I love the 850. My Dad used to have a T5R saloon years ago, in olive green which was the rarest colour they were made in. Was an awesome car! I remember the factory stereo being very good. All the same speakers that this 850 has, but ours had a double DIN "premium sound system". It was a Volvo branded unit but was actually made by Alpine, with a Volvo branded Alpine 5952 changer in the boot. Must have been streets ahead of the standard systems in most comparable cars of the day, including BMW. There were 3 fast 850s. The T5 which was "warm", then the T5R which was a lot more powerful and finally the R, which came a bit later with a tiny bit more power than the T5R.
I worked with someone who chose a Volvo as his company car specifically for the sound system. Once he'd ticked the "premium sound system" box he really wasn't very interested in the other options.
I work at Volvo Group. Not the company that makes cars, but lorries, buses and construction equipment etc. We still use the Volvo Broad font a lot. It’s the default font for headings in our ppt templates, for example.
Just after purchasing this very car near London. Collecting it on Sunday the 30th April 2023 and driving it back to its new home in the West of Ireland. It will be well looked after and garaged. It'll will be for occasional use only, but I'm sure ownership and driveability won't disappoint.
Soo cool that you bought it mate! I'm actually thinking about getting an 850 GLT too with a manual transmission. But how does it really drive with the manual? I fear that it's too sluggish or really slow. Best regards Oscar
I LOVE MINE! '94 first version, tall headlamps, 5-speed, white like this car. I've owned it for 16 years. Driven it half of it's nearly 300,000 miles. It is no speed demon, without the turbo but, it has more power than you would think, on the highway. It passes cars with an incredibly quiet ease, in fifth gear!!!! This is hands down the BEST car i've ever bought, Volvo or not. I currently own 4 Volvos, and 2 American cars.
I bought an 1995 estate back in 2010, with about 225K miles on it and not the best looking example but needed a car now. It was a 144 bhp 10V version on LPG. Drove it to 408K when I finally took it to the scrappers. Left me stranded only once (at home) with a broken camshaft sensor, it was the LPG system that gave headaches twice but in the end were easy and cheap fixes. Things that broke were the radiator, alternator, clutch slave cylinder and fuel pressure regulator, and I replaced front control arms twice. Impressed me enough that I'm on my 3rd Volvo now.
My 1992 850 has the same noise and heavy ticking since 100000km and 7 years, Nothing ever hapened and the engine runs great with full power, i had 2, both early and n/a, the other had the same problem but it didnt affect anything!
What a beauty... I had a virtually identical one in metallic green and although I've had a few Volvos since then (and before it) that was my favourite of all. The pre-"facelift" cars like this are vastly better looking than the later models to my eye... the S70 I had afterwards was hugely more powerful and every option ticked, but none of the later cars handled as well as this one. By the way, I don't believe that gear knob is correct for the car? I would say that this gearbox was also perfectly mated to the engine and almost never chose wrongly - kickdown was instant and the engine loved being revved to the ridiculously high redline.
Yes, the early J & K reg 850s with the 'narrow' headlamp bezel, non airbag models had that auto gear shifter. It was rapidly evolved for the 94 model. They were rushed to production in SE and GLT trims with the 143 and 170 20v vis ( variable intake system ) engines. Ps the one in the video has a serious valve lifter issue as they should be almost silent from the valve gear.
@@timbo19751975 I had a 1993 (K reg) 2l 20v GLT auto and it definitely didn't have this type of shifter but a much more modern looking one. I reckon it had at least a driver's airbag though, I wasn't aware that any of them didn't.
Spot on. They continued with the 900 Series until 1998 and it technically outlived the 850. The S80 then superceded the 940/S90 and is altogether quite forgotten today.
Nice car. Talking about owners keeping thier Volvo for a long time, I worked for a guy in the late ninities who still drove a 740 with nearly 300,000 miles on it. It was fine. His wife told me that he would never sell it, he'd just use it until it fell apart around him.
I drive a 1990 240DL Estate Ma bought new. At 380,000+ miles it runs like new. I plan to keep it the rest of my driving life. When I stop driving in 35 years or so someone else can keep Arthur going
A bit of a nerdy fact, but the font used IN a Volvo is called Handel Gothic, not Volvo Broad, which is a bit similar so the mistake is easily made. Volvo Broad is used only in their marketing and communications and was copyrighted in 1997, so the 850 pre-dates it. Handel Gothic was used by Volvo since 1974 and can still be found in their new cars.
I do like the combination of White with Blue interior, this example really is mint. The Saab 9000 was a more dynamic drive and the cabin had more flair but the 8 Series has been more durable and has stood the test of time better in my experience.
It was a pleasure to meet you at the N.E.C. Matt . Interesting to compare this car , to the Volvo you took to Scotland , and how much clearer and more logical this interior is , menus for this , that and the other simply aren’t needed and in the real world will not be used . Excellent review as always.
Unbelievable car. My Brother Gerry bought one about 25 years ago for £1200 because the head gasket was gone. My Brother the Mechanic repaired it and it was fantastic. She was a black 850 10 valve and sounded incredible. Gerry's fuel consumption was terrible because he couldn't resist making that 5 cylinder snarl.
I remember when the 850 came out in late 1992, absolutely fell in love with them. Like a 740 but trendier. The facelifted 440 & 460 were styled in a similar way.
It is an engineering masterpiece that I've never seen equalled since - they are a delight to work on because they were designed to be long lasting cars, not disposable garbage like everything available today.
That's just with the bonnet up, it's injector noise actually I think. Mine always sounded like that with the bonnet up but was smooth and quiet otherwise
Yes definitely not the healthiest sounding engine. I had a 2.0 20v m reg 850 with 100k miles and that was near silent. They sound beautiful higher up the rev range.
