1997 Volvo 850 Consumer Reviews Page 2

Great Car!

Written by: abbyc85 on 10/25/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

My family has had this car for 7 years now and it has had barely any problems! It has been so incredibly reliable. Even though volvos are more expensive to fix, this one I found had less problems to fix. The biggest problem we experienced was the bushings had be replaced, but that's what you get when you're a crazy teenage driver! I ran into so many freaking things and it is still as sturdy as a rock!

Favorite Features

the purring engine, the comfortable interior and the weird placement of the window buttons!

Suggested Improvements

well the look of it isnt my favorite but that's a personal thing!

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Nice car

Written by: Jillibean on 10/16/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr STD Wagon

Review

Just purchased my new wagon to replace my 245 Turbo with 186000. Nice car, love the luxury. Wish every window had controls. I researched the vehicle before I purchased and knew that the evaporator and the rear engine seal had already been replaced. Gas leaking from the bushings near the heat shield but volvo will replace as a safety recall. It's got 81000 miles and I purchased it for $5900 including tax. I'm happy. The broker didn't know what he had!

Favorite Features

Leather seats, moonroof, coffee holder. Jumping from 1985 to 1997 causes me to appreciate this automobile like no other.

Suggested Improvements

Volvo should replace the evaporator and the rear engine seal -- they all go bad. Put controls on all the windows that can be locked from the front (like 1985)

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I won't consider anything but Volvo

Written by: aod831 on 07/19/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr GLT Turbo Sedan

Review

Traded in a 740 with 170,000 for an 850 with 58,000. I had the rear seal oil leak problem, but once that was fixed, this car has been a dream. I now have 130,000 miles and it runs just as smooth as the day I got it. I'm turning it over to our newly licensed teenage daughter and getting a used S70 (which by the way, is what my husband drives). I strongly recommend the scheduled 5,000 maintenance. Our local dealers service dept is simply the best. We couldn't ask for better!

Favorite Features

Safety, acceleration, handling, comfortable interior

Suggested Improvements

RE:Oil leak problem. "Advise dealers service dept. to REMOVE and thoroughly clean the breather box every 20,000 miles. A clogged breather box forces the oil back into the engine which creates the leak. If that is done, you might avoid the $1,600 repair. The cost to remove and clean

8 out 8 people found this review helpful

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my last volvo

Written by: brute on 07/13/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

i loved my 740, drove it till 165,000 miles and still ran great. thought i was upgrading w/the 850. there is always something breaking. spent $1200 on ac leak (that volvo should have fixed at their cost, since the repair is due to a design defect), the anti lock breaks are out ($800), can't get tires to last more than 25000 miles, trim falling off the outside. it is fun to drive when it runs right.

Favorite Features

handling, comfortable seats, easy to see out of (no blind spots), safety features/ crash test results, roomy for its size.

Suggested Improvements

replace the flimzy cup holders, add rear cup holders, rear ac control and vents,put window switches on door, fix ac manuacturing defect at the factory, fix problems w/ seal, anti lock break controller. make more reliable.

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Disappointed

Written by: jhardie on 06/08/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr T-5 Turbo Sedan

Review

This car has had a steady stream of minor and moderate problems: repairing the AC was the biggest expense, but also several minor electrical problems and lots of poor fit/quality issues. I've lost the motor on the antennae and the gas cap...very annoying. Radio reption is terrible...my Volvo dealer tells me "everyone knows Volvo radios don't work well." Lots of rattles/noises. Moon Roof fits poorly. Also, in terms of handlng, the car feels heavy to me. Accelerates fine, but not very good control in turns. I expected Volvo to have excellent attention to detail, but don't feel that way now.

Favorite Features

Nice acceleration.

Suggested Improvements

Overall attention to details.

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Fast and Fun!

Written by: musicy2k on 04/08/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr R Turbo Sedan

Review

I purchased this car after looking at later year S70 AWD models. My wife actually said "that looks like you" when she saw it on the lot. It took about 10 seconds to figure out this was the right car. Unbelievable acceleration, control, comfort and class. Wouldn't consider driving anything else. It really is fun when the turbo kicks in at about 15 mph and you leave the rest of the pack behind. A completely wonderful car in all aspects. Even get about 21 mpg's. Not bad for one heck of a performance car.

Favorite Features

Fast start, merging onto highways with no problem. Killer leather trim, black leather with suede inserts.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing really comes to mind. Maybe a five speed manual transmission. Naw, that would be too much!

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Fast roomy wagon but lots of problems

Written by: dna on 02/11/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr T-5 Turbo Wagon

Review

The Volvo wagon is unique. Lots of power and room but lots of mechanical problems too. It has cost $4500 in repairs to keep it going 75,000 miles so far and that does not include the $1200 quoted for replacing the AC evaporator. I might sell the car if I can't find a better price for the AC repair.

Favorite Features

Power and room

Suggested Improvements

Poorly built and prone to mechanical failure.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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kenelf Volvo 850 reviews

Written by: kenelf on 02/08/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

While the 850 is a solid vehicle, there are many unique, sometimes annoying characteristics to the car. For example, may of the intererior gauges and controls are found in illogical places. Why would you put the rear window defogger button next to the moon roof button? This placement resulted in 4" of snow coming in the vehicle's moon roof at the slip of a finger! Moreover, the 'check engine' light has come on several times for no real reason other than to get us into a repair shop (the only way to get it reset!) Even though we enjoy the car and love its safety features, these types of aggrevations will keep us from ever again buying a Volvo product.

Favorite Features

The vehicle's ride, handling, and integrity are the same after 6 years of driving.

Suggested Improvements

Design on board computer to reset automatically without needing a trip to a repair shop.

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An exasperating, expensive pleasure

Written by: Princeton on 02/06/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr GLT Turbo Sedan

Review

The car drives very well--good turning radius, acceleration, engine response at high and low speeds, and great feeling of safety. It's also styled very well. However, in 7.5 years of my ownership, this car hardly ever has periods where nothing's wrong with it-- e.g. undiagnosed, unresolved excess oil consumption, flat tires due to the wrong type put on them by Volvo,2 exhausts replaced, a new turbocharger, plus a dozen other dumb little things, like an unopenable gas-tank door (!),several remote key entry replacements and broken cheapo cupholders. The extended warranty has paid for itself many times over.

Favorite Features

Handling, turning radius, engine response.

Suggested Improvements

Fix the oil consumption--maybe ditch the turbocharger altogether. Improve interior materials.

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Very Solid value

Written by: MEM on 11/22/2003

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 850 4 Dr T-5 Turbo Sedan

Review

Very happy with my T-5. The acceleration is great, and given it's a turbo and I keep it on sport mode the gas MPG is great 28/23. Exterior finish is great, keep it waxed, the leather seats are mega comfortable on long trips. The only problem I have had after 98,000 miles was the AC went out 1,000 miles over warranty. Nevertheless I fought with the dealer quite aggresively on this issue given the cost to repair. I told them it wasn't real slick passing Yugo's with their windows rolled up enjoying their AC in FL and I was going down the road in a 35k dollar car with my windows down because the AC didn't work. They replaced it free. Overall great car.

Favorite Features

Seats, reliability, finish, acceleration, stero, feeling of security, trunk space.

Suggested Improvements

Get the AC kinks worked out guys. Weak cup holders.

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