the towel” and left the brand because of excessive repairs. I’m not there yet, but I can understand those who have reached that point.
On a lighter note, thank you for your advice.
Hugh
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