Thanks to those who replied to my note from a few days ago about selling my 1996 855T with just 99k. I finally got the thing sold. I got $6,000 for it; a fair price, I guess, although KBB said it was worth several hundred more in my part of the world. Glad to have it gone and ironically, an IPD catalog arrived just as I sold it.

I suppose this is also a farewell to Brickboard, as I am no longer a Volvo owner. I've enjoyed this BB but wish I hadn't had to consult it so often. My 850 ownership experience was...not great, and quite expensive. Despite religious maintenance and a dynamite mechanic, the car let me down several times, and once stranded my family in a dangerous sitution. At one point I made a list of all the known trouble spots on the 850; I then ticked off all the ones I'd addressed and realized what lay ahead. It was depressing. And so expensive. The car was, by far, the least reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

It's a shame the 850 doesn't hold up better. When it was right, that was a very nice, fast, safe car that I truly enjoyed driving. It even got decent mpg! But the cost of ownership was outrageous, and more than I could stomach. So it had to go.

Thanks to all who helped in the past, and best wishes for the future.

--Dan L.
1993 Saab 900s, 128k
1993 Camry wagon, 121k

Formerly 1996 855T, 99k; also '99 New Jetta, '90 Integra, '88 Scirocco 16v, '79 Rabbit, '78 Buick Opel