Checking Out 850s

[jqp]

Today I checked out the first 850 in my quest for a good used 850 for US$7000 or less.

It was a Champagne with Taupe leather 850 N/A with the leather upgrade (and I guess a few other options that were included in that package). No sunroof.

89,000 miles.

Asking 6800.

Car was clean, a few blemishes in the paint and on the aluminum head cover? Interior looked good, if armour-alled. Std radio/cassette.

Engine looked clean, but I am not familiar enough yet with what it should have or what may have been modified.

This vehicle has suposedly been serviced and had timing belt done. Also was better than CarFaxed, was AutoFaxed (Is this a legit company?)

First disappointment: no alloy wheels. I thought this was std on all 850s. Black wheels with fake alloy Volvo "hubcaps".

Test drive was satisfactory - no rattles or bounce. A little loose but like my former 850 after 8 years.

Did a full acceleration which shifted at 70mph with a small jerk - guess that is normal. Seemed like my former Volvo in handling and power.

Second disappointment: The AC was not giving cold air, just cool.

Third disappointment: when returned to the parking lot with motor running and the hood up, the AC compressor was cycling every 3 seconds!

Fourth disapointment: the passenger side amber light had a cracked lense, and the lights were not uniformly lit.

Fifth disappointment: my general feeling about the car. On the phone it was sold to me as a fully serviced really nice Volvo that was aquired and fixed up for a customer. (The customer ended up with a Honda or something else - I can imagine why - there is just something not right about that car for 6800)

Please comment on the defects/issues that come to your mind. I guess I could live with this car, but not for 6800. I would have to put in a CD player and maybe pop-out sunroof to be happy. I also fell funny about the AC and the light lens on this "fully serviced" car

[maiku]

that is the basest of the base models

for 7 grand you can surely find a Turbo model around. don't get an NA. you really don't get anything.

[shurgen]

A/c cycling every 3 seconds I guess is ok, just low on freeon. Lights were not uniformly lit? - does it look like one is newer than the other? If this is the case, the car has probably be in some maybe minor wreck. Check for gaps between all body parts if they match (especially the gaps between front fenders and the hood.

6,800 for 89,000 mile car doesn't sound bad at all I'd say.

[Guest 850]

At that mileage, make sure the T-belt and S-belt have been changed - never assume anything. Check the top engine mount on the arm that connects the engine to the firewall, normally it is broken! But this is a $35 DIY repair. Check the front strut mount/tower. The strut mount may have failed by this point, and you can tell this by whether there is a gap under the strut's top plate.

Also check the brakes, some cars at this mileage are still on its first set of brake rotors. Although a DIY brake job is not difficult, if you take it to a mechanic you are looking at ~$500. The auto-transmission should be flushed at this mileage, again it is a DIY-job. The car could also need new spark plugs, rotors, and rotorcap, and a new fuel filter. I think to be on the safe side, you should be prepared to do all of the above because chances are they have not been done yet.

Also check the engine's rear main seal under the car, it is known to leak oil.

See BAY13 on this website, it covers a lot of routine items listed above.

[kenhoeve]

you can do much better for that price. hold out.

and the freon is low, needs recharged.

and trust your gut, if you think something is up, there probably is.

[Spongebob]

You're in Charlotte, NC? Me too.

And by strange coincidence, I just bought a sub $7K 850 turbo here in the city last Thursday. Red 96 turbo wagon with beige leather interior, (the ads still running in the Observer). I spent about 2 months looking for the right one. 2nd owner, had all the service records and only 81K on the odometer. I paid less than $6500, but I've got an ABS/TRACs module to repair.

IMHO, the asking price on that N/A is way too much. As previously pointed out, it's the "stripper" model. The rapid A/C compressor cycling is a sure sign of a low freon charge - probably from the dreaded evaporator leak. I'd walk away. You can do a lot better.

Two months of following classified and Autotrader ads showed me that 850's sell very slowly in the Southeast. I'd recommend test driving some of the cars with listed prices above $7K and bargaining down.

