Purchasing Today - 1996 850 Platinum

Post by **m491** » 21 Dec 2011, 08:28

Nice looking car. You and your kids will enjoy that car.

I believe the reason for these cars selling at different prices is that the average person has no idea what significance the platinum edition has over a standard 850. I only recall seeing one in my area and I just rubber-necked to figure out what kinda of paint job was on a Volvo. Super paint jobs and the guts of an "almost 850R" underneath. I just bought a wagon in the last month and the guy sold the car cheap just to move on to something newer. The original owner really babied the car and the guy I bought it from just wanted something new so he was moving on. He had the broken glove box drain issue and when tape didn't hold it in pace he was the proud owner of a new battery (after the glove box light drained his old one.) After fixing the glove box, rear hatch rattle and struts, the PNP switch is next for me. At that point the car is 100% no issues and all done by me and my sons.

Like someone said earlier, a trip to a dealer or independent shop will scare you straight to Craigslist on old 850's unnecessarily. Which is great for anyone with a little knowledge of what to look for and the willingness to fix small things themselves. Many thanks to sites like this on that last part!!!

Post by **shiloh51933** » 21 Dec 2011, 13:24

erikv11 wrote:All Platinums are pearl white. And considering that they were only made in 96, it is probably a good thing you didn't buy that 97 Platinum wagon!

To the OP: looks great, enjoy!

Reaally, I thought they had them in 97', he must have swapped some Platinum parts onto a 97' turbo 850.

Post by **asimba2** » 21 Dec 2011, 14:04

m491 wrote:a trip to a dealer or independent shop will scare you straight to Craigslist on old 850's unnecessarily. Which is great for anyone with a little knowledge of what to look for and the willingness to fix small things themselves. Many thanks to sites like this on that last part!!!

I agree, I paid $1,000 for mine last week and the value of the needed repairs is higher than that. [Here's a PIC.] By the insurance company's standpoint, it meets the definition of totaled. However this forum and the people on it saved this 850 from the scrapper. Mine needs PCV replacement (~$160 parts), EGR cleaning (free), CV boots (~$120), trunk lid struts ($50) and driver's seat power recline repair (free). All of that at the dealer would be pushing 2 grand, but DIY it's $330. And I will have a nice running, enjoyable to drive car. I'm not so sure I could afford to drive a 18-year old car if I couldn't at least attempt my own work.

I have to be honest, I bought this car as a beater to keep the miles off my nice car. Turns out the car is much more than that, I love driving it. I never thought I would be out detailing it, cleaning up the engine bay, etc. These are nice cars, they just need to be caught up on overdue maintenance just like any 18-year old car.

The part I am not looking forward to is the dashboard mount repair.

Anyways, to the OP (and his son), enjoy the new ride, it looks like a nice one.

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 21 Dec 2011, 19:02

Yeah, I hear you. I bought my wagon pretty cheaply as a utility vehicle for hauling, for trips to the mountains (easy to sleep in the back when needed), etc., but it proved to be a better daily driver than my daily driver. And while I've put in a bunch of work over the years, it's really been very well-behaved, so we've been a 1-car family (wifey doesn't even drive...) for a few years now.

Post by **rspi** » 21 Dec 2011, 21:35

DougM wrote:In case you were wondering, I paid $2,400.

Man, Congrats on that price. I don't think you could beat that. I believe any running car is worth $2,000 but with a newish motor like you have, I think that car could bring about $3,800 in good condition. I believe you guys will enjoy it and hopefully he will keep it until he is simply tired of it.

DougM · Post by **DougM** » 22 Dec 2011, 05:23

I've been driving it the last few days (he doesn't get his license until mid-January)--he might have to fight me for the car!!!

Post by **Volvo4251** » 22 Dec 2011, 10:02

I love my Platinum, I'm not too much of a bragger, but I've yet to see a wagon as nice as mine... I don't see as many sedans, not really sure why, yours looks very nice!

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=43814

Post by **shiloh51933** » 22 Dec 2011, 11:49

Volvo4251 wrote:I love my Platinum, I'm not too much of a bragger, but I've yet to see a wagon as nice as mine... I don't see as many sedans, not really sure why, yours looks very nice!

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=43814

That wagon is beautiful!! I love the Platinum Edition, almost as nice as the R model. Honestly, I really love the 850 in general...Volvo really stepped up there game when they introduced the Volvo 850.

Post by **confused_al** » 22 Dec 2011, 17:47

Volvo4251 wrote:I love my Platinum, I'm not too much of a bragger, but I've yet to see a wagon as nice as mine...

Thats because you haven't seen mine (kidding)

...
I love those Platinum ones!

This is mine:

Post by **taxi** » 23 Dec 2011, 06:28

Maybe off topic, forgive me, but I have to ask about "dash mount repair"? This issue is not known in the swedish forums, anybody know the symptoms? I have noticed that my 850 starts with kind of rattle and shake of the whole dash, could that be a symptom?
Thanks!

Purchasing Today - 1996 850 Platinum

Re: Purchasing Today - 1996 850 Platinum