So I'm looking at a potential Volvo purchase... here's the ad:

1995 Volvo 850 GLT body/interior near perfect...

The scoop on it is that the car is cosmetically in very nice shape (the interior looks super, the body decent), and it has 90,000 miles on it, but an overheating issue. The owner replied to my e-mail and elaborated on the overheating, saying that it had begun to overheat a bit during local driving but seemed good on the highway. He had stopped driving it much, but thought that maybe it could make it for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving, it started to lose power and blow white smoke, so he stopped driving it and thinks that the HG is blown.

He wants $600. He's offering to cut a generous deal on a timing belt, WP, and tstat that he bought for the car. I can get a Fel-Pro gasket HG kit from NAPA for $150 (sales tax included), and although I'd hope that the head isn't cracked, if it is, I can get a Clearwater rebuilt head for $500. That means that with a good head, I can get a very nice, low-mileage 850 for ~$800 + sales tax, and if the head is blown, for ~$1300 + sales tax.

My thinking would be to drive it for a few weeks, see how it compares to the Buick, and then sell one of the two (honestly, the Buick would probably stay). I figure I should be able to make a little bit of money on it and have fun with an 850 at the same time. Volvo is a brand that is close to my heart, which is why I was searching Volvos on CL in the first place... . CL is not good for me.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Oh, and this car has the all-important parental approval.

I did notice in the pictures that the driver's-side headlight wiper is somehow messed up, but that's the only issue I've been able to pick up on.

Here's an interior picture. The interior is why I paused on the car in the first place:

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I'd look for a 940T instead. Much more bulletproof drivetrain (B230FT and Aisin/Borgwarner 4-speed auto), and "Arr Dubya Dee" as G-d intended cars to be.

Almost as durable as a W123 or W124.

Yeah, this is more of a hey-look-at-this-potential-good-deal-on-CL kind of thing. While I'd prefer a 240 5-speed wagon, I noticed that this seems like something that could make a decent driver or flip (the Buick would go if I keep it, the Buick would stay if I flip it).

When I'm looking at cars, I'm very willing to compromise in other areas to get a well-kept/low-miles example or one with lots of recent work, hence why I bought the 300SD, kept the Buick, and am looking at this thing. No car will be reliable after 30 years if it hasn't been cared for.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Run as far away from that pos as you can.

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Jim

JUNK

You do not need this heartache on wheels registered in your name.

Even delete the "Bookmark" from your browser.

ANY Volvo 850 (Even with a good Head gasket) is so far outside it's
designed engineer usable lifespan as to be a certain Train Wreck
waiting to happen to you.

'Only comparison I'd have in a Mercedes would be an ML
that had been Submerged for 6 months in salt water,
and then only detailed to "Fix" the mess.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

What happened to the w126?


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

^Disregard what that windbag says - I've found your Swedish dream car: http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/fred-armisen-i-wasnt-told-about-this-with-special-feature-i-m-dying-jerry

One of the nicest looking polished turds I've seen PC.

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Jim

Pass.

Not enough to be made on that flip, and if you decide to keep, will cause you endless headaches.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Stick with your W126. Why not fix that instead of buying this POS? Volvos are awful cars.

Half right. The old RWD Volvos were pretty awesome.

What's wrong with the 300SD? Spend the money fixing a good car.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We have a 2000 S70 (same as 850, rebadged as S70 in 1998), owned since 2005.

It now has 160,000 miles and has been the most reliable, trouble free cars we've ever owned.

That 5 cylinder inline engine has been used forever by Volvo. I think they're still using it.

My Volvo independent works on several in the 350,000 + mile range.

You guys are all just Volvo haters.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

This. If it's the same one I had, it's just needing a new trans (maybe some sitting issues now?) and nothing else. Drove great on the road.


Sent from an abacus

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth