Bought our daughter, who had barely passed her drivers test, an 97 850 back in 2013. That thing would come home from college weekly with a new ding, dent, broken front blinker lamps, missing wheel cover, bent rim etc on it. Old Betsy drove my kid all through college, one time I checked the oil and the oil stick came up clean and dry like new.... it drove with no complaint without oil for I don't know how long. Daing thing was practically indestructible! Thank you Betsy for keeping our kid safe!!
You got lucky. Trust me, if it had been 2007, that car would be priced $6K higher no matter what the mileage. That's why I hate used car dealers. Every dealer i went to GOUGED me right out of the lot. I'm glad that two of them are bankrupt. That's the price they pay for their greed.
The 850 is, in my opinion, the best car ever made. My dad bought the estate upon its launch in the USA in 1995. He put 300 thousand miles on it, and modified to the tune of 400bhp. The engine is bullet proof. What a fantastic machine.
I had a 96 850r as my first car, let’s just say it got me in plentyyyyy of trouble, you give a teenager a car that will go 160 he will go 160 lol I manual swapped it and ended up braking the input shaft in 2
I remember being 10 and seeing those yellow T-5Rs for the first time, and thinking that they were the coolest cars on the planet. Started my Swedish car obsession young!
I remember when the Estate T5 was launched in the UK my dad bought one almost before it was announced, It was badged a 850 Turbo and Volvo re-badged it for him as a T5 at his first service.
I've had a S70, 960, V70 mkll and now a V50 Sports wagon. Even had a 340 GL with a 1.7 Renault engine, the handling was superb with the deDion rear axle and the gearbox at the back. . As they say, Volvo for life lol
Peter Gaeng i have 2 XC70’s T6 and a 3.2L, a S60 R-Design that I converted to a Polestar Trim level and a XC60 T6 which is my GF’s. I wanted a V50 but maybe just me but I feel like ford had waaay too much say in the V50 it doesn’t feel very Volvo like to me. But I wanted to love it cuz size and T5 engine and AWD and everything you can get makes it a great package but ya...maybe I’m too picky or something I don’t know. But that being said I tried also buying a C30 T5 R-Design like 3 weeks ago before this whole outbreak of Covid-19 and I nicknamed it the Volvo Colander because it was about as waterproof as one.. I mean it smelled like mildew inside and I did barrow it for a few hours to test as a normal car getting groceries and watever and started down pouring rain and it was dripping inside from top of windshield and somehow from under the dash onto my legs and feet... I stilled tried to offer $5000 cash on spot cuz worst case I can part it out and break even if it becomes a problem to drive and use as a fun weekend car.. but they paid $6500 for it and unwilling to let it go for less than that.. to put how stubborn they are into prospective... been sitting on the lot for 6 months at same price. If I was a used car sales guy I would shook on that to get that nightmare out of there without risk of losing more at auction. Moment car has water sitting on interior and is also leaking is the moment that car is basically a write off.. ugh so frustrating and now they are closed for business cuz of the virus so I can’t keep annoying them to try to get it for cheaper..
I worked at a Volvo dealership in the nineties. In the winter of ‘98 every customer received a personal winter gift: tissue papers called ‘snips’: sneeze impact protection system.
I fell in love with the 850 R's 5-cylinder sound when I was 12 years old. My family drove Volvo since the 200-series (parents currently drive the new V90) and I'm on my 3rd S60 in 5 years, all with 400k+ KM on them. Love them to bits; almost indestructible. I still love the turbo versions but I'm also a big fan of simplicity and reliability so I'm sticking with the 170bhp NA 5-cylinders for now, they are fast enough.
There was accident between Volvo V70 and tank... driver in Volvo stepped out of car and tried to help crew in tank. But sadly whole tank crew died at accident. Tragedy...
I’ve had a number of Volvos but the 850R was my favorite. I was highway driving and had to do a number of swerves one day to avoid junk on the road at 70 mph. I was amazed how well it handled, just gripping the road. My boys, who were little at the time were like: “do it AGAIN, Mommy!” Other than a clear coat that bubbled and eventually peeled off, mechanically it was a fantastic car.
It’s how all the lines match up. You take one look at the 850 and it says “let’s drive 500 miles down the scenic route. Don’t worry, I can take it, and you’ll be comfortable.”
When I say the car's still around today, I'm including the V90 which I realise is a bit of a stretch, but indulge me! Erratum: There were 4 features Volvo called out when they launch the 850, but I only listed 3. The other one was front wheel drive. Not sure that was such a novelty in 1992, but you've got to give their marketing department credit!
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working on and driving a 99 v70R for the past 7 years, it’s been with me through thick and thin and brought me closer to my dad as it’s been a shared passion of ours. 278k mikes and still a champ, thank you volvo for this amazing machine. Truly nothing quite like it. I’ve blown head gaskets, broken transmission, and plenty of other headaches but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I have a 98 V70 and my dad have a 850 wagon. The 850 is 27 years old, no rust, original engine, my V70 very similar. We love this cars, not too fancy, just simply good, all extras working, heated seats, AC, mirrors, very good sound system. The five cylinder is making it unique, it has a nice sound, but not too loud. I think that the money is well spend when they designed this cars, but i never thought it was this risky for the company. Thanks for making this video!
I worked as a CAD consultant both for Volvo and Saab at the time. I was impressed with the 850 and how well it worked, considering that it was Volvo's first car with front wheel drive. No problems to speak of, but then I did notice a lot of cars driving around that were 850's on 24/7 tests in Gothenburg. For comparison Saab launched a new car of their own back then which had minor changes compared to the old one but they had some significant teething problems with it.
I remember my mother having an 850 estate. She called it her 'tank' and revelled in the suprisingly tight turning circle. I also was once riding a bus that got hit by one of these. The car was fine but the bus had a big dent in the side.
Thank you for an interesting video, yet again. This made me miss my wonderful 850 Estate from 1995. 5 years and 200 000 kilometers later it found a new home for another 300 000 km, and was finally scrapped in 2018. My love for good old Gothenburg steel continues to this day.
MusicMikko I’be been driving my (second hand) for 14 years now. Got it at 223 000 km and it’s about to pass 500 000 km. They really are marvellous machines, and I really can’t let go of mine - even if it would probably make financial sense...
@@thomasfrederiksendk True, i had mine for 7 years until I started working further away. Swapped it for a c30 1.6d, big downgrade engine wise but the economy improved big time!
I bought a '94 GLT sedan (saloon for you non-Americans) in 1996, a 5-speed manual with only 29k miles (the manual was rare for US-market cars.) It was deep red and loaded with luxury features for the time, and although it didn't have the cracking turbo engine, it could still move out of its own way. I have to say, it was the best car I have ever owned. It was very well-designed and built, and served me very well for almost 15 years! I had some of my biggest life events happen while I owned that car: first house, marriage and the birth of both my kids. Many early family vacations were taken in the 850! When I regretfully had to part ways with the car in 2010, it had over 250k miles on the clock. Despite one or two blemishes it was still a daily runner. Yeah, the AC no longer worked (part of the reason I ended up trading the old girl in) and the engine may have needed some TLC including new fuel injectors and possibly some new cores and cables, but the car was still solid and largely rust free. Not bad considering I live in the snow belt of the Northeast USA! In 15 years of ownership, I can count the issues I had with this car on one hand, and none of them left me on the side of the road! The worst was arguably when the radio died circa 1999 - I replaced it with an exact factory match from Volvo as aftermarket radios wouldn't have fit nicely into the hole in the dash. I did add a CD changer and a speaker box, it was a banging setup for the turn of the century! Long live the biggest Swedish industrial investment ever! It was truly a fantastic car. I'd buy it again new, if I could.
