I joined this forum via volvo-forums.com. Early this month I bought (for $1500 cash) a 1995 Volvo 850 GLT sedan, non turbo, automatic, dark green (close to what used to be called "British racing green"). Body wise, it looked good, except for minor scratches and a missing lens from the front turn signal. The previous owner had studded the headliner with tacks to keep the cloth from falling. (Apparently they smoked; the ash tray had a couple of butts.) The sunroof still works. The leather seats are OK except for the worn driver's seat.
The dash lights didn't come on (the problem lay in the rheostat dimmer; I jumped a couple of connectors and the dash lights came on again) and one of the heater hoses is cut (the other is disconnected). Otherwise it runs great (over 260K miles).
I took it to a garage because I thought it needed a brake job; I kept hearing a grinding and scraping while in motion. The mechanic, showing rare honesty, told me that the backing plate on one rotor had bent and was scraping against the rotor. He merely bent the plate back and all was well. Later, I replaced the turn signal lens ($60 from the local dealer).
This is my second Volvo; the first was a '73 240DL wagon I bought cheaply in the early '90s. Only had it for a couple of months before the automatic transmission (Borg-Warner) died.

 

LOL, I welcomed you to Volvo-Forums.com last night.

I guess you decided to come and try this forum. Between you and me, this one is a lot better then V-F. I could not say that on there forum though.

 

Yeah, I saw that, thanks. This forum seems more busy than the other, which is good.

 

 

Car looks great and yes, it is a lot busier here. You definitely made a good choice coming here.

 

Congrats and looks like a "jackpot" for $1500. How many miles?

 

Over 269,000 miles... the only code showing up is 443 (cat. converter efficiency low).

 

443 is normally not a cat issue. That pops us when you have vacuum leaks. Look around your engine compartment and see what you find.