Help! 1995 Volvo 850 with 95K?

In article ,
danderso.RemoveThis@worldnet.att.net says...
> I just ran across a 1995 Volvo 850 4 Door sedan with 95K miles for $3750.
> I've been looking to buy a Toyota/Honda for under $5000 and ran across this.
> But, I'm totally Volvo illiterate. Is this a good model and year? Are Volvos
> reliable? The car has only had one owner and seems to be well-taken care
> of -- can I get the same mileage out of a Volvo as I could a Honda or
> Toyota? Chime in, anyone, please!
>
I've owned my 95 854T since new, and it now has 85,000 mi on it.

Notable repairs have included:
- disks replaced twice (normal -- they're a "consumable part")
- evaporator replaced
- CV boots replaced (I consider this normal for an 11 year old car
- battery replaced twice
- other normal service (timing belt, brake pads, etc.)

Notably, the exhaust system is original and so far, no problems.

It has been serviced by Volvo dealers since new whenever the mileage has
required it. (Dealers want you to come in every 6 months max, but in my
case that has only been every ~ 3800 mi.) Service is more expensive
than, say, my wife's Honda. But if it's done right, I am willing to pay
for it.

The car has stranded me once -- when the battery died in rush hour
traffic on the way to an important meeting. I blame the dealer -- they
had checked "battery inspected" on every service, but the battery
terminal clamp was corroded clean through! The previous service was 2
WEEKS PREVIOUSLY! If you're from the Vancouver area, that was North
Shore Volvo.

In my experience, there's a big difference among dealers. The one I go
to now fixes everything RIGHT the first time. I have never had to take
the car back when something wasn't done. The previous dealer was
terrible, and the car had to go back for remedial work within a week of
nearly every service. The service personnel came from another Volvo
dealer for which Volvo Canada eventually pulled the dealer's franchise
based on letters from me and many other unhappy Volvo owners.

On my most recent service, the dealer gave me a near-new V50 as a
loaner. It was an interesting drive -- tight, quiet, nimble,
comfortable -- I was quite impressed given that it's a smaller car than
the 850. But when I picked up my car after the service was complete, I
was amazed at how tight the 11-year old 850 felt after putting ~ 100 mi.
on a new car. The 850 feels like it has lots of life left in it.

Rick

James Sweet wrote:
>
>>
>> If the vehicle has an impecable and complete service record you might
>> be on to a good buy.
>>
>
>
> People always tend to say that, but I don't think I've ever even seen a
> used car with what I'd call an "impeccable and complete" service record.
> When you buy used, you take what you can find, check it out as well as
> possible and if you like it, go for it. You could get a complete dud
> with a great service record, or you could pass up a sweet ride because
> the paperwork wasn't saved.


They are out there. For one thing, anytime I sell one of my personal
cars that is exactly what the buyer gets.

True enough, such vehicles are the exception, but with a high end car
like a Volvo you should be able to find one's where the original owner
went to the dealer every six months like clockwork. Somewhere around 1
in 10 used Volvos can be found which are indeed perfectly maintained.

With garden variety cars this is less common, but with higher end brands
they are not all that hard to find if you take your time.

John