1997 Volvo 850 R 2.3 turbo from North America

Summary:

Ugliest, most unreliable car in the world

Faults:

I bought this car for $3200, thinking it was a great deal. I have spend over $2000 fixing it.

I had for for 16 months, and now the tranny gave out, it cost over $1800 to fix. This car is the biggest piece of crap ever made. Besides being an extremely ugly car, I thought it would run for a couple of years. My dad had a Volvo and it was very reliable. 850Rs are not. Why spend on maintenance and fixing a car that looks it was designed in the 80's?

This car was a big mistake.

General Comments:

The car was kind of fast when I bought it. Other than that, I could have bought a Yugo and had better luck. Nobody would want to buy this car for more than $1500 now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd May, 2011

2nd May 2011, 14:19

Did the same thing you did... but mine was a 96 850 station wagon... put a lot of money in it... and you are right... sold it for 1500.00 cash... but did get at least 5 calls on it from craigslist... but you might want to hold off selling it... saw the guy at the supermarket 7 months later... he says it's still running strong...

3rd May 2011, 00:56

It always sucks to have a transmission go out, but no offense, the car has 130,000 unknown miles on it. You got the thing at the end of its life, so really, you can't blame Volvo.

I happen to run into a chap with a Volvo Station Wagon with 941,000 miles on it, original drivetrain. You can't say Volvo makes bad cars, it all depends on how people take care of them originally.

Although, I will agree with the ugly part.

4th Apr 2016, 17:24

The Volvo 850 is not a car which looks like it was designed in the 80s. It actually is one! First released in 1992, the design and conception process likely started by 87/88. That's what like about it.

28th Jun 2020, 14:56

Funnily how just two comments below, on this very page, you put another review only two years before this one, saying "Astonishing car, even with the high mileage!". I'm sure it's yours because everything matches, similar mileage, similar purchase year, you also had a Civic before and you say you had it for 16 months, exactly the time from that comment. So you installed a bigger turbo and exhaust on a car with 130K miles and started to beat on it with speeds to 160mph. You even said "I wouldn't recommend to do these modifications with an automatic transmission, because it will probably not be able to handle the torque".

1997 Volvo 850 GLT 2.5 turbo from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Solid european

Faults:

Air conditioner Leaks.

Heated seats intermittent.

Multiple oil leaks.

Cruise control not working.

Front door check bolts sheared off.

Passenger door handle hard to pull open.

Odometer stopped working.

General Comments:

This has been a very good car to me, spent 1500 on 1st service, but I think the dealer was dishonest.

Second service included cam belt, different description on oil leaks through engine, and rear break replacement; all up 2500.

2.5 years since last service, the car hasn't let me down. The engine is finally starting to fail - down on power. Otherwise a very good car. Plenty of torque, and pulls the boat effortlessly.

Got rear ended buy a Toyota Hilux, came out best off!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd October, 2010

1997 Volvo 850 R 2.3 turbo from North America

Summary:

Astonishing car, even with the high mileage!

Faults:

Head gasket went about two months after I purchased the car. It was not a big deal though because I purchased a bigger turbo.

Had to replace all bushings and had a whole in my gas tank.

Also I replaced the timing belt and water pump.

General Comments:

Installed the turbo about two weeks ago, and I have the car running at 1.5 bar. It is truly a beast with the 379 horsepower my dyno test brought me.

I changed the exhaust system to a 3" and upgraded my suspension as well as added a strut bar. I changed the intercooler and added a race cat.

All in all, the car runs amazingly fast, and you can easily take it up to 160 mph+ without any problems. I wouldn't recommend to do these modifications with an automatic transmission, because it will probably not be able to handle the torque. I just love the feeling that I get when someone in a e46 M3 wants to race, and I leave them in the dust. Even if this car is stock, it is a beast and built to last!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th October, 2009