I am in the market for a new car. I have driven a 740 since I was 15 and am now 22, I would still be driving it had some ******* not hit me. My mom has a 95 850 turbo and I love driving it. I am looking at a 97 850 t-5, but should I try to find an R. Is there that big of a difference between the two other than the rims and 18 horses? I plan on doing a good bit of modifications to the car, so would it really make that much of a difference? Also I know that R's are extremely hard to find, but if any one knows of one available in the southeast, specifically Atlanta, I would be much obliged. Thanks Mike
Buying an 850 R
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109 Posts
It's too bad you didn't show up just a month earlier. George, the admin here, was selling his (Was the project car...check it out here). I personally have a 96 850R and love it. I did look at a couple other 850 turbos, but the R was just nicer, plus I got a good deal on it from a guy who needed to sell it. Anyway, the R has all the upgrades...240HP stock, compared to the T5 at just 220. Also, it has the suede and leather bucket seats, wood, upgraded stero, and lots more. Engine wise, it is very nice stock, and with just a couple upgrades, you're good to go. Honestly though, read that link I gave ya above. I haven't done anything yet, but I will be upgrading the ECU from either BSR or IPD/TME and the exhaust from either BSR or Supersprint. With those two upgrades, I will right under 300HP, which is when, from what I've been told, you will start having some tranny problems. I'm sorry I can't give you much more about the T5, but hopefully this will help.
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8,469 Posts
I had my R parked next to Prospero's T-5 with Sport Suspension and did notice that the R sits lower. The stock suspension is very good and the R comes loaded. It'll be a little bit more expensive, and there are fewer colors to choose from, but it'll hold its value better as well because of the rarity.
The suede interior is very cool and holds up well.
The motor differences are all in the ECU unless it is a rare manual tranny model from Canada or Europe. Were you to chip it, from any of the major tuners, the resulting power would be the same whether you started with a T-5 or an R.
The suede interior is very cool and holds up well.
The motor differences are all in the ECU unless it is a rare manual tranny model from Canada or Europe. Were you to chip it, from any of the major tuners, the resulting power would be the same whether you started with a T-5 or an R.
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421 Posts
Hey Mike,
I currently have a 96 850 turbo (t-5) and I have done some slight modifications to it. I found a 1996 R in my area... with low miles (50,000) and it's in great shape, not to mention the Titans which I adore... It's near me, South FL. and i'm wondering whether or not I should get rid of my t-5. My t-5 has 85000 miles on the non-working odo, and they will give me 10,000 for it. The R costs 11,500. I could probably negotiate that down. The only problem is that I have already put $1,000 under the hood of my t-5.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Sorry for stealin ur post Mike...
I currently have a 96 850 turbo (t-5) and I have done some slight modifications to it. I found a 1996 R in my area... with low miles (50,000) and it's in great shape, not to mention the Titans which I adore... It's near me, South FL. and i'm wondering whether or not I should get rid of my t-5. My t-5 has 85000 miles on the non-working odo, and they will give me 10,000 for it. The R costs 11,500. I could probably negotiate that down. The only problem is that I have already put $1,000 under the hood of my t-5.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Sorry for stealin ur post Mike...
orteped,
I am not sure if the car is still there, but here ya go:
Frank Jackson Lincoln Mercury
7555 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30350
1997 Volvo 850R
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-Drew
[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 01-14-2002).]
I am not sure if the car is still there, but here ya go:
Frank Jackson Lincoln Mercury
7555 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30350
1997 Volvo 850R
-Drew
[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 01-14-2002).]
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8,469 Posts
Matt told me that it did. Maybe I'm just remembering things, but I swear he told me that.
Man, there is no comparison between the T-5 and the "R" models.
Yeah, the hp isn't that different, but here's why you should buy one.
Alcantra/leather combo
fully loaded, no question
sport exterior (front and rear spoilers)
fog lights
suspension
rarity
beautiful, and don't need mods to beat new 330ci's!!!!
David
850 T-5R Sedan "The Original"
Yeah, the hp isn't that different, but here's why you should buy one.
Alcantra/leather combo
fully loaded, no question
sport exterior (front and rear spoilers)
fog lights
suspension
rarity
beautiful, and don't need mods to beat new 330ci's!!!!
David
850 T-5R Sedan "The Original"
Hold out for an R!!!! They are usually only a bit more than a T-5 (at least in my area). You get a far better looking car with a bit more power and superior handling.
"and don't need mods to beat new 330ci's!!!!"
-fhdt5r
Agreed!!! I stayed neck and neck with my buddy's '02 330ci!
"and don't need mods to beat new 330ci's!!!!"
-fhdt5r
Agreed!!! I stayed neck and neck with my buddy's '02 330ci!
Rock on man, these cars rule.
The "R" Series sedans with engine and trans. in good shape will do 0-60 consistantly about 6.6 seconds, some a bit lower some a bit higher, the wagons are about 6.8 due to more real-estate.
Tuned they are well known to dip into the low 5's with normal mods (exhaust, chip, intake etc..)
