1995 Volvo 850 from North America - Comments

I had to get the front wheel bearings replaced last summer; one started to get noisy, so I replaced them both. The car is a lot quieter now.

No other maintenance.

Great car. We had a 1988 Camry previously (which my wife adored). When I drove the 850 home to let her drive it, she first thought it was big and boxy. After she climbed in the driver's seat she warmed up to it. After 20 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway, she was hooked. She can see out of it better than her Camry (she's only 5' tall).

Nice cabin, lots of room, even with the rear seat back for my 6' frame I can sit in the back and not hit my knees on the seat back.

This non turbo is fast also. Not blindingly so off the line, but when you need to pass someone and need the engine at 55mph, it's there.

I love the 5 speed.

Nice handling, especially with the Michelin tires.

You have mentioned you would by another in a heartbeat. I must disagree the 850 is expensive to maintain although it can be cheap if it is maintained properly. My suggestion is you should sell your 850 and by a BMW 3 series.

Or try the Honda accord a sense of luxury at a modern day price.

Responding the the previous comment, BMWs and Hondas are both expensive to fix compared to Volvo, not necessarily more reliable, and are more expensive to insure. No thanks!

As to the word of get a BMW 3 seris?

Hmm must like those $ 800 break jobs

only BMW pads and parts not many after market.

Also, Big Massive Repairs on any car if you do not take care of the basic things.

Honda = disposiable car ? chintzy trim and just as expensive to repair.

Give me a Volvo any day!

90 740 Turbo Car (174k miles)

91 240 DL (265K miles and going strong!)

2003 S-60 T5 (107k Miles)

I agree to the two guys who replied to the one comment claiming, that BMW and Hondas are better and cheaper to maintain plus parts. That is absolutely crap, I'm on my third Honda, each time spent $4000 in fixing them up, things that include the cost are, new battery, distributer, Clutch, Exhaust, radiator, ball joints brakes, heater blower, and the rest was Labour, yes the labour on these cars you claim BMW and Honda is expensive, once a friend told me no matter what car you have you will pay the same, because when it comes to labour, the mechanics are working to get paid, they don't charge less or more on the cars they like or hate, work for them is work and they want to get paid equally every time, where you save money, is the connections you have to get good parts for low price. When you have a prob you fix it, buy aftermarket products, they will remove the problem of your car for ever as the parts are more perfomance oriented and can handel way more than normal original factory parts, anotherthing, I'm sick of this crap about imports, they are not reliable, it all depends on how you maintain your car. I'm trying to buy this 1995 850 turbo, with 250k's for $2000, it's a great deal, compared to the 1989, and 1990 Honda civics I bought for $2300, and spent $4000, to fix up, and still my third civic is slow, ugly, tranny's gone, and I'm just fedup with Honda's. I'm just hoping the volvo I'm buying is still available, as I'm a student and this 850 is excellent condition fully loaded. I think I might become a VOLVO guy "FOR LIFE"

Good choice. I used to own a BMW and a Honda. Well, Honda was relatively good, except for that plastic interior... BMW 3 series had too many annoying problems, and was little claustrophobic on the inside, not enough room, even on the driver's seat. Volvo 850 is great choice, especially T5 version. Loads of room, great seats, reliable, loads of electrical goods, relatively cheap to maintain... Only bad thing on turbos is fuel consumption, if car is driven hard, other-vise it is a great car.

Oh, I'm currently on my 3rd Volvo (V70T5) and I'm very pleased with it, my previous Volvo was 850 T-5R estate.