These engines got hydraulic lifters. If they sat for a bit, takes about 15 minutes usually to go away. I know, because I have one and the owner’s manual even mentions it.
It really drives home the meaning of the the term "tick-over", that noise would do my head in! Sounded like sticky lifters to me, I think it got quieter after he drove for a while.
Great another car I want 🙄 I remember these from new seems huge but compared with today’s monsters it’s not that big, sounds like this one needs some use - a bit tappetty !
Great video again. I think 90s touring car is the pinnacle of motorsport. The cars were great but the rivalries made it. All too nicey pr friendly ever since. Keep up the great work and that’s a great car.
Interesting video. My only experience with an 850 was the early Estate a friend had. Driving it back to back with my 240 Estate with double the mileage was quite illuminating. The 850 felt dead in comparison. It did everything but it did not have fun doing it. The steering was so light that getting into the 240 felt like the power assist was broken. The 240 on good tires left the 850 behind in the corners, too. The cargo space felt like an afterthought in the 850. My buddy who owned the 850 is the one who pointed all this out to me before I drove the thing. Volvo lost the plot and have never found it since.
The 850 is a car that is very tyre-specific, on the right tyres they feel really good, on anything else they do, as you say, just feel rather dead. It also has to be said that they are very, very picky about wheel alignment, and Volvo did change the wheel alignment specification during the life of the car, which really changed how they drove. Checking and setting the wheel alignment to specification was part of the PDI checklist for these, but not all dealers where quite as thorough about it as they should have been so a lot of the early cars did come out of the dealer feeling a lot less good than they should have. It is also very fair to say that the cooking cars did feel an awful lot different to the turbo cars which did feel a hell of a lot sharper, hence why they became so popular as traffic police cars...
I have always thought that having electric front windows and manual wind rear is exactly the wrong way round. When passengers get out and leave windows open I can reach the front doors to wind up the windows but if the rear ones are manual wind I have get out of the car and walk around just to close the windows.
The advertising slogan for these at the time was "Drives like it's alive". Volvo were asked why, when they made a car that was so good to drive, they made it look so similar to the 700/900 series. the response was that they did want to alienate previous buyers at the same time, so were conservative in styling. Later, when Peter Horbury took over styling, and the 1998 S80 followed by the S60 and V70, the styling got a whole lot less boxy
Only thing is they DID alienate some of their existing customers. When Ma saw the 850 she told the sales manager that if he wanted to keep her business he needed to keep the old 240 wagon going because she would not consider front wheel drive. Going directly from an 850 wagon into my 240 wagon you would never guess the two were related. The steering is light and vague on the 850. There is no joy in driving it.
What a sweet sounding engine. Especially when revved. Modern stuff just lacks the character in comparison. I’m surprised it has no airbag given that we had a humble VW polo 1.3cl just 2 years newer and it came with one as standard and Volvo is all about safety.
My first car was a used 1993 850 GLT in Fjord Blue with blue leather. Fully optioned out for an American 850. Loved that car! The pre-facelift 850's are uncommon here in the states, but I prefer that look. I made a teenage mistake and crashed it and the car saved my life. I now have a 2012 XC70 T6 and love it.
Just bought one like this for $1300, less than 100K on the clock and base spec 5cyl with the Velour seats (heated!) I love this thing, the simplicity and comfort are unmatched, and it's got great space. These were excellent Volvos, a time gone by for sure!
@1:46 Even better, don't crash into people instead of designing a car around a theoretical possibility. Make it an impale no one challenge. 😉 @3:12 Nah, it is not that bad. It is actually 126 mph and a decent drag coefficient. Not bad in times when a Audi A2 reached 126 mph with 110 HP or 81kw and is even quicker. The only major drawback of this particular A2 is that the engine, 1.6 FSI, sucks ass. @3:32 Okay, I see mate, the automatic transmission makes a huge difference in terms of top speed. With a proper stick you reach said figure.
Eventually the tappets are noisy but thats age. The manual was great. Great grunt of a noise from the 5 pot. Loved the double din which can be made up to date with a nice screen sat nav. Had a good standard sound system. Not Dynaudio, but there parcel shelf speakers made good base.
Nice, thank you. To me the 850/x70 that facelifted out of them is the best Volvo ever. And I have owned 12 different Volvo's, including 940, 940, S80. Of the first generation x70 I have owned all versions: estate, saloon, convertible and, since a few months, the coupe. I have driven many different makes, including Jags and Audi's, to me the driving position in these Volvo's is the best there is. I have done over 1000 kms a day without an aching back. They are very durable, the only downside is the interior: it rattles, mounting clips break - it is just not as good as a Benz interior. But to me that is the only negative bit. My coupe is a 2 litre, low pressure turbo and a manual. If you drive it not too fast it is actually quite economical. On highway runs not going over the speed limit I average 14 km to the liter, not bad to me. Although my '98 C class is even more economical. Still not sure which one to keep if I should have to sell one. Luckily for now I do not have to...
I prefer the look of the early years like this with larger headlights - however would take a 1998-2002 C70 Coupe over the sedan. I have had 2X C70 coupes - the ride was rough but plenty of grip
As an 850 owner myself of a 2.5l p-reg manual variant, it is sat lower down compared to most modern cars released today, it may not be as stiff, but it is very “go-cart esque” compared to modern cars and still quite fun to chuck around. That car also saved me in Scotland in the winter of 2010, the front drive and the large contact patch tyres saw me through a 120 mile drive in one of the worst winters this country has seen very smoothly and effortlessly while 4wd cars were really struggling. It isn’t as in good condition and low mileage as this one shown here… but I want to keep it going for as long as possible.
