15 replies to this topic

[DouginDenver]

I am looking to buy a clean 95-97 850 as a third car, so I sent an e-mail to a place here in Denver that sells only used Volvos to keep an eye out for one.

I got an e-mail back that said he was getting in a 98 S70, with this sentence: "This car is more or less an 850 with slightly different body & interior, exact same mechanics."

Now, I can judge for myself whether an S70 body and interior is only "slightly" different than an 850, but what about the "exact same mechanics" part - how accurate is that?

[the underlørd]

pretty much, same everything cept body interior.

S70's are more "nice" inside than 854s, IMO.

[maiku]

S70's look more updated
and they should have most of the nitpicky problems the 850 had fixed

[the underlørd]

S70's look more updated
and they should have most of the nitpicky problems the 850 had fixed

and some new ones of thier own.

[DouginDenver]

and some new ones of thier own.

Part of the reason I asked is that as you can see from my signature, my daily driver is a C70, which I assumed is basically a two-door S70. I drove a 96 850 last week, and I did not think it felt at all like my C70. Hard accelaration from low speeds had lots of torque steer, whereas my C70 has almost none. Also just sort of a feeling of less connection with the road in hard starts. Like the front end was floating almost. That's why I was surprised to hear the bones are identical.

[the underlørd]

Part of the reason I asked is that as you can see from my signature, my daily driver is a C70, which I assumed is basically a two-door S70. I drove a 96 850 last week, and I did not think it felt at all like my C70. Hard accelaration from low speeds had lots of torque steer, whereas my C70 has almost none. Also just sort of a feeling of less connection with the road in hard starts. Like the front end was floating almost. That's why I was surprised to hear the bones are identical.

remember 850 are that much older than 70 series car...

[javadoc]

A car will feel different if it's maintained not as well as your C70, too.

[Oreo931]

it also depends on the models...ie base, glt, and t5...which ones were you looking at?

[BlackT5]

98 is the year to get if you're looking to get another 70 series car. Still runs motronic 4.4. in 99 they changed to ME7 with drive-by-wire.

If the 98 S70 is a T5 with manual trans and it checks out, jump on it.

[Sean]

I've driven two 850s and three 70 series and the 70s are basically just nicer on the inside (but a nicely waxed 850 is prettier outside). All the parts I've had to replace have been interchangable.

[Denverv70]

You are probably looking at the guy on S. Broadway in Denver. Before I bought my car, I spent a lot of time with him and learned a number of things. He had some good cars, but I thought his prices were a little high. I ended up getting a great deal from a private party in the paper, a low mileage V70 T5 at a much better price than he would have charged.
I think the used car market here in Denver is a buyer's market because there are so many used cars available. My wife's co worker found a very nice XC at Rocky's at a nice price, so I would say decide what you want and keep looking around - lots of nice Volvos to chose from.

[xtc]

aren't the 850's bigger?

[Schwein]

aren't the 850's bigger?

no their not.

[ziddey]

If I Recall Correctly there was one great thing i remember about the 70's that's not there in the 850's. The power window buttons are in the middle in the 850's which isn't bad by any means but it's right under the cup holders and it's stupid when you have cups and try to do anything. In the 70's they went to the doors like other cars.


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Edited by ziddey, 27 March 2006 - 06:16 PM.

[b52murph]

You are probably looking at the guy on S. Broadway in Denver. Before I bought my car, I spent a lot of time with him and learned a number of things. He had some good cars, but I thought his prices were a little high. I ended up getting a great deal from a private party in the paper, a low mileage V70 T5 at a much better price than he would have charged.
I think the used car market here in Denver is a buyer's market because there are so many used cars available. My wife's co worker found a very nice XC at Rocky's at a nice price, so I would say decide what you want and keep looking around - lots of nice Volvos to chose from.

If you're willing to take the 115mi ride up I-25 to Cheyenne, you might find a great deal or two at the Wyoming Auto Auction, just off exit 7 at College Drive and S. Greeley. I bought my `96 855T with 137K there for $3K in Nov`94. Turned out it was a two owner unit with meticulous maintenance records that had gone to auction as a trade-in from Burt-Kuni Honda in Centennial. I'd have a tough time getting that kind of deal again, even today, 1.5 years and 15K mi later.

If you'd like to find out their next auction, their number is (307)632-8648.

[Beiner]

You are probably looking at the guy on S. Broadway in Denver. Before I bought my car, I spent a lot of time with him and learned a number of things. He had some good cars, but I thought his prices were a little high. I ended up getting a great deal from a private party in the paper, a low mileage V70 T5 at a much better price than he would have charged.

I went to that guy when looking for my XC. I really didn't have that good of impression about what he had. It looked like he had the rejects that the other guys didn't want. Just about bought from Rickenbaugh but then I realized that I was getting screwed.

I ended up getting my XC in Columbia SC. I flew a friend out and paid for room and board and gas and it was still cheaper and far less rust than any car we looked at in CO. Southern states for the win!

Edited by Beiner, 28 March 2006 - 06:53 PM.