Penny for your thoughts

"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker) 10/09/2016 at 18:42 • Filed to: Turbo Brick, Volvo, Volvo 850, Dumbass

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I have an opportunity to buy an 850 Turbo wagon. Black like the one in the picture but with a lot rougher paint. Roughly six months ago it had a new used transmission put in it after a local car lot bought it, I know this for a fact. I wanted to buy the car(since it was bought out from under me on CL) but someone else did before me. Just today I spotted this car in that same car lot’s junkyard/parts yard. So naturally I had to ask what was up. It appears the kid that bought it ran over a limb gouging a hole in the oil pan. The guy there said it would still turn over and run but very roughly. His prediction was that it needs new bearings. Now comes your part fine people of Oppo: How pricey is this to do on these and how hard is it? I believe I have a majority of tools require, and I have basic mechanical skills for the average car guy. Also he thinks the owner will let the car go for $500 if that makes a difference.

12and35 > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 18:47

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I owned a 850-T5 for a run around extra DD about two years ago.

It was absolutely nothing but trouble. The tow company didn’t even have to ask my address after a while... I was on a first name basis.

Tristan > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 18:53

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Hole in oil pan + “it still runs” = it needs a new engine or complete rebuild.

Frenchlicker > Tristan 10/09/2016 at 19:03

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That’s what I figure and I knew there are a couple of people around here that have done similar things. I’m almost tempted to look into a 5.0 swap.

LongbowMkII > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 19:04

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850's are FWD

Tristan > LongbowMkII 10/09/2016 at 19:04

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Yup. FWD. :/

Frenchlicker > LongbowMkII 10/09/2016 at 19:17

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Shit, you’re right. I got my models confused.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 19:28

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I’d say no. I don’t think a Volvo would be a good first engine rebuild.

Also tangent to this. Apart from making wagons why do people like Volvos so much?

Frenchlicker > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 10/09/2016 at 19:29

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I guess of the perceived safety for some. Myself I like the boxy look without it being to big. Plus if treated right they can be bulletproof.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 19:48

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Not the 850 and forward. 240, debatable, it will run forever if you obsessively put hundreds of thousands of dollars until you get a reality gut check. It happened to my Dad. We also had an 850. Terrible car. Just avoid Volvos in general is a good rule of thumb.

FunkyHatch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2016 at 19:53

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This is terrible advice.

Amoore100 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2016 at 19:59

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Obviously you’re doing something wrong. 2 740's, ran them into the ground with minimal maintenance until 300K miles on each. 2001 V70, maybe $600 maintenance per year and 211K miles. 2005 V50, $400 maintenance per year, $152K miles. But, then again, my dad helped my grandfather engine-swap his Tercel after the timing belt broke. So I guess we shouldn’t buy Toyotas anymore.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > FunkyHatch 10/09/2016 at 20:02

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It’s not terrible advice, circlejerking a terrible car is terrible advice. It’s slow, old, not overly efficient, problematic, and boring to drive

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Amoore100 10/09/2016 at 20:05

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Here’s the thing, we’ve had three Volvos of that era, 2 240's and 1 740. My parents would buy one again because they are crazy, but each of them had to be retired because my Dad did the math and realized that car payments cost less. And by now, they are old and even worse.

Amoore100 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2016 at 20:14

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Wait, you’re from the South, though, right? Maybe they didn’t like the dampness. They functioned like sewing machines here in California; the only thing that ever needed replacing was the wiring harness at something like 200K miles. Eventually, the auto car’s overdrive broke, and the stick shift wagon sat just because the Odyssey is more convenient for car seats.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 21:07

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Depending on condition, it might be worth something in parts, but I wouldn’t bother fixing it to be a driver unless you have a lot of money or time on your hands.

I owned a 2000 V70R and it was a bit of a nightmare.

These cars don’t like being abused too much. That one doesn’t sound like it was loved too much. It’ll be a money pit.

FunkyHatch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2016 at 21:10

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None of that is true. It’s no Ford Fiesta, but it was and still is and interesting and well built car. I sure as hell wouldn’t buy the one in question, but on the whole they can be fun and reliable cars. Or they can be holes to throw money into.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > FunkyHatch 10/09/2016 at 22:38

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It was about as well built as our 2005 Impala, and as interesting as a cardboard box. Citroens are interesting, Volvos are boxes with a not interesting engine, not interesting transmission, and not interesting rear end.  If that is your standard of quality and interesting, well...

Frenchlicker > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 10/09/2016 at 23:05

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I’ll stick to focusing on my Jeep. It’s simple and parts are cheap. It also has the 4.0.

Frenchlicker > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/09/2016 at 23:06

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I’ve come to realize everybody has a terrible experience with every car. It’s luck of the draw with most.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Frenchlicker 10/09/2016 at 23:11

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We’ve had four. All were bad, the 850 was by far the worst. It was traded in on an 05 Impala that was better in every way, and it’s engine began to leave at around 100k miles.

FunkyHatch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/10/2016 at 19:30

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I like Volvos more than the Toyotas, Mercedes and Subarus I have owned, but I am admittedly biased. Something about bolting on a bigger turbo and exhaust, getting a dead simple and reliable tune and walking past a 2015 V8 Camaro on the highway in a 200,000 mile family wagon with a 3rd row seat speaks to me, I guess. And my C30 is tons of cheap and reliable fun with a build quality that certainly surpasses that of any domestic hatch. But I have only had 6 Volvos, so what do I know?

SantaRita > Frenchlicker 10/19/2016 at 17:13

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Is it manual? If you’re bored and need something crazy to do ...offer 250$ and proably look at a used engine swap instead of a rebuild. Rebuild kits are about 700$ to start and warrantied used engine is pretty close at ~1000$. And then you still haev to sort the rest of the cars systems out.

For 1500$ you can buy a completely decent running XC with AWD. So as far as V-Wagon endgame there are cheaper routes.

http://fayar.craigslist.org/cto/5826762550.html

http://fayar.craigslist.org/cto/5812709427.html

Frenchlicker > SantaRita 10/19/2016 at 19:24

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Things have changed since I looked at this and I need a new DD. I also confused this with a different model too. I don’t hate myself enough to try and take this on.