@@curious5661 I'm pretty sure Renault has had nothing to do with Volvo since the early 90s, only French influence I can think of is Peugeot/Citroen diesel engines being used in the 2000s
I have the exact same red 93' 850 as shown in the video; owned it 20 yrs and counting with ipd modifications, also own a Saab 9000. Also agree that they're the best.
4 роки тому+15
My V70 (1999) just hit 300.000 kms and still going strong for the next 300.000 kms. I just love the design and quality of the car.
you did the BTCC car an injustice in being so dismissive of it's success - running the T5 estate in BTCC was a genius move that got car enthusiasts interested in the marque again. Without it I doubt Volvo would have had the success they did with the 850 and subsequent models.
1. It was not a T5 estate ... that engine was outside the engine size limit. It was a heavily modified 2.0L engine ... 1994 BTCC 850 wagon: Weight: 2150 pounds (about 50% less than a production model!) Engine: 20 valve 5 cylinder 2.0 liter (highly modified, as we know) Max Output: 290 HP. Transmission: Purpose-built 6 speed sequential transmission. 2. Reason the Estate was chosen ? Aerodynamics of the rear upper body requiring least work as the saloon would have needed far too much work.
Brings back good memories... My first car was a 96 GLT 170bhp 2.5. Kept it for 7 years putting some 250.000kms on it, no major issues. Went to scrap in 2016 with 445000kms on the clock.
I loved my old 850 20V estate! I bought it 9 years old and put 400 000+ kms on it. The engine was brilliant reminding me of a 2 stroke with a power band from about 3 - 4.5k rpm. I chewed through 3 sets of CV joints, a heating radiator finally selling it with a blown head gasket after owning it for another 9 years. It drove round the mountain twisties of Cape Town like it was on rails!
I did quite a bit of engine testing for the 2.2 turbo and 2.5NA engines at Ricardo in the mid 90s. Later Volvo came back and I was tasked with improving the fuel consumption of the 2.5 turbo engine. The engine used to drop the AFR as low as 10:1 to aid cooling at high power, so testing was to see how far the AFR could be leaned out. I initially had another tester controlling some aspects of the engine whilst I got to grips with manually controling the mapping. As I got used to it I slowly took over aspects from the other guy until I had control of it all. Had lots of fun playing with ignition timing and afr with a few turbos melting very quickly until I got it pretty much sorted. It was a lovely engine to work with. I later bought an 850 T5 and had a happy few years owning that. Lovely cars.
Its one of those US-UK differences. Negative connotations in the UK, positive in the US. Mine being an ex British colony, uses summons and awards instead.
Having owned a 97 850R from the showroom, I loved the car (mine was black) with the following exceptions: I wish they had made the Volans 16" for slightly taller sidewalls. 17" wheels hit a pot hole and the tires can't handle it and blow out. Plastic dash mounts that popped (broke) the first cold spell followed with creaks. It was fast and beautiful.
My daily driver is a black 1996 850R Estate, 25 years of ownership with 188K miles and never a repair beside regular maintenance. It can be very quick and yet economical since gas is US$4 a gallon here in Hawaii.
best car I ever drove. I drove 500.000 km on LPG without any issues, the BT24 type motor 5 cilinder 2.5 liter (10 valve) engine is famous for it's sound it makes; A great "long distance" car, and in my eyes, a beautiful design !
At age 19 I worked as a lot boy for a local VOLVO Subaru dealership. I've driven all 850s. From the GLE, GLT, TURBO, Platinum EDITION and the 850R. The only one I never got to drive was the T5R. From Subaru the coolest car I've driven was the Subaru SVX. I knew these cars were cool and it got me to love Volvo. However it wasn't till much much later as a grown man how lucky I was to drive these machines.
I had 850 2.5 petrol estate in the late ‘90’s. it’s by far the best car I have ever owned - super comfy, reliable and solidly built. The sound of that 5 cyl on full chat did make for a heavy right foot, though!
Brilliant video. I've got my 11th Volvo (2006 V70) so yes a huge fan of the marque. My friend has a 1996 850R estate and it gets so much attention even now lol
I bought two S60 (2007) and one S80 (2005) over the years. Same engine B5204T5, automatic on all. Smooth and powerful. Suspension feels different, giving sporty feel to S60 and more comfy feel to S80. I enjoy it every time, I'm behind the wheel of my Volvo. I don't mind to be drive around, though.
Lots of cars can take 7 people with luggage....lots of cars can do 0-60 in 6.2 seconds...but very few can do both at once....and the ones that can are nowhere near as good looking and smooth handling as the 850, which is what makes this car a good competitor the best car EVER.
Great video! A Citation is also a recognition for outstanding work. Perhaps the definition that you recognize is a result of your life well spent with interesting cars :)
Love your videos! My late mother had a green 850 Estate for many years and the a T5 V70 afterwards. Since she passed my Dad has carried on the tradition and has a 2016 V70. Therefore watching this has brought back some lovely memories :)
The 850 turbos were insane in the 90's, Volvo was seen as a car for accountants and grandparents and suddenly you had a bright yellow turbo estate that raced in the BTCC and could blow off a BMW in a drag race, I loved them.
True. The diesel option for the 850/S70/V70 was derived from the Audi AEL engine. It produces 140 HP and 290 Nm in the stock configuration. It is one of the best sounding diesels of all time, with its deep 5-cylinder sound. With a custom tune and some small upgrades (namely, a larger intercooler and an open exhaust), this engine can produce way above 200 HP and 380 Nm And if you further upgrade the turbo and fitting larger injectors, you can almost certainly expect over 300 HP. I have one in my old Audi which has been slightly upgraded. It pulls like crazy, even though it has over 500k kilometers on the clock. I had a gen.1 V70 with Volvo's variant of this engine, called D5252T. What a machine!
@@Skarfar90 you're right about the sound and it was quite a quick car even in stock configuration. I bought a second hand 1998 S70 TDI in Scotland back in 2008 for £1200 and the car had 120 000 odd miles on the clock or 19000 Swedish mil (193000km) but as with all Volvos it was like new with the winter pack and TRACS as an added option so it went through unplowed roads as if it was a 4x4. Had the car until 2014 when a new water pump failed throwing the belt off and killing the engine. Was gutted as the belt, tensioners and the pump had been replaced only two years earlier. Was totally gutted so I was. Car got scrapped and I got myself a 1996 facelift 960 2.5 SE... Many cars later I now own a 2006 V50 with a Ford engine 🤔🥱 The S70 had done 245'000 odd miles or 394'000 km when it died.
