I have a reg 96' 850. around 215,000. And I've been pondering what road i should take. Its been maintained obsessively for the 8 years before i got it. Considering its not anything special I'm at my ends.

What would be the most important key points for deciding whether the car is worth a couple thousand to tune-up, needs a few thousand dollars to restore, or a trip to the dealer for a trade-in?

lately the engine has been running a little rough, i think im not getting enough compression out of one of the cylinders from the way it accelerates. I guess where do you start?

 

Maybe you just need a tune up? What maintenance have you done to the car during the last 24 months?

 

A+ axelm.

 

Basic tune up is usually 150 in parts and 1 hour of work. DIY

 

Tune it up first, and run a compression check. If it has been maintained as you said, then finding a problem should not be hard.Besides, you know all its quirks. Could you say the same about getting another car?

Just my .02

 

I tend to agree. Put a little bit of money into trying to diagnose/fix the problems.

If it's not running right after say 300 bucks, imo, I would trade in.

At 215k, it just might be time for a new car (not that the car wouldn't last, but you've had the car for a long long time).