Questions from a potential buyer - any help appreciated!

josephmartins · Post by **josephmartins** » 17 Jan 2006, 02:56

Good morning all,

Sorry about the double posting...I did not realize I wasn't logged in when I made the first post.

I'm new to the forum and very seriously considering a 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo Sedan with ~160,000 miles on it. But I need to move quickly as the deal may not last long.

I've never owned a Volvo. However I am very experienced with auto repair, maintenance and modification. And I've heard many great things about the brand. When I heard about this car last night I immediately thought I should consult other Volvo owners for their input - so here I am.

I have several questions if I may. Any help would be appreciated. Here they are:

* Is $2200 a good price for a loaded 94 850 Turbo with 160,000 in "excellent condition"? At first glance it certainly seems to be. I have not yet test-driven the vehicle but plan to later today or tomorrow. The pictures look fantastic. If it's half as good as the pictures the previous owners must have taken great care of it. Supposedly the seller also has a book containing the maintenance history and all receipts.
* What can I expect as far as average city and highway fuel consumption assuming proper tire pressure, regular maintenance, and the current mileage?
* In terms of annual maintenance costs (assuming I do the minor stuff myself and only source major repairs) what can I expect to spend each year?
* What are the common major failures and their ballpark repair costs?
* Anything in particular I should look for when inspecting the vehicle?
* What is the life expectancy of the 850? Is it reasonable to assume I could get at least another 100K miles out of it?
* What would you recommend for winter snow tires, and again for all-seasons? Here in New England I really need all the winter traction I can get.

Any other comments or tips for someone new to Volvo? I love the style and features of the newer models I've read about, but I just don't have a large budget...I'm trying to find something under $3000 that is reliable and safe to transport my two young children. If the deal on this 850 falls through, which other Volvo years and models should I seek out with such a small budget?

Thank you in advance for your input.

prienzo · Post by **prienzo** » 17 Jan 2006, 11:40

I can give my input on a couple of things here. Firstly, the gas milage. My turbo S70, which is basically the same car, gets about 20mpg around town. On the highway, I will get into the upper 20's and sometimes hit 30, although it is rare. Some people on here regularly get in the 30's on the highway. I guess it just depends on certain conditions and maintence.

As far as the car getting another 100,000 miles, it isn't farfetched. With these cars, it's really all about maintenence. I would check out the maintenence schedule on the car. Every time a service was done by an authorized Volvo mechanic, they write in the book that it was doen and usually stamp it. If there was never any service done and the previous owner says they didn't do too much service, I'd say forget it. You're going to want to check when the timing belt was changed. It should be changed every 70,000 miles, which means that if it hasn't been changed twice by now, its in serious trouble. Just something to look for. As far as common problems at this milage, I would have to say it varies. The turbo's usually hold up pretty well. My friend's 850 with 165k miles on it just had a headgasket blow and I've also seen on here recently some people having that happen at about the same milage. If you're experienced enough to change the head gasket yourself, it's not going to be as big of a deal, but if not, you're looking at a lot.

Like I said before, it's all about maintenence. Good luck with the car. Hope you buy a Volvo and enjoy it.

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Jan 2006, 14:48

prienzo wrote:I can give my input on a couple of things here. Firstly, the gas milage. My turbo S70, which is basically the same car, gets about 20mpg around town. On the highway, I will get into the upper 20's and sometimes hit 30, although it is rare. Some people on here regularly get in the 30's on the highway.

My experience exactly. 850 turbo.

At 160k miles I think the transmission is probably past the mean/average of its lifespan.

josephmartins · Post by **josephmartins** » 17 Jan 2006, 22:48

Thank you both for the information.

I inspected the vehicle today and found the interior was in so-so shape. the driver's seat back seemed to be broken on the right side such that it leaned awkwardly to the right. The center console armrest wasn't screwed in. The ABS light was on the entire time I test drove it. The tracs light was on regardless if the tracs switch was on or not (is that normal?). The service light was on until I stepped on the gas a few times. The seating seemed to have above average wear and tear but then we're talking about a $2100 car.