... and the rear view mirror was the same as used in the 144/145 from 20 years earlier, why change if something works well? My parents went from a 1974 145 to a 1994 850 estate and it was a bit of a surprise to find the identical rear view mirror the first time I drove the newer car
Still have my 850 estate purchased new in 1994 as a keeper. The things that go are the French group’s plastic parts. Later when Ford took over they had suspension parts made in Turkey. Unlike the German ones which didn’t require replacement until twelve years, those in some cases lasted 12 months at the M.O.T..
I'm pretty sure that stereo is the factory standard item for an early 850 GLT. In fact I'm pretty sure that this car has absolutely no option boxes ticked beyond that for the auto box. The early 850s came with pretty odd specs and it wasn't until the range got expanded to include a number of extra models that the standard specs rationalised out to make more sense. Initially there was only the GLT and the SE, and the specs differed between cars with the 2.0 and 2.5 engines. The 10 valve cars cane in later with the increased range, though it's rather hard to tell why as they didn't really offer anything to the range with the 20 valve cars having both better performance and better fuel economy while not losing out any in terms of torque or driveability... The 850 and first-gen S/V70 that replaced it often get somewhat condemned for poor build quality compared to what had gone before, but I had a high mileage 850 T5R estate for some time, and despite having racked up over 300,000 miles when I sold it, it was very much in the condition of this car with no squeaks or rattles, nothing broken and no mechanical issues at all. It also went like the proverbial off a shiny shovel when you wound it up. They really do last like a Volvo if they've had owners that take care of them as mine had. Sadly, someone else wanted mine more than I did, so I sold it, and have profoundly regretted it ever since, especially with the way the values have gone. I'd have another one like a shot if I could...
The first 850's had 4 bolt wheels and there's a gunmetal grey 850 GLT driving about in Kilmarnock in Scotland, It's man in his 80's and I believe it's bought new. It's the early model with the big headlights as on the video.
Hi, it looks like You forgot to reply, and just to say to find the catalytic converter it is situated in the exhaust, usually toward the front end somewhere after the downpipe, it's a silver box usually oval . sorry I forget that not all UA-camrs are actually that good a mechanic. Kind regards Jahmahrah De'Safilli
As far back as I can remember, the interior colours in my parents Volvo's varied from Maroon ( to match the colour of the 740 they had ) & then Biege Leather in the facelifted 740 they had for the next 10 years whilst every other family was upgrading to the 850. Lol by the time we traded it in for the first generation V70, something about that interior made me want to throw up. I dunno why lol.
I've always liked these and still do - but my dream would be the 850R, in yellow - yes, yellow. They do come up but with scary miles. The S70 smooth out was not (I thought) as attractive, but it was as close as I almost got to one of these. A new T5 stick shift - silver which I did not like, but 0-60 torrid quick, which I did. Deal broke down when I wanted $500 more for my trade and the dealer would not budge. I mean the thing had been on the lot, no one was spending that kind of money on a Volvo stick, and the guy kept calling me, but would never come up, period. Sadly I let it go, and ended up a year or two later in a 2000 Bonneville SSEi - too big, but with every gadget known to man at the time. Not as quick, but I did like the supercharger gear growl.
Interesting. Condition looks great but the hydraulic tappets sound noisy. I have the exact same crack in the dash next to the fan control (visible at 702) on my 1994 850. I also have the same original radio (but not in the car). I see the chrome has gone on the rear badges - again like mine. I my view, it might be worth the £8k asking if it were a 2435cc manual estate.
Thankfully found your video on one of my most favourite cars to watch whilst ill in bed. If you're ever in Scotland in future and fancy reviewing an 850 T-5 or TDI, just get in touch, as I have a few 850s 🙂
Great Video as always wish I had both my old girls CD 960 and S70 Saloon , just paid yet again £350 fitted door lock on my V60 2012 plate. Keep the good work up Sir!!
Exactly. The 700 series was the first to go out of production in 1992, followed by the 200 series in 1993. The 900 series and the first generation S90/V90 remained in production until 1998. By that time the 850 had already been replaced by the S70/V70.
These age very well, easy to maintain and dirt cheap at the moment. I do miss my V70 classic T5 - just crashed it (not my fault). Hope to get another one soon!
i had a 1995 2.5 10v se petrol saloon 114000 miles on it when i bought it and 265000 miles on it when i scrapped it and the only reason i got rid of it was it caught fire under the dash, i managed to put it out but it wouldnt start after that, the original engine and gearbox was still mint no smoke or rattles amazing engine in them. i loved that car it was 19 years old and no rust anywhere. p,s that "cubby hole" by the seat was in just the right place to catch any crap that fell out your pocket lol i dont know if thats what it was designed for but it worked.
My 96 850 just passed the 400k mark and sits at 400,095 miles. My daily driver. Of course the steering wheel is on the correct side, the left side. :-) You should see what the dash looks like at 400k.
I bet the 90's was such a confusing time for Volvo. I have a 1994 960 Estate, yet by this time both the 700 and 200 series would've been finishing up, yet the 800 series was already out as well.
The column switches and inside door handles were actually also used on the Volvo trucks. This was at a time of course when both divisions still belonged to the same company. Lovely car, would not mind to own one today.
My first "proper" grown up family car was an 850 GLT T5 and switched me onto Volvos for the next 20 years. Desperate to find another minty one to keep forever.
3rd brakelight wasn’t standard on an 850, atleast in The Netherlands. You almost never see one with, and also my 850 (92’) doesn’t have one. (Not even pre-wired)
Only car i can think of that still put the fuel amount in Gallons as opposed to Litres I wonder if think was done for the American Market (although tweeked for the US Gallon)??? Plus old school Semi Poverty Spec, good knick though and what a mileage, hardly broken a sweat yet 52 odd thousand miles!!!!
I always found that extremely useful - the gauge was accurate, too. You could "see" your MPG if you are in the habit of resetting the trip every fill up.
