Thanks. I'll be seeing the car later today. I thought SIPS was introduced on the 1996 MY 850, so I thought it was standard on all of them.

P.S. How can I tell whether this 850 is equipped with side curtain air bags?

Thanks for the additional thoughts on why you like Volvos. Or love them. I knew very little about Volvo before talking to owners recently, and the test drive of this 850 is the first time I'd been in one. I admit that I was very impressed with it. Thirteen years old and it felt solid, NO squeaks or ...

The longevity. But if you all who are Volvo enthusiasts are against buying a 12-year-old Volvo, I'm listening. I'll check the listings for Camrys. Or Tauruses.

I have already broached this subject with my wife, and she is absolutely against attempting to talk her great-aunt into a lower price after we told her we'd buy at $4000. There are purportedly two other people interested in this car, one of them another relative of hers, at the price she advertised,...

Thanks for the additional response! I did check the photos on those two cars and I agree, those are two very nice cars! In fact, I don't think I've seen anything that nice for $4200 of any make. I'll see if my son can get Internet access so that he can see for himself.

How much, may I ask, did you spend on the 1996 850? I'm looking at one here myself.

Thanks for the advice. I just phoned my son in Texas and told him the members on this board advised the car was too expensive with the repairs, and I asked him if he had any second thoughts. He said no, he wants the car, "and besides, it's from family."' He's met her only once, at his high...

Although I posted before offering to buy, I didn't see the responses until afterward.

Thanks. Those were indeed two major reasons why I was interested in this car to begin with. Another is her proximity to Swedish Engineering; I phoned a seller of a '94 940 wagon, asking $2650 with 119,000 miles, but he's up in Rochester (Michigan) which is an hour's drive from my house and probably ...