[Diana]

Hi all. Was hoping to gather some thoughts here on a 96 850 GLT I am planning to purchase.

The car has has 1 leasee/owner and has 61K mileage. The price is fair and I have negotiated a 2 year warrantee, but I'm a bit wary of this mileage. WHat do you folks think?

My last (87) Volvo saved my life by sacrificing his. (Reckless old woman totaled it from behind) And so the sooner I get myself in another, the better I will feel!

Thanks in advance for your time and your thoughts.

 

[FarmBoy]

Diana, as long as the maintainance records were kept up by the previous owner, the milage should not be an issue. I bought my 850 with 69K miles in '99 and now have 105K. It stills runs and rides better than most brand new cars IMO. I plan to drive it at least to 200K before I give it up. The only problems that I have had with mine have been with dash lights burning out, and making the mistake of washing the engine bay last summer which caused the engine to cut-out on a couple of cylinders.

Make sure you follow the mainatainance schedule after you buy the car, which will include replacement of the engine timing belt soon. Also, try to find a good mechanic to perform work on the car other than a Volvo dealership. My local dealer really charges a premium on both parts and labor. Best of luck.

 

[Diana]

Farmboy, thanks so much for your reply.

I already do have a great Volvo mechanic. And I had the dealership agree to replace the timing belt before I drive the car away ... as well as give it a tune up. I was just hoping to find an 850 with 35 or 40K. The 60K has made me nervous.

My 740 GLT that was just totaled had 180K and I thought I would be driving it for a couple more years...

Enjoy your wonderful car and thanks again.

 

[[email protected]]

What he said

. Good luck with the new car Diana. Also, be careful with the warranty. If it is a Volvo warranty, then you can use it at any Volvo dealer, but if it's an independent, it may only be good at the dealer you are purchasing from, which may or may not be convenient for you.

 

[Diana]

Thanks, George. It is a Volvo warrantee from our local Volvo dealer.

My Volvo mechanic is now an hour away from my new home, but he's well worth the drive.

I can already tell I'm going to enjoy being a member of this site!

 

[Prospero]

Tell us more about the car! It sounds like a nice one, then again, all 850's are. It looks like Farm Boy has it all covered, so to keep from repeating everyone...

Welecome to the club, enjoy your new ride.

Prospero

 

[Diana]

Thanks, Prospero!

It's an 850 GLT, silver with black leather interior and wood dash, auto trans, CD player, headlight washers (love those!), heated seats, moonroof, et al.

I commute an hour each way to my office, so I think this car will make it a lot more fun. My last Volvo was really slow and not loaded with much fun stuff... but I loved it. This one is a lot more glamorous.

And I want some of your dash lights for when mine start to blow ...

 

[turboale]

Good luck with the new car, I got my 95 850 T5 (turbo) with 70k on it. It was my godfather's and know it was perfectly kept. I have a 20-25min commute to and from school every day, plus one of my best friends is about an hour and a half away, I now have 92k on it and have had only minor problems, Just loving the car more and more! Having a good local guy who you trus is definately key. I don't know what I would do with out mine. Best of luck,

 

[adgridley]

Diana - we had the same hesitations when we bought our 95 Wagon. It had 55K on it at the time. As long as you have a good mechanic look at it (of course check out motor mounts and A/C evap first), you should be fine. I am amazed at how reliable it is and even more so on the fit, finish and ride. Everyone that has ridden in it is downright amazed at the condition it is in.

My family (myself included) have fairly new cars, and they all feel like they are downright falling apart compared to my wife's car.

I got to drive it this morning and I am still grinning.

As soon as my lease is up on my -gasp!- SUV, I am tempted to buy your exact car for myself!!

Good luck - Adam

 

[Diana]

You guys are going to laugh: when I went to pick up my car, they had just gotten a newer one in ... a 97 with every option known to man PLUS it was black with a spoiler and tan leather/wood interior AND 15K less miles! And so, I took that one home instead of the silver.

TURBOALE, thanks for your thoughts. You happen to own almost the EXACT car my brother owns. The only difference is that his '95 850 T-5 has five speeds and a manual transmission. His car is the reason I bought mine. I think it may be, for practical and fun purposes, the quintessentially perfect driving machine. And I heartily wish you hours of enjoyment leaving others in your (very clean) wake on the road!

And ADGRIDLEY, I had to laugh reading your post: I fought with myself for weeks trying to decide between a four/all-wheel drive vehicle and the 850. It only took one ride down the highway on a new top-of-the-line Jeep Cherokee to convince me I wanted a pre-owned 850.

And as for the snow, I have traction control on the new car ... and well, if it's over 6 inches, no one should be driving in it anyway. Take good care, all and thank you again for your well wishes.

 

[RobM]

My wife and I have (2) 1994 850's. One is a Turbo sedan and the other is a GLST Wagon. The sedan we bought new and the wagon we bought in 97,having come off a three year lease. Both cars just turned 100,000 miles and have been maintained by the local Volvo dealer by the book since new. Before these two Volvos,we had four Saabs. Neither brand is cheap to maintain if done according to the book. Parts are also relatively expensive. Having said all that,we love both cars. I have to tell you though,with their current milage,we are spending approx. $1500.00 per year on each car. This is pretty standard. Both cars,except for some dings and scratches,look and run like new.

 

[RobM]

Diana

I have to apologize for inaccurate figures. I went back and checked all my service records on both cars. After subtracting out new sets of tires,and a roof mounted bike rack,it looks more like $1100.00 plus or minus per car per year. As I indicated,I have all the work done at the dealer because of convenience,absolute product knowledge, and their integrity.
Best of luck with yours!

 

[Diana]

Thanks, Rob. Today was my first day driving to work (an hour on a major highway through the mountains) and it was absolute bliss.

I laughed pretty hard passing those silly beamers.

I still can't believe it's really mine. I am totally LOVING it! I can only imagine how much fun it will be in the summer.

ANd so, I am not certain I will ever let children in it ... unless, of course, I can open that nifty hatch in the back seat for air and leave them in the trunk. (kidding)