Volvo 740s and 850s

[BeerBurner]

Can anyone tell me about them, specifically the wagons? I've been doing some online research but would also like some first- and second-hand experience. :)

Thanks!

BB.

[Rick V]

I sold my 90 740 wagon to my son. It has 245 on the clock, uses no oil, gets high 30's mpg, and can withstand the abuse of my son. They are tanks.
I like the rear facing back seat, great for the drive in.

[BeerBurner]

Was that the 740 you brought the gym set over with?

I hear great things about the 740s, and it seems that they could easily do what I require. That said, I prefer the more modern style of the 850s, but hear that they aren't as bulletproof. I'm actually leaning a bit towards the 850 unless there are some major red flags.

BB.

[Rick V]

I forgot you have seen the Sweed-O-Barge, yes that is the car.
The 850's are not as reliable as the 740's but they have more cahonies.

[cmartin]

My pop's 850 wagon has ~220k miles and is going strong.

[BeerBurner]

Rick, do you have any thoughts on just how much the difference in reliability and ease or repair is? Would I be asking for trouble with an 850 or is it just not as good?

Thanks,
BB.

[Rick V]

They break about the same........not often. The 850 parts are more expensive. They also have more eletronic stuff in the 850. The more stuff you add the better the chance of failure you have. Also don't buy any of the front wheel drive Volvos. None of them are on the top 10 safest cars list.
For me The 7 series is the best they made. Not fast but they excell in every other dept. JMO
Are we thinking of dumping the cruiser?

[markwemple]

I can't say how bullet proof an 850 is but my patent's turbo wagon has about 165 on the clock and no issues. Plus, the bugger is very easy to work on except some very wierd stuff like tranny cooler line seals (just the seals went, ~$3 plus too much time). T-belt took me ~1 hr. Not bad for a turbo twin cam, eh? Great power, plus Tom Walkinshaw used to race 'em. The R-type is very sweet!

The 850 is the last true Volvo as Ford bought 'em after.

[BeerBurner]

Are we thinking of dumping the cruiser?

Not right yet, although Tracey does want to work her way back to another Maxima once the Cruiser is paid off. Apparently, I shouldn't have told her of it's Neon lineage as she hates Neons... :p

It's more that I want a backup car that she can drive if necessary (she doesn't drive manuals and I'm not going to press the issue) and if I'm going to get something practical, I might as well make it really practical (hence, the wagon versus a sedan). Besides, it'd be a good idea to have one around.

I was thinking of buying her a slushbox 924S or 944, but since we'll likely have a mini-BB running around before too long, I want something that would be practical for that as well.

Plus, with that to get me through the snow I can start having more fun with the Miata. :)

And I'd love an 850R. It's not too likely, but... yeah. :)

BB.

[Rick V]

since we'll likely have a mini-BB running around before too long,
Damn....................kids having kids!:)

[markwemple]

You should talk, Rick!

[Rick V]

You should talk, Rick!

Just because my son is almost as old as BB.........................

[BeerBurner]

Hey, I gotta make sure that someone will be paying to put me in a quality old folks home, rather than the budget one! :D

BB.

[Dave L.]

By the time Volvo was building the 850 they had split production between Sweden and Belgium if I recall. The 850's were mostly built at former DAF factories. If you're not familiar with DAF, they made well respected trucks and a very idiosynchratic automatic transmission car (very small and not much loved outside the purple bouffant brigade.) 240, 740 and 760 production continued solely in Sweden built by the small team method pioneered at Volvo. If my memory is faulty- oop! R/Dave L.

[Eli]

94 850 with 190K+ on the clock. Went from being my wife's college car to my perfect beater :)

[racer]

Basic difference: 740 is rear wheel drive and a perfect sleeper shell for a Ford V-8 conversion. Basic 740s were underpowered, like most volvos and therefore fairly bulletproof. The 850 is FWD and when boosted (I think they called it the T5 - 250hp) torque steer shows up.

[Cliff Claven]

Also don't buy any of the front wheel drive Volvos. None of them are on the top 10 safest cars list.

Whose list?? I've got an 03 S60 (with zero options) and it's the most reliable car I've owned. And based on how it rides and handles, Airbags everywhere, seating postition, and general sturdiness, it sure seems pretty damn safe.

I agree the old 7 series were tanks. It just seems there is no way that an old 7 today is going to be more reliable or safer than a new Volvo (with zero options).

[markwemple]

The 2 series was safer than the 7. Funny thing was the ad where they parked a truck on the top. They got in trouble 'cause they reinforced the roof to do it, then someone did it w/o the reinforcement and it still held. If safety is paramount, VW/Audi has been on top of the overall for years now.

[markwemple]

Just because my son is almost as old as BB.........................


And you were a kid when you had him. Heck, you're still a kid!!

[BlackTalon]

If safety is paramount, VW/Audi has been on top of the overall for years now.Sure -- it's hard to get into a wreck if your car is sidelined with electrical issues all the time! :lol:

[markwemple]

I've owned Audis for the last 20 years and the worst electrical problem I had was when the wiring between the door and chassis made it so that the pass side window wouldn't work right. Never left me stranded.