So basically we'll kill mustangs, slightly older vettes, bimmers, wrx's, and the list just builds. The "R" will always be something you will appreciate, especially as an owner, the beauty and poise of this car will make you love it even more every day.
David
850 T-5R Sedan
The "R" Series sedans with engine and trans. in good shape will do 0-60 consistantly about 6.6 seconds, some a bit lower some a bit higher, the wagons are about 6.8 due to more real-estate.
Tuned they are well known to dip into the low 5's with normal mods (exhaust, chip, intake etc..)
So basically we'll kill mustangs, slightly older vettes, bimmers, wrx's, and the list just builds. The "R" will always be something you will appreciate, especially as an owner, the beauty and poise of this car will make you love it even more every day.
David
850 T-5R Sedan
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134 Posts
I faced the same choice about a year ago - you have to put a lot of money into a T-5 to get it to look and go like the R, while the purchase price does not reflect that.
The downside is that the R is a problem with parking - wheel kerbing etc. - and has a very heavy thirst for super unleaded.
It'll also cost a lot more to insure, which is no doubt why they are available at attractive prices.
If you can afford the running costs, the choice is a no-brainer; go for the t-5 and you'll be kicking yourself every time you see a R!
The downside is that the R is a problem with parking - wheel kerbing etc. - and has a very heavy thirst for super unleaded.
It'll also cost a lot more to insure, which is no doubt why they are available at attractive prices.
If you can afford the running costs, the choice is a no-brainer; go for the t-5 and you'll be kicking yourself every time you see a R!
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421 Posts
Simon, I agree with you completely. You can't beat the R front bumper, I love it. The lowered ride height, but I encoutered one last night. A black one, and we raced. Those things are really fast stock. I have a few things done to mine, but he kept up until about 40, when I just pulled away. He asked me if mine was stock at the next light, and I just smiled... and said NOPE, and I also asked him if he was in Sport, yes, and I wasn't, so maybe I would have gotten a better jump off the line, or most likely more wheelspin if I was in Sport.
Here is a link to the R I found.
http://www.luxurycarspb.com/inventoryvpc.html
Just go there, and type in volvo, and select the R.
Here is a link to the R I found.
http://www.luxurycarspb.com/inventoryvpc.html
Just go there, and type in volvo, and select the R.
Just a thought on the R: it doesn't seem that the published 0-60 times on this car do it any justice. I actually am not impressed with the low end on this car. It doesn't really shine until you are already going about 40, then just jam the throttle. The feeling is unbelievable because it just keeps pulling so hard when you are sure its run out of steam.
Duncan~
I agree with you somewhat on the whole low end argument. These cars are really sensitive to temperature, rpms at launch, whether or not they're warmed up etc..
I think that you'll find when your car is warmed up, in sport and launched with full throttle the same way, you can get stunning and smoky results!!! But yeah, i had the same issuse, thinking, what the he11 is going on?
David
850 T-5R Sedan
I agree with you somewhat on the whole low end argument. These cars are really sensitive to temperature, rpms at launch, whether or not they're warmed up etc..
I think that you'll find when your car is warmed up, in sport and launched with full throttle the same way, you can get stunning and smoky results!!! But yeah, i had the same issuse, thinking, what the he11 is going on?
David
850 T-5R Sedan
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421 Posts
David, I TOTALLY agree with you. It is very uncommon that I will get the same launch twice with the car warmped up or not warmed up. WHen that Temperature gauge is even, and she's runnign smoothly, I will get a squealy and sumtimes even smoky... smoky's are fun, of course tires cost $$
Neways, these things are hard to beat once they're moving, and from a rolling start, like from 40 MPH, they're almost impossible to catch up to and pass until you get into the 3 digits 100+ MPH zone, they others will catch up, and sometimes pass. For some reason, the car loses some steam over 100 MPH...
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not that i ever go that fast
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Neways, these things are hard to beat once they're moving, and from a rolling start, like from 40 MPH, they're almost impossible to catch up to and pass until you get into the 3 digits 100+ MPH zone, they others will catch up, and sometimes pass. For some reason, the car loses some steam over 100 MPH...
Just wait till you get some mods on it, it'll seem to be full power all the way to 120 (i didn't go any faster, I'm a wus)
and that's without an ecu.
These cars are hardcore, no doubt, and the best thing is that nobody sees us coming, EVER.
David
850 T-5R Sedan
and that's without an ecu.
These cars are hardcore, no doubt, and the best thing is that nobody sees us coming, EVER.
David
850 T-5R Sedan
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421 Posts
Hey David, I know what you mean. I have an intake, chip, no cats, sport muffler, and an adjusted wastegate. I just adjusted my wastegate a couple nights ago, after I did the post, and WOW! It makes a huge difference. Now I can hold the gas well into the 3 digit range, and not worry about it losing steam. I got her up to 125 last night, and she still had it in her. I'm just a little nervous ever since I got a ticket... Maybe I'll pay our local drag track a visit tomorrow night, see if my 1/4 mile times went down, I know they did...
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