Volvo's

I'm looking for a comfy, efficient daily driver, and I keep seeing Volvo wagon's that seem cheap. I'm talking cars under $5k. I know nothing about them. Do any of them get decent gas mileage? Are they reliable? What to look for? Anything?

Comfortable - yes. The seats (at least on mid-late 90's 850's) are to die for.

Gas mileage - meh... the g/f's '96 wagon manages low-mid 20's.

After some early teething issues after the initial purchase - like a $4000 transmission, the car has been ok. I'm hoping I didn't just curse us...

Do a little digging and you'll find a lot of info on Volvo wagons. I had a '96 850GLT wagon as my DD for the past two years, just sold it in February. Mine was an autotragic, non-turbo. Gas mileage is so-so, I got about 22-24mpg. I bought it with 109k on the odometer, sold it with about 145k on it. It never left me stranded. Needed routine stuff, but nothing major.

Things to look out for. A/C evaporator is buried deep and from what I hear a royal pain to replace. Mine leaked, but one can of charge from Pep Boys lasted all summer. Motor is interference, so check timing belt.

Otherwise, I loved the car. Comfy beyond comfy, best seats ever. Can haul incredible amounts of stuff. Handles decently, rides real nice. Fantastic car to eat up miles in comfort, but not floaty like and old Caddy. Replaced it recently with a Saab wagon, which I like just as much.

Ah. Fond memories of my '94 Volvo 940 Turbo wagon. It got low 20's if I took it easy. Topped out about 26 mpg on long highway runs. I enjoyed driving it. Only way I'd improve it was to find a 5-speed, but that forces you to look back to the 740's, IIRC.

1988RedT2 wrote: Ah. Fond memories of my '94 Volvo 940 Turbo wagon. It got low 20's if I took it easy. Topped out about 26 mpg on long highway runs. I enjoyed driving it. Only way I'd improve it was to find a 5-speed, but that forces you to look back to the 740's, IIRC.

Well no you can do a 5 speed swap from non turbo 850s but they never made a turbo manual 850 here. They did make a turbo manual C70, S70, V70, S60 though.

Also immediately replace the fuel pump relay on any 850/70 series.

Gas mileage mid 20s like others have said. I was a hardcore Volvo guy from my first car until 2 years ago for DD's (93 850, 94 850 turbo wagon, 2001 V70 T5) but I am just over them. The newer ones aren't as utilitarian and are too expensive to buy , maintain , or own now.

Volvo has become the euro Mitsubishi unfortunately.

I have a manual '90 740 turbo wagon. Recently put a T3 on instead of the mitsu TD04. It seems to be getting 24-26 mpg suburban/highway driving. The leather is all split and looks like ass, but the seats are still more comfortable than any other car I've been in. Like sitting in your favorite comfy chair every time you get in.

bravenrace wrote: Are they reliable?

Compared to a Toyota or Honda, no. Compared to an MG or a Fiat, yes.

What to look for?

Depends entirely on the year, make, and model. Really, it does.

Numerous threads abound here about them. I've had several over the years. It is not a car brand I recommend to my friends who like appliances.

I had an 850 Turbo Wagon....see my post in the "worst car you have owned" thread.

Parts can be hard to source locally, even though they are absurdly cheap online. I had to pay overnight charges for parts no less than three times. Each time the shipping cost far exceeded the parts cost, once by near 100x.

My 91 945 was fun, fast, and comfy. If was easy to work on, but a system issue that I was late to diagnose caused 5-6 failures of various components. Then the transmission died. Unreliable? Maybe... it was old and had a lot of miles and it was hopped up.

Look elsewhere for a "must start every time" DD. For a fun drive, it is a good idea.

i've owned 2 240, a 740 and a v70, all wagons all are comfortable drivers, not fast even turbo's, mid20 mpg hiway. if it were me i'd buy the best 240 86-92 with stick over the same dollar value newer wagon. as mentioned the a/c on newer ones are a pain. my volvo's always were very dependable viz running gear its the ancillaries that seem to be the weak link. a/c switches, wiring harnesses, etc

My current DD is a '98 V70 T5. I bought from my buddy who did a manual swap. Its completely stock for now. Ssupper comfy and has LOTS of room. So for no problems...

For me, a '95 Volvo 850 wagon, no turbo, 5 speed manual. I owned it from 106k to 168k over 4 years. Ownership costs were pretty small (normal) certainly not high. Regularly returned 24 mpg in mixed driving with my mix typically being more hyw.
As noted, great seats and all around comfy hwy cruiser.

850's and 70 series cars are known to have hard to replace AC evaps that require the whole dash be removed. It is like an 10 hr job at shop rates. So, if the AC is not working, don't expect the best.
During my ownership, it required a can of r134a, twice a year. My nephew owns the car now and informs me that even a new can no longer helps. I think the slow leak became a fast leak. With over 180k miles he tells me it is about due for a clutch (still on original.)

Canada got 850 turbo wagon's with MT's!

Avoid the AWD versions. The first gen "transfer case" (called a bevel gear or something like that) were a problem and cost about $4K to replace.

But I also hear that the rear shaft can be removed from the awd cars making them a fwd car.
Seems the action is to buy a awd car cheaply because of the awd problem then disconnect and you have bought a cheap fwd car.

JohnRW1621 wrote: 850's and 70 series cars are known to have hard to replace AC evaps that require the whole dash be removed.

This is true for most if not all modern cars these days. They hang the HVAC assembly on the production line and build the car around it. I remember when the blower motor on my '91 Integra went and thought, "how hard could it be..." until I read the service manual - step 1: discharge A/C system... followed by steps to basically remove the dash from the car.

In reply to Ian F:
This link:
http://www.woodjoiner.com/volvo/VolvoEvapReplace.pdf
should take you to the well documented and photographed 23 page manual to do the job on an 850.