Volvo 850 2ltr

guitarcarfanatic · Post by **guitarcarfanatic** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:18 pm

Just wondering what all your thoughts are on the volvo 850? I have been offered one cheap in relatively good condition just with a blown headgasket. Is it cheap to fix the haed gasket and also is it easy enough to repair myself(limited skill but did take a fair part of a renault 5 engine apart!)? What are they like as cars? Good to live with? Any good for towing caravans? It's an estate and I think it's a 95 model (cant remember exactly but will probably go have a look soon).

I'm quite happy with my 480 but I have someone who may need a new car soon and would like to help him out.

Any help appreciated! Rob

pol · Post by **pol** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:15 pm

Get a T5.

Nuff sed

pol

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:47 pm

Have to agree with pol, the 2.0 is way too small for such a big car, especially if you are towing things.

(possibly hence blown headgasket?)

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:58 pm

My dad has a 1995 850 2.5 20v, it tows the caravan every so often but its brilliant for general use, nice to drive, high up (compared to the 480) with a good field of vision.

It can be a little expensive if you are just going to use it for town driving but on the motorway its fab. I did nearly 300 miles on just Â£20 of 95 ron and that was towing a 480, was only doing 50mph but Iâ€™ve had 125 out of it before I ran out of empty road.

I think if I get this job that I went for today I will get an 850, they are relatively cheap now compared to what my mum and dad paid for it 5 years ago.

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Milosz_480 · Post by **Milosz_480** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:08 pm

I have no expirience with 850 but friends from VolvoKlub like that car. It's relieable and useful. It's also a safe car.
IMHO dashboard is not nice. It looks crudely. If I were you i would get SAAB 9000 2,0T or like Mat Mecedress 280. If you'd like to hear my advice keep your 480. If you can get another car as a daily runner.

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:14 pm

Yes forgot to mention its reliability and safety but thatâ€™s standard with a Volvo anyway. The 850 was the changing face of Volvo, before it used to be a 2 tone square box but now they are nice and curvy.

ChrisKay has an 850 T-5 and to say it goes like shit off a shovel is quite an understatement, trust me I had a go

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guitarcarfanatic · Post by **guitarcarfanatic** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:15 pm

@ Milo - I'm not looking at getting rid of my 480. I need to find a car for my G/F's dad as he wants something a bit more modern than his current 2ltr Vauxhall Carlton(fast car but absolutely huge and a 1989 model so quite old to be pulling a caravan - reliably anyway). He was looking into getting a 4x4 (jeep cherokee 4.2ltr) But I pointed out that it was group 15 insurance (!) and would cost shed loads on petrol(think something like 20MPG!!!!). I will check out the Merc and the Saab but was just enquiring cos I can get him a cheap 850 with blown headgasket.

Cheers for the advice guys! Rob

pol · Post by **pol** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:08 pm

They do go like poo off your shoe. Different to our turbo's though. Feels much heavier to me. 5 cylinders so have a nice grunt to them. A friend of mine has recently ditched his 480t for an 850t5 and very nice it is too.

pol

chriskay · Post by **chriskay** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:26 pm

Nice car. A bit underpowered in 2.0 10 valve, a bit better in 20 valve, but neither will light up the tyres, but maybe that won't matter. The engines are reputed to be not that easy to work on & parts are expensive; also, check the insurance group. My question would be: why did the head gasket go? is there an underlying fault? As a matter of principle, I'm nervous about buying/recommending a car for a friend. How would you feel if it turned out to be a dog? Just my opinion.
@ Big Brother; remember mine is Rica'd; not all T5's go like that
Cheers, Chris.

rpruen · Post by **rpruen** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:36 pm

I have driven a very early 2.5 20V, and it's nice enough. Not exactly fast, but they do go well. I'm guessing the 2.0 is going to be somewhat underpowered. It's a big car to lug about, so fuel consumption round town is going to be a problem.

As far as parts go, they are not cheap. Headgasket is not so easy to do either as far as I know. I guess that's why it's cheap.

Richard

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:37 am

chriskay wrote:@ Big Brother; remember mine is Rica'd; not all T5's go like that

I know but its stll fookin fast

Baffler · Post by **Baffler** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 3:31 pm

Just my opinion...I think the 850 is one of the finest cars Volvo ever produced. The engineering is just top class. Like all models of cars that have various engines, rule of thumb is to buy the mid ranged engine. I believe the quality cars are the TDI and T5 and are obviously the most sought after. I had a 2.0L 20v SE and I have to admit it was a little under powered and thirsty as a result...I was afraid to use the A/C...

Watch out for poor examples, there's are a lot of them about...

Be sure to ask around at the Volvoclub - plus you my find a perfect example for sale there also...

Good luck

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:43 pm

Yes the 850 was one of the first â€˜round cars Volvo built and after that they started appealing more to younger people.

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chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 5:14 pm

Like all models of cars that have various engines, rule of thumb is to buy the mid ranged engine.

Out of interest, whats the reasoning behind this?
If i were ever to buy a new car, I want the top of the range lump under the bonnet, and no way will I touch anything powered by a fuel that produces the most carcinogenic substances known to man...diesel is for tractors and lorrys!
Second hand on the other hand- which my cars are destined to always be, then anything from middle range up, but still no diesel.

850's are great...but i think the head gasket on them is not easy....twin camshafts to deal with etc...

guitarcarfanatic · Post by **guitarcarfanatic** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 5:37 pm

Ok cheers for the advice guys! I think he now has his heart set on the Jeep Cherokee! I think he is crazy buying it as it's insurance group 15, has the same MPG as a small aircraft(4.2 ltr engine) and has nothing to really show for it apart form being huge! Oh well, his money I guess.

Advice much appreciated, Rob

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:14 pm

guitarcarfanatic wrote:Ok cheers for the advice guys! I think he now has his heart set on the Jeep Cherokee! I think he is crazy buying it as it's insurance group 15, has the same MPG as a small aircraft(4.2 ltr engine) and has nothing to really show for it apart form being huge! Oh well, his money I guess.

Advice much appreciated, Rob

Is he trying to compensate for something

Runs for cover

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:37 pm

guitarcarfanatic wrote:I think he now has his heart set on the Jeep Cherokee......has nothing to really show for it apart form being huge!

Actually inside you have less luggage space then a Honda 90 stepthrough.

It will be the worst decision he has made if he gets one, they are noisy, slow and shite, the build quality makes an airfix model appear superlative.

1 big huge NOOOOOOOOOO! from the Bat.

guitarcarfanatic · Post by **guitarcarfanatic** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:56 am

That was my point to him! Oh well his money - still trying to convince to get something sensible. Wish me luck....