My dad had a burgundy 850 estate on a P-plate. It wasn't the GLT mind you as it had plastic hubcaps and no Aircon, but it did have the five pot diesel and went like shit off a shovel. I saw it, years after he left that firm and its second owner clearly worked it like a skip. Lovely velour. Bring back the velour.
Another well presented review Matt on a 90's car that's now lost its Volvo stigma and like the 900 and earlier 700 series is now seen as quite hip car, while still offering piles of reliability and practically they they're famous for. Don't know if it's the effect of your mike but couldn't detect the unmistakable 5 pot theme tune, in all honesty it sounded like a tractor? Try a 20v Fiat Marea or a Coupe, cos they do sound incredible.
You describe what Volvos are all about - absolutely perfectly 👍👍👍🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 I have driven/owned from P1800 to XC60, and they all have this special “Volvo DNA”.
@furiousdriving That engine sounds a tad tappy? I own 4 850's, One of them is a 10v 2.0 and it really is one of the quietest engines ive ever heard. This one needs an oil flush and a good thrashing!
Hehehe, where, exactly, is the Jewel Zone? Or who is Jules for it to be Jules' Own climate control? 😆 That took me back many years to *exactly* what tripped me up during our visit to Scotland when I asked directions to Culzean Castle from an older fellow whose brogue was thick enough to plow. What I *heard* was that we should look for the jeweled cottage. What he was *saying* was to look for the dual carriage (which I later took to be short for carriageway). It took a minute but the light bulb in my head finally came on!
Probably was, the rear wheel drive cars felt very unsophisticated and old by the late 1980s. Shiftknob did a little dance at idle, for example. Probably people forgot how to drive rwd as well, which meant volvos safety record was on risk.
A pal changed his old five banger 2.4 diesel S60 for the newer model S60 2 litre 4 cylinder. It's more reliable and economical but just doesn't sound the same.
Growing up my dad had Volvos 340L x2 360 GLT … brilliant and a massive step up from the 340 1.4 engines. (He towed a caravan with that little engine !!) 440GLT…. Nice at first but very quickly shown to be a dog. Still miss the that 360… brilliant car.
Just subscribed to your channel as i have been a long time subscriber to hubnut and steph for a while.......I don't do modern . My currently daily is a 20 year old 51 plate Rover 1.8 Connoisseur saloon . Current issues mean i have to go down to one car but up until a few months ago was running old rovers ..an SD3 and an R8.( regret getting rid of the R8 ) . Was going to the NEC this weekend but having just got out of hospital on tuesday after a major operation i can't attend....I'm gutted.......
I love the 850. My Dad used to have a T5R saloon years ago, in olive green which was the rarest colour they were made in. Was an awesome car! I remember the factory stereo being very good. All the same speakers that this 850 has, but ours had a double DIN "premium sound system". It was a Volvo branded unit but was actually made by Alpine, with a Volvo branded Alpine 5952 changer in the boot. Must have been streets ahead of the standard systems in most comparable cars of the day, including BMW.
There were 3 fast 850s. The T5 which was "warm", then the T5R which was a lot more powerful and finally the R, which came a bit later with a tiny bit more power than the T5R.
I worked with someone who chose a Volvo as his company car specifically for the sound system. Once he'd ticked the "premium sound system" box he really wasn't very interested in the other options.
I work at Volvo Group. Not the company that makes cars, but lorries, buses and construction equipment etc. We still use the Volvo Broad font a lot. It’s the default font for headings in our ppt templates, for example.
My (Dutch) 1995 850 has done 502.000km, on LPG! No problems at all. Used every day, a fantastic car!
I normally watch Autogefühl have noticed many new LPG car's available in the Europe but not UK.
Does it need flash lube?
They're very durable engines.
Qual o valor?
Just after purchasing this very car near London. Collecting it on Sunday the 30th April 2023 and driving it back to its new home in the West of Ireland. It will be well looked after and garaged. It'll will be for occasional use only, but I'm sure ownership and driveability won't disappoint.
Soo cool that you bought it mate! I'm actually thinking about getting an 850 GLT too with a manual transmission. But how does it really drive with the manual? I fear that it's too sluggish or really slow.
Best regards Oscar
I LOVE MINE!
'94 first version, tall headlamps, 5-speed, white like this car. I've owned it for 16 years. Driven it half of it's nearly 300,000 miles.
It is no speed demon, without the turbo but, it has more power than you would think, on the highway.
It passes cars with an incredibly quiet ease, in fifth gear!!!!
This is hands down the BEST car i've ever bought, Volvo or not.
I currently own 4 Volvos, and 2 American cars.
Great video of your beautiful Volvo. I have a 1996 GLT with only 129,000 miles and it is still a pleasure to drive and maintain. Thanks for sharing!
I bought an 1995 estate back in 2010, with about 225K miles on it and not the best looking example but needed a car now. It was a 144 bhp 10V version on LPG. Drove it to 408K when I finally took it to the scrappers. Left me stranded only once (at home) with a broken camshaft sensor, it was the LPG system that gave headaches twice but in the end were easy and cheap fixes. Things that broke were the radiator, alternator, clutch slave cylinder and fuel pressure regulator, and I replaced front control arms twice. Impressed me enough that I'm on my 3rd Volvo now.
I purchased my Volvo 850 brand new in Germany. Then I had it shipped back to the U.S. I still own it. And it looks just a beautiful to me now as then.
3:05 That engine does not sound like it's running right. Sounds like exhaust manifold is leaking or its not running on all cylinders.
I was thinking that it's a ticking cam. Common on Volvos, though this tick is stronger than usual
exactly. maybe the VVT is shot. All my volvos had VVT troubles of some sort. Or exhaust manifold leak.
@@assgoblin0764Despite my mum having a 93 850 GLT 20v manual back in the day, and owning a 2.5 10v manual S70 I didn't realise they had VVT!!!
