This is Why You Drive a Volvo

[IceTurbo]

In Novemver, I purchased my first car, a 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo station wagon. She wasn't in the greatest shape, it was clear that her previous owners had ridden her hard and put her away wet. After an oil change, and the replacement of the knock sensors, she was much happier, but because I couldn't take her back to school with me, she sat for four months, awaiting my return.

I put an iPd air intake system on her, she sounded mean, the turbo pulled hard, and the car was great on the highway. She made a road trip to Los Angeles, passing 200,000 miles along the way. There were some quirks, but with the help of a volvo tech I got her dialed in just right. After making it more than 2,000 miles with no problems, I decided she deserved a reward, so I took advantage of the iPd sale to rebuils her suspension. I replaced shocks with Bilstein HDs all around, and put iPd springs on. All the shock and strut hardware was also replaced. I planned to keep her running way up until 300,000 miles and beyond, when this happened.

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I was driving on the highway, on my way to work when I was hit in the rear by a driver in a large Chevy SUV with 22" chrome wheels. He was high on a multitude of controlled substances. He impacted me in my rear quarter panel on the passenger side, sending my car spinning out of control.

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I hit the median, and both of my front airbags went off. I was dazed and confused, but thankfully not seriously hurt. The damage was largely confined to the passenger side and the swedish steel took the brunt of the force.

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Even so, the car was more than totaled, but I credit Volvo Engineering with allowing me to walk away and not need a trip to the hospital. Even up against one of the largest cars on the road, I feel my Volvo came out on top in the accident, the SUV had its front wheel and strut assembly ripped off, making it a tricycle before it crashed into the barrier on the other side of the freeway.

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I am happy to say that my Volvo saved my life!

The day after the accident, I went out and test-drove a 1997 850 T-5 Wagon, it was exactly what I wanted, and I put a deposit down the next day. I will never drive anything but a Volvo as my daily driver. It's not about how good and responsible a driver you are, but how responsible the people around you on the road are, and it only takes one to make a normal day into a nightmare.

Here's my new wheels

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[IceTurbo]

And for some reason the pictures are only showing half...any tips on how to fix that?

[matthew1]

Photos look fine to me... unless you mean they're wider than the forum's girth? IIRC, the safe width for photos is 760px. I'm working on v6 of the site, and that will allow 800px.

Anyway, good writeup, sorry about your loss, glad you're ok.

You might want to ask the insurance company if you can take or buy things back from them from your wrecked 850 (wheels etc).

[jblackburn]

I'll fix the pictures for you. Or you can edit them and upload to the site; it tends to cut off photobucket things.

That said, I'm glad to hear you're ok and survived that ordeal! They're great cars and I've heard lots of stories about them saving people's lives. I hope I never have to test that out.

Congrats on scoring one the same color. That green is my favorite color for the 850.

It's not about how good and responsible a driver you are, but how responsible the people around you on the road are, and it only takes one to make a normal day into a nightmare.

So true. I can't tell you how many times quick reflexes have saved my butt. I saw a car come screeching up behind me just a few weeks ago when I was sitting at a red light and I stabbed the gas and pulled off the road. That car screeched out into the intersection and got hit.

Almost hit a bear the other night at 11 PM. That was fun.

[D_V_ENT850R]

Wish I had those wheels! I've been looking for a set!
Glad to hear the Volvo did it's job!! Always good when you can walk away!

[FCPEURO]

It is interesting that you posted this today. On my way to work, there was a car accident involving a teal green 850 wagon like the on pictured and a black s60. The S60 fared better then the 850 unfortunately.

[IceTurbo]

Wow, the teal 850s seem to be dropping like flies. Makes sense, the S60 has more technology in it and probably more steel.

I've got the car back and I'm taking all the suspension and performance parts off of it to swap onto the new car. It's been an educational experience for sure.

[elchopperfreak]

Glad you are fine, and yes, I was going to suggest you take all the goodies out of the old one and into the new one..
My wife was kinda in the mini van campaign, until recently some idiot playing around with his cell rear ended her S70, hard, his car was toast, the Volvo had the bumper and bar replaced..The first thing she said after it wore off and we took out kid to the hospital for a checkup, is that she does not want any car that is not a Volvo...

[precopster]

May the new steed never have to prove itself like the original one!!

Glad you are OK; this only confirms why I stick with Volvos for life. My friends & neighbours don't understand the attraction I have but after a while it becomes an emotional thing.

The engineering in these cars is always ahead of their time and these photos and story prove once again how fortunate we all are to be clothed by such fine metal!!

[matthew1]

And they're surprisingly cheap to insure. We swapped my S.O.'s 2004 Ford Escape for our 2004 V70 R and the insurance premium went down for the same coverage.