[ScottV40]

Great topic- Should you look for anything more specific when you look at 850R or T5R's

[Bay13]

The cycling A/C compressor is cause you are low on 134a, the fix is not charge the system up, although thats what everyone does. The fix is to find out why the system is leaking and replace that part. (read.... You need an evaporator)

[jqp]

thanks for the great posts on this topic!

Here is check list I have come up with so far. Of course many sellers will not know all the answers, and you or a mechanic will have to inspect for others.

Oil changed every 4-5k miles?

Timing Belt changed at 70,000 or 5 years?

Serpentine Belt changed at ?

Top Engine Mount intact?

Front Strut Mount/Tower intact?

Brake Rotors look good?

Transmission fluid flushed ?

spark plugs

rotors

rotor cap

fuel filter

Rear Main Seal changed or not leaking?

Oxygen Sensors, front and rear changed?

Is Freon pressure low due to Evaporator leak?

ABS/TRACS Light On due to faulty ABS control module?

[jqp]

Saw #2 tonight

78,000 miles 1996 asking $8000 - I would offer less, maybe 6400 at first?

Has had timing belt done.

Clean. Basic cassette with Volvo CD changer in trunk.

Brakes squeaked - had just been changed so they were taking them back

Also the ABS light was on - I suggested that this may be related to the faulty brake job?

Other things that I could see and feel seemed to be good.

Except that there was this musty smell. They did not smoke but they had bought the car from a neighbor. Maybe pollen filter needs replacing, or should that be done during 70,000 tuneup?

They will get the brakes fixed this weekend....

[prasamin]

ABS light could be a faulty ABS module....if I were you, I would definitely go with a turbo, and with the miles you're seeing, you should be paying about 6k...about the AC, like Rich said, you probably have a leak in the evap like I do....good luck buying...when you buy the car, unless specifically documented that it's all been done, go through stage 0....search for the post, it's money on these cars.

-Pras-

[jqp]

when you buy the car, unless specifically documented that it's all been done, go through stage 0....search for the post, it's money on these cars.

-Pras-

←

ok I finally figured out what go through stage 0 means. Here is the latest list, although there is plenty of discussion and opinion on it:

"

Full stage 0 list:

Plugs

cap/rotor

oil/transflush

filter (oil)

hoses (the little vac lines)

samco hose kit

02 sensors

fuel pumps

clean injectors

clean intercooler/intercooler plumbing

Air filter

plug wires

Sound good?

This post has been edited by dougs242S60: Aug 3 2004, 01:50 AM

"

This is for a turbo, right?

[Guest 850rr]

If decide to wait for a 850turbo to come on the market, the check list items are identical, except you should check for oil leak on the turbo. If you go under the car, the turbo is the round shaped thing behind the front drive shaft and oil pan.

[prasamin]

yes, stage 0 is mainly for the turbo, but can apply to NA cars also!! (of course, except vac lines, etc)....when buying, listen for hissing, look at the turbo boost guage, listen for metallic noises from the turbo area, get under there and look for oil around the turbo, etc....when you get one, do stage one no matter what!!

[jqp]

OK 2 more vehicles were checked out tonight:

#3

1995 850 Turbo 98,000 miles at a Charlotte dealer asking $7999!

from NJ sold at auction in NC in May 1998 when it was at 21,000 miles.

Believe it or not I have never driven a turbo, and this one lived up to the hype.

Got up to 100 on the 65mph outer loop with ease, smooth shifting. There was a ringing as we decelerated down to 75. Is this normal, and what is it?

This was a LAVENDER (Was this a color?) 850 with the two-tone leather interior. Would have freaked me out if I hadn't seen this two tone interior before.

The AC cycles some, there was some oil burned onto the cover, maybe from a leaky oil cap?

I think at least one strut mount was gone due to a gap under the top plate (thanks to guest "850").

After we drove it he brought me inside to a table. Got what cen we do to put you in it tonight routine from he and his manager (who must have just come from the tanning booth, and may have had a little makeup on). I explained that I am not buying anything without having it looked at. His response was, well you will always find something wrong with a car this old, what can we do to get you to take it with you...

They ended up dropping it down to 6950, and they may let me take it to a mechanic if I am really serious.