My 1992 850 has the same noise and heavy ticking since 100000km and 7 years, Nothing ever hapened and the engine runs great with full power, i had 2, both early and n/a, the other had the same problem but it didnt affect anything!
@@casparpolitman Tappets?
What a beauty... I had a virtually identical one in metallic green and although I've had a few Volvos since then (and before it) that was my favourite of all. The pre-"facelift" cars like this are vastly better looking than the later models to my eye... the S70 I had afterwards was hugely more powerful and every option ticked, but none of the later cars handled as well as this one. By the way, I don't believe that gear knob is correct for the car? I would say that this gearbox was also perfectly mated to the engine and almost never chose wrongly - kickdown was instant and the engine loved being revved to the ridiculously high redline.
Yes, the early J & K reg 850s with the 'narrow' headlamp bezel, non airbag models had that auto gear shifter. It was rapidly evolved for the 94 model. They were rushed to production in SE and GLT trims with the 143 and 170 20v vis ( variable intake system ) engines. Ps the one in the video has a serious valve lifter issue as they should be almost silent from the valve gear.
@@timbo19751975 I had a 1993 (K reg) 2l 20v GLT auto and it definitely didn't have this type of shifter but a much more modern looking one. I reckon it had at least a driver's airbag though, I wasn't aware that any of them didn't.
what a lovely car that was! I remember driving a 2.4 GLT auto in Sweden in 1996 and thinking how amazing and refined that car was...!!!
Great review and what a lovely looking car, cannot beat the sound of a 5cylinder Volvo.
Love my pearl 97 GLT. Over 300,000 miles and still a blast to drive. Great video
Never tried an 850, although I've had various other models over the years. This video makes me wish I had one of these.
Lovely to see an early 850, but it actually killed off the 240, the 900 series cars were sold alongside the 850 until the millennium.
Spot on. They continued with the 900 Series until 1998 and it technically outlived the 850. The S80 then superceded the 940/S90 and is altogether quite forgotten today.
Exactly!
Nice car. Talking about owners keeping thier Volvo for a long time, I worked for a guy in the late ninities who still drove a 740 with nearly 300,000 miles on it. It was fine. His wife told me that he would never sell it, he'd just use it until it fell apart around him.
I drive a 1990 240DL Estate Ma bought new. At 380,000+ miles it runs like new. I plan to keep it the rest of my driving life. When I stop driving in 35 years or so someone else can keep Arthur going
A bit of a nerdy fact, but the font used IN a Volvo is called Handel Gothic, not Volvo Broad, which is a bit similar so the mistake is easily made. Volvo Broad is used only in their marketing and communications and was copyrighted in 1997, so the 850 pre-dates it.
Handel Gothic was used by Volvo since 1974 and can still be found in their new cars.
I do like the combination of White with Blue interior, this example really is mint. The Saab 9000 was a more dynamic drive and the cabin had more flair but the 8 Series has been more durable and has stood the test of time better in my experience.
I own both Volvo 850 and Saab 9000. Both are similarly laid out, and are fun to drive; with the Saab feeling a little more sportier.
I always remember the headline of Road and Track's first review of this car in September 1992: "This is not your Uncle Olaf's Volvo!"
About time!! Been driving 850s the last 15 years or so. Currently got an 850R manual saloon. Best cars ever made. Ever.
It was a pleasure to meet you at the N.E.C. Matt . Interesting to compare this car , to the Volvo you took to Scotland , and how much clearer and more logical this interior is , menus for this , that and the other simply aren’t needed and in the real world will not be used . Excellent review as always.
Unbelievable car. My Brother Gerry bought one about 25 years ago for £1200 because the head gasket was gone. My Brother the Mechanic repaired it and it was fantastic. She was a black 850 10 valve and sounded incredible. Gerry's fuel consumption was terrible because he couldn't resist making that 5 cylinder snarl.
Looks so good in white, very clean lines. Still a very good looking car, and a big seller for Volvo. Great review Matt!
I had a K plate 850, great car solidly built and reliable. Always wanted the 850 T5 or R but never did and now the prices are on the up.
I love the blue interior, shame they don't make these colourful options anymore. Great review as always!
These always looked so good and one of the very few cars that I always liked since they first came 30 years ago.
I remember when the 850 came out in late 1992, absolutely fell in love with them. Like a 740 but trendier. The facelifted 440 & 460 were styled in a similar way.
Trendier, much better handling and engines with genuine crash protection.
That is impressively well designed. Excellent engineering and attention to detail is evident in every aspect.
It is an engineering masterpiece that I've never seen equalled since - they are a delight to work on because they were designed to be long lasting cars, not disposable garbage like everything available today.
Am I alone in thinking it sounds really tappety?! Not the delicious 5 cylinder sounds the tapping! Anyways nice car Cheers.
That's just with the bonnet up, it's injector noise actually I think. Mine always sounded like that with the bonnet up but was smooth and quiet otherwise
Yes definitely not the healthiest sounding engine. I had a 2.0 20v m reg 850 with 100k miles and that was near silent. They sound beautiful higher up the rev range.
These engines got hydraulic lifters. If they sat for a bit, takes about 15 minutes usually to go away. I know, because I have one and the owner’s manual even mentions it.
It really drives home the meaning of the the term "tick-over", that noise would do my head in! Sounded like sticky lifters to me, I think it got quieter after he drove for a while.
The best engine, they sound fantastic, this one seems a bit unwell
Great another car I want 🙄 I remember these from new seems huge but compared with today’s monsters it’s not that big, sounds like this one needs some use - a bit tappetty !
Great video again. I think 90s touring car is the pinnacle of motorsport. The cars were great but the rivalries made it. All too nicey pr friendly ever since. Keep up the great work and that’s a great car.
