Looking for first Volvo for relative — have about $3-4k

[gilhuly]

I will also agree that if one is not going to do one's own work go japanese. I love my car which is 97 850R w/ 190+, buit if I hadn't done my own work I would have decided to sell it a long time ago. I would look at 96-97 850 N/A's and 98 S or V70 N/A's for reliability and value in today's market.

[jreed]

I have one of the '97 850 GLTs mentioned in the original post and I can say it's been a delight to drive and use, plus it's safe. I have taken it once or twice to the mechanic but most other repairs (and there have been many!) I do in the driveway. In the past six years that I've owned it I've repaired/replaced the ABS module, the rear brake pads and rotors, the front brake pads, the blower fan, the coolant expansion tank, the ignition coil & rotor, the upper engine mount (twice), the windshield wiper anti-suck back valve, the serpentine belt and belt tensioner, the timing belt and tensioner and pulleys, the driver's door check strap, the odometer gear, the air pump, SAS valve and air pump relay, and probably a couple of other items as well. You get the idea. I must say in retrospect it has been fun doing all this work (I've learned a lot) and I love the car, but it would have been very expensive and inconvenient to have all of these things repaired at a shop or the dealer.
I also own a Toyota and I can say that would be the car I would buy if I didn't enjoy working on my own car.