@@VinDieselS70 ah man... what a pity... I think that you will have a 1.8 or 1.6 petrol engine in that V50? Because our previous car was also a 2006 V50 with a 1.8 Petrol engine from FoMoCo (Ford motor company). I agree: It kept on going but: It just had not much pep in it. And after we pumped the wrong sort of petrol (not diesel), it gave the issue that sometimes it started at bit rough. And back in the day, it just wasn't the best engine you could choose. Hence why most V50's got a 2.4 5 cylinder... Now we bought a 1995 Volvo 850 T-5 and its in every way 10 million times better than the V50!!
@@arthur850_ thanks man and I know! That 5 cylinder engine beats anything on the roads as stock the 850 and the 70series MK1 had such tone to it never head before as my brother had both of them as estates. When it comes to the V50 it is indeed the 1.8 and it work but tales a lot of oil which seem quite common which is sad but it is what it is. If I super premium or 98 octane instead of 95 the car does indeed work better and is slightly quicker when you accelerate and if it wasn't for the FoMoCo part the V50 would've been a much better car. Yet, the V50 is way better than any Ford hahaha. My previous Volvo was a 2004 V50 D5 SE with the Euro III 163 hp without the dpf and that was a great car but unfortunately I rear ended a Nissan Juke who's owner stalled her engine halfway out of a junction so mine was scrapped too mainly due to the airbags, so I got the V50 for the insurance money. Any pre Ford Volvo is way better than the Shared Ford platform which is one of the reasons the V70 MK2, S80 MK1 and the XC 90 are still Volvo design as the S80 arrived before Ford took over of which not the 70 and 90 is built on. Also a reason you see so many XC90 still on the roads. I mean, how many 15 year old Ford's and BMW's are still on the roads of that age bar the odd 5 series.
@@VinDieselS70 Haha also a pity you rear ended a Datsun Joke!!😂😂 But I hope no injuries for him and you as well. A D5 was also popular back in the day for the V70 and V50 etc. We never had a newer car than 2006 and we never drove diesel but they are also bulletproof! BWM's as they are none for: Endless money pits... BMW's from the 90's are rusted away or leak oil in crazy amounts. And for Fords the same. But they only rust away. They are better in keeping there pants dry!😂
The 850 estates are absolute perfection. The T-5R wagon was my reasonable dream car and I was able to buy a modified version in the exact spec I dreamed of. I love it so much and I won't ever get rid of it. You really can't beat that 5 cylinder sound coupled with a blow off valve 👌
Great video and amazing history for the Volvo 850 and for the 740/60 as well. Looking forward to watching more volvo histories such as the cars coming from the platform P2 (volvo s80/s60/v70/xc90 all mk1) the last of the iconics Volvos of the past! Great job and keep pushing !!💪
I put the P2s in the current Volvo group. The P2, EUCD and now the SPA and CMA. The 850s were still a type of modified 700-series. The P2s went away from the "boxy" Volvo period. There are still a lot of P2 Volvos on the street now. I have one.
@@TheDronne ford let volvo do whatever they want as long as they kept profitability up which they failed so ford took over and reduced it even further, took all their shit and sold them to Geely is what ruined volvo.
I recall that at the time 850 T5-R was the fastest production station wagon in the market.Which is pretty awesome for a company known for ultra-reliable and safe family cars!
440/460/480 story soon? Had a 340, 440 and drove a few T5 850s back in late 90s early 2000s... grew up in 240s, 740s and we had 960s later all fantastic cars.
I had a 1992 440 for a few years bloody loved that car, it was so comfy. I'm currently running a 2004 S60 2.5D SE with 160k miles on the clock. It's a lovely drive, full leather, aircon etc. I previously owned an S80, which I also loved, but there was something janky in its history, it ultimately ended up being scrapped due to a catastrophic MOT fail.
@@matthpotte Mine was the 1.8 as well. Its MPG was stunning. I used to travel frequently between Edinburgh and Manchester in it for work things (I fricken hate flying and it took less time on either journey to drive compared to flying....and I also got 45p per mile :D) and was always amazed at how economic it was. I reckon I was getting ~50 MPG, that engine was tremendous despite less frequent oil changes and services. I sold it with a 7 month MOT to a student for what I paid for it ~600 quid.
The car that turned it all around for #Volvo! The Volvo 850 was a 90s legend. Despite its slightly boxy design and pedestrian front wheel drive, its inline five-cylinder engine with turbo option along with “overkill” safety features made this sedan a public hit!
I had a white 1996 850 2.0 R5 Turbo Estate (bought in Norway Italian version T5). R5 engine was so advanced that it can be produced even today passing all EU regulations. Delta axle really works in the corners, you can almost eliminate understeer if you keep a corect racing line. You have to tilt the body to turn the rear wheels. Something unusual. Works great on snow and ice. Even Subaru and Audi can't keep up. The car is a bad ass family car. 9s to 60mph, top speed 140. I used it for family trips around Europe and as handyman/installer car in my own business. I had many cars, but I have most respect for this one. There are suddenly no good 850s on the marked :( BTW S60 and S80 body was already tested in late 80's. It is not Ford idea.
agree mostly though if Awd is wanted, then it's not so bad these are gone now bcuz by 160K km's rouhgly 60% had nonfunctional Awd systems, and now too costly to repair those systems, or often impossible to do so.
I remember when the 850 first came out, they looked revolutionary compared to the existing Volvo range...yet still recognisable as a Volvo. I agree about the Chevrolet Citation. Weird name with negative connotations. A bit like the Toyota Coronavirus.
I'm a 2 time 145S owner ('69 & '70) who ended up getting a '97 850 Estate 2 years ago with only 79K original miles. A one owner in perfect condition 5 SPEED. Love the old 145S's but have to say I'm enjoying the heck out of this newer wagon! One of the last square bodied wagons too. I really enjoyed your video. KTF!
IMO Volvo couldn't lose with such an experience of making fantastic cars. Their Ford sellout is a questionable thing still they"re alive and feelin" good while SAAB is gone (which is a shame).
My father drives S70 to this day. When he bought it, it was 12 years old (previously he had a very old 240, it was nothing but a beater). Still pleasure to drive, still reliable, we still love this car and dad refuses to buy something else. Even in Russia where we live S70 runs and runs (even without Volvo official service, dad considered it a little bit too expensive for such an old car) I was learning to drive behind its wheel, and...you know, i absolutely like to borrow keys sometimes: fantastic car. Maybe when dad finally buy a different car (he thinks about buying used V40), i will take his Volvo: favourite of the cars i had driven. Better than my newer Skoda, absolutely.
I have a V855GLT - 1994 Aut. Bluegreen metallic, USA modell from Fort Lauerdale 1997, NO rust, no tax, 30 year soon, complete like a new car, smell like new. Love this car, it is 100% ok. It is unique.
My mom had a white 2000 V70 that I grew up in and my girlfriend in high school drove a 1993 240 Estate, thanks for all the great info and stories on the UK/European market.
Another great video. The 850 was a very comfortable as I remember from the times I was a passenger in my collegae's car. Love the t-shirt btw, I'm building a 1/8 replica of the DeLorean from BTTF. Looking forward to the next big or little car video.
I remember the 850's on the BTCC way back in the 1990's. Started with the estate and then used the saloon version until the S40 came along. Very mean and purposeful looking car and tough as hell
I never owned a Volvo and never will, but always like them. How could I not, I love station wagons. The very conservative styling in a good way is great.
