94 850: sell or fix?

jh_on_the_cape · Post by **jh_on_the_cape** » 03 Mar 2010, 09:32

Looking for some feedback on whether or not to cut my losses with our car and buy another used Volvo wagon, or (continue to) invest in 'the red rocket'.

94 Volvo 850 wagon manual trans, 135k miles. A little beat up but we don't care. We like the car. We have 3 kids and it's nice and big.
The good: engine runs nicely. Just did timing belt and passenger front ball joint. Also, just did alternator and battery after battery almost caught on fire from overvolting!

The bad: something is wrong with clutch (1200), might need to be replaced, hopefully just bled. I will find out this weekend. Needs tires soon (400), and rear brakes(250?). Annoying: drivers seat heater not working, cruise control not working. I replaced the broken stereo with a cheapo from crutchfield, but it's not the great sound in our 03 Passat.

For like $7k there is a 2001 v70 with 70k miles locally that is tempting me. we drive about 10k a year, so that is 7 years younger, for $7k or a thousand a year for the next 7 years. will we save that in repairs in the old car? our car has relatively low miles, but is old and I just want something RELIABLE since I carpool kids around.

With a bad clutch, our car is worth almost nothing in trade or private sale... even with a good clutch it's worth so little, I feel silly investing in it.

your thoughts/opinions? could we afford a newer car? sure. but we would prefer not to spend the extra money. there are just some nice deals to be had now... we are in MA.

rjaywhit · Post by **rjaywhit** » 03 Mar 2010, 09:44

Clutch, brakes, and tires are normal wear items on any car. Seems to me if you like the current car then you can be up and running again for $1800. That's a lot less than $7000 for another car that will eventually need tires and brakes.

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Mar 2010, 09:54

I'd say just fix it, a new clutch will last you another 200,000 miles or more. I ran both clutches in my previous cars well past that. The cruise control shouldn't be hard to track down - often it's just a cracked vacuum line on the cruise control pump. The drivers seat heater may just be a loose plug. A heating pad is a little more involved, but it can be fixed.

And stay far away from that 2001, they are evil. The transmission will blow up and you'll be looking at $4000 to fix that one.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Mar 2010, 11:04

Definitely fix up. Those rear brakes are a cake walk to do yourself for much much less than $250. The rest are either normal wear items or creature comforts. Volvo radio can be found on ebay I'm sure.

anmartin44 · Post by **anmartin44** » 03 Mar 2010, 11:25

I've got 2 stock radio/tape deck with codes if you want one. theyre both from 94 na model sedans. both work...30 bucks OBO for one.

fushionEdge · Post by **fushionEdge** » 03 Mar 2010, 18:19

I was in the same situation. spent about $2000 to only have more problems later.

DONT FIX IT.
sorry. unless youare doing your own work, there is no point in keeping a old car.
i wish someone told me sooner.

you can sell it for $1000.
you save about $2000.

your new v70 only really costs you $4000 then.
as much as i like volvo's think about the figures and it makes sense to dump the car.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 04 Mar 2010, 05:10

It is true that Volvo's are for rich people who can dish out money to have them fixed or for people who are willing to their own work. If you don't fall into either category buy a Honda. lol

jh_on_the_cape · Post by **jh_on_the_cape** » 04 Mar 2010, 08:36

Thanks for all the replies. I am hoping the clutch just needs to be bled and not replaced. I will find out this weekend.

I do lots of work on my cars, but within reason. Clutch replacement and bleeding is not even written up here because it is such a bear. The cost is almost all labor.

I will do the brakes myself, as I did them on my Passat and it was OK.

I tried to fix the cruise control by pulling out the battery and looking for a broken vacuum line... and could not really figure it out, so that needs more work.

The seat heater does not have any loose connections, I suspect the heater element... which is more trouble than it's worth on this car.

I replaced the stereo already, it's just that the speakers are 16 years old and just do not sound great.

It is nice to hear opinions both pro and con. Thanks. i will post up what I decide.

jh_on_the_cape · Post by **jh_on_the_cape** » 04 Mar 2010, 08:39

jablackburn wrote:I'd say just fix it, a new clutch will last you another 200,000 miles or more. I ran both clutches in my previous cars well past that. The cruise control shouldn't be hard to track down - often it's just a cracked vacuum line on the cruise control pump. The drivers seat heater may just be a loose plug. A heating pad is a little more involved, but it can be fixed.

And stay far away from that 2001, they are evil. The transmission will blow up and you'll be looking at $4000 to fix that one.

What years had a transmission problem? Just 2001?

larryh · Post by **larryh** » 04 Mar 2010, 08:46

jh_on_the_cape wrote:
jablackburn wrote: And stay far away from that 2001, they are evil. The transmission will blow up and you'll be looking at $4000 to fix that one.
What years had a transmission problem? Just 2001?

93-present

You still have a lot of life left in your 850, but If you want a newer model , maybe just wait until you can find one that has a new tranny. I see them all the time.