1994 Volvo 850 User Reviews

Marvelous — I have a 1994 Volvo 850 Estate. no GLT badge but is fully, fully loaded including a moon roof with slider, now with over 335,500klm on the clock and the car is still a great drive. Yes there is a cost to driving an older car, but there is also a trade off that just can't be had with a new car. To start with, you have already paid for the car. You own it and you can do as you like with and to it as you see, or feel, is fit. With that being said, I will give you some insight, hindsight and impressions of my car. Appearance - Is great from any angle. The car has a raked profile and with the proper tint can look impressive. If you're able too replace the side fender "Volvo" tags with signal lights (and easy thing for the DIYer and would take about a half hour, as the connectors are already in the fender so there are no spliciing of wires. Just remove the fender badges carefully with a razor blade to slowly cut through the foam on the back of the badge. Pop the badge out and remove the rest of the foam fromthe fender. Reach into the fender, towards the door of which ever side you aree on, and feel for the plug. Connect it to your new light and carefully snap the new light in place. I really like this as it makes it/you visible when you are pulling out of a parking spot, to the left, back into traffic. Oncoming traffic can see the flashing and will know where you're going. I hate it when someone looks like they might be trying to merge back into traffic, but the car that is behind them is out too far and you aren't able to see the rear signal. the side marker fixes this. Performance - Is great for a car of this size but there is a bit of body lean and push when you really lean into a corner hard, but the pull out of the corner is fantastic. Particularly in Sport Mode as the car can kick down a couple of gears and really get out of its own way and leave a lot of folks behind. And all without a turbo. A turbo just puts the "spankon" on most similar cars and is way too much fun. Build Quality - Is great in this car and, again - don't beat the crap out of your car, as long as you maintain it, it will give you the 200kklm that your looking for. The timing belt and the steering rack are things that I found to be a lillte pricey but owning a car, any car really, like this is worth the the cost because you get so much more out out it over time. Why do you think people keep these cars for forever and a day and a half before they give them up? and why do you think people snap them up when they hit the used lots? Because they are just great cars. Cost of ownership - Is and can be high. With this being said, I used to own both a 1985 and a1995 Grand AM, and both cars were able to nickel and dime me to death with never ending issues which seemed to come about every second pay. Both were standards. The '85 was used and the '95 was new with warranty (didn't really help but to keep the cost of the repairs reasonable as it was always in the shop). The Volvo timing belt is a pricey bit of kit but needs to be done (between 70K - 90K) because if it breaks, this being an INTERFERENCE engine, there will be a replacement engine in your near future. Valves will be bent and piston heads will be damaged from the valves slamming into them and placing four dents into each piston top. Used and installed will cost upwards of 4K and a new factory block and head is well above 7K.. Uninstalled, block and head only. Zero accessories. Those must be transfered from the old block. The aftermarket is definatly your friend for replacement of the OEM parts as this is where Volvo will get their parts to begin with as rebadging or full on use of these parts is common and there are a number of them on the net to save you cash. Just be careful of shipping costs and do your best to find free shipping whereever possible. And finally The Fun Factor - Is great. Even without a turbo. I have gotten a few "over the posted" tickets, all of the not my fault :-) really. No, really. It's just very easy to find yourself well north of the posted limit as the car can be deceptivly smooth at high speed and after a few cars "commonago" with some "zippittydooda" do you look down to find that the (how fast your going circle is saying 130...140...150...) that you realize, "sonofaboooop", and slap some binders on to brig youself back from what could easely be low warp with no trouble at all. Until the "Disco light" appear to drop a heart beat or two. Breaks are great with this car and I find that when there is the need the actually "pound down" on the "whoa pedal" with the need to come to a full stop "right now", the car doesn't reall nose dive, so much as, sets forward and down. The car feels like the breaking is distributed in a way that allow for the car to keep the rear almost as low as the front during this manouver so that when the car has come to a full stop, it seems to move back and up and not like it's dumping the rear end back on the ground, there by giving a feeling that the rear end isn't trying to lift off of the ground and then slam you back in the seat. Final Word - Is this. It's cost me a lot to keep this car up andI'm fine with that. Whether you are leasing with a buy out at the end or buying the car out right and when you make the final payment the car is yours, there are going to be additional cost to any car. It hurts more when a new car has to go in for repairs, particularly after the warranty is up, because if your making payment of the average $250 - $350 (Mo.PYMNT+INS), the cost can really hurt when a needed repair is over $500 (past warranty) and you have to wait a day or two or three.

Primary Use: Family transportation

Great Car Overall Handles Very Well. Like The Turbo On It Gives It That Extra Boots And Great In Sno — power windows, heated seats, dual climate control,leather,sunroof, roof rack, fold down seats for extra storage, abs at all four wheels, aluminum rims, Sport mode, Winter mode, Economy mode, Traction control, Headlight Wiper Blades, 2.3L 5 cylinder 20 valve turbo charged Volvo 850 5 door wagon.

Primary Use: Family transportation

Smooth — Back to a volvo again, haha. I got an 850 this time, bit nicer and alot smoother to drive than my old 240 (still a good car tho). So nice to drive, i could drive all day and it wouldn't feel like it. It's got a leather seats, there good, a bit cracked but no rips or tears, all in one piece. I got some nice 16 inch rims on it. Cant wait til i get my stereo and sub in it, i'm getting bord with the radio! :)

Primary Use: Commuting to work

Grocery Getter On Steroids — I like boxy, and this is car defines boxy. It's not the quality of old Volvos, but it is a lot nicer to drive than the old farm tractors, and a lot more fun as well. The turbo charged engine is strong but slightly boring. The automatic transmission works smooth. It has all the creature comforts one can ask for, and it will swallow a lot of goods in the back. The design is strict and functional making it look pretty good even today. Parts are not the cheapes,t but availability is good and it is a fairly simple car to repair.

Volvo 850 Sportwagon - Does Not Break The Faith — The 850 wagon replaced the venerable 240 wagon and was Volvos first foray into FWD, a first for Volvo. Also gone was the typical red block motor and in its place was the now renown Porsche designed 5 Cyclinder DOHC. Now the power was there along with the refined looks of the Volvo 850 Sportwagon. This was not your parents Volvo. This Volvo moved very much upstream from the 240 and embraced buyers that did not consider a Volvo.

Primary Use: Family transportation