One of the best looking Volvo estates I've ever seen. Fuelled by seeing it being driven across Eastern Africa by James May while looking for the Source of the River Nile.
Honestly my favourite car and one of the best fwd cars. As soon as I get a full time job I'm going to save up as much money as I can to buy one, put an Inline 6 twin anti lag turbo, roll cage, the best tyres I can find and afford, a crazy sounding exhaust, race seats, widen the wheel base and anything else that can make it a even more of a crazy fast sleeper than it already will be. This vision is the only reason I try in school
Informative and engaging as always. Your narration has improved with experience and is easier to follow now. I really appreciate your well-researched videos about ordinary cars in past decades, that don't end up in spotlight so often. Thanks and keep up the good work!
I love the 850. Built like a tank. Very reliable and long lasting engines and transmissions. I briefly owned a 1994 850 Turbo. Red over black leather with a spoiler. It was a great balance of luxury car and sport sedan. So comfortable. Such a solid feeling of safety. Very quick with the 2.3L 222hp turbo 5cyl. It could easily smoke the tires.
Always had a massive soft spot for the 850, my parents first had a T5, then an R, when I was little. Both went like the fucking clappers, both were bulletproof, both were fucking ginormous. Honestly think dad regrets selling the R to this day, 14 years on, when it was going strong with 300,000 miles on the clock. Hell of a piece of engineering.
This was a delight to watch! I enjoyed this very much. There's something oddly calming about Volvo content. Have you considered doing videos on the Peugeot 405 and it's many Citroen relations?
can confirm SIPS works, I own(ed) a 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo and was t-boned by a Cadillac that was moving around 40 mph directly into the driver side, i walked away perfectly fine, Cadillac guy unfortunately had to leave in an ambulance... then I immediately bought another 1997 850 T-5 with a 5 speed and i'm very happy with it
In live in US and have a 1996 850 NA wagon (855) with 5-speed manual which I bought in 2002 with 72k. Mileage is now 261k. The wagon has been my hobby, and I have a good mechanic for any bigger jobs who says the engine is in great shape. I do not drive it on long road trips as I have a newer car for that, but I think the 850 would be fine. I am wrestling with whether to keep the 850 as the clearcoat is going on the hood and roof, and transmission work is not too far away, but the car is such a joy to drive, I have not been able to bring myself to part with it.
Great Video. Allway loved the original Volvo 850 design more then the V70 called facelift. I'd appreciate if you could do 2 videos, 1st with the Jaguar XJ story and 2nd with the Jaguar XF story.
Only car I ever regret selling... I had a 850 GL Estate from 1996. It had 380.000km on it when I had to replace it. A joy to work on and a dream to drive....that 5cyl sound.... :-D
Bought our daughter, who had barely passed her drivers test, an 97 850 back in 2013. That thing would come home from college weekly with a new ding, dent, broken front blinker lamps, missing wheel cover, bent rim etc on it. Old Betsy drove my kid all through college, one time I checked the oil and the oil stick came up clean and dry like new.... it drove with no complaint without oil for I don't know how long. Daing thing was practically indestructible! Thank you Betsy for keeping our kid safe!!
You got lucky. Trust me, if it had been 2007, that car would be priced $6K higher no matter what the mileage. That's why I hate used car dealers. Every dealer i went to GOUGED me right out of the lot. I'm glad that two of them are bankrupt. That's the price they pay for their greed.
You bought your daughter? Are you Madonna?? 😂
@@jazzhands7771 Just a material girl Baby! lol
The 850 is, in my opinion, the best car ever made. My dad bought the estate upon its launch in the USA in 1995. He put 300 thousand miles on it, and modified to the tune of 400bhp. The engine is bullet proof. What a fantastic machine.
I am still driving 850 -96, over 500 000 km driven. Engine indeed is bullet proof.
@@hnz225 I just cant stop driving S70'S... Its genuinely hard to kill an I5 Whiteblock XD
I had a 96 850r as my first car, let’s just say it got me in plentyyyyy of trouble, you give a teenager a car that will go 160 he will go 160 lol I manual swapped it and ended up braking the input shaft in 2
I dont care
@Maiahi more technology doesn’t necessarily make it the best
I remember being 10 and seeing those yellow T-5Rs for the first time, and thinking that they were the coolest cars on the planet. Started my Swedish car obsession young!
You werent thinking you knew it was lite the coolest car
You Sir are a man of superior breeding and excellent taste.
U
Me too, born In 1985, have a 855 t5r now, love it.
We had a first year 5 speed. Had it for 14 years. The A/C was the pits, repaired every 3 - 4 Years. My wife loved it.
I remember when the Estate T5 was launched in the UK my dad bought one almost before it was announced, It was badged a 850 Turbo and Volvo re-badged it for him as a T5 at his first service.
The Citation with the Volvo powertrain was probably the most reliable Citation in existence. 😂
Something about Volvo Estates , they've so much character.
indeed! i love my wagoons : D
I've had a S70, 960, V70 mkll and now a V50 Sports wagon. Even had a 340 GL with a 1.7 Renault engine, the handling was superb with the deDion rear axle and the gearbox at the back. . As they say, Volvo for life lol
Peter Gaeng i have 2 XC70’s T6 and a 3.2L, a S60 R-Design that I converted to a Polestar Trim level and a XC60 T6 which is my GF’s. I wanted a V50 but maybe just me but I feel like ford had waaay too much say in the V50 it doesn’t feel very Volvo like to me. But I wanted to love it cuz size and T5 engine and AWD and everything you can get makes it a great package but ya...maybe I’m too picky or something I don’t know.
But that being said I tried also buying a C30 T5 R-Design like 3 weeks ago before this whole outbreak of Covid-19 and I nicknamed it the Volvo Colander because it was about as waterproof as one.. I mean it smelled like mildew inside and I did barrow it for a few hours to test as a normal car getting groceries and watever and started down pouring rain and it was dripping inside from top of windshield and somehow from under the dash onto my legs and feet... I stilled tried to offer $5000 cash on spot cuz worst case I can part it out and break even if it becomes a problem to drive and use as a fun weekend car.. but they paid $6500 for it and unwilling to let it go for less than that.. to put how stubborn they are into prospective... been sitting on the lot for 6 months at same price. If I was a used car sales guy I would shook on that to get that nightmare out of there without risk of losing more at auction. Moment car has water sitting on interior and is also leaking is the moment that car is basically a write off.. ugh so frustrating and now they are closed for business cuz of the virus so I can’t keep annoying them to try to get it for cheaper..
I worked at a Volvo dealership in the nineties. In the winter of ‘98 every customer received a personal winter gift: tissue papers called ‘snips’: sneeze impact protection system.
That's clever ! 😊
I think today Martijn people would be buying the Volvo to get the tissue paper! Lol
Whahaha, that's classic Volvo humour!
;D
I fell in love with the 850 R's 5-cylinder sound when I was 12 years old. My family drove Volvo since the 200-series (parents currently drive the new V90) and I'm on my 3rd S60 in 5 years, all with 400k+ KM on them. Love them to bits; almost indestructible. I still love the turbo versions but I'm also a big fan of simplicity and reliability so I'm sticking with the 170bhp NA 5-cylinders for now, they are fast enough.
