850 vs v70

kebauc · Post by **kebauc** » 24 Jan 2005, 10:28

I have a general question about the various levels of reliability for the late 850/early v70 models - specifically wagons.

I have a couple of each that I am looking at, and all have 90-120k on them.

I have read various things on the web about the respective quality/reliability.

My goal here is to obtain transportation that will last for quite a while. In fact I perform very little repair on a car if it does not fall into the category of saftey or running. (i.e. brakes get services/ AC never does.)

Thanks for your input.

UncleBoost · Post by **UncleBoost** » 25 Jan 2005, 08:00

If you don't like working on cars then I would buy a Toyota or Nissan, Honda even ....Volvo parts are very expensive unless you can find a wrecking yard with reasonable prices. Since I bought my 850 turbo, for $3200 with 188k miles, Now with 227k, i have put new rear main seal,
Timing Belt, Turbo Drain seal-----$1600
New Idle Air Valve--------------------130
Temp Sensor---------------------------57
Plugs cap and rotor--------------------65
Fuel pump -----------------------------225
fuel filter---------------------------------24
02 sensors-----------------------------350
fuel pump Relay--------------------$10 from wrecking yard
Towing........................................2 times @ $50 bucks a pop
Love the car when its running though. Nice riding, Comfortable. Thats what gets you hooked on Volvo is how they drive and how quiet they are inside.
I spend alot of time on the road each day don't really have time to work on it especially in the winter when its cold. This check engine light is like The IRS, IT WONT GO AWAY!
Still working on the issues with that one.
Some times you are at the mercy of a crooked mechanic which I have been subjected to twice already. Was Quoted $525.00 to install a Fuel pump. And was told that my idle air control valve was bad which was what was causing my engine to Race away when it wanted to. Turned out to be the Temp sensor, a less expensive part. But I still wound up buying both Easter egging the problem.
Right now I am very pissed off at my Volvo......so i can't really give you an unbiased opinion. I bought mine because of Volvos reputation for running forever. I think that notion was derived from the 240's , 740's and older volvos. The newer ones Look good...They are Eye Candy. But just like a pretty woman, they will eventually start to dig in your Pocket!

Just my 2 cents. others may or may not feel this way about their Volvo.
I have 2 740's at home. The wife drives an 87 740GLE wagon which has turned out to be the most reliable vehicle we own.
My 88 Turbo wagon is Ok. It had issues from day one since I rescued it from under a Magnolia tree for $225. New seals, Crank Pulley, 4 turbos, 3inch exhaust, Cone filter, Manual Boost controller. Rice Burner Eater!
So you see you can love 1 Volvo and hate another.
I need help........

Post by **dosbricks** » 25 Jan 2005, 08:18

We have one of each series. I would rate the 850 a little better although each has a few weaknesses.

Any car with around 100k has a number of components that are worn out and need replacing. 850's will go 250-300k or more without overhaul, but if you expect relialibility you must maintain them. One reason Volvos last so long is because their owners expect them to, so they take care of them. Our judgment gets skewed with wowolove like uncleboost.

smithy · Post by **smithy** » 25 Jan 2005, 10:57

I currently both an '94 850 wagon and a '98 S70 and love them both. The S70 is more comfortable both in ride and interior appointments but I think that it's the age difference more than anything (and the cup holder

). Let's just say that I've put my wagon through the ringer and ignored some nagging problems longer than I should have

and it has held up. I haven't had to do as many repairs with the S70 but it also has had more regular scheduled visits to the dealer in the past.

When I do have to do repairs, the parts are expensive but the procedures are fairly straightforward. My only real complaint with these cars is the rattling and banging in the trunk compartment of the wagon. I'm not sure if the newer 70's are the same since mine is a sedan.

Let's just say that I know, when the time comes for my wagon to go to the junkyard in the sky

I will be getting another Volvo!