Oh yes, A4 vs E36 series vs Ford Contour(aka Mondeo) vs Infiniti G20 (Nissan Primera) vs Volvo 850.
Interesting video. My only experience with an 850 was the early Estate a friend had. Driving it back to back with my 240 Estate with double the mileage was quite illuminating. The 850 felt dead in comparison. It did everything but it did not have fun doing it. The steering was so light that getting into the 240 felt like the power assist was broken. The 240 on good tires left the 850 behind in the corners, too. The cargo space felt like an afterthought in the 850. My buddy who owned the 850 is the one who pointed all this out to me before I drove the thing. Volvo lost the plot and have never found it since.
The 850 is a car that is very tyre-specific, on the right tyres they feel really good, on anything else they do, as you say, just feel rather dead. It also has to be said that they are very, very picky about wheel alignment, and Volvo did change the wheel alignment specification during the life of the car, which really changed how they drove. Checking and setting the wheel alignment to specification was part of the PDI checklist for these, but not all dealers where quite as thorough about it as they should have been so a lot of the early cars did come out of the dealer feeling a lot less good than they should have. It is also very fair to say that the cooking cars did feel an awful lot different to the turbo cars which did feel a hell of a lot sharper, hence why they became so popular as traffic police cars...
I have always thought that having electric front windows and manual wind rear is exactly the wrong way round. When passengers get out and leave windows open I can reach the front doors to wind up the windows but if the rear ones are manual wind I have get out of the car and walk around just to close the windows.
The advertising slogan for these at the time was "Drives like it's alive". Volvo were asked why, when they made a car that was so good to drive, they made it look so similar to the 700/900 series. the response was that they did want to alienate previous buyers at the same time, so were conservative in styling.
Later, when Peter Horbury took over styling, and the 1998 S80 followed by the S60 and V70, the styling got a whole lot less boxy
Only thing is they DID alienate some of their existing customers. When Ma saw the 850 she told the sales manager that if he wanted to keep her business he needed to keep the old 240 wagon going because she would not consider front wheel drive. Going directly from an 850 wagon into my 240 wagon you would never guess the two were related. The steering is light and vague on the 850. There is no joy in driving it.
I loved the 850's. Had one for many years. I miss it terribly. Still looks good today, especially the interiror
What a sweet sounding engine. Especially when revved. Modern stuff just lacks the character in comparison. I’m surprised it has no airbag given that we had a humble VW polo 1.3cl just 2 years newer and it came with one as standard and Volvo is all about safety.
My first car was a used 1993 850 GLT in Fjord Blue with blue leather. Fully optioned out for an American 850. Loved that car! The pre-facelift 850's are uncommon here in the states, but I prefer that look. I made a teenage mistake and crashed it and the car saved my life. I now have a 2012 XC70 T6 and love it.
Just bought one like this for $1300, less than 100K on the clock and base spec 5cyl with the Velour seats (heated!) I love this thing, the simplicity and comfort are unmatched, and it's got great space. These were excellent Volvos, a time gone by for sure!
@1:46 Even better, don't crash into people instead of designing a car around a theoretical possibility. Make it an impale no one challenge. 😉
@3:12 Nah, it is not that bad. It is actually 126 mph and a decent drag coefficient. Not bad in times when a Audi A2 reached 126 mph with 110 HP or 81kw and is even quicker. The only major drawback of this particular A2 is that the engine, 1.6 FSI, sucks ass.
@3:32 Okay, I see mate, the automatic transmission makes a huge difference in terms of top speed. With a proper stick you reach said figure.
Eventually the tappets are noisy but thats age. The manual was great. Great grunt of a noise from the 5 pot. Loved the double din which can be made up to date with a nice screen sat nav.
Had a good standard sound system. Not Dynaudio, but there parcel shelf speakers made good base.
It doesn't sound great TBH, they're supposed to be very smooth.
Nice, thank you. To me the 850/x70 that facelifted out of them is the best Volvo ever. And I have owned 12 different Volvo's, including 940, 940, S80. Of the first generation x70 I have owned all versions: estate, saloon, convertible and, since a few months, the coupe. I have driven many different makes, including Jags and Audi's, to me the driving position in these Volvo's is the best there is. I have done over 1000 kms a day without an aching back. They are very durable, the only downside is the interior: it rattles, mounting clips break - it is just not as good as a Benz interior. But to me that is the only negative bit. My coupe is a 2 litre, low pressure turbo and a manual. If you drive it not too fast it is actually quite economical. On highway runs not going over the speed limit I average 14 km to the liter, not bad to me. Although my '98 C class is even more economical. Still not sure which one to keep if I should have to sell one. Luckily for now I do not have to...
I prefer the look of the early years like this with larger headlights - however would take a 1998-2002 C70 Coupe over the sedan. I have had 2X C70 coupes - the ride was rough but plenty of grip
As an 850 owner myself of a 2.5l p-reg manual variant, it is sat lower down compared to most modern cars released today, it may not be as stiff, but it is very “go-cart esque” compared to modern cars and still quite fun to chuck around. That car also saved me in Scotland in the winter of 2010, the front drive and the large contact patch tyres saw me through a 120 mile drive in one of the worst winters this country has seen very smoothly and effortlessly while 4wd cars were really struggling. It isn’t as in good condition and low mileage as this one shown here… but I want to keep it going for as long as possible.
... and the rear view mirror was the same as used in the 144/145 from 20 years earlier, why change if something works well? My parents went from a 1974 145 to a 1994 850 estate and it was a bit of a surprise to find the identical rear view mirror the first time I drove the newer car
I saw this on Stone Cold Classics and was going to request you do a video of it! Glad I didn't need to ask.