I am looking for one too, S40 or V50 (maybe C30) with the 2.4 n/a. Currently I drive a 460 (my first car).
I'm looking for a 850 2.5 20v NA aswell as my first car. It is one of the best bank for your buck cars out there. I love them to bits😍
i've got the s60 2.4 na 170cv. it's a good car, comfortable, has good performances and the engine is super silent but the car is Heavy!
I have both versions of the P-1 S40, the NA gets Way better gas millage than the turbo. And the NA still has some pep and sounds great.
Wasnt the first focus st mk 1 a volvo 5 cyl engine ?
Gteat sound n power
There was accident between Volvo V70 and tank... driver in Volvo stepped out of car and tried to help crew in tank. But sadly whole tank crew died at accident. Tragedy...
haha
Tanks for sharing
😂👍
Just sounds like two tanks had an accident
Pfff, silly.
I’ve had a number of Volvos but the 850R was my favorite. I was highway driving and had to do a number of swerves one day to avoid junk on the road at 70 mph. I was amazed how well it handled, just gripping the road. My boys, who were little at the time were like: “do it AGAIN, Mommy!” Other than a clear coat that bubbled and eventually peeled off, mechanically it was a fantastic car.
I don't know how they made this absolute brick of a car one of the best looking vehicles ever made (in my opinion), but man they did it masterfully.
It’s how all the lines match up. You take one look at the 850 and it says “let’s drive 500 miles down the scenic route. Don’t worry, I can take it, and you’ll be comfortable.”
When I say the car's still around today, I'm including the V90 which I realise is a bit of a stretch, but indulge me!
Erratum: There were 4 features Volvo called out when they launch the 850, but I only listed 3. The other one was front wheel drive. Not sure that was such a novelty in 1992, but you've got to give their marketing department credit!
Also, the first car with 3 proper seat belts in the rear. Also, the first car with centre brake light as standard. A car of many firsts!
Wasn't it that it was the first transverse mounted 5-cylinder?
First Estate car with full height rear lamp clusters, and I believe first car with integrated child seat in the rear centre armrest
@@jonasanderot2947 Maybe so. I don't know what Audi were doing with their 5-cylinder at the time.
@@christianronn5301 Thanks - interesting!
I dream of a world in which the SAAB/Volvo merger worked out...
They partially did, in small series with the 4.4 litre V8 engine.
@@mikbe2579 wait what? Its made by yamaha what r u talking about?
That's not true. Volvo and Yamaha. Saab had absolutely nothing to do with that engine
Look at a SAAB Draken. SAAB airplane with a Volvo engine.
Look at the 340GL rims. Saab origins.
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working on and driving a 99 v70R for the past 7 years, it’s been with me through thick and thin and brought me closer to my dad as it’s been a shared passion of ours. 278k mikes and still a champ, thank you volvo for this amazing machine. Truly nothing quite like it. I’ve blown head gaskets, broken transmission, and plenty of other headaches but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I have a 98 V70 and my dad have a 850 wagon. The 850 is 27 years old, no rust, original engine, my V70 very similar. We love this cars, not too fancy, just simply good, all extras working, heated seats, AC, mirrors, very good sound system. The five cylinder is making it unique, it has a nice sound, but not too loud. I think that the money is well spend when they designed this cars, but i never thought it was this risky for the company. Thanks for making this video!
I worked as a CAD consultant both for Volvo and Saab at the time. I was impressed with the 850 and how well it worked, considering that it was Volvo's first car with front wheel drive. No problems to speak of, but then I did notice a lot of cars driving around that were 850's on 24/7 tests in Gothenburg. For comparison Saab launched a new car of their own back then which had minor changes compared to the old one but they had some significant teething problems with it.
I remember my mother having an 850 estate. She called it her 'tank' and revelled in the suprisingly tight turning circle. I also was once riding a bus that got hit by one of these. The car was fine but the bus had a big dent in the side.
Weird; it’s actually got a terrible turning radius. The RWD Volvos all have much better turning radii.
Thank you for an interesting video, yet again. This made me miss my wonderful 850 Estate from 1995. 5 years and 200 000 kilometers later it found a new home for another 300 000 km, and was finally scrapped in 2018.
My love for good old Gothenburg steel continues to this day.
MusicMikko I’be been driving my (second hand) for 14 years now. Got it at 223 000 km and it’s about to pass 500 000 km. They really are marvellous machines, and I really can’t let go of mine - even if it would probably make financial sense...
@@thomasfrederiksendk True, i had mine for 7 years until I started working further away. Swapped it for a c30 1.6d, big downgrade engine wise but the economy improved big time!
Oofff! The word scrapped is such a disturbing word for a great car.
The Volvo 850 was a belter & I loved the design & the estate was my favourite 🚘
Volvo 850 is the best car in the world!!❤❤
I bought a '94 GLT sedan (saloon for you non-Americans) in 1996, a 5-speed manual with only 29k miles (the manual was rare for US-market cars.) It was deep red and loaded with luxury features for the time, and although it didn't have the cracking turbo engine, it could still move out of its own way. I have to say, it was the best car I have ever owned. It was very well-designed and built, and served me very well for almost 15 years! I had some of my biggest life events happen while I owned that car: first house, marriage and the birth of both my kids. Many early family vacations were taken in the 850!
When I regretfully had to part ways with the car in 2010, it had over 250k miles on the clock. Despite one or two blemishes it was still a daily runner. Yeah, the AC no longer worked (part of the reason I ended up trading the old girl in) and the engine may have needed some TLC including new fuel injectors and possibly some new cores and cables, but the car was still solid and largely rust free. Not bad considering I live in the snow belt of the Northeast USA! In 15 years of ownership, I can count the issues I had with this car on one hand, and none of them left me on the side of the road! The worst was arguably when the radio died circa 1999 - I replaced it with an exact factory match from Volvo as aftermarket radios wouldn't have fit nicely into the hole in the dash. I did add a CD changer and a speaker box, it was a banging setup for the turn of the century!
Long live the biggest Swedish industrial investment ever! It was truly a fantastic car. I'd buy it again new, if I could.
Shame that Renault got their grubby hands all over Volvo now. Renault just ruins everything it touches.
@@curious5661 Renault? It's now Chinese owned. Although I do remember hearing someone about the initial Safrane and 850 development being conjoined.
@@curious5661 I'm pretty sure Renault has had nothing to do with Volvo since the early 90s, only French influence I can think of is Peugeot/Citroen diesel engines being used in the 2000s
I have the exact same red 93' 850 as shown in the video; owned it 20 yrs and counting with ipd modifications, also own a Saab 9000. Also agree that they're the best.
My V70 (1999) just hit 300.000 kms and still going strong for the next 300.000 kms. I just love the design and quality of the car.
Sounds great! I got a V70(1999) last weekend in great kondition, 3 owners and 280.000km
I've had a 96 850 for a while and its at 542,348 km currently!
These car stories are awesome! Thanks for making this one - I’ve owned an 850Glt, V70R and C30. All of them 5cyl. It was nice to hear their story 😊
How were the 850 GLT and the C30? I am looking (and saving up) for one of those.
