What are your thoughts on the 850 series compared to 2/7/ series?

Looking for a DD wagon and a late model 850 sounds nice

It looks like other people often bring up the frequent necessary maintenance, harsh ride and expensive parts. I'm not against wrenching this and have experience on 2/7/ series cars.

 

Either case, you are talking about owning 20 year old car so there's the expectation to do some maintenance work. I've owned an 850T wagon since new and have found most of the problem areas are well documented on this board - so start with the sticky for new 850 owners. Typical problem areas are 1) the AC system - evaporators can corrode if the drain tubes clog, the compressor clutches wear and need to be shimmed from time to time 2) timing belts - 850s have interference engines so make sure that's fresh and the idlers are in good shape 3) Suspension bits do wear. Strut mounts (spring seats) are common issue but a DIY fix. OEM parts are a good idea here. 4) check engine codes - vacuum leaks are probably the #1 cause for CELs but the parts are easy to find and diagnose if something fails. 5. some attention should be given to the health of the PCV system when shopping - but if the car has a good history of oil changes, there shouldn't be a concern.

In general, I have not found aftermarket parts to be expensive for normal wear/repair items and are easy enough to find for the 850s. I think the key will be finding a car where you know the repair history and check for the common fault areas. But with all that said, if you are handy with most DIY repairs, and can find a well serviced car (even if it has 150K+ miles - mine has 200+), you should meet your goal. The wagons can hold a ton of stuff (more than my Highlander, way more than a Grand Cherokee) and the Volvos look cool with bikes on a roof rack...

 

I enjoy working on them. At this age, the interior plastics have taken some abuse, and that is the sort of thing that never gets cured. I don't think parts are expensive but I am not a Stage-Zero-All-Volvo guy. I never had an older one so I can't compare.

 

Parts wise, 2/7 is cheaper. Redblock is also a non-interference engine, can take more abuse, and AW71 is a fairly strong transmission. They are simpler cars and take abuse well.

850, there are more parts, and parts are more expensive. They are much nicer to drive, and have more comfort items.

I had a 240 wagon and currently drive a 850 wagon.