At 112K you should be able to drive that car for many more years as a daily driver. My 97 has 222K on it and we drive it all the time. I'm glad I do the work myself, but if I couldn't I would find somebody, a good mechanic, to work on it for me.

Basically I think if you put even $3,000 into your car you will have a better car than selling yours for $4,000 and adding another $3,000 to that to buy something else. But I doubt you will have to put $3,000 into yours. You want to bring it up here to Columbus, I'll have my son in law work on it and he will get it running perfect.

 

There are a lot of low milage good cars out there for under $5,000. If you found a 960 wagon or V90 with under 120,000 miles on it I think you'll be in better shape. You can tell by this forum that the 900 series cars have a lot less maintenace than the 850's. Those V90's and 960/S90's are pretty cheap and usually owned by people that have taken a lot better care of them than the 850's. I found a 11/12 year old 960 with under 55k on it. Another S90 that I picked up for $500 with only 158k on it (put $3,000 in it and it would have been like new).

If you can afford repairs the 850's will roll forever but they need work all the time.

 

In the North-East I find a lot more 850s/V70 than 960/V90 for sale. Because of this, I think 960/V90 are overpriced. Mine (V90 for $ 800) was an exception. Sure, it's taking another $ 1-2k to get to Stage 0.

Yes, demographics are also different. 960/V90 crowd seems older, not interested in performance in these cars (they probably have a Camaro or Porsche for that).

So yes, on repairs V90/960 might be less needy. In maintenance items though (Stage 0) etc I am not sure if 850 needs more. In upgrades, you can spend a lot more on the 850s.

 

850 is FWD while V90 is RWD. They do ride differently. V90 is very stable. Its rear end is IRS (independent Rear Suspension) with a fiberglass mono-leaf (transversal) and 2 regular shocks. I think this system is superior if you plan to use the car as a hauler.

I think that is the difference. Everything else is very similar with 850 NA.

850 NA and V90 have pretty much the same engine, V90 just has 1 more cylinder. Transmission is essentially the same. The front end is very similar. They share some suspension and steering parts.

However if you were to sell the 850 and buy a V90 I think you will be in the same predicament. It will need work, and you don't have a garage.

I would take JimKW on his offer: buy all the parts, drive there on Friday, do the work on Sat and Sunday and get back on Sunday night. It will be a lot cheaper AND BETTER than taking it to a local shop.

 

Mine goes in for a twice over tomorrow. I will know more then.

Jim, thanks for the offer and I might just take you up on the offer. Won't be this go around because we leave for Florida on Friday with the kids for spring break.
Ideally a wagon would be my first choice in a different car because it makes more sense from a hauling standpoint, but I would feel kinda in the same boat in terms of repairs and still in a place without space to do my own repairs.

I buy with heart more than common sense. Almost bought a 66 122 S wagon, second owner, 125K on the clock and I could almost justify that as my bike car, with my yellow being the kid car... (wife stepped in)

 

I think your current yellow R sedan, with a bike-rack on-top (and kids inside) would not look silly. It says "young dad, sporty guy, outdoors, cool". People may also perceive you as "liberal" which is kinda hilarious; an old country-lady was selling her Volvo because her friends called her a "liberal" LOL.

I also go out easy moutain biking, or road cycling, some amateur (very light) triathlon races. I used to have a hitch-rack, now I have a roof-rack (Thule, 4-bike rack). I find roof racks more convenient on the car than hitch-mounted. SUV or minivan is the other way around.

The advantage of wagons over sedans is 3rd seat, if you need it. I don't have it in my 850, but have it in my V90. I don't like Volvos 3rd seat particularly, as they face backwards, would rather have ones that face forward, BTW.

 

Not bad,,, The shop got back to me with the following..

Timing belt, all the usual with water pump (leaking)
Rear main seal (small leak)
Coolant temp sensor and thermostat
Spring seat on front strut...
Tune up, previous shop installed wrong plugs. Not hugely wrong but not the better Volvo turbo plugs.
Turbo seal (small leak of oil)
Oil change...

All else looked great.. the rear main and the timing belt were by far the most expensive and I feel god about the price it is fair. Cheaper than what other shops semi quoted..