850 vs. 740 rant

bnzlva · Post by **bnzlva** » 10 Apr 2008, 01:28

Okay, so lets start this off: I have had two volvos in my short lifetime (I'm 23), the first a gold 1990 740GLE wagon, the second a forest green 1995 850 n/a wagon with 35% tint. I bought the 740 with 160k miles back in 2003 and have put almost 100k miles on it. The 850 I got for christmas in 2006 with 128k on her. I still have both cars and have tried to love the 850 the way I do the 740, but have just had a hard time falling for the 850. Let me explain:

Both cars definitely have their own unique attributes that make them special to me. The 740 is an amazing beast. It rides and handles like a dream with comfortable seats (albeit I swapped them from a 940) that I would feel comfortable driving on a 1k mile trip any day. Even at 18 years old, the exterior paint still shines, I even get compliments on it. It's just a quirky car with its own personality (perfect for the quirky people, like me, who own them). The 850 is drop dead gorgeous with the dark green paint and black aforementioned tinted windows. Then comes the sound from the engine bay and exhaust. It's simply intoxicating. Even the sound of the starter is sophisticated when I crank it up. There's a thud when you shut the doors and just says "I'm as solid as a tank". I just love getting in it and driving. It's a sports wagon from a time when no one else had thought of such a thing.

Then there are the downfalls, the things that make it hard to love the 850, but easy to stay in love with the 740. In nearly 100k miles, I have replaced oil, filters (air, oil, fuel, etc) tires, timing belts once (along with 4 valves when the previous ones broke after pulling in the driveway from a 2k mile trip to Florida and back - I learned my lesson with timing belts), it has a minor exhaust leak and that damned tailgate rattle (an easy fix), but that's about it. The 740's never left me on the side of the road, EVER. The 850 on the other hand, in just over a year and about 20k miles I have replaced the following: CV boots (both sides), radiator, transmission, instrument cluster, radio, fuel rail, rear brake disks and pads, cruise control relay, cruise control vacuum, vacuum hoses from cruise control vacuum to the stalk on the steering column, and a rear main seal (separate from the tranny replacement). It needs CV boots again (both sides), leaks oil still, the pass door clicks/pops when opening/closing it, neither driver nor pass door stops work, when then anti-locks engage the left rear brake shudders horribly despite replacement, and the car has had an apparent electrical problem according to 2 mechanics and volvo that has never let the cruise work after replacing the above cruise control related items. It rides rough and the rear seems to skip around on bumpy roads (especially when turning) like its going to do a 180. Perhaps new shocks/struts? I'm scared to find out. Finally, I know many people who own 850's and V/S70's and every single one of them has issues with leaking oil (both turbo and n/a owners alike). These engines just don't seem to seal well. My 740 has never leaked a drop of oil and in fact, after 3k miles, the 740's oil is still a medium brown.

Suffice to say, the 850 seems well intended: To be a great looking, great driving, great sounding Swedish auto. It does these things well, but just seems to come up short in quality. Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that the front wheel drive cars from the 850's to present models have been plagued with problems that the older, rear wheel drive cars never faced. Now don't get me wrong, the 850 is the love child of the Gods of Safety. It was the safest car of its time and still is safe even by modern standards. Nonetheless, the rear wheel drivers go 100's of thousands of miles with little maintenance whereas the 850's seem to have issues going more than 200k without major problems costing more than the car is worth.

That brings me to my point. I love my 850, driving it, being seen in it, and just plain owning it. It just doesn't light the fire in me or put a smile on my face with pride like the 740 does every time I get in it and look down at the odometer to see 252k miles. Sadly, I wonder what's going to go wrong next in my 850, but I just know my 740 will never fail me. I feel like I'll be 70 and watching the odo start back over at zero.

I'm just curious if anyone else has anything to add. I'd love to know other's thoughts and feelings on my rant.

Sincerely,
Jeff, another eccentric Volvo owner.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 10 Apr 2008, 06:03

You've got some of the typical issues with an 850, and many which I would say are not too typical failures for this model (e.g. the cruise control system).

With the list of issues you rattled off, I'd be looking at getting rid of it.

-Chuck

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Apr 2008, 15:36

I agree...you acquired the 850 at the miles that serious things need to be done if they weren't taken care of earlier and it seems from your read that the previous owner was a less-than-desirable owner when it came to maintenance. It does strike me strange however that they didn't go ahead and replace the rear main seal when they replaced the transmission...a significant over-sight in my book. Get rid of it if you don't want to keep dumping $$ into it. That said, your 850 is not typical. I've had my S70 since just under 90K miles on it and now it is just over 160K miles. Previous owner maintained it well and I've had very little go wrong with it...it drives smoothly, doesn't burn or leak any oil at all and would trust it from here to California and back without hesitation.

bnzlva · Post by **bnzlva** » 10 Apr 2008, 20:25

MadeInJapan wrote:I agree...you acquired the 850 at the miles that serious things need to be done if they weren't taken care of earlier and it seems from your read that the previous owner was a less-than-desirable owner when it came to maintenance. It does strike me strange however that they didn't go ahead and replace the rear main seal when they replaced the transmission...a significant over-sight in my book. Get rid of it if you don't want to keep dumping $$ into it. That said, your 850 is not typical. I've had my S70 since just under 90K miles on it and now it is just over 160K miles. Previous owner maintained it well and I've had very little go wrong with it...it drives smoothly, doesn't burn or leak any oil at all and would trust it from here to California and back without hesitation.

Point well taken MIJ. I guess I should have mentioned that the RMS was replaced before the tranny went bad, just my luck. You are the second person to suggest getting rid of it, but I really hate to after putting so much money into it. I'm also weary of getting another one needing the same repairs or more all over again. At least I know what's wrong with this one. Not to mention I've had none of the common PNP, ABS, or evaporator issues. Nonetheless, the 740 is still trucking along without any issues, thank goodness for that.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Apr 2008, 21:03

Since you know what's wrong with it, if you don't want to ditch it, budget your money and start fixing the main stuff first (or the cheap stuff). These cars, I'm convinced, if maintained will go as long and as far as the RWD's.