1993 Volvo 850 GLT review from North America

I bought my 1993 Volvo 850 in 1995 with 30K miles on it. It now has 165K miles on it.

At around 80K the transmission was leaking fluid somehow. The Volvo dealer determined that the transmission housing casting was porous and the fluid was just bleeding through the walls. They got a new one, installed it, and it leaked during the test drive. The third one has been fine.

The rear main seal started leaking at 130K and $1K later it is repaired.

This car was my primary commuting vehicle with no passengers. The driver seat wore completely through at the bolsters. The rarely sat upon passenger seats ripped at the seams. I got some nice seats out of a 1995 850 and installed them four months ago.

The radiator cracked last year and had to be replaced.

The lights in the rocker switches on the dash went out. For 1993 and 1994 those little bulbs were soldered into the switches, so you need to buy new switches- $30-$60 each.

Contrast this to my 1992 740 wagon with 265k miles with one valve job and no other work other than regular maintenance. Everything is far better in the 92 than in the 93.

This car has the same style drive train as the new XC-90. I won't be buying one of those.

I would not recommend any 850 or any of the newer (cheaper manufactured) Volvos.

I traded in my restored 1969 2002 BMW as down payment for this 850. The 2002 was a better car.