I'm a 140/240 guy, and have worked on 850's but don't know much about particular problems and issues that popped up in certain years.
My friend is looking at a '98 855glt from a local dealership (big dealership--sells foreign and domestic, but NOT volvo.
The car has 53k miles on it and, from my friend's test drive experience, things seem just fine. Apparently the car looks very nice and was a trade in. The dealer was asking $7800, but all involved knew that was just BS. So, my friend has gotten the dealer down to around low $6000's. I think the car can realistically be bought for around $5800 w/ dealer 3 or 6 mo. warranty.
Hopefully I'll be taking it for a spin and a look-see later this week, but if any of you 850 guys/gals know things that I should look at/look for, please feel free to chime in.
My experience w/ early generation 850's was somewhat irksome, but most of all the darn weather stripping problems that lead to nasty, soaking wet, moldy interiors!!!
The car is an auto and it went throught the "go-zillion point" dealer inspection so it is ready to be registered, inspected, and pass emissions in CT.
The AC works and blows cold according to my friend. But---he's a pHD who studies lobsters, not cars, so he's completely ignorant and has no problem admitting that fact, so I guess he's not completely ignorant.
Thanks in advance.