“Shown in a yellow that didn’t do it any favors”??? Psshhh, that’s YOUR opinion.
Indeed! It's growing on me though.
Sand yellow made the 850 T5 Station an icon
Beautiful.
Safest banana out there. :)
Uniqueness is what makes cars stand out,
Thank You. I loved my 850 wagon. It saved my life in a car accident.
you did the BTCC car an injustice in being so dismissive of it's success - running the T5 estate in BTCC was a genius move that got car enthusiasts interested in the marque again. Without it I doubt Volvo would have had the success they did with the 850 and subsequent models.
Precisely!
1. It was not a T5 estate ... that engine was outside the engine size limit. It was a heavily modified 2.0L engine ... 1994 BTCC 850 wagon:
Weight: 2150 pounds (about 50% less than a production model!)
Engine: 20 valve 5 cylinder 2.0 liter (highly modified, as we know)
Max Output: 290 HP.
Transmission: Purpose-built 6 speed sequential transmission.
2. Reason the Estate was chosen ? Aerodynamics of the rear upper body requiring least work as the saloon would have needed far too much work.
In the end Volvo had to do everything themselves, and then it became perfect!
Like in real life.
Brings back good memories... My first car was a 96 GLT 170bhp 2.5. Kept it for 7 years putting some 250.000kms on it, no major issues. Went to scrap in 2016 with 445000kms on the clock.
I loved my old 850 20V estate! I bought it 9 years old and put 400 000+ kms on it. The engine was brilliant reminding me of a 2 stroke with a power band from about 3 - 4.5k rpm. I chewed through 3 sets of CV joints, a heating radiator finally selling it with a blown head gasket after owning it for another 9 years. It drove round the mountain twisties of Cape Town like it was on rails!
VOLVO FOR LIFE BABE!!...1996 850 running tried and true, everyday....all day in the windy streets of Chicago Illinois😊
I love Volvos, the best car I ever have.
I did quite a bit of engine testing for the 2.2 turbo and 2.5NA engines at Ricardo in the mid 90s. Later Volvo came back and I was tasked with improving the fuel consumption of the 2.5 turbo engine. The engine used to drop the AFR as low as 10:1 to aid cooling at high power, so testing was to see how far the AFR could be leaned out. I initially had another tester controlling some aspects of the engine whilst I got to grips with manually controling the mapping. As I got used to it I slowly took over aspects from the other guy until I had control of it all. Had lots of fun playing with ignition timing and afr with a few turbos melting very quickly until I got it pretty much sorted. It was a lovely engine to work with. I later bought an 850 T5 and had a happy few years owning that. Lovely cars.
A citation is also an award or commendation for outstanding service or hard work. Thanks for the video
Still a crummy car though... I doubt Chevrolet will be naming any new models after that X-car turd.
My comment, above, trumps yours.
Nick the Chevy citation was rather poor quality, and style wise it aged very fast....in the end a footnote in GM history.
Its one of those US-UK differences. Negative connotations in the UK, positive in the US. Mine being an ex British colony, uses summons and awards instead.
@@Seatux Right - It's similar to the situation with 'scheme'. Always negative in US English.
I owned an 850 estate auto for 18 years. Put 200000 miles on the clock. Superb vehicle.
I got a '96 T5 Wagon for £300 last spring, it had MOT and everything worked.
I could not believe how quick such a large car could go!
You did well to get a T5 for that price.😊
I disagree about the yellow 850t5r, that was one of the coolest cars around back then, and still looks good.
Very complete documentary. Must take a lot of research to make one of these. I find myself binging these lately. Thanks for all the efforts.
Having owned a 97 850R from the showroom, I loved the car (mine was black) with the following exceptions: I wish they had made the Volans 16" for slightly taller sidewalls. 17" wheels hit a pot hole and the tires can't handle it and blow out. Plastic dash mounts that popped (broke) the first cold spell followed with creaks. It was fast and beautiful.
At 2:40, the most beautiful (and very simple) car ever to be in a picture... Congratulations and many thanks for your beautiful reviews !
My daily driver is a black 1996 850R Estate, 25 years of ownership with 188K miles and never a repair beside regular maintenance. It can be very quick and yet economical since gas is US$4 a gallon here in Hawaii.
I had a v70 T5, and loved that car.
best car I ever drove. I drove 500.000 km on LPG without any issues, the BT24 type motor 5 cilinder 2.5 liter (10 valve) engine is famous for it's sound it makes; A great "long distance" car, and in my eyes, a beautiful design !
At age 19 I worked as a lot boy for a local VOLVO Subaru dealership.
I've driven all 850s. From the GLE, GLT, TURBO, Platinum EDITION and the 850R. The only one I never got to drive was the T5R.
From Subaru the coolest car I've driven was the Subaru SVX.
I knew these cars were cool and it got me to love Volvo. However it wasn't till much much later as a grown man how lucky I was to drive these machines.
I was a Volvo salesman from 1988-1996. These were great and I sold a LOT.
The 440 was an utter plug though
Finally the Volvo I own thank you man!
I had 850 2.5 petrol estate in the late ‘90’s. it’s by far the best car I have ever owned - super comfy, reliable and solidly built. The sound of that 5 cyl on full chat did make for a heavy right foot, though!
1994. BTCC.
The car that won our hearts
My first car was a 1997 Volvo 850 and I loved it. Now I own a 2003 Volvo V70 and I love it! I wonder which Volvo is next 😆
Brilliant video. I've got my 11th Volvo (2006 V70) so yes a huge fan of the marque. My friend has a 1996 850R estate and it gets so much attention even now lol
Nice one. I'm on my 6th started with a 460 glt then a 460 turbo the a V40 T4 after that a 850 T5R then a MK2 S40 T5 and now a XC90 R design
I bought two S60 (2007) and one S80 (2005) over the years. Same engine B5204T5, automatic on all. Smooth and powerful. Suspension feels different, giving sporty feel to S60 and more comfy feel to S80. I enjoy it every time, I'm behind the wheel of my Volvo. I don't mind to be drive around, though.
Lots of cars can take 7 people with luggage....lots of cars can do 0-60 in 6.2 seconds...but very few can do both at once....and the ones that can are nowhere near as good looking and smooth handling as the 850, which is what makes this car a good competitor the best car EVER.
Great video! A Citation is also a recognition for outstanding work. Perhaps the definition that you recognize is a result of your life well spent with interesting cars :)
Love your videos! My late mother had a green 850 Estate for many years and the a T5 V70 afterwards. Since she passed my Dad has carried on the tradition and has a 2016 V70. Therefore watching this has brought back some lovely memories :)
The 850 turbos were insane in the 90's, Volvo was seen as a car for accountants and grandparents and suddenly you had a bright yellow turbo estate that raced in the BTCC and could blow off a BMW in a drag race, I loved them.
Miss my '95 850. I will watch this when I feel nostalgic. Thanks for the video !
Volvos own in-house diesel engine, D5, wasn't released until October 2001. All diesel engine previous this were VW/Audi engines.
True. The diesel option for the 850/S70/V70 was derived from the Audi AEL engine. It produces 140 HP and 290 Nm in the stock configuration. It is one of the best sounding diesels of all time, with its deep 5-cylinder sound.
