1993 Volvo 850 GLT review from North America

Damper inside HVAC system needed to be replaced.

Shocks/struts replaced.

Parking brake cable seized, was replaced.

Driver side seat heater cushion replaced.

Historically, the transmission was replaced before my ownership.

I have owned more than 25 vehicles, driven many more, and nothing has been more comfortable than the seats in this Volvo. Some have come close, but no one has surpassed them.

Excellent road handling and performance, good fuel economy, quiet at highway speeds, nice fit and finish.

Any repairs that could be necessary are readily available usually with photos from the various Volvo forums online.

Even at 16yrs old, she still looks elegant, not old. Excellent resistance to rust. The heater is incredible, and the a/c is colder than my 3 year old Nissan.

Powertrain is extremely well-built, seems that it's the electrics that give issue, historically. I have had no unexpected surprises so far.

Expect that the a/c condenser will go, and there have been issues with heater cores from time to time. There is also a flap inside the HVAC system that controls heat to the floor which breaks... $15 for the part, 12 to 16 hours of labour to replace, so it's costly if you're not willing to do the work yourself.

This one burns no oil between oil changes, and idles very smooth... she should go for a long long time to come.

Parts costs aren't much more than my Honda or Toyota, and easily available online or dealership.