Tell me about: Volvo 850 and S70 V70s

[rynodyno312]

I don't know why these cars are so cheap.

Depreciation on Volvos is terrible. My S70 was $34k when it was new (I had the window sticker), and I bought it 8 years later for $6500 from the original owner will all records. Sold it 2 years later (modded) for $5100.

They really are amazing values.

If you were in SoCal I would probably buy your car.

[trigtm]

Only about 300 V70 T5M's were made so they are not easy to fine.

[Chapel]

Don't sell the automatic short. They are stout as hell and they only made a gazillion of them so you pop one and there is another somewhere for a hundo. I've done fluid flushes that brought them back to life.

I'm involved in standard maintenance but the car is pretty rewarding overall and cheap to mod if you pick the correct parts and might I add that since they did make so many, there are junkyards from here to all the way over there filled with ones ripe for the picking.

Sure the 5 speeds are fun, but the trans shifts like a truck. Go with a 6 speed from the S60

I think I might go with that green one. lower mileage. Cheaper.

[rynodyno312]

I think I might go with that green one. lower mileage. Cheaper.

I would. If it's a pre-'99 T5 all it needs is a boost controller and turbo-back exhaust for some nice gains.

It's all midrange torque anyway, so you are never going to need to really wring it out. I feel like getting the 5-speed would result in a lot of short-shifting and don't know how much performance benefit you would get. The auto does better MPG on the freeway, too.

The M66 transmission from the S60R and later T5M's is another story; though the swap isn't completely straightforward and finding an already swapped car would be tough. Another volvo unicorn is the S60 T5M w/ the 6-speed, whihc they only made for one or two years. Stock for stock it's very close to an R, and when you mod them they are considerably quicker.

[sandiegan]

I don't know why these cars are so cheap.

I've got a '95 850 GL sedan with 150k on it and I'll be amazed if I can pull a thousand bucks for it. Looks terrific, everything works aside from sunroof/AC/odo, etc. Perfect daily driver, full stack of records from new.

Does anyone near DC want to buy it or trade me something for it?

I loved my 850 Turbo, but let's be honest. Add up that stack of records. I bet it's an asinine amount of money. These are not cheap cars to own; the cars are cheap because of that.

[saron81]

I sold mine last night for $750.

[rynodyno312]

I loved my 850 Turbo, but let's be honest. Add up that stack of records. I bet it's an asinine amount of money. These are not cheap cars to own; the cars are cheap because of that.

If you do the work yourself it's really not that bad. My S70 was a pretty easy car to work on, though to be fair I never had to do anything major like a transmission or opening up the engine, and coming from the f-body I had previously anything would be easy to work on.

The wiring on them is pretty poor quality, though. It gets brittle easily.

[jazzcat2001]

subsrcibing to this for future reading..also looking for one of these

[sandiegan]

If you do the work yourself it's really not that bad. My S70 was a pretty easy car to work on, though to be fair I never had to do anything major like a transmission or opening up the engine, and coming from the f-body I had previously anything would be easy to work on.

The wiring on them is pretty poor quality, though. It gets brittle easily.

The average car consumer does not do their own work. Thus, the prices are suppressed.

Doing the PCV on my 850 Turbo was @@&#*@^#2

[Numbersix]

I agree about the suspension on the 855/V70.

Even in stock form, it feels like there isn't enough travel. I'd not risk lowering one as I think it would make the ride too harsh over anything but glassy smooth pavement.

[rynodyno312]

The average car consumer does not do their own work. Thus, the prices are suppressed.

Doing the PCV on my 850 Turbo was @@&#*@^#2

While I agree with you, the "average consumer" probably isn't looking for a 5-speed turbo wagon with 270k miles on it that was 1 of 300 imported. I think at this point in time, the older turbo Volvos are enthusiasts cars, or at least bought by Volvo loyalists who understand what they are getting into.

Parts prices are definitely on the high side, though, and there aren't a lot of decent non-OEM replacements. And yeah, the PCV system is a pain, but I still stand by my statement that the cars are not difficult to work on in general.

[saron81]

.

........ but I still stand by my statement that the cars are not difficult to work on in general.

As long as you have a good set of Torx bits! Everything on these are held together with Torx screws.

(I've noticed my Saab is the same way... must be a Scandanavian thing.)

[Chapel]

As long as you have a good set of Torx bits! Everything on these are held together with Torx screws.

(I've noticed my Saab is the same way... must be a Scandanavian thing.)

ugh, **** me running...

[rynodyno312]

As long as you have a good set of Torx bits! Everything on these are held together with Torx screws.

(I've noticed my Saab is the same way... must be a Scandanavian thing.)

Oooh. yeah, I forgot about those damn torx bolts.

[trigtm]

ugh, **** me running...

That being said, almost no special tools are required, there is plenty of room in the bay to do work when needed (expect for the PCV, that will always be a pain in the ***), and most things are easy and the cars are galvenized...rust is not an issue.

Correct the OEM suspension with some Koni Yellow ajustables, and some MILD springs, don't go low as with any car if you like driving it, because it's super harsh, especially in these NE roads.

I'd sell you my 850R if you wanted a sedan.

*ninja edit*

There is something to be said about looking into the enthusiast crowd when buying a car too. There are some really smart and down to earth individuals who own Volvo's. The 'scene' isn't too bad and there is a ton of information out about them and their limits.

