Which great car to buy

miketp95-850 · Post by **miketp95-850** » 31 May 2006, 22:01

Hi
I am new to this forum and am looking for some help with deciding which 1995 850 wagon to buy. I have been researching wagons for months and just a couple of weeks ago locked onto Volvo wagons. They seem like great cars that people become attched to. 1995 850 wagons are in my price range. I have narrowed my search to 2 wagons at different used car dealerships in Rochester NY.

The first wagon is a base model with only 115,000 miles on it. It apparently is from Boston MA and therefore has no noticable rust or corrosion. (not much road salt in MA when compared to NY) There are a few small digs and dents probably from being in the city for much of its history. Being a base model there is no turbo but during the test drive I felt that the car had plenty of pep and it handled well also. The car runs great and looks great inside and out. The problem is its a base model and has none of the cool bells and whistles that the Turbo models have. The good thing is the low milage of 115,000 miles. I have negotiated the price from $3300 to $3000

The second wagon I am considering is a Turbo model with 158,000 miles. This car has all of the bells and whistles I would ever want in a car. This one owner car was a recent trade in at the local Volvo dealer and ended up at an upscale used car dealership. The service record book is still with this car and shows service being done at the Volvo dealer throughout the life of the car. I also had the unique opportunity of being able to speak with the original owner. She assured me that there was nothing wrong with the car at all and that she only traded it in to avoid problems in the future. I am confident that the Volvo dealership did everything necessary to keep this car running perfectly. That is all maintenance done on time and by the book. The car looks great and seems to run great. The problem is the realitively high milage of 158,000 miles. I have negotiated the price from $3995 to $3500.

Note- I need this car to last for three years but am hoping it will be around for a lot longer. I will only drive the car about 7000 miles per year.

So my my heart says: Spend the extra $500 and go with the Turbo model, enjoy all that a Volvo has to offer. Don't worry about the 158000 miles, a car like this will last 250,000 miles. And the other cosideration; gas milage. Don't worry about a few less MPG, you only drive 7000 miles per year.

But my head says: Buy a great car for $3000. You don't need all the bells and whistles. (they break anyway) You don't need a turbo and the reduced MPG. And most importantly, the base model has only 115,000 miles on it. A sure indication of many more trouble free miles.

So there you have my dilemma. Which car to buy. I guess writting this may have helped sort this out but I would greatly appreciate any help you regular forum contributors could supply.
Thanks
Mike
BTW does this thing have a spell check?

MV850T · Post by **MV850T** » 01 Jun 2006, 08:02

Follow your heart

Post by **robert213** » 01 Jun 2006, 08:56

It depends upon how much acceleration that you wish to have...

Find your Volvo on-line...
http://www.autotrader.com
http://www.cars.com -- on-line listings from classified ads of local newspapers
http://www.craigslist.com -- click on on-line classified ads from your city
http://www.ipdusa.com/ClassifiedAdIndex.aspx
http://www.volvoforums.com/forumid_3/tt.htm
http://forums.swedespeed.com/zeromain?id=9
http://forums.swedespeed.com/zeroforum?id=34
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... um.php?f=6
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showforum=9

Utility for searching gov't records...
http://www.carfax.com -- also, provides e-mail notifications of new for sale ads

Car Auctions
http://www.goodwill.org -- enter your zipcode
http://www.goodwill-indy.org/Shop/autos.asp

Utility for identifying model year, make, model, trim of vehicle...
http://vin.stronghold.com

10th position of VIN indicates model year...
S - 1995
T - 1996
V - 1997
W - 1998

4th position of VIN determines sedan/wagon...

