Took the 850 and drove this: Denver, CO - Taos, NM - Santa Rosa, NM - Sante Fe, NM - Denver.

In Santa Fe, we took a side trip to Bandelier National Monument (Peublo Indian cave dwellings, petroglyphs) and camped for the night.

City-to-city distance: 1020 mi
Total distance driven: 1126 mi
Average speed: 53 mpg
Fuel economy: 28.9 MPG (very light foot)

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Member Instarx wrote this in response to the Volvo Forum thread Buying a Used Volvo V70, and I must say I agree 100%.

If low operating expense is as big an issue as you imply, be aware that Volvos are expensive to repair when they break. They are borderline luxury cars and just like Mercedes, BMW, etc. it is simply more expensive to have them worked on. For example, micro-sized lightbulbs for dash lights cost $9 at a Volvo dealer while the exact same bulb at a Honda dealer is $2.60. That’s a trivial example but you get the idea. Since you can’t do your own work you will always be paying premium prices for replacement parts.

I have owned many different cars and although I love my current Volvo I do not expect it to be the most trouble-free car I have ever owned. It may be heresy on this Volvo board, but for reliability and trouble-free use, you may want to look at a used Honda or Toyota. I had a Honda Accord that went 87,000 miles without one single thing going wrong with it - not one thing! I doubt many Volvo owners can say the same.

Also be aware that if you get a Volvo with a turbo you should probably use premium fuel - a significant added expense with regular fuel approaching $4/gallon.

Volvos are not for everyone; a round peg does not fit in a square hole. For poor students and those who must have an operating vehicle every morning, bar none, buy new (anything) or buy a Honda (or Toyota). But those who buy, say, a 1997 Accord over a 1997 850 must remember they’re giving up a degree of safety for the promise of improved reliability and somewhat lower operating costs (maintenance + repairs + fuel and other consumables).

It’s a value decision, just like the other ten thousand value decisions we’re faced with in life.

I got 38.8 mpg today on the way to work in my 1997 Volvo 850 T5 sedan. But don’t be shocked, it was not representative of a real world drive: 10.4 miles, highway, one way only, and the meter started after I acellerated to highway speed. My usual combined mark is 23 mpg.On 50-mile runs I’ve gotten over 30. But in-town is much lower, sometimes in the 17 range. These 5-cylinder engines have the widest city vs. highway difference of any engine I’ve had in a car.

Just woke up at a hotel in Boise, Idaho. So far I can summarize the 850/trailer combo as this: I’m pulling a house.

I’m getting 13.5 MPG at an average 59 MPH. The trailer is VERY heavy, and braking is difficult. The brakes simply don’t “bite”. It’s a good thing I’ve only had to do a full stop only a half dozen or so times.

The roadways are clear and the weather is good. I’ll have pics of the car in a day or so. Not only do I have the trailer but I have a bunch of furniture and goods on the roof/roof rack.