1995 Volvo 850 T5R review from UK and Ireland
"Wolf in sheep's clothing"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
1. Cylinder head damaged during manufacture due to improper spark plug insertion;
2. Near-side drive shaft (at 5.5 years old);
3. Auto gearbox (reverse gear) (at 4.5 years old);
4. Air conditioning (climate control sensors) (at 5.5 years old);
5. Petrol filler cap motor (at 5.5 years old).
General comments?
1. Volvo build quality and reliability is not what it used to be.
2. Brakes are useless for such a fast, heavy car. I've upgraded my front brakes to AP Racing disks, pots, and pads.
3. Also had suspension and steering geometry improved.
4. Mild turbo upgrade to between 285 to 300 bhp. 0-60 now well under 6 seconds.
5. Car suffers badly from torque steer and tram lining.
6. Body not as stiff as it should be.
7. Very pronounced lift-off oversteer: great if you can handle it, dangerous if you're not expecting it.
8. Standard Volvo traction control only works to 25 mph / 40 kph: useless. Try fitting RaceLogic's Clubman's Professional traction control.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 1995 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 77000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo 760 |
| Date of Entry | 13th January, 2002 |