Looking For A New Volvo 850/S70

[abscate]

In upstate NY, much like Western PA, Ive found V70 FWD with 4 snows excellent and certainly would not give up the gas mileage for the AWD traction.

[BigRed]

I am I surprised that everyone has such success with winter tires and no AWD. On the V70R I have always ran full set of All-Winter tires alternate size 195/65R15 on steel wheels and still have problems. Out and about on anything near a main road where momentum can be maintained all is fine, but in my neighborhood (Beechview, has some serious hills), and especially getting up my hill, and turned in to my driveway I have so much trouble with even a few inches of snow. My last car was an Audi A6, maybe I'm just spoiled from a Torsen AWD system.

[zbyers]

JRL and Combatkarl,the paint to me isn't a big deal. Nothing some plastidip can't handle haha. Mechanically, it shouldn't have TOO many issues as it was recently inspected in PA. Depending whom they went to, PA is pretty strict on their inspections. Rust doesn't look like it's taken a hold of the 850 yet.

Abscate, I agree with you on the snow tires compared to AWD. I live in northwestern PA and have many hills and get a lot of snow from the lake and haven't had any issues this winter with my Pontiac Vibe. I also see you have a few VW's. We've got several Vanagons (including a DoKa), two Eurovans, and a Thing.

DrJammer, S70s are popping up all over Craigslist and Pennswoods, but I haven't really seen too many worth it. They seem to mostly be wagons and I'd prefer the sedan. If you beat me to it, that wouldn't be an issue. At least it would go to a good home haha. My dad is heading to Philly in a few weeks to pick up my brothers VW getting worked on and he's going to swing by Harrisburg. I'm going to try and tag a long to take a look at the 850 if it's still up for sale. The owner hasn't emailed back.

BigRed, I think you are spoiled from the Audi. Pittsburgh has some pretty massive hills so I can see going up the hills a problem there. My aunt lived down there and always ran snow tires and AWD and still had problems too.

[zbyers]

Got an email back today about the 850. The owner sold it a few days ago. Darn. Time to continue the search. I hope to end up with another Volvo.

[abscate]

We had a thread a few weeks back about someone unloading a wagon with a standard transmission that needed to be replaced. If you are looking for a cheap+1000 work car worth checking out.

I'll try find thread during next excessive boring ITARS meeting

[zbyers]

Abscate, if you find that, I'd take a look at it. Depending how far away it is. I'm not in a big hurry for a vehicle. But if something comes up for the right price, I'd probably jump on it.

[abscate]

Found it here

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 39#p353639

Give danpaco a PM to see if it is still in play.

Car is on the right coast and less than 2 states away, so hope it works out!!

[swe280Z]

Be patient. I picked up a '94 850 with 89K, one owner, clean CARFAX, dealer-maintained, fresh PA inspection, new tires and brakes all around with timing belt changed by the dealer at 69K at a small lot near Allentown. Drove from Pittsburgh and back in a horrendous blizzard on Valentines Day and paid a high price ($2800) but well worth it to me for a car that I wanted and with no rust at all. Everything worked except a couple dash bulbs and the tailgate pistons. Good leather too. Found on AutoTrader by the wife who seems to like it better than her Impala...even wants me to sell my 280Z to make room in the garage for it. Not likely!

[zbyers]

Thanks for the lead abscate. I'll take a look into it. I know tranny swaps aren't that difficult on a VW Vanagon. Any idea about on a Volvo? Haha.

Swe, I'm not in a huge hurry to find one. I'm scouring Craigslist. I hope to find something in the right price range.

[j-dawg]

I'll just offer my experience here that 850s and the like never seem to rust. I've seen two with rust on the body: one that had clearly been in an accident, and one that must have been soaked in saltwater, because rust was dripping out from under all the door trim. I've lived my entire life in the Midwest and Northeast and Volvo seems to have had rust licked a decade or so before the rest started figuring it out.

Mine had something like ten years of New York and New Jersey and one of Indiana, with a brief reprieve in Florida, before finding its way to me, and I drive it through winters in Chicago and Pittsburgh. No rust, not even on the subframes. Only the control arms have picked up a bit of oxidation. Maybe it's good steel, maybe it's good galvanization, maybe it's good paint, but these cars seem immune to the tin worm. Look for it, of course, but I wouldn't expect to find much.