5th and 6th position of VIN indicated engine code...
53 - MY98 S70 T5 with turbo
55 - MY92-97 850 with DOHC 2.4L I5 with no turbo
56 - MY97 850 GLT with DOHC 2.4L I5 with small turbo at 6 psi
57 - MY92-97 850 Turbo with DOHC 2.3L I5 with large turbo at 9.5 psi
58 - MY95-97 850 R with DOHC 2.3L I5 with large turbo at 9.5 psi plus

Pre-purchase check list...
Coolant system leakdown test will identify possible problem with head gasket
Engine compression test will identify possible problems with piston rings or head valves
Visual Inspection from Volvo Dealership ($130) will verify over-all condition of car

Maintenance items to expect to be addressed immediately after purchase...

1) Brake Pads and Rotors

2) ATF (Dexron-III) will be black.
I would not power flush, in fear that debris will break loose and cause problems.

Here are procedures that I used to drain and fill...
http://www.volvoforums.com/m_25657/tm.htm

Best option is to purchase ATF DIY flush kit from
http://www.fcpgroton.com

This does NOT apply to 1999 and newer Volvo(s) which have AW55-50/51SN transmission. This transmission requires Mobil/Volvo JWS 3309. It is not synthetic. It is expensive -- $18/quart.

3) Do NOT use power steering fluid. Our systems use Dexron-III.

4) Volvo no longer sells 87C/190F thermostat. Do NOT use OEM 90C/195F, purchase 87C/190F Wahler from
http://www.fcpgroton.com

Here are procedures that I used to replace thermostat and ECT...
http://www.volvoforums.com/m_16392/tm.htm

5) Misc.
-- purchase a hydraulic jack to lift front of car for oil changes
-- purchase a pair of jack stands (place on engine sub-frame)
-- purchase a package of aluminum crush washers for oil drain plug
-- purchase a magnetic oil drain plug from FCPGroton (optional)
-- purchase one aluminum crush washer for ATF drain plug

l33tDad · Post by **l33tDad** » 01 Jun 2006, 09:03

Don't worry too much about the milage.. I've got a '93 850glt (non-turbo) and it has 225,000 miles with no major problems. I fully expect to be driving it for at least 3 more years and then give it to my youngest son for his 1st car.

miketp95-850 · Post by **miketp95-850** » 05 Jun 2006, 21:10

Many thanks to MV850T, robert213 and l33tDad for their assistance with helping me decide which great 1995 850 wagon to buy. Your input is greatly appreciated.

In the final analysis my wife helped with the decision the most. I asked her for some guidance and of course her response was very thorough and logical. I then went ahead and did just the opposite of what she suggested. This made it very easy.

I brought home my 1995 850 Turbo Wagon on Saturday and I am very happy with it. Both of my kids love it and although she has said nothing overtly I think my wife is pretty impressed with it.

I have only driven the car about 80 miles but I do have a couple of quick and probably easy to answer questions. Thanks in advance for the help.

1. Occasionally when I put the car in reverse I hear a definite clunking sound. There is no apparent hesitation with the car shifting just a clunk as the car shifts.

2. What's up with the sunroof? I can't tell if it's closed or not. Is it just me?

3. I was surprised by how cheap the grill is upfront. Looks like crappy plastic with fake chrome on it. I also seems like it's corroding away. Any suggestions for repair or replacement?

4. I also have to get a CD player in this thing. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,
I am in Volvo heaven.
See Ya

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Jun 2006, 22:06

Clunking in reverse may be normal at the age of your car, but none-the-less, I would get the ATF replaced as soon as possible. You can do it yourself or you can get a shop to do it for you who does a complete flush. It will take 12 quarts. Read in the Database section as to how to do it. It's not hard to do it yourself...just takes some care.

Explain about the sunroof...don't seem to understand.
Grill? Yeah, I changed mine out for a square grate type grill on my S70. Look on ebay...there are a lot of choices....and yeah, they are all made cheaply if you ask me...just that you can get one that's not corroded, or you can spend some $ and get an IPD grill which is very nice and will change the way your car looks. www.ipdusa.com

CD-player...you have a few options. I would try to get a Volvo one as it will be your best- direct fit....or better yet, why not fit an iPod to it with the USA-Spec adapter. Much is written about how to do it on this site and it may be cheaper in the long run....will also hold much more tunes!