Hi again Boogie.. glad you came back.

Oh well. I agree that it's most likely best this way. I've never been happy about the outcome of a car purchase if I felt that I had overpaid. Maybe it was just a "mind set"... but it always seemed that I was more sensitive to problems with the car, or just got frustrated more easily. But whatever it was, somehow the joy of ownership was somewhat dulled.

In the 3K range, you will be able to find others, and, hopefully, in better running shape.

When I bought my wagon, it was from its original owner... a suburban housewife in New Jersey, who had heard Volvos were good cars, needed a wagon, went to the local dealer, and bought one out of the showroom. What she got was a black/black turbo wagon with every option except the CD changer and fog lights. She was also singularly unaware of the performance potential of the car. I guess some folks just have too much money.

She asked 3K, but it had a dented driver's side rear door... I got it for 2K, then spent $500 fixing and detailing the body. It cost me over 3K more to completely redo the suspension (including sway bars, struts/shocks, ball joints, etc.), brakes, fuel pump, tires, and a few performance odds and ends.

So you see, I'm into a "bargain" 855T for something around $6000.00, and still have to have the ABS module done, and I'm sure that an evaporator coil looms ahead. That puts my "bargain" at around 7K. And that was starting with a filthy, but otherwise well serviced, good running car.

What I now have is an extremely fast, smooth, great handling vehicle, which absolutely nobody (except the occasional Volvo enthusiast) pays any attention to. My kinda ride!!!

Keep looking... remember that these were expensive cars, and their owners tended to have them properly serviced. Certainly not all, but many. Good ones, in need of a few thousand dollars worth of work are out there... for the original owner, that large a repair tab is what finally causes the car to be sold. But to a discerning buyer... BINGO!!!

Good luck... let the board know if you find one?

Marty
'96 855T