With a custom tune and some small upgrades (namely, a larger intercooler and an open exhaust), this engine can produce way above 200 HP and 380 Nm
And if you further upgrade the turbo and fitting larger injectors, you can almost certainly expect over 300 HP.
I have one in my old Audi which has been slightly upgraded. It pulls like crazy, even though it has over 500k kilometers on the clock.
I had a gen.1 V70 with Volvo's variant of this engine, called D5252T. What a machine!
@@Skarfar90 you're right about the sound and it was quite a quick car even in stock configuration.
I bought a second hand 1998 S70 TDI in Scotland back in 2008 for £1200 and the car had 120 000 odd miles on the clock or 19000 Swedish mil (193000km) but as with all Volvos it was like new with the winter pack and TRACS as an added option so it went through unplowed roads as if it was a 4x4. Had the car until 2014 when a new water pump failed throwing the belt off and killing the engine. Was gutted as the belt, tensioners and the pump had been replaced only two years earlier. Was totally gutted so I was. Car got scrapped and I got myself a 1996 facelift 960 2.5 SE... Many cars later I now own a 2006 V50 with a Ford engine 🤔🥱
The S70 had done 245'000 odd miles or 394'000 km when it died.
@@VinDieselS70 ah man... what a pity... I think that you will have a 1.8 or 1.6 petrol engine in that V50? Because our previous car was also a 2006 V50 with a 1.8 Petrol engine from FoMoCo (Ford motor company). I agree: It kept on going but: It just had not much pep in it. And after we pumped the wrong sort of petrol (not diesel), it gave the issue that sometimes it started at bit rough. And back in the day, it just wasn't the best engine you could choose. Hence why most V50's got a 2.4 5 cylinder... Now we bought a 1995 Volvo 850 T-5 and its in every way 10 million times better than the V50!!
@@arthur850_ thanks man and I know! That 5 cylinder engine beats anything on the roads as stock the 850 and the 70series MK1 had such tone to it never head before as my brother had both of them as estates.
When it comes to the V50 it is indeed the 1.8 and it work but tales a lot of oil which seem quite common which is sad but it is what it is. If I super premium or 98 octane instead of 95 the car does indeed work better and is slightly quicker when you accelerate and if it wasn't for the FoMoCo part the V50 would've been a much better car. Yet, the V50 is way better than any Ford hahaha.
My previous Volvo was a 2004 V50 D5 SE with the Euro III 163 hp without the dpf and that was a great car but unfortunately I rear ended a Nissan Juke who's owner stalled her engine halfway out of a junction so mine was scrapped too mainly due to the airbags, so I got the V50 for the insurance money.
Any pre Ford Volvo is way better than the Shared Ford platform which is one of the reasons the V70 MK2, S80 MK1 and the XC 90 are still Volvo design as the S80 arrived before Ford took over of which not the 70 and 90 is built on. Also a reason you see so many XC90 still on the roads.
I mean, how many 15 year old Ford's and BMW's are still on the roads of that age bar the odd 5 series.
@@VinDieselS70 Haha also a pity you rear ended a Datsun Joke!!😂😂 But I hope no injuries for him and you as well. A D5 was also popular back in the day for the V70 and V50 etc. We never had a newer car than 2006 and we never drove diesel but they are also bulletproof! BWM's as they are none for: Endless money pits... BMW's from the 90's are rusted away or leak oil in crazy amounts. And for Fords the same. But they only rust away. They are better in keeping there pants dry!😂
The 850, one of the most beautiful sedans and estates of its time.
I should add, it still looks beautiful today.
Agreed, and the interior was so clean and minimalistic. And no idiotic plastic-chrome, only in the front of the radiator.
I used to have Volvo 850 (diesel). It was really really good car. I drive it over 500 000km. Never left me on road.
The 850 estates are absolute perfection. The T-5R wagon was my reasonable dream car and I was able to buy a modified version in the exact spec I dreamed of. I love it so much and I won't ever get rid of it. You really can't beat that 5 cylinder sound coupled with a blow off valve 👌
I had no idea how big this 850 project was, and quite how long the development took!
Thanks for another great upload.
16 Bn SEK. Quite a chunk of money. Equates to 2.2 Bn USD today
Great video and amazing history for the Volvo 850 and for the 740/60 as well. Looking forward to watching more volvo histories such as the cars coming from the platform P2 (volvo s80/s60/v70/xc90 all mk1) the last of the iconics Volvos of the past!
Great job and keep pushing !!💪
I put the P2s in the current Volvo group. The P2, EUCD and now the SPA and CMA. The 850s were still a type of modified 700-series. The P2s went away from the "boxy" Volvo period. There are still a lot of P2 Volvos on the street now. I have one.
No more V70s are being produced... 14:56
Exactly, it has been replaced by the V90
S & V 70ies were mainly manufactured for the USA market and of inferior quality compared with those produced for the European markets.
They got rebadged to S90/V90, like how V70 was more like an 850 facelift rebadged to S70/V70
Buyout by Ford was their undoing
@@TheDronne ford let volvo do whatever they want as long as they kept profitability up which they failed so ford took over and reduced it even further, took all their shit and sold them to Geely is what ruined volvo.
I recall that at the time 850 T5-R was the fastest production station wagon in the market.Which is pretty awesome for a company known for ultra-reliable and safe family cars!
440/460/480 story soon? Had a 340, 440 and drove a few T5 850s back in late 90s early 2000s... grew up in 240s, 740s and we had 960s later all fantastic cars.
I had a 1992 440 for a few years bloody loved that car, it was so comfy. I'm currently running a 2004 S60 2.5D SE with 160k miles on the clock. It's a lovely drive, full leather, aircon etc. I previously owned an S80, which I also loved, but there was something janky in its history, it ultimately ended up being scrapped due to a catastrophic MOT fail.
tehklevster I had a 1992 440 too, it was great, really sweet engine, was the 1.8 spi one. A mate of mine had a S60 D5, it is a beautiful drive
@@matthpotte Mine was the 1.8 as well. Its MPG was stunning. I used to travel frequently between Edinburgh and Manchester in it for work things (I fricken hate flying and it took less time on either journey to drive compared to flying....and I also got 45p per mile :D) and was always amazed at how economic it was. I reckon I was getting ~50 MPG, that engine was tremendous despite less frequent oil changes and services. I sold it with a 7 month MOT to a student for what I paid for it ~600 quid.
The car that turned it all around for #Volvo! The Volvo 850 was a 90s legend. Despite its slightly boxy design and pedestrian front wheel drive, its inline five-cylinder engine with turbo option along with “overkill” safety features made this sedan a public hit!
I had a white 1996 850 2.0 R5 Turbo Estate (bought in Norway Italian version T5).
R5 engine was so advanced that it can be produced even today passing all EU regulations.
Delta axle really works in the corners, you can almost eliminate understeer if you keep a corect racing line. You have to tilt the body to turn the rear wheels. Something unusual.
Works great on snow and ice. Even Subaru and Audi can't keep up.
The car is a bad ass family car.
9s to 60mph, top speed 140. I used it for family trips around Europe and as handyman/installer car in my own business. I had many cars, but I have most respect for this one.
