1997 Volvo 850 T-5 Wagon 2.3 turbo from North America
Summary:
Great Car -- Fast, Comfortable,
Faults:
Failed Thermostat @ purchase.
Leaky A/C Condenser @ purchase.
Miscellaneous blown dash lights @ purchase.
Tailgate inside panel loose.
Worn tailgate struts cause gate to not stay up when opened.
General Comments:
A surprisingly fast, great-handling and comfortable car.
We bought the car used with 52000 miles in 2006 and discovered a few little problems (above), the most serious of which was the leak in the A/C Condenser -- a common problem on these cars. (Cost to fix: $1000)
We bought this as a car for our kids to use when they reach driving age. The incredible power of this car has us concerned, especially when our sons reach driving age. Gas mileage is okay, but not great -- about 20-23 mpg.
We've heard horror stories about later model Volvos and those with 4-wheel drive. Other than the problems noted, it's been very reliable thus far.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 26th January, 2007
31st Jul 2007, 14:56
I understand frequent repairs can be really annoying, like I'm experiencing with my current old Chrysler. However, the engine and transmission in the 850 are as solid as solid gets in any vehicle. Considering these are the most costly aspects of a car to have replaced, I think the 850 is an excellent car. Most of the faults seem to be electrical related. Brake replacement is not a fault of a car, but a maintenance issue. The 850 is luxurious, well built, and lasts a LONG time with proper maintenance and care. I've heard and read nightmarish stories with other cars needing new transmissions or engines by 100k miles. It's really common actually with most cars. Not the case with the 850. Maybe you should count your blessings with the 850. Chrysler Lebaron has 68k miles and has had much more serious issues. It's left me stranded twice. I don't even need to mention the Volvo is far safer of a car. An aquaintance of mine had a '97 Buick Park Avenue that needed a new $4k engine installed at 40k miles because of a common design flaw. The 850 is much better than the norm.