Looking to upgrade - opinions please

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 11 Feb 2018, 18:52

So my beloved 94 850 NA Wagon is going from my daily driver to a spare and/or parts car we're going to keep around (long story short - too expensive to fix an oil leak and I can't do it myself).

I REALLY enjoy working with that engine when I'm doing work myself. I know it very well by now (I've only taken the damn thing apart ten times, so I'd hope). But I'd like to upgrade a bit, maybe come into this century. So I'm trying to get some opinions.

If I want to stay with roughly the same engine and vehicle, but newer, what would be my best bet? If it's reliable, I'm down for it. I've been looking at V70s, XC70s, or another 850. Any opinions on which ones tend to be better and/or if there's another model I'm missing out on? Can't go way too much newer - I'm in the ballpark of $2500 (that's a lot around here for a Volvo, believe it or not.) And I need the space a wagon offers due to transporting a lot of junk for work.

Thanks in advance, guys and gals!

Post by **jtp** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:04

For a pure daily driver I’d recommend an NA, FWD V70 after Volvo fixed the ETS issues (03 maybe???).

I’d look for newer with better maintenance records over older with lower mileage.

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:18

jtp wrote: ↑11 Feb 2018, 19:04 For a pure daily driver I’d recommend an NA, FWD V70 after Volvo fixed the ETS issues (03 maybe???).

I’d look for newer with better maintenance records over older with lower mileage.

I'll keep it in mind, thanks! Out of curiosity, how bad are the ETS issues to work on? I'm finding tons in the 97-01 range, but not much after that for my price range.

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:31

Probably the better question would be which cars to avoid. Like, I've never heard anything good about 960s so I'm going to try to avoid those.

Might actually get another 850 if I can find a price I can live with

Post by **jtp** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:35

If you’re comfortable taking the intake manifold off (throttle body is underneath ) and paying Xemodex for a rebuilt unit it’s not the end of the world.

Xemodex replaces the sensor built into the TB with a contactless sensor and makes some other upgrades. The OEM units utilize a sliding contact inside the sensor to measure the throttle plate position, turning it into a guaranteed fail item eventually

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:42

jtp wrote: ↑11 Feb 2018, 19:35 If you’re comfortable taking the intake manifold off (throttle body is underneath ) and paying Xemodex for a rebuilt unit it’s not the end of the world.

Xemodex replaces the sensor built into the TB with a contactless sensor and makes some other upgrades. The OEM units utilize a sliding contact inside the sensor to measure the throttle plate position, turning it into a guaranteed fail item eventually

Yeah... As long as it's not too different than on an 850, I'd be fine with that. I've pulled the intake off my 850 about four times in the last year. Not including the four times I've got it back on and realized I didn't connect the EGR and had to take it back off.

Besides, I understand that if I get a car that's got more than 100k on it and hasn't had the pcv serviced, I'll have to pull it off anyway lol

Post by **jtp** » 11 Feb 2018, 19:52

Other than that I would just avoid the 98-00 AWD Rs. I own one, and I love it. But find some parts for the rear end is not easy.

The non-R AWD and XC models share rear end parts that remain readily available. All the AWDs from 98-00 need to be run with 4 tires of the same brand and tread depth or you’ll be replacing AWD components on the regular.

Post by **erikv11** » 12 Feb 2018, 09:06

Given everything you've said, I would highly recommend a 98 V70. As suggested, FWD (especially) and NA will both simplify maintenance. Any 98 is old and will need work, but clearly you are expecting that.

About other V70 years:
99 and 00 are pesky, in-between years where engine electronics were changing. Not too bad but in contrast, almost every mechanical part on your 94 can be used in a 98.
01 and on the car completely changes except for the engine block (only minor changes there). These are fine to own, just require different knowledge, different parts, and especially different engine communication tools than your 850.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Feb 2018, 05:30

You have to apply to join the elite 1999 club, and we don't let Just anyone in, be warned.

If you have an ETS issue, it's the firm diagnosis that is the pain. Once you do it, it's a 100,000+ mile repair that saves a lot of other time maintaining things that fail

Post by **rspi** » 15 Feb 2018, 09:55

ir637113 wrote: ↑11 Feb 2018, 19:31 Probably the better question would be which cars to avoid. Like, I've never heard anything good about 960s so I'm going to try to avoid those.

Might actually get another 850 if I can find a price I can live with

LOL Have you ever heard anything bad about a 960? Best car I've ever owned, all things considering.