Still have my 850 estate purchased new in 1994 as a keeper. The things that go are the French group’s plastic parts. Later when Ford took over they had suspension parts made in Turkey. Unlike the German ones which didn’t require replacement until twelve years, those in some cases lasted 12 months at the M.O.T..
I'm pretty sure that stereo is the factory standard item for an early 850 GLT. In fact I'm pretty sure that this car has absolutely no option boxes ticked beyond that for the auto box. The early 850s came with pretty odd specs and it wasn't until the range got expanded to include a number of extra models that the standard specs rationalised out to make more sense. Initially there was only the GLT and the SE, and the specs differed between cars with the 2.0 and 2.5 engines. The 10 valve cars cane in later with the increased range, though it's rather hard to tell why as they didn't really offer anything to the range with the 20 valve cars having both better performance and better fuel economy while not losing out any in terms of torque or driveability...
The 850 and first-gen S/V70 that replaced it often get somewhat condemned for poor build quality compared to what had gone before, but I had a high mileage 850 T5R estate for some time, and despite having racked up over 300,000 miles when I sold it, it was very much in the condition of this car with no squeaks or rattles, nothing broken and no mechanical issues at all. It also went like the proverbial off a shiny shovel when you wound it up. They really do last like a Volvo if they've had owners that take care of them as mine had. Sadly, someone else wanted mine more than I did, so I sold it, and have profoundly regretted it ever since, especially with the way the values have gone. I'd have another one like a shot if I could...
Thought the engine was a bit noisy 🤔
The first 850's had 4 bolt wheels and there's a gunmetal grey 850 GLT driving about in Kilmarnock in Scotland, It's man in his 80's and I believe it's bought new. It's the early model with the big headlights as on the video.
Hi, it looks like You forgot to reply, and just to say to find the catalytic converter it is situated in the exhaust, usually toward the front end somewhere after the downpipe, it's a silver box usually oval . sorry I forget that not all UA-camrs are actually that good a mechanic.
Kind regards
Jahmahrah De'Safilli
Now you’re talking Matt! This car was Volvo’s turning point 😉🇸🇪
Check the exhaust manifolds... some of the engine noise vibration may be due to a leak or crack. I am just going with the sound of the engine.
As far back as I can remember, the interior colours in my parents Volvo's varied from Maroon ( to match the colour of the 740 they had ) & then Biege Leather in the facelifted 740 they had for the next 10 years whilst every other family was upgrading to the 850. Lol by the time we traded it in for the first generation V70, something about that interior made me want to throw up. I dunno why lol.
That engine sounds shite - should be a nice warble.
That's one of the cleanest saloon 850! It's like brand new!
My Dog's vets had a V40 &V70 I asked them how they coped in the snow ❄ both were not very good in dealing with Winter conditions.
I've always liked these and still do - but my dream would be the 850R, in yellow - yes, yellow. They do come up but with scary miles. The S70 smooth out was not (I thought) as attractive, but it was as close as I almost got to one of these. A new T5 stick shift - silver which I did not like, but 0-60 torrid quick, which I did. Deal broke down when I wanted $500 more for my trade and the dealer would not budge. I mean the thing had been on the lot, no one was spending that kind of money on a Volvo stick, and the guy kept calling me, but would never come up, period. Sadly I let it go, and ended up a year or two later in a 2000 Bonneville SSEi - too big, but with every gadget known to man at the time. Not as quick, but I did like the supercharger gear growl.
Interesting. Condition looks great but the hydraulic tappets sound noisy. I have the exact same crack in the dash next to the fan control (visible at 702) on my 1994 850. I also have the same original radio (but not in the car). I see the chrome has gone on the rear badges - again like mine. I my view, it might be worth the £8k asking if it were a 2435cc manual estate.
Thankfully found your video on one of my most favourite cars to watch whilst ill in bed. If you're ever in Scotland in future and fancy reviewing an 850 T-5 or TDI, just get in touch, as I have a few 850s 🙂
Great Video as always wish I had both my old girls CD 960 and S70 Saloon , just paid yet again £350 fitted door lock on my V60 2012 plate. Keep the good work up Sir!!
It didnt kill off the 900, they remained in production alongside each other for many years .
Exactly. The 700 series was the first to go out of production in 1992, followed by the 200 series in 1993. The 900 series and the first generation S90/V90 remained in production until 1998. By that time the 850 had already been replaced by the S70/V70.
A friend had one of these and it was really slow. It made a great noise but this did not in bear any relation to trajectory.
I've got a d5 XC70 get the biggest grin on my face letting that 5 cylinder diesel run through the gears, best diesel I've ever heard
These age very well, easy to maintain and dirt cheap at the moment. I do miss my V70 classic T5 - just crashed it (not my fault). Hope to get another one soon!
I just sold my v70 T5 in a monumentally stupid moment of listening to my nagging wife and family. Now trying to find an 850 T5 to fill the void.
@@Stratoszero that's a pity. Best of luck finding an 850 T5. Or even an R while you are at it.
i had a 1995 2.5 10v se petrol saloon 114000 miles on it when i bought it and 265000 miles on it when i scrapped it and the only reason i got rid of it was it caught fire under the dash, i managed to put it out but it wouldnt start after that, the original engine and gearbox was still mint no smoke or rattles amazing engine in them. i loved that car it was 19 years old and no rust anywhere. p,s that "cubby hole" by the seat was in just the right place to catch any crap that fell out your pocket lol i dont know if thats what it was designed for but it worked.
on the 7 series ( and 9 i think ) if you had the electric seats that's where the controls were
Another great video. Fingers crossed see you at NEC tomorrow.
Wow thats a early one, can't beat them, i'm on my 4th now, a 855 black factory manual T-5R
My 96 850 just passed the 400k mark and sits at 400,095 miles. My daily driver. Of course the steering wheel is on the correct side, the left side. :-) You should see what the dash looks like at 400k.