UncleBoost · Post by **UncleBoost** » 25 Jan 2005, 12:24

yeah, Yeah, I give!
I love my Volvo.
Not like as in I love my Kids but moreso like we jump over the Tahoe and
and the Bimmer to ride in the 850 turbo wagon to go out as a family. Even though the kids love the Chevy, I like the 850 its more

funner to drive and easier to park at the mall etc.
I know i complain about it alot and I shouldn't considering I have owned several British cars before (TR7....Good Riddence!). Which is what turned me into enough mechanic to work at a tire store as a part-time mechanic to put me through school to get a B.S. degree so I could grow up, get a better job to be able to afford to send my car to the shop when it broke and never have to work on cars again. Back when shop rates were 20-30 bucks/hour. Now @ $85-100/hour,compounded by the "Not so honest Mechanic"

factored in I can't afford it. So even though I know HOW to, I hate to. But I do so so that I have transportation.
My biggest gripe has been i have done everything possible under the sun and it seems as if when I fix one thing, a different code pops up.
Ok...Smart assed car telling me whats wrong you gotta love that.
I have ordered an ACTRON CP9145 Scanner so I can Suck all Poison out of the ECU.
I will Be back. I will be back to this board with the solution you best believe that. I Think my problem now may be the fact that i put Plats in a turbo. I was told Turbos don't like platinum spark plugs.
I will start a new thread on that subject.
When I get rid of all the Bugs and annoyances, Once again, I will love my Volvo!

kebauc · Post by **kebauc** » 25 Jan 2005, 14:34

Thanks for the input. Looks like this is what I need.

Drove a 99 v70 again over lunch today and all I could do is smile.

Just what I need, another nutcase car to go along with my 74 2002.

Jot · Post by **Jot** » 25 Jan 2005, 14:48

If the car is a NON turbo be aware that they use the DENZO fuel system $$$ where the turbos use the Bosch system.If the 850 is a NA engine and is early 98 they are OK

simon b · Post by **simon b** » 29 Jan 2005, 01:38

kebauc wrote:I have a general question about the various levels of reliability for the late 850/early v70 models - specifically wagons.

I have a couple of each that I am looking at, and all have 90-120k on them.

I have read various things on the web about the respective quality/reliability.

My goal here is to obtain transportation that will last for quite a while. In fact I perform very little repair on a car if it does not fall into the category of saftey or running. (i.e. brakes get services/ AC never does.)

Thanks for your input.

hi,
i have owned a 1996 850 estate, 2.5 20 valve, and now a 1999 v70, the estate was the best car we have had up to the v70, it was powerful, fairly economical and looked great, as well as being fantastic for towing our boat. the only thing letting the 850 down is the dated interior.
the v70 puts all of that right and is a wonderful car, although i have to say being a 2.5 10 valve model it does lack a bit of punch compared to the 850, but i am not complainig.
i do a little maintainence on my cars and find parts easily available from the internet, saving you a fortune if you fit them yourself.
the two volvos had 135k and 118k respectively, but i have had no major problems with either of them.

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 30 Jan 2005, 09:05

kebauc wrote:Thanks for the input. Looks like this is what I need.

Drove a 99 v70 again over lunch today and all I could do is smile.

Just what I need, another nutcase car to go along with my 74 2002.

Check to see if the ETS has been replaced on the '99. Those things are not cheap to fix.

J McKenzie · Post by **J McKenzie** » 02 Feb 2005, 21:30

I can't comment on the V70 but I have owned many volvos up to the 96 850 I currently own. The 850 is probably my last. The transmission had to be replaced at 100k, followed by the fuel pump and radiator. Volvo parts are very expensive and I have found service costs to be roughly 2X more than for my Acura. Volvo does have a very nice feel, fits me well, and has a great turning radius, but now I think the Japanese cars have closed the gap and diminished the advantages. In general I think European cars look good, have great ergonomics, and are great to drive. But they are unreliable and expensive to maintain. Just look at the reliability data for Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Saab etc, really abysmal compared to Honda and Toyota.