First Time Purchase -- Advice on Model

[BEJinFbk]

Volvo is a crumplezone Grandpa. The fronts and backs will absorb a great deal of impact.
The passenger compartments are quite stout and will usually keep you safe.
Driver and passenger bags in all and side bags for the front in '95 & later models.
Self tightening seat belts will also secure you in a wreck. SAFE cars.

The XC is just an AWD V70 with a 1" lift kit, LPT and some minor trim differences.
In Maine, you might want the AWD. I know how much I love it for the winters!

I went with an R model. 1" lower than a base AWD, tighter suspension, more
model specific trim and a HPT 2.3 liter. It's fine on the hills, but doesn't care
much for the really rutty back roads... If you spend most of your time on
flat surfaces, it's a quick, fun little wagon that sticks like glue in winter.

McPostcard.jpg (64.88 KiB) Viewed 743 times

Keep reading and Good Hunting!

[Shibbysan]

Wow -- you guys are great! I appreciate all the help and guidance on model specifics. I'm pretty set on avoiding the AWD if I can, since I'd like a manual and would prefer to keep things simple.

Sounds like it's an issue of biding my time and checking out the different options out there for a bit. Does anybody have any tips on buying cars used from a private party? I've only ever traded in with dealers before, and while I understand the need to take the car to a mechanic before shelling out the money, I'm also certain that I couldn't convince somebody to give me back the cash for a car I later found out wasn't in great condition. I'll have to find a buddy to drive me to the sale, too, since it will most likely be somewhere in Maine, NH, or Massachusetts. Not a lot of public transit out there.

[erikv11]

I just sent you a PM - you should contact binglax09.

[s70glt novice[Will]]

2) Are these cars recent enough to be considered safe on the road now? I'm a little paranoid about that, but I can only assume that the steel box will 'beat' a modern crumple zone any day. (See question #1 in regards to milage...)

Flipped my 850 wagon twice down a ~75ft cliff (deer). The roof crumpled but everyone was unhurt. I also hit 2-3 trees on the way down.
It was still running at the bottom and tried to pull itself up the hill. The passenger side front wheel snapped off to.
Me in the drivers side, two in the back. I got a cut from broken glass.

What i found absolutely f*cking hilarious at the scene (i was in shock) was that i couldnt open the door, and it was crumpled to hell. I then realized i locked the car. Door opened perfectly.

+3 lives for Volvo safety.

[rspi]

Man, you'll have to do a regional search to find a manual wagon. They are very rare now. You don't see to many 850's or early S/V70's selling for any more than $5,000. Most 850's are selling under $3,500. Just old cars. With that, you have a lot of maintenance, even if you find a good car in good shape. Things are wearing out fast and you have to tinker with them all the time. If you don't tinker or so basic maintenance and repairs, do NOT buy one of these cars.

Today I worked on a 850 that needs a blower motor fan, both heated seats fixed, lights behind the odo replaced (partial dash pad removal) and a power seat recliner repaired. Oh, almost forget that the AC isn't coming on. The lady has put $1,500 in the car over the past 9 months and when she purchased the car everything passed inspection.

Here is a buyer's guide I seen before:
http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-850- ... ide-13678/

[BEJinFbk]

Before you write off the AWD, try it. Test drive one in winter.

You'll be dependent on the previous owner for it's proper care,
and you'll inherit it's need for matched tire diameters.
Another downside? No AWD sticks for the '98-'00's in the US.
But the 4 speed autobox on my '98 ain't bad. Other years may vary...

The upside is that it's a stone simple, totally mechanical AWD system.
Don't abuse it, keep it's tires happy and it'll take good care of you.

[rmmagow]

Craigslist Boston, RI, CT Hartford. There are a boat-load of decent looking cars for sale. I'm going to try and find a dealer that I worked with in the past. Cars are a little on the high side but he essentially does a "stage 0" and always puts in a new timing belt/waterpump on all his cars. If you find something at a dealer via CL, PM me and I'll let you know if I've heard good or bad. If it's close, I could go have a peek at the car BUT, I am not an expert although I can fix cars.