Engine seemed strong, shifting was tight, braking was good. No visible fluid leaks. Paint ok for the age and mileage.

Alarm went off when I used the key to open the passenger-side door. FOB not working.

Strangely the trunk was extremely damp inside....wet even. Looking at weatherstrip it was clear that there was some sort of leak. Dealer claims the wetness was because his detailers didn't thoroughly dry the car out. Seemed like a crock to me.

Records were fairly complete. Showed the regular Volvo services at the normal intervals up to 140,000, but no documents for the last 20K miles. 70K timing belt was done. But at 140K the timing belt was not done....seems odd since it was a Volvo dealer that did the service. Perhaps the owner refused it. That was my sngle biggest concern...the car being driven well past the scheduled belt change.

Last few intervals the owner apparently refused the repair of several items like seat heaters and switches. Seemed he was getting ready to trade it in and not dump ay more money into it. Several service intervals mentioned clearing miscellaneous misfire codes too.

I'm on the fence about getting it. Not sure. Price still seems good but those few issues are biggies.

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Jan 2006, 22:56

ABS light is on probably because the module fails by physically cracking. There's a member here on MVS Forum who fixes them for $130 or so. He's very recommended. TRACS light is either related to that failure, or the wheel speed sensors are dirty or failed, probably the former.

Trunk may be we due to debris clogging the gutter/lid drains just under the deck on both sides. Mine clog with leaves and I have to blow them out with canned air.

Timing belt is all or nothing. There's no grey area -- if it's failed it's failed, and the pistons would have hit the valves and ruined the engine. Obviously that hasn't happened.

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 18 Jan 2006, 01:12

It certainly sounds as if the car was neglected over the past 20k miles or so. The ABS light was probably due to wheel sensors or something like that. The ABS module is only prone to failure on '96 and later models. The service light is just something that comes on every 5k miles basically to remind the driver that it's time to go to the dealership and have the oil changed. It goes off after two minutes.

In all honesty, I'd just wait for another one to pop up. The engines in the 850 will easily go twice the mileage as what you said this one had if it is properly cared for. The transmission.... seems to be a matter of luck. Some blow at 80k miles and some are still on the original at over 300k miles. Don't know if it matters to you or not, but the turbo models will have slightly higher maintenance costs due to the possibility of a turbo failure down the road, leaky intercooler hoses, etc.

As for other Volvo's, I'd recommend almost any of the redblock cars (240, 740, 940). They're all sufficiently safe and in most cases, they will outlast the 850. These older models are built like tanks. I work with a guy who has a 1985 240 with about 820,000 (yes, you read that right) miles on the clock all on the original engine and transmission.

Steve Henning · Post by **Steve Henning** » 18 Jan 2006, 07:22

It sounds like a dog. My Volvos are always like new when I sell them. It is easy to keep a Volvo up but if they are neglected, then you could be paying someone else to get their problems. The broken seat is a real deal breaker. Unless it is a loose screw, it indicates either a very large driver or an accident or both. The wet trunk indicates rust. In a unibody rust weakens the body. It could also harbor mold and be a health hazard. The price is an indication of a dog. The fact that the dealer is selling it and won't fix this stuff indicated they don't think it is worth fixing.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 18 Jan 2006, 09:49

Steve Henning wrote:It sounds like a dog. My Volvos are always like new when I sell them. It is easy to keep a Volvo up but if they are neglected, then you could be paying someone else to get their problems. The broken seat is a real deal breaker. Unless it is a loose screw, it indicates either a very large driver or an accident or both. The wet trunk indicates rust. In a unibody rust weakens the body. It could also harbor mold and be a health hazard. The price is an indication of a dog. The fact that the dealer is selling it and won't fix this stuff indicated they don't think it is worth fixing.

Agreed. Stay away from that one and look around for another.