1994 Volvo 850 855 Wagon 168 hp 5 cylinder (non-turbo)

Summary:

Great grocery getter that should last forever!

Faults:

Air conditioning condensor leaks.

Center console lights required replacement by the dealer (including seat heater switches).

General Comments:

Very pleased overall with vehicle. This is my first foreign car and thus my first Volvo. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

The interior is very well appointed and extremely comfortable. Well made and solid. Undercarriage is aerodynamic and smooth. Very few places for road salt to wedge into and rot the frame or body.

Only complaints are the dealer costs for servicing. I'm one who usually does my own service work and most auto parts stores don't stock parts or even show listings for the 850. I'm starting to use the internet more for these things but dealing with core charges and getting the right parts is difficult when the store isn't right around the corner.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th August, 2000

26th Feb 2001, 17:13

IPD have saved me a ton of money with my earlier cars (I'm on an extended warranty now). They're at http://www.ipdusa.com. They're seriously helpful.

23rd May 2004, 00:15

I have a Volvo 850 GLT wagon and I love it. One thing to be very careful about is to make sure the service centre you use uses only Volvo oil filters. The non-Volvo ones tend to be longer and dangle too close to the road. Because of the vehicle's low clearance, the oil filter can catch on speed bumps and tear off. This is a quick way of emptying the sump oil all over the road and destroying your engine.

Bill.

12th Mar 2006, 14:14

I like to do as much work on my cars as possible. I have experienced the same kind of thing with my '94 850 turbo being more of a pain than usual to get parts for through the stores. Shopping online has greatly helped, but is a pain like you said due to core charges and such. The first time I attempted to get parts for a tune-up from the local Autozone and had to wait several days so they could order them was a hassle. Not to mention the parts cost were a bit shocking. Never have I had to spend close to $100 on tune up parts alone! I'm used to spending about $25 for tune-up parts for my past cars.

1994 Volvo 850 Turbo Sport Wagon 5 Cylinder Turbo

Faults:

Nothing - only normal maintenance items: Timing belt, Air Conditioning Recharge.

General Comments:

A fun car to drive... has tons of power.

Fairly nimble for a big wagon. This car is built like a tank with just about every creature-comfort you can imagine.

Can have a slightly harsh ride when driving on bumpy roads. This car gets excellent marks for quality - it should last forever.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st June, 1998