Volvo 850 – a greeting from the 90s, still capable of serving

In the very beginning of the 90s cars In Russia, Volvos were almost associated with aristocrats. Strict and reserved, they were purchased by serious businessmen who did not want to attract unnecessary attention to themselves with Mercedes and BMWs.


It is not difficult to buy a Volvo 850 in our country now. They ask for these cars from 100 to 500 thousand rubles. However, among more than six dozen cars put up for sale, there are two examples that stand out in price. They want 1 and 1,7 million for them, respectively. But these are the wishes of the owners.

So, the Volvo 850 was produced from 1991 to 1997. This is the "correct" car from the 90s. They say it was made by engineers, not marketers. Judging by the fact that some people still use the model on a daily basis, this is true. And the Volvo 850 looks good for its age.


Let's try to figure out whether the car is worth attention. Will it ruin the owner with constant breakdowns? Maybe this is the very embodiment of reliability?

Body

Fans of old cars, or those who are simply forced to operate them, know that models from the 90s are often chosen according to a certain algorithm. And the most important thing in it is the condition of the body. If it is intact, then the car is worthy of attention. And if the car also has a factory paint job, without "bugs", and not just through holes, then you can take it, even despite the brand.

The Volvo 850 stands out against the background of "one-year-olds" due to the preservation of body elements. No, it is not ideal, of course, but there is a chance to find a car that is outwardly intact.

Volvo 850 usually rots in the following places:

✅ Thresholds under plastic
✅ Rear arches
✅ Windshield frame

Doors also corrode from below, but slowly. Many examples available for sale do not even have external rust.


The main problem is age and accident history. About 20 years ago, cars were repaired poorly, so they will definitely rot there. Advice - carefully inspect the body, not excluding hidden cavities.

On the bottom, first of all, you need to look at the integrity of the power elements. Secondly, at the absence of through holes. A "noble" layer of rust from below is not a reason to refuse the purchase. But it is advisable to treat the surfaces afterwards.

As for body equipment, such as lighting and various moldings, all this must be intact. Otherwise, the search for such trifles can drag on for a long time. Buying the same moldings is a problem.

Salon and electrical

In the 90s, few people in Russia could get inside a Volvo 850. But one glance through the glass was enough to understand that the model had a premium finish. Even the velour interiors surprised with their quality and attention to detail. And the leather ones, and even with a wooden steering wheel and gearshift knob, seemed something incredible.


As you can see now, the finishing materials are of high quality. Therefore, it is possible to find a salon in excellent condition in the case of the Volvo 850. But you should not count on such a specimen in the middle price category. Time is merciless even for such cars.


Unless you come across a car in perfect technical condition. In that case, the interior can be restored. And there are two ways - to look for the original or just reupholster everything.

The electrics of the Volvo 850 are reliable if they have not been reworked by "clumsy hands". And the latter, unfortunately, is not uncommon. After all, the car is from the 90s, and some owners wanted to equip it with radios with disks, and then with flash drives. As a result, the wiring was barbarically cut, connected with twists.


So, if the Volvo 850 has a "native" radio that only reads cassettes, you should rather be happy than upset. If you still want to install modern music, no one prevents you from doing so, but according to the rules. And no twisting.

Engines

The engines under the hoods of the Volvo 850 are petrol and diesel. There are more of the former, they are more diverse, but all of this is the Volvo Modular Engine family, five-cylinder. The petrol power units differ from each other not only in volume and power.

The engines are different:

✅ Piston diameters
✅ Crankshafts
✅ Number of valves per cylinder
✅ They also differ in the presence or absence of phase regulators

All engines can easily travel 1 million kilometers, but only if serviced on time. And old cars have difficulties with this. For the 90s, Volvo 850 engines are structurally complex.


Some service station mechanics are sure that old Volvo power units are "brittle". And the problem is that they are demanding of the quality of seals. This means that bolts, sealants and gaskets should be expensive, preferably original.

The working volume of Volvo 850 engines starts from 2,0 and ends at 2,4 liters. The minimum power is only 126 hp. The most interesting power unit is a 2,3 liter turbo with 250 "horses".

But it is better to refuse to buy forced petrol Volvo 850. They are much more expensive to maintain and repair, it is difficult to find one in good condition. When buying such a car, the rule is - the simpler, the better. Therefore, 10-valve naturally aspirated engines are an ideal choice.


The Volvo 850 actually has only one diesel power unit. This is a 2,5-liter engine with 140 hp. The engine was developed by Volkswagen, also reliable, but old. Huge mileage, age and improper maintenance are the main problems. You need to make sure that the wires do not stick out, there are no twists with electrical tape, and the engine itself is dry.

Other technical details

The Russian secondary market mainly features Volvo 850s with manual transmissions. In the 90s, only a few mechanics knew how to repair automatic transmissions, and it was expensive. Therefore, in case of serious breakdowns, the automatic was replaced with a manual transmission.

Manual transmissions were installed M56 and M58. Once these units were considered reliable. Now everything depends on the degree of their wear. So when buying this is what you need to check. Firstly, so that everything turns on without problems. Secondly, no backlash, and nothing should leak or even drip from below.

Automatic transmissions are less common. These are also reliable units, by the way, from Aisin. But age and previous owners have not been canceled. Therefore, it is difficult to find something in good condition. As a rule, "live" automatic transmissions are found in cars with naturally aspirated engines.


There are no complaints about Volvo brakes. They were the best on civilian cars in the 90s. But age can play a role here too. No one is immune from rotten brake pipes and "sour" calipers.


The Volvo 850 suspensions are reliable, but the rear one is specific and original. It may not be possible to find new levers anymore - only at dismantlers. Silent blocks and supports are still available, but to order. McPherson in front - with it there are fewer worries and problems.

Regarding the steering control, you need to look first at the rack and the power steering pump. When inspecting, pay attention to leaks and sounds. If the pump hums even after warming up, it will not last long.

To sum it up, the Volvo 850 is still a decent car, despite its age. But taking such a car for every day is an adventure. You might get lucky, but that is far from certain. One thing is for sure – servicing and repairing such a car is expensive.