So I am seriously going to buy a used turbo wagon. I like the looks of the older models, but am uncertain about how old is too old.

I found a 1995 850 turbo with 195K miles. The areaI live in is a high mileage one, but still, that's alot of miles.

Are there issues particular to this flavor wagon that I can be on the alert for to help me decide if I should take the leap?

Of course any car I buy will be checked out by a certified Volvo mechanic first. Even then, I need to be prudent about it, or I could sink $$$ in just getting cars checked out.

Any tips?

Thanks!

 

I have a 94 850 Turbo and mine has about 235K miles on it. Obviously with age comes wear, but if it has been maintained it should be good for many more miles. However, just recently I have encountered the 200,000 mile speed bump where my car has been undergoing many repairs (ie PCV system, hoses, suspension, oil lines, brakes, heater core, throttle cable, etc.). Some of it is routine maintenance and other is age. It all depends on how much time and money you want to put into the car.

 

If you are the kind of guy (or gal) who likes to work on cars and not afraid to get their hands dirty and turn a wrench, then you should be fine if it checks out on the pre-purchase inspection. If you are going to pay for everything that goes wrong to be fixed the car could nickle and dime you to death. A lot depends on what the inspection shows and how much you are paying.

 

i have a 95 turbo wagon that i just bought w/170K on it and it's awesome. If the car has been takin care of man then it's good for many more miles. The big thing to check is the PCV system cause that can cause you major problems down the road if it's not takin care of. Other then that the 850's are pretty solid unless you treat them like junk.

 

If the previous owner has service records/receipts from parts of personal repairs/repair log book that would be great too. You want to be SURE you replace the timing belt if its due; otherwise you could end up busting up the engine. I think its around a $600-700 repair (estimate, parts are likely ~350), but its only every 70,000 miles.

I just got a 1995 850, and am currently going through some preventative maintenance. Things like flushing transmission fluid (read up on it first though..), changing PCV system (in the process of doing that today), but the design is great. Note that the car you are looking at is likely rust free.

 

What price range are we talking?...I just bought an 850 wagon (not turbo) with 97k on it for $1700...that kind of mileage and money,,if this mechanix knows several things to check on, then thats fine, but like gilber says at 200k,, might be when they start to fall apart..so thats something to keep in mind,, but really,,I'd say its a crap shoot as to whether to pay someone to look at it....I look at it like this, If I pay 2 grand for a car and I get a year or 2 out of it..I figure I broke even....a few years back I bought a dodge van 94 model for $1300 within a year I had that much in repairs , timing belt/water pump. wheel bearing,,,tires, battery, alternator....but a couple of months ago I traded it for a non running Miata (project for down the road) my other miata is my daily driver,, but you cant haul much in it so ,,I saw this brick red volvo wagon and ...haggled him from 2300 to 1700 now I'm the proud owner...good luck with the search,,,there are mechanics that will tell you its fine but its gonna need this and that for future business...Rog

 

I think it decided on what YOU think it's too old! I am looking for a 240 wagon, 89-93 and I don't think that is too old. As long as it's been maintained! Like JimKW, stated 850's are usually solid. I also think that it's one of Volvos most reliable vehicle AS LONG as it's serviced. I own one and I can attest. I would say keep an eye out for a clean example and look over service records if the vehicle has any.....Normally when anyone buys an 850 they will usually do a few maintenance items like Tbelt, PCV system, general tuneup and fuel filter. One last thing, drive it. That will tell you a lot of the car. If you find a vehicle and have any questions reguarding it or need advice, post anything on the forum and one of us can at least point you in the direction.....

 

Well said...

And IMO, all the repairs I've ever done on my 850, were fairly easy. I haven't done anything yet that has required taking my car to the shop and paying someone to do it, and I've done quite a few of repairs to my car over time.

 

Gilber, if I only had a garage,,,1700 sq ft upstairs and a full basement, me, 2 chihuahua's and a rat terrier,,,no garage....I dont love working on cars , but I can,,but time and tools equal money when all you can work at is the driveway and 40 trips to the basement later,,you get the alternator on...weeeeee...Rog

 

I'm just saying that if you have the resources, a majority of the repairs can be made at home vs taking it to a dealer, but I understand where your coming from, that would be a pain in the ***.

 

Oh I'm with ya Gil,,anything I can fix,,I do even if it means 40 trips to the basement,,took me roughly 4 hours to put the alternator on my Miata because of my setup....good friend is an independant mechanic,,,took me 1/2 a day to put a new top on my miata..and he said if you can do that,,you can change out the timing belt!,I said yeah if I had the tools and a place...he said just drive it till it breaks and tow it here (its a non interference engine, if the belt breaks the car just stops) and we'll get it done,,,the belt is supposed to be (miata) changed at 60k and mine has 93k, but its also supposed to actually last for 100k, course it is 18 years old now,,my van was a different story which is why the TB and WP was like $800 to do, but it was the winter time here in NC and no way I was gonna tackle that in the driveway...but yeah, anything you can do will save big bucks,,,my friend charges $85/hour and people flock to him....one time hahahha a girl came in his shop on a friday morning and said I really need to get my oil changed in a hurrry so I can get to my beach house by noon...he said, I really dont have time to do it if I wanna get to my beach house by noon!!!...I wish I would've stayed working with him, ...Rog

 

Plus, it's pretty satisfying after a long job to start up the car and it still works. I just replaced my timing belt and they're supposed to be done every 70K. We had bought the car with about 80,000 or so miles and by the time we had replaced the belt the car had well over 200,000. Haha, got pretty lucky without it breaking.

So Mr. jbkmail, make sure to do your timing belt with your car if you get it. haha.

That's funny though, I'm guessing working at a shop you see and hear a lot of crazy things/stories.

 

Wow, thank for all the great input! At this point there are two 850 turbo wagons being considered. The first is a 97 with 119K for $5900 and the second is a 95 with 152K for $2900.

I think the 97 is overpriced, but the guy is holding firm, saying he is offering a 90 day warranty. It's a weak *** warranty, with brakes being covered 100% and everything else 50%. And yes, the rear brakes were squealing when I drove it. He's sticking close to bluebook and won't budge.

I'm driving the 95 today so I have no idea about it. A mechanic is also selling this one, but I think he's going to be more flexible on price.

After reading what you all have written, I am pleased to report that I was right from the beginning! I said I wanted an older turbo wagon, that I didn't think the newer ones were as good. Then a 2001 V70 T5 popped up with 107K miles for the same as the 97 850 turbo. Hubby told me to check that out because "newer is better".

HA! I read over 100 reviews of the 200-2001 V70 and 9 out of 10 were really negative. Then I read the same number of reviews for 95-97 850 turbos and it was the opposite- 9 out of 10 reviews were positive!

And nope, we aren't the kind of family that goes to a mechanic. Everything so far gets fixed in the garage at home (fully functional except for no hydraulic lift...) I doubt there are any fixes that are out of hubby's reach. He asked about the typical lifespan of the engine and transmission. I told him about some of the common fixes: PCV system, heater core and timing belt and he shrugged.

As long as I get it inspected by a Volvo certified mechanic, not get ripped off on price and find out what might break, I think we're going to go for it!

Thanks for all the good info!

 

Sounds good. I do agree, 5900 is way over priced for that 97.