Best year for an 850

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 16 Dec 2009, 18:17

Yeah, on the 850's they pull out of the armrest.

Post by **wheelsup** » 16 Dec 2009, 20:01

Mine must've got lost, there isn't any installed.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Dec 2009, 18:57

The cup holders didn't come as standard equipment until '96. There are some optional early model armrests with cup holders for the earlier models but they are cheesy at best. The early model replacement armrest has two cup holders that have maybe 1/2" of depth and if you get on the brakes the whole console gets drowned if you have a McDonalds cup in it. I have also had trouble with mine sliding out under braking - it is a bad design.

The later model cup holders are a bit better but not much, they at least have more depth. Check the repair database, I think LukeTrash modified a later model armrest to fit into a '95.

The cup holder arm rests typically go for around $40.00 on eBay.

...Lee

salts850 · Post by **salts850** » 17 Dec 2009, 23:18

I installed a hitch on my 850 and use it all the time. I just make sure to not haul too much. I read that the 850 wasn't meant to really tow anything. Is that true? I haul a single place jet ski trailer and utility trailer. Also, is there a filter that can be changed on the automatic trans?

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Dec 2009, 07:29

Any kind of car can tow something. Except maybe a Prius... I towed a 3,000-lb uhaul trailer with my Honda Accord. It could barely accelerate at all, and was dragging the ground, but it did it!

The tow rating for an 850 is 3300 pounds, but I'd say keep it under 2500 and it'd be better for your car - a jet ski/small trailer are well within that limit

. When towing something heavy, put the car down into 3 on big hills and take off gradually so it doesn't keep shifting a lot.

There is no transmission filter on an 850, which is why a flush is good to do every so often.

Post by **meine39** » 18 Dec 2009, 10:45

FWD vehicles tend to have much lower towing capacities than comparable RWD or AWD vehicles - not sure about all the physics of it all, but I believe it has something to do with weight of the towed item on the back of a FWD car unloading the front drive wheels and diminishing towing capability. I'm betting someone here on MVS who routinely tows a large boat or camper could describe it much better.

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Dec 2009, 10:58

That's exactly what it is. In a FWD car, the traction comes from having the engine over the front wheels. Load up the rear of the car, and you pull the weight towards that end of the car and thus lose traction.

For comparison, my sister's Escape and my dad's Liberty have similar engines, curb weights, etc. The Jeep is RWD/4WD whereas the Escape is FWD. The Escape is rated to tow ~3000 pounds, whereas the Jeep can handle 5000.

It was also much better at towing a U-Haul than my Honda was, and has the brakes for it too

Best year for an 850

Re: Best year for an 850