[Rick V]

Whose list??
Insurance safty research study.
Please don't get me wrong, I like the new Volvos, they are just riding the rep. they developed years earlier.
My sister was T-Boned in her S40. (some punk in a Mustang ran a red light) The only injury she recieved was from an airborne can of catfood. She had just left the store. She was hit so hard in the pass. door, the engine/trans were picked up seperatly from the shell.

[Cliff Claven]

Sure -- it's hard to get into a wreck if your car is sidelined with electrical issues all the time! :lol:

You shouldn't have to sacrifice reliability for safety.

Safety ratings are not necessarily based on real life testing. Some makers are very good at designing cars to pass the safety tests. But it's like teaching kids just to pass a SOL; that's not real learning. Volvo designs their cars based on real life expectations, and real life crash experience. They have a team in Europe that travels on a moment's notice to sites of crashes involving their cars for the purpose of studying and learning from such incidents.

[racer]

I haven't had (m)any electrical issues either in 20 years of VWs. After 7 years and 130K miles I did have to replace coil packs on my GTi. I figured 7 years of oilchanges and normal wear and tear, the car cost me very little, so I didn't mind the interuption. But, this isn't a VW thread, its a Volvo thread - not that it makes it any better ;)

[BeerBurner]

Thanks for the input guys!

Based on what I've read (here and elsewhere), I'm still leaning towards the 850. But I'll look at both as I'm shopping around and would consider a clean 740 should it come my way. I'm not opposed to other wagons as well, but the Volvo is what speaks to me the most. Maybe it's because I grew up with a mustard yellow '83 240 wagon, I dunno...

Not that this will likely happen for a while. Unless I trip over something... or get that bug. :D

BB.

[markwemple]

Why not the true mechanical/physical tank - the 240. You can get a turbo manual with that one.

[markwemple]

Oh, and can anyone show me a more stout and reliable racecar than the R8. I have no idea where people come from with the negative attitude toward Audi's mechanical or electrical reliability. I have close to a 1/2 million miles of experience in them and love them! Also, I was speaking of european tests. You know, the ones that tell you if you will walk away from a shunt on the autobahn.

[Cliff Claven]

My sister was T-Boned in her S40. (some punk in a Mustang ran a red light) The only injury she recieved was from an airborne can of catfood. She had just left the store. She was hit so hard in the pass. door, the engine/trans were picked up seperatly from the shell.

Damn, sounds like a bad wreck. But speaks well for the safety of the new volvos.

[BlackTalon]

I have no idea where people come from with the negative attitude toward Audi's mechanical or electrical reliability. Guess I got my 'idea' watching a guy at work have nothing but trouble with his Audi A4 for 2-1/2 + years. Also hung out for a bit on some Audi BBs, as I had been considering an S4 ~ 3years ago. But like all oither car BBs, I'm sure all you ever hear from are the minority that have problems, versus the majority who don't (and therefore don't need to hang out on the BBs). As far as VWs go, I've seen a couple that had dash fires from faulty wiring. Mid-80s vintage problem?

[cmartin]

850's are dirt cheap now, for 2500 you can get a nice one. IF it does have a major issue a year down the road, so what?

[BeerBurner]

Why not the true mechanical/physical tank - the 240. You can get a turbo manual with that one.

I grew up with a 240 wagon and they'll always have a special place in my heart. That said, they won't have one in my driveway. ;) It's just not what I want.

BB.

[Jase007]

I've wrenched on 240 and 740 twin cam [sixteen valve] and made $$$ selling after R&R head gaskets, etc... [easy to work on]. They were both reliable tanks IMO. I liked the IPD and Swedespeed stuff but ...alas ... was not to be as was my wife's DD.

Thinking about jumping back into the wagon market and trying to scratch the more HP itch. :lol:

The used / retro stlye Magnum RT with 5.7L Hemi looks especially delicious ... though not in the $2,500 range.

R&T review of magnum (http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=1604&page_number=1)

traction control
side-curtain airbags
RWD
ABS
stability control
blah, blah, blah ...

[markwemple]

A used Chrysler product? What ya smokin' Jase!?

[Jase007]

A used Chrysler product? What ya smokin' Jase!?

Nuthin. Quit that sh$t [if I ever did it in the first place Mr.] goin' on 15 years. :)

Besides, they are cool and go fast. :)

[Clarke]

I love my 940 turbo. It has 209K on the clock now.:) I would not own any Volvo that was made after Ford was at the controls. IMO that's when their reliability started to slip. As for the VW/Audi question, as a tech I make a LOT of money on these things. I wouldn't touch one with a 10' pole.:vomit:

[Dan M2]

We have added two Volvo's to the stable in the past year. I have an '06 S60R with 300hp, nav, 6 spd manual, elec. adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes, etc. I really love the comfort and performance.

My wife has an '07 V50 with lots of goodies - sport suspension, 17in wheels, etc. I'm very impressed with the V50, considering it's their entry level model. Very good ride and great looking car too.

I don't know much about the 850's but I grew up with Volvo's and the older ones were bullet proof. I just hope these newer ones last half as long!

-Dan