Just got rid of my 1996 850 GLT.................here are the thing what were bad at 114K miles... FY

[bitstream]

As a referance, I'd thought I'd list the longevity of some of the
components of the 850 GLT from 1996:

- Center console soda can holder broken, replaced twiced, got tired of
replacing after 3rd time
- ABS/Traks intermitten lights.. when light on ABS does not work.
- Oil leakage.. guess common one
- Beginning to feel transmission problem.... could have been low
fluids, never pursuid it.
- Wagon/rear door panel loose... very common problem
- At very cold temp, tire need air every two weeks
- Evaporator failure at 80K miles, repair cost $1200
- Head light fluid sprayer became water fountain. Would spray
everywhere except head light.


I have a new XC70 but this really makes me think cause I also have a
honda accord. I've always had an accord for the second car. The last
one had 150K when I got rid of it a year ago and it had none of the
problems that the 850 GLT had. I only had to replace very common
items like headlight bulbs and fluid changes. Nothing really broke.
Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my currant honda longer and use
the Volvo less.

Just my 2 cents.... that's all.

 

[James Sweet]

As a referance, I'd thought I'd list the longevity of some of the
components of the 850 GLT from 1996:

- Center console soda can holder broken, replaced twiced, got tired of
replacing after 3rd time
- ABS/Traks intermitten lights.. when light on ABS does not work.
- Oil leakage.. guess common one
- Beginning to feel transmission problem.... could have been low
fluids, never pursuid it.
- Wagon/rear door panel loose... very common problem
- At very cold temp, tire need air every two weeks
- Evaporator failure at 80K miles, repair cost $1200
- Head light fluid sprayer became water fountain. Would spray
everywhere except head light.


I have a new XC70 but this really makes me think cause I also have a
honda accord. I've always had an accord for the second car. The last
one had 150K when I got rid of it a year ago and it had none of the
problems that the 850 GLT had. I only had to replace very common
items like headlight bulbs and fluid changes. Nothing really broke.
Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my currant honda longer and use
the Volvo less.

Just my 2 cents.... that's all.

There's less to break on the Honda, it's a cheaper car, plenty reliable but
lacking in comfort, safety and style. If it has the features you need then
stick with it.

 

[jg]

As a referance, I'd thought I'd list the longevity of some of the
components of the 850 GLT from 1996:

- Center console soda can holder broken, replaced twiced, got tired of
replacing after 3rd time
- ABS/Traks intermitten lights.. when light on ABS does not work.
- Oil leakage.. guess common one
- Beginning to feel transmission problem.... could have been low
fluids, never pursuid it.
- Wagon/rear door panel loose... very common problem
- At very cold temp, tire need air every two weeks

Maybe it was a dog but can you really blame a car model because the tyres
leak? geez.

 

[John Horner]

I have a new XC70 but this really makes me think cause I also have a
honda accord. I've always had an accord for the second car. The last
one had 150K when I got rid of it a year ago and it had none of the
problems that the 850 GLT had. I only had to replace very common
items like headlight bulbs and fluid changes. Nothing really broke.
Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my currant honda longer and use
the Volvo less.

Recent model Hondas are having transmission problems, body rattles and
the like. I purchased on '03 Accord to replace my '96 850 and I have
been without it for weeks at a time for warranty repairs. In fact it
has been in the shop all this past week getting a new automatic
transmission. My warranty is about up and I am debating the question of
keeping or ditching it. The Honda front rotors warped at 15k miles
(never had that happen on a Volvo) and the rear pads were completely
shot at 25k miles, yet the front pads were fine. My sister in law has a
shiny new '05 Civic Hybrid, which needs it's head gasket replaced at
5,000 miles. The point is, Hondas are certainly not perfect either, at
least not the new ones.



John

 

[Steve]

As a referance, I'd thought I'd list the longevity of some of the
components of the 850 GLT from 1996:

- Center console soda can holder broken, replaced twiced, got tired of
replacing after 3rd time

It is a flimsey piece of junk, agreed.

- ABS/Traks intermitten lights.. when light on ABS does not work.

