98 V70 XC (mine) vs 850 turbo wagon:

Post by **CIK7** » 18 Jan 2020, 14:25

As you can see from my sig, I own a 98 XC. I love Volvo wagons! Never again could I buy a sedan with that little visibility. When I found this black 98 XC, I said I had to have it. I'm currently working on getting a whole parts car for $50 (also in signature) identical to mine. Now I'm hesitating and I need help deciding: do I want an older Volvo (94-97 850 turbo/t5 wagon) or keep this XC. I'm having a hard time with this choice. I just got the XC 9/30/19. It's at 146k miles, freakishly low I think. I'm willing to sacrifice AWD. I've heard FWD Volvos are top hole performers in snow. Can the 98 XC parts be used on 94-97 850? Doors, exterior lights, panels, etc? I've put a little bit of money into my car. I need advice and thoughts. Which car would you buy if you had the chance? I'd probably trade or sell mine if I went through with the 850. Plus on the 850 for me is the center console window controls (I drive with left hand on far left side of wheel, right hand free), but downside is that the 850 seems to have minimal storage. Does the 850 come equipped with 3 or 4 hooking points? The XC does. I understand the V70 is facelift of 850. How extreme are the differences? 98 V70 XC vs 850T.

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Jan 2020, 18:43

Almost none of the V70 body parts will work on the 850. Unless you swap the entire nose, that has been done but may be a fair bit of work.

Almost all of the V70 mechanical parts will work on the 850, except where there are obvious trim level differences e.g. related to AWD vs FWD.

850 and V70 cargo spaces are essentially identical capacity.

Overall I prefer the V70's but would never get one in AWD, just a bunch of heavy add-ons that get in the way and break. I'd probably take the 850 if it was in very good condition, if it was beat I'd take the V70xc as it sounds like you have a nice low miles one.

Post by **CIK7** » 19 Jan 2020, 00:22

erikv11 wrote: 18 Jan 2020, 18:43 Almost none of the V70 body parts will work on the 850. Unless you swap the entire nose, that has been done but may be a fair bit of work.

Almost all of the V70 mechanical parts will work on the 850, except where there are obvious trim level differences e.g. related to AWD vs FWD.

850 and V70 cargo spaces are essentially identical capacity.

Overall I prefer the V70's but would never get one in AWD, just a bunch of heavy add-ons that get in the way and break. I'd probably take the 850 if it was in very good condition, if it was beat I'd take the V70xc as it sounds like you have a nice low miles one.

Thank you. All seats are interchangeable between V70 and 850, yes? They look the same. I have 2 extra front seats from the junk white XC that I may or may not be getting back. Is there a topic on here that might explain how to install a P2 front seat in the p80s? The seats from the P2 T5 are apparently super comfy, even more than p80 and the base S60/V70. Are there better seats available in the p80 t5?

raivis_rsn · Post by **raivis_rsn** » 19 Jan 2020, 00:45

850 seats fit in P80. Don't know about P2 though.

Cookeh · Post by **Cookeh** » 19 Jan 2020, 02:10

P2 seats fit fine in 850s. You need to change the rails and seatbelt receiver over (that's all I can say about it, everytime I ask one of the multiple people who have done it in the UK that's the reply I get.... "just change the rails, will be obvious when you see the seats side by side") . You will loose your SIPS though, if that's something you're bothered about.