Buying a 850 GLT 1993

silverfreepress · Post by **silverfreepress** » 30 Mar 2006, 10:07

Hi Everyone.

So here in LA is a Volvo 850 GLT from 1993

I'm thinking of buying it and puting some miles on it, It will be a daily car.

The car has over 200,000 miles and a new transmission.

Should I get it with that little info? How many more miles can I expect?
Beside the temp being center and oil drippings and exhaust pipe drippings what else should I look for?

Thanks for the help.

l33tDad · Post by **l33tDad** » 31 Mar 2006, 08:23

Just as an FYI, I have a 1993 850 GLT with 225,000 miles which I bought it last spring with 200k. The guy that I bought it from was an exec at Corning Incorporated who drove from Virginia to Corning, NY every week... He had the engine rebuilt at 175k and the tranny rebuilt at 150k. Other than that, nothing major.. My mechanic raves about the 850's and said that he wouldn't be suprised that with proper care, mine lasts another 100k or more. Personally, I'm shooting for 1/2 a million miles

I love being able to tell people that the rust free, sharp looking car "over there" has a quarter of a million miles - sounds better than 225,000 IMO...

Since I bought the car, I've replaced a lot of the suspension. Not all of it was "needed", but for the money, I felt safer. I've done the tie rods, ball joints, most of the bushings, sway bar ends and will be doing the struts, mounts and seats within a month.

I get around 30mpg on average and don't burn oil. My only problems are that the driver's seat leather isn't too good and the air cond leaks a bit.

JavaJiver · Post by **JavaJiver** » 31 Mar 2006, 08:44

Bought a 1993 850 last week.
Here is what has already been done...
Rear Main Seal (No oil was leaking when I bought it but the mechanic still fixed it)
Gonna have to do something about the insane idling issue

Uh that is it.

I like it a lot...
I would run through the site and look at all the problems that are common with the 850s and see if you notice anything happening.
Mine has 133k...it is going to be my goto car.
I fully intend to buy a Saturn Sky(two seater convertible is NOT a daily driver

) and back it up with the 850. It has some issues that is certain but I like driving it and I have heard such great things about them and while there is bad it does not equal out.

silverfreepress · Post by **silverfreepress** » 31 Mar 2006, 09:07

I drove the car yesterday and I had issues with it. A whistling sound that came and went. The driver side window would roll down not up and well it has over 200k on it. Hmmm. Thanks for the response though.

S.

prienzo · Post by **prienzo** » 31 Mar 2006, 10:28

Just curious, how much is hte car selling for?

l33tDad · Post by **l33tDad** » 31 Mar 2006, 12:28

Good point, if he/she isn't asking much, it may be worth it. They really aren't that difficult to fix. I would however ask to see the repair records for it...