Had a 850 10v auto estate for a short while in the late 00s and for what it was it wasn't bad on fuel going from Margate to Dover. Sounded awesome.
I bet the 90's was such a confusing time for Volvo. I have a 1994 960 Estate, yet by this time both the 700 and 200 series would've been finishing up, yet the 800 series was already out as well.
The column switches and inside door handles were actually also used on the Volvo trucks. This was at a time of course when both divisions still belonged to the same company. Lovely car, would not mind to own one today.
Volvo 850 T5 Estate was my all time favourite in general.
My first "proper" grown up family car was an 850 GLT T5 and switched me onto Volvos for the next 20 years. Desperate to find another minty one to keep forever.
My old man had a 850 R estate. Loved it as a kid. Used to suprise a few newer cars being driven by young boy racers.
Saw this 850 on Stone Cold Classics’ website before you posted this, and was hoping you’d video it
wow, I never expected the 850 to come with windup windows!
3rd brakelight wasn’t standard on an 850, atleast in The Netherlands. You almost never see one with, and also my 850 (92’) doesn’t have one. (Not even pre-wired)
Only car i can think of that still put the fuel amount in Gallons as opposed to Litres I wonder if think was done for the American Market (although tweeked for the US Gallon)???
Plus old school Semi Poverty Spec, good knick though and what a mileage, hardly broken a sweat yet 52 odd thousand miles!!!!
I always found that extremely useful - the gauge was accurate, too. You could "see" your MPG if you are in the habit of resetting the trip every fill up.
Should get your hands on a 850R estate. My old man loved his and was a very rare manual too!
My dad had a burgundy 850 estate on a P-plate. It wasn't the GLT mind you as it had plastic hubcaps and no Aircon, but it did have the five pot diesel and went like shit off a shovel. I saw it, years after he left that firm and its second owner clearly worked it like a skip. Lovely velour. Bring back the velour.
Lovely car Matt. I think at 20.06 you meant addictively relaxing not relaxingly addictive?
my 240 is disagreeing relaxing.... lost my front lights and grill today.. snow is fun xD
Are you planning on reviewing more Saabs someday? I love your Saab review-videos😍
Saab 9000 and classic saab 900 for the win.
The very first 850 GLT 20V❤️❤️❤️
No airbag on these? Even though they were standard on a Mondeo.
Piękny przedlift wygląda jakby wyjechał wczoraj z taśmy montażowej
Another well presented review Matt on a 90's car that's now lost its Volvo stigma and like the 900 and earlier 700 series is now seen as quite hip car, while still offering piles of reliability and practically they they're famous for.
Don't know if it's the effect of your mike but couldn't detect the unmistakable 5 pot theme tune, in all honesty it sounded like a tractor?
Try a 20v Fiat Marea or a Coupe, cos they do sound incredible.
Practicality? The new V90 is down some 10 cubic feet of cargo space compared to a 240 wagon.
@@michaeltutty1540 I never mentioned new V90's, I'm referring to Volvos from the period of the 850 in the review.
You describe what Volvos are all about - absolutely perfectly 👍👍👍🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 I have driven/owned from P1800 to XC60, and they all have this special “Volvo DNA”.
Which year is this 850? The interior looks a lot like the 700 series it replaced.
@furiousdriving That engine sounds a tad tappy? I own 4 850's, One of them is a 10v 2.0 and it really is one of the quietest engines ive ever heard. This one needs an oil flush and a good thrashing!
This channel is really good.
Hehehe, where, exactly, is the Jewel Zone? Or who is Jules for it to be Jules' Own climate control? 😆 That took me back many years to *exactly* what tripped me up during our visit to Scotland when I asked directions to Culzean Castle from an older fellow whose brogue was thick enough to plow. What I *heard* was that we should look for the jeweled cottage. What he was *saying* was to look for the dual carriage (which I later took to be short for carriageway). It took a minute but the light bulb in my head finally came on!
Could it be said that this is the car that saved Volvo? Certainly I think it was the start of ‘new’ Volvos. Always had a soft spot for the 850.
Probably was, the rear wheel drive cars felt very unsophisticated and old by the late 1980s. Shiftknob did a little dance at idle, for example. Probably people forgot how to drive rwd as well, which meant volvos safety record was on risk.
This was a gane changer for Volvo. First sporty one but they werent as strong as the 740/940.
We used to use those for 600.000 km before we switched to another 850. No serious faults really. No money pit.
A pal changed his old five banger 2.4 diesel S60 for the newer model S60 2 litre 4 cylinder. It's more reliable and economical but just doesn't sound the same.
Growing up my dad had Volvos
340L x2
360 GLT … brilliant and a massive step up from the 340 1.4 engines. (He towed a caravan with that little engine !!)
440GLT…. Nice at first but very quickly shown to be a dog.
Still miss the that 360… brilliant car.
360 was epic. So so so underrated with the b200
Jan Wilsgaard's wonderful Volvo 145 was the best car my Mum and Dad ever owned imho!
Do all 850’s have a turbo or just the r?
Just subscribed to your channel as i have been a long time subscriber to hubnut and steph for a while.......I don't do modern . My currently daily is a 20 year old 51 plate Rover 1.8 Connoisseur saloon . Current issues mean i have to go down to one car but up until a few months ago was running old rovers ..an SD3 and an R8.( regret getting rid of the R8 ) . Was going to the NEC this weekend but having just got out of hospital on tuesday after a major operation i can't attend....I'm gutted.......
I love the sound of 5 cylinder engines
The sound of a healthy 2.0 20v manual is just out of this world.
bring back saloons nice car 🤓👍 volvos ar underrated classics 👌
The first big Volvo with the drive wheels at the right end!.
My favourite Volvo
The more I look at these vintage Volvos the more I regret not having gotten one back in the day.