What year/model wagon should I buy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter clewis
  • Start date Start date
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clewis

I'm looking to buy a used wagon, probably not newer than 2000.
I've heard that the post-1998 models are problematic and troublesome
due to the computerization of the vehicles. I have also seen folks in
this forum complaining about the '96 850s.

Does anyone out there have suggestions on what year/model I should buy?
Do the AWD models have any particular repair issues?
I'm looking for something with low cost of ownership.

Would anyone recommend a Subaru Forester over a Volvo wagon?
 
I'm looking to buy a used wagon, probably not newer than 2000.
I've heard that the post-1998 models are problematic and troublesome
due to the computerization of the vehicles. I have also seen folks in
this forum complaining about the '96 850s.

Does anyone out there have suggestions on what year/model I should buy?
Do the AWD models have any particular repair issues?
I'm looking for something with low cost of ownership.

Would anyone recommend a Subaru Forester over a Volvo wagon?
Click to expand...


What are you looking for in a car? Do you want power and handling? The
best fuel economy you can get? Do you plan to work on the car yourself?
I personally have a particular liking for the 240 and 740 Turbo wagons
but those, especially the former are getting a bit long in tooth so
finding a real nice one for sale is rare.

For newer stuff, the 850's are generally regarded as good aside from '93
which had a few issues. People like their 960s but they're a bit more
complex, the V90 is essentially the same car.
 
Would anyone recommend a Subaru Forester over a Volvo wagon?
Click to expand...

Over the new FWD ones, yes, absolutely. Given the choice between an older
RWD model and a Forester, I'd probably take the RWD Volvo (although the
Forester does come with a manual tranny and RWD Volvos were auto-only in
the US after 1990 or so).

-Andrew
 
Andrew said:
Over the new FWD ones, yes, absolutely. Given the choice between an older
RWD model and a Forester, I'd probably take the RWD Volvo (although the
Forester does come with a manual tranny and RWD Volvos were auto-only in
the US after 1990 or so).
Click to expand...

Thankfully that's not too difficult to remedy, after doing a few
slushbox to manual conversions I think I could pull it off in a day
assuming all the parts were on hand.
 
I'm looking to buy a used wagon, probably not newer than 2000.
I've heard that the post-1998 models are problematic and troublesome
due to the computerization of the vehicles. I have also seen folks in
this forum complaining about the '96 850s.

Does anyone out there have suggestions on what year/model I should buy?
Do the AWD models have any particular repair issues?
I'm looking for something with low cost of ownership.
Click to expand...

Mechanic we use (volvo only, and independent) likes 2. He likes the
1998 model year and the 2000 model year; we haven't discussed anything
earlier. Doesn't like much of anything after 2000. Don't know any
more details, ie, awd, etc. Since he gets our 2 cars about every 5k
miles for routine maint. i trust his judgement. So if I were to buy
another one that's what I'd be looking at.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I found a '96 850 that I'll be taking in
for a pre-purchase inspection tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
 
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