Pros/Cons to the 850R
#1
03-14-2010, 10:21 PM
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Washington
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Pros/Cons to the 850R
I'm new here and my husband and I are thinking about buying a 1997 850R wagon.
We've never owned Volvo's, just VWs (as far as European made cars go).
We've researched what we can about reviews, but I would love to get some real feedback on the mechanical issues and maintenance as well as the pros.
It's main use would be city driving (errands) with the kids and then every quarter we usually take a trip (300-600 miles one way).
The one we're looking at has 154k w/ an automatic transmission
Thanks for any and all suggestions/advice
We've never owned Volvo's, just VWs (as far as European made cars go).
We've researched what we can about reviews, but I would love to get some real feedback on the mechanical issues and maintenance as well as the pros.
It's main use would be city driving (errands) with the kids and then every quarter we usually take a trip (300-600 miles one way).
The one we're looking at has 154k w/ an automatic transmission
Thanks for any and all suggestions/advice
#2
03-15-2010, 12:12 AM
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Location: Montreal, Canada
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honestly if your not ready to do mecahnics at home, and have to bring it somewhere everytime something breaks its going to cost you a fortune..
to give you an idea when i bought my wagon. the heated seat didnt work, rear wiper motor didnt work, the front bearing needed to be changed, the spark plugs/ timing belt needed to be done, it was all done here, and it cost me just the price of the parts..
the cars fast, and fun confertable and roomy, and if its already in good shape, it'll probably treat you great, but its costly if it breaks. I wouldent be worried about the motor, its more the electronics that go.
to give you an idea when i bought my wagon. the heated seat didnt work, rear wiper motor didnt work, the front bearing needed to be changed, the spark plugs/ timing belt needed to be done, it was all done here, and it cost me just the price of the parts..
the cars fast, and fun confertable and roomy, and if its already in good shape, it'll probably treat you great, but its costly if it breaks. I wouldent be worried about the motor, its more the electronics that go.
#3
03-15-2010, 07:19 AM
My white car is a 97 R and it's going strong at 207K. But like Matt said they can be expensive to maintain and remeber that car is now 14 years old, so how it has been maintained is the most important thing about it.
My wife and I like the 97 R the best of all the Volvo's we have owned (count now at 12 in the whole family, six for my wife and I alone). If your husband or you are the type to work on cars yourself and it is in good conditon then go for it. If it's not well maintained then forget it no matter what.
If you find a good Volvo technician to do the work and you get a good price on the car, they are no more expensive to maintain than any other high end European car. Less expensive to maintain than Mercedes and Saab and about the same as BMW. But the can last practically forever and they are a fun car to drive. Sporty, roomy, fast and economical all at the same time. How can you beat that combination?
My wife and I like the 97 R the best of all the Volvo's we have owned (count now at 12 in the whole family, six for my wife and I alone). If your husband or you are the type to work on cars yourself and it is in good conditon then go for it. If it's not well maintained then forget it no matter what.
If you find a good Volvo technician to do the work and you get a good price on the car, they are no more expensive to maintain than any other high end European car. Less expensive to maintain than Mercedes and Saab and about the same as BMW. But the can last practically forever and they are a fun car to drive. Sporty, roomy, fast and economical all at the same time. How can you beat that combination?
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