There are suddenly no good 850s on the marked :(
BTW S60 and S80 body was already tested in late 80's. It is not Ford idea.
agree mostly though if Awd is wanted, then it's not so bad these are gone now bcuz by 160K km's rouhgly 60% had nonfunctional Awd systems, and now too costly to repair those systems, or often impossible to do so.
I remember when the 850 first came out, they looked revolutionary compared to the existing Volvo range...yet still recognisable as a Volvo.
I agree about the Chevrolet Citation. Weird name with negative connotations. A bit like the Toyota Coronavirus.
The Citation was also known for AWFUL Build Quality, Even for American Cars.
My first car was a '97 Volvo 850 GLT. Leather seats, cd player, spoiler and the "winter" package. Loved that little car.
Great video. I had a 240GLT in my younger years, it really was built like a tank.
I'm a 2 time 145S owner ('69 & '70) who ended up getting a '97 850 Estate 2 years ago with only 79K original miles. A one owner in perfect condition 5 SPEED. Love the old 145S's but have to say I'm enjoying the heck out of this newer wagon! One of the last square bodied wagons too. I really enjoyed your video. KTF!
Another great upload; thank you!! I truly hope that the absolute quality of your research translates into 500k+ subscribers. You truly deserve it!
IMO Volvo couldn't lose with such an experience of making fantastic cars. Their Ford sellout is a questionable thing still they"re alive and feelin" good while SAAB is gone (which is a shame).
Saab and Volvo should've merged, their cars have similar engineering. That'd would''ve been interesting.
My mom had a 1996 850 wagon. Such a wonderful car. Thank you for the fantastic video!
Ive had my 850 since 2010. Still going strong! :D Only the 2.5 10v 144hp one though :)
My father drives S70 to this day. When he bought it, it was 12 years old (previously he had a very old 240, it was nothing but a beater). Still pleasure to drive, still reliable, we still love this car and dad refuses to buy something else. Even in Russia where we live S70 runs and runs (even without Volvo official service, dad considered it a little bit too expensive for such an old car) I was learning to drive behind its wheel, and...you know, i absolutely like to borrow keys sometimes: fantastic car. Maybe when dad finally buy a different car (he thinks about buying used V40), i will take his Volvo: favourite of the cars i had driven. Better than my newer Skoda, absolutely.
Ever since purchasing my '01 S60 last year, I've found myself becoming more and more obsessed with particular Volvo models.
me to, I started w an S60, now its her and 2 S40s and now I'm dreaming of a awd wagon......haha
@@michaelstrongbow2336 They're such an amazing car.
I have a V855GLT - 1994 Aut. Bluegreen metallic, USA modell from Fort Lauerdale 1997, NO rust, no tax, 30 year soon, complete like a new car, smell like new. Love this car, it is 100% ok. It is unique.
Always a good day when a Big Car video lands. Even better when it's a car I love being featured.
Hey! I bought one 1 month ago and i’m in love 😍
My mom had a white 2000 V70 that I grew up in and my girlfriend in high school drove a 1993 240 Estate, thanks for all the great info and stories on the UK/European market.
Another great video. The 850 was a very comfortable as I remember from the times I was a passenger in my collegae's car. Love the t-shirt btw, I'm building a 1/8 replica of the DeLorean from BTTF. Looking forward to the next big or little car video.
Love these videos! Please continue the Volvo saga into the 2000's.
I will at some point.
I remember the 850's on the BTCC way back in the 1990's. Started with the estate and then used the saloon version until the S40 came along. Very mean and purposeful looking car and tough as hell
I never owned a Volvo and never will, but always like them. How could I not, I love station wagons. The very conservative styling in a good way is great.
One of the best looking Volvo estates I've ever seen.
Fuelled by seeing it being driven across Eastern Africa by James May while looking for the Source of the River Nile.
I remember when I was kid I hated estate tail light design. Now i have had at least one 850 estate in my driveway since 2007 and I love it :D
The 1988 Corolla 4wd wagon has a very similar design and still looks good for 32years old!
Honestly my favourite car and one of the best fwd cars. As soon as I get a full time job I'm going to save up as much money as I can to buy one, put an Inline 6 twin anti lag turbo, roll cage, the best tyres I can find and afford, a crazy sounding exhaust, race seats, widen the wheel base and anything else that can make it a even more of a crazy fast sleeper than it already will be. This vision is the only reason I try in school
Informative and engaging as always. Your narration has improved with experience and is easier to follow now. I really appreciate your well-researched videos about ordinary cars in past decades, that don't end up in spotlight so often. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Glad to know I'm improving! Talking in front of the camera isn't my strong point.
I love the 850. Built like a tank. Very reliable and long lasting engines and transmissions. I briefly owned a 1994 850 Turbo. Red over black leather with a spoiler. It was a great balance of luxury car and sport sedan. So comfortable. Such a solid feeling of safety. Very quick with the 2.3L 222hp turbo 5cyl. It could easily smoke the tires.
Always had a massive soft spot for the 850, my parents first had a T5, then an R, when I was little. Both went like the fucking clappers, both were bulletproof, both were fucking ginormous. Honestly think dad regrets selling the R to this day, 14 years on, when it was going strong with 300,000 miles on the clock. Hell of a piece of engineering.
This was a delight to watch! I enjoyed this very much. There's something oddly calming about Volvo content.
Have you considered doing videos on the Peugeot 405 and it's many Citroen relations?
I'll add it to the list to consider. Thanks!
The 5 cylinder engine was bullet proof. I managed to get speeding tickets with over 300k miles on the clock and the handling beats most modern cars
I remember the 850 turbo at Davidsfarm .... iinsane ROCKET, the sound was AWSOME. Pretty sexy wagon
Thank you!!
Cheered up my day seeing your video . Keep up the good work and stay well.
Darren (:
Thanks Darren. Stay safe.
can confirm SIPS works, I own(ed) a 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo and was t-boned by a Cadillac that was moving around 40 mph directly into the driver side, i walked away perfectly fine, Cadillac guy unfortunately had to leave in an ambulance... then I immediately bought another 1997 850 T-5 with a 5 speed and i'm very happy with it
In live in US and have a 1996 850 NA wagon (855) with 5-speed manual which I bought in 2002 with 72k. Mileage is now 261k. The wagon has been my hobby, and I have a good mechanic for any bigger jobs who says the engine is in great shape. I do not drive it on long road trips as I have a newer car for that, but I think the 850 would be fine. I am wrestling with whether to keep the 850 as the clearcoat is going on the hood and roof, and transmission work is not too far away, but the car is such a joy to drive, I have not been able to bring myself to part with it.
This came up on my recommendations, so I’m watching again. Who am I to question. 👍🏽
Still got my '94 850 T5. This makes me want to get it back on the road!
Great Video. Allway loved the original Volvo 850 design more then the V70 called facelift.
I'd appreciate if you could do 2 videos, 1st with the Jaguar XJ story and 2nd with the Jaguar XF story.
I agree. The original was cooler and the interiors have held up better than the s70 redesigned interiors.
The was a Great Video! The 850 really is the next 240 of the Volvo world!
In what respect? I see them very differently.
Only car I ever regret selling...
I had a 850 GL Estate from 1996. It had 380.000km on it when I had to replace it.
A joy to work on and a dream to drive....that 5cyl sound.... :-D