[rynodyno312]

Correct the OEM suspension with some Koni Yellow ajustables, and some MILD springs, don't go low as with any car if you like driving it, because it's super harsh, especially in these NE roads.

I would add some heavy-duty sway bar end links as well. The stockers are about as good as wet spaghetti. Also helps sharpen the turn-in.

I had h/r springs on mine with monroe sensatracs (not Konis, but they were European-made and better than stock) and it rode significantly better than stock. IMO the suspensions on these cars are tuned for higher speeds, also, as the ride on mine would smooth out above 70mph, but could be a bit harsh when absorbing low-speed impacts.

[Chapel]

That being said, almost no special tools are required, there is plenty of room in the bay to do work when needed (expect for the PCV, that will always be a pain in the ***), and most things are easy and the cars are galvenized...rust is not an issue.

Correct the OEM suspension with some Koni Yellow ajustables, and some MILD springs, don't go low as with any car if you like driving it, because it's super harsh, especially in these NE roads.

I'd sell you my 850R if you wanted a sedan.

How much?

Also, how much would a good independent charge to replace the PCV?

[trigtm]

How much?

Also, how much would a good independent charge to replace the PCV?

PM me if you were interested in the 850R - couple issues I need to take care of and over 200k but a good price.

Probably a few hundred plus parts but myself and a few other local people have done them so many times that any one of us would do it for much cheaper in an afternoon.

There are a lot of rubber links in the front end that wear and when they do, the car get's sloppy. However, changing them is not hard and the reward is definitely there. I just changed out word sub-frame bushings and couldn't believe I was driving the same car. Stay away from anything poly unless you like doing the job more often than normal and you hate your lower back.

**edit**

Not that many torx bolts. Practically all are T20 and T25 and located in the interior.

[blackohio]

Honestly I did my PCV in my garage in 4.5 hours with a total of like 6 tools and that includes pulling the intake back off after I put it on as well as cleaning oil off the cam cover from the oil cap

[Chapel]

few other local people have done them so many times that any one of us would do it for much cheaper in an afternoon.

didn't even occur to me you were local

[monoblanco]

I searched for a 5spd T5, 1998 - 2000 for a few months until I found one.
I love it.

Great interior.
Awesome on the freeway.
I payed $4000

It sucks that the Manual T5s are so rare.

[reticulan]

I just picked up a 2000 S70 GLT SE with 102k on the clock to use as a beater for the city.

Paid 3k from a friend who also had a 98 for sale with 70k and a new timing belt that he sold for 4500.

It's fairly solid, i ordered the timing belt and pulleys, serp belt and I plan on changing all the fluids. Probably not as nice as my last 9-5 Aero but still a very solid and reliable car and has been trouble free thus far. The LPT 5 cylinder is a great motor for just cruising and road trips and the trans is butter smooth. Seats are comfy and the thing I like best is the driving position. It's very boxy and gives you great visibility angles like the old 240's and even C900's. One thing I despise about new cars today is the moulded round dash and tilted glass. And yes it's an auto for the city, my A4 is a 6 speed for driving out the mountains on the weekends.

[Chapel]

Service manual
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/for...pic.php?t=8018

[reticulan]

thanks. you must have read my mind. i was literally just scouring filestube for this.

[Chapel]

I've got 3 on my radar to go look at
a Red one, a white one and a green one.
I have a phone number for the white one, but the red and green are slow to respond to my emails...

[Chapel]

god damnit.
So I took a look at 2 cars today that were not properly advertised
one needs an AC repair (could be the evaporator/condensor/$1200 AC job) or it could need a recharge. It is also a salvage title...

The other needs a timing belt. looks like a $250 job

if anyone sees any, let me know. I'm getting desperate.

[Chapel]

I guess 3 grand if that is all you could afford.

[zhenya00]

Is the timing belt job a deal-breaker? I'd say most cars are going to need it done.

[Chapel]

Is the timing belt job a deal-breaker? I'd say most cars are going to need it done.

no, but it's going to be taken into account when offering. My local independent charges $400 for just the belt and pulley. it's $750 for the entire service which includes the oil change, tire rotation, in cabin air filter, drive belt, timing belt, tensioner, idle pulley, and water pump

[Chapel]

****'s drying up all of a sudden

[Chapel]

Looked at one today. 245k miles

High side AC line leaks
Tranny + engine mounts weak
PVC check (less than 20k but smokes out dipstick)
After removing dipstick and oil cap the exhaust smoked for a while.
New tbelt but unsure if water pump done (asking his dad)
Rear wiper motor dead
Valve cover gasket weeping? Smoking badly from top of exhaust manifold. Normally this is an oil leak from the valve cover

Worried that its piston rings if still smoking.

[zhenya00]

How much are they asking?

I'd want to check compression with that many miles.

Other stuff isn't too concerning, especially the water pump as they are generally only replaced when bad on these.

I'd think you should be able to find something with under 200k on it. What models and years are you zeroing in on?

[Lifelong Obsession]

If you don't mind losing cargo room, you can look at C70's (coupe made until 2002, convertible made until 2004). They are more or less the same thing, and I assume would have lower miles on average.

[WagonHatch]

Not sure if this is a good deal or not, but here you go.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/3197597781.html

[Giovanni]

here is a clean R in NJ but he is asking a lot:

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3275366421.html