Do V70's have more or less problems than 850's

cmarcoux · Post by **cmarcoux** » 23 Feb 2015, 08:02

I want to upgrade to a v70 but I have never owned anything but 850's. What am I in for should I find a turbo or not?

Post by **misha** » 23 Feb 2015, 09:18

Practically the same cars with minor cosmetic differences.

V70 from 2001 and after is something else.

mika · Post by **mika** » 23 Feb 2015, 10:07

I would say 99 and up in something else.

I would choose a manual NA over an auto turbo anyday

Post by **rspi** » 23 Feb 2015, 10:26

Volvo claims that x70 cars are the 850 with 700 improvement, I call them changes. Personally, I like the 850 better. A lot less cosmetic issues.

Blockpartie · Post by **Blockpartie** » 23 Feb 2015, 11:10

rspi wrote:Volvo claims that x70 cars are the 850 with 700 improvement, I call them changes. Personally, I like the 850 better. A lot less cosmetic issues.

1800 changes actually.
And were do you get the "a lot less cosmetic issues" from? Ignoring the X70 unique soft touch coating on most buttons that gets sticky with age, they have less cosmetic issues. No fading exterior trim (apart from V70 XC) is just one example.

jonesboy1983 · Post by **jonesboy1983** » 23 Feb 2015, 12:31

I've had 70 series and currently have an 850. The two biggest cosmetic issues with the 70 I had that aren't present in the 850 are the door panels in the 70 series almost always start to peal away and bubble which I really didn't like the look of. The 850 door panels don't have this issue. The other issue I had was the kickpanel would never stay put and always wanted to fall down. The 850 has three torx screws holding it up which seems a lot more secure than the single torx that held up the 70 kickpanel.

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Feb 2015, 12:51

As the 850 interior fails, it is more squeaky and rattly. The x70 is more clicky and with some squishy thrown in. The difference is hard to discern but it's there ... the interior is failing on all of them now, it is mostly a matter of which style you prefer.

Post by **j-dawg** » 23 Feb 2015, 13:05

jonesboy1983 wrote:The other issue I had was the kickpanel would never stay put and always wanted to fall down. The 850 has three torx screws holding it up which seems a lot more secure than the single torx that held up the 70 kickpanel.

Stick some sheet metal screws in it. Once those tabs start breaking, you have to start adding your own fasteners.

It's a little unsightly, but you can hide the screws behind the glovebox door and/or on the side, where the door will close on it and it won't be visible from the inside.

Post by **dosbricks** » 23 Feb 2015, 13:08

I would agree that the 70 series has more interior plastic fasteners that fail and the interior light switches are very fragile. The power seat switch will usually stop moving forward sooner or later. Window switches corrode and have to be replaced. Door panels delaminate and their hardware breaks when they are removed . The sticky interior button stuff can become an eyesore if it starts coming off in spots and showing black plastic underneath.

Other than both having the sagging (musical) dash issue and shift knob replacement, I can't think of anything that has gone wrong with the interior of my 850.

Post by **850 LPT** » 23 Feb 2015, 13:19

I feel the 850, even if well cared for, felt harsher on the road and had a more trashy feel to it. The x70 serious feels better put together with a slightly better quality feel. A had a couple of both so far (including a brand new 99' V70XC), and that's just my feeling.

To answer some of the OP's concern: If you buy a 98', that's pretty much a 97' in a new skin. They still used Bosch components with distributor and all. All that changed in 99' with Denso electronics and ETM, and we all know the story with that.
The turbos didn't change much and are just as durable as the ones in the 850.