Rebild it for 150 and dont worry about it again.
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/

- Oil leakage.. guess common one

With many cars as they age

- Beginning to feel transmission problem.... could have been low
fluids, never pursuid it.
- Wagon/rear door panel loose... very common problem
- At very cold temp, tire need air every two weeks

Could be a tire/wheel issue, not a volvo issue....

- Evaporator failure at 80K miles, repair cost $1200
- Head light fluid sprayer became water fountain. Would spray
everywhere except head light.


I have a new XC70 but this really makes me think cause I also have a
honda accord. I've always had an accord for the second car. The last
one had 150K when I got rid of it a year ago and it had none of the
problems that the 850 GLT had. I only had to replace very common
items like headlight bulbs and fluid changes. Nothing really broke.
Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my currant honda longer and use
the Volvo less.

Just my 2 cents.... that's all.

I agree, the japanese cars are so much more reliable, but they are so boring
and sterile too.
Pay your money and take your pick.

When I get in the wife's Volvo for a trip it's always nice to drive--for me
that counts for a lot.

 

[Randy G.]

As a referance, I'd thought I'd list the longevity of some of the
components of the 850 GLT from 1996:

- Center console soda can holder broken, replaced twiced, got tired of
replacing after 3rd time

- There are plastic super glues as well as plastic epoxy available at
the hardware store. Use plastic stock or even old 3.5" floppy disc
plastic to repair broken plastic. Repaint with "Fusion paint made for
plastic. I have saved $100's with these products.

- Beginning to feel transmission problem.... could have been low
fluids, never pursuid it.

-Personally, I avoid front wheel drive cars and always will. They add
complication and make little sense- why? They have the least amount of
drive traction when you need it most. EXAMPLE: Get a fully loaded
FrontWD car. Stop on an uphill, dirt or gravel road (or paved road
with sand on it). Accelerate and listen to the front wheels spin. All
the weight shifting to the rear wheels lessens the drive traction. Any
car can get going downhill, even on ice- uphill is a different story.
That's just my experience. All wheel drive makes more sense if you
need it.

- Wagon/rear door panel loose... very common problem -Yup.

- At very cold temp, tire need air every two weeks

-You buy Volvo tires?

- Evaporator failure at 80K miles, repair cost $1200

- You went to Volvo?

- Head light fluid sprayer became water fountain. Would spray
everywhere except head light.

-That happens to all of us as we age! ;-)

I have a new XC70 but this really makes me think cause I also have a
honda accord. I've always had an accord for the second car. The last
one had 150K when I got rid of it a year ago....

-It was such a good car that you sold it? Why?

Well, I guess I'll just have to keep my currant honda longer and use
the Volvo less.

-It's a matter of buying better Volvos. I have seen some REALLY great
used Volvos with low miles for $2000-3000 (240's and 740's), and a few
up to about $5000 (a beautiful 960 Estate).

Surem there are sme cars with better reputations as far as build, but
none with the crash survivability that surpasses Volvo. I know- I was
a firefighter and saw what happens to a lot of cars in accidents. it
ain't pretty. I would rather pay the mechanic than the orthopedist.


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvo
'93 960 Estate

 

[Michael Pardee]

It is a flimsey piece of junk, agreed.


Rebild it for 150 and dont worry about it again.
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/


With many cars as they age


Could be a tire/wheel issue, not a volvo issue....


I agree, the japanese cars are so much more reliable, but they are so
boring
and sterile too.
Pay your money and take your pick.

When I get in the wife's Volvo for a trip it's always nice to drive--for
me
that counts for a lot.

As John Horner points out, Honda/Acura has struggled with tranny problems in
the last decade; brake and build quality problems are showing up more
recently. We have a 2002 Toyota Prius with 47K miles and no failures - we
have only replaced tires and a broken windshield. I just got an email this
morning from a Prius owner who finished the 150K mile service on his 2001,
and all he has done besides the routine is replace the tires - still on the
original brakes.

In contrast, the list of problems I had with an '84 Nissan 300ZX would be
enormous - even the more than a dozen electrical intermittents wore me out.

But it's exactly as you say: pay your money and take your pick.

Mike