1995 850 T5-R or 2000 V70R AWD which to buy

FastYellow · Post by **FastYellow** » 16 May 2015, 19:46

I have come across the opportunity to purchase a 1995 850 T5-R in gul yellow color. Car has been sitting and occasionally started for the past 3 years.body straight as an arrow no rust being a California car. Paint is sun faded. Nothing that a good polishing won't restore. It has IPD goodies including IPD exhaust and downpipe.
Car has over 200k miles with a recently rebuilt head.
I can buy this car for under 3K. Will definitely need a tow home as it is not street worthy as is.

The other car is a 2000 Volvo V70R AWD. I has a very clean interior everything works including AC and heat. AWD system has no funny noises or clunks. Only draw back is that engine will require head gasket in the near future. The car runs and drives but will need to be filled with coolant periodically. I can get this car under $1600 dollars. Will run under its own power and make it to my place.
Which one to buy??
Thanks all.

Post by **Ben850** » 16 May 2015, 20:57

Moderator?

Post by **abscate** » 16 May 2015, 21:57

Put a dollar value on your time and we can tell you which to buy.

Post by **j-dawg** » 16 May 2015, 22:16

Is the 850 a wagon or sedan?

FastYellow · Post by **FastYellow** » 16 May 2015, 22:50

I don't mind working on cars at all. This will be a project car. I would like to get either one road worthy.
The 850 T5-R is a sedan.
I've always wanted an R.

Post by **FLXC90** » 17 May 2015, 07:22

Do you want to change your user name?

Would the end result be a pure stock restoration? Or is it for a daily or recreational driver with personalized "upgrades" ? Are you looking for the one that will appreciate most, or just for personal enjoyment and satisfaction, end value be damned? Those and the financials will bring the answer to your question. Those and which one is left after you hem and haw, and someone else comes in and grabs one of them!

Post by **abscate** » 17 May 2015, 07:44

If you are going to drive it in CA, you better make sure you can smog car #1. Non-stock exhaust can quickly make that a (4000) investment

Neither one of these cars is ' special' and depreciation on both of these is near zero. You can't make many on old cars unless you sell someone problems.

FastYellow · Post by **FastYellow** » 17 May 2015, 09:37

I will drive it. It will become a second daily driver. I am looking for something that will be some what unique and rare. I know both vehicles have their rarity but I think the T5-R will not depreciate as much over time. The T5-R will come with the OEM exhaust I believe the PO has them. Smoging in California should not be a problem for either one.
Its a tough choice for me on which to pick. I have to choose in a few days.
Getting either one road worthy and spending the time to do it its just icing on the cake.

Blockpartie · Post by **Blockpartie** » 17 May 2015, 10:34

Buy the T5-R.

From a maintenance standpoint it is a lot easier to work on, cheaper to repair / modify and less likely to break down. Parts availability will be no problem for years to come with the exception of some interior bits and the front bumper.
From a drivers point of view... take the car that actually works.

Post by **j-dawg** » 17 May 2015, 11:09

FastYellow wrote: The 850 T5-R is a sedan.

I'd take the wagon, but that's me.