mbsl98

Interesting point is that the '98 XC spare wheel well is too small to hold the standard full size tire, so the spare must be a smaller diameter, and by a lot more than 2mm. It seems as if the supplied spare would always be a risk. I had thought about getting a fifth full size wheel and tire, and then rotating all five so that teh spare would always be teh right size, but since we can't carry the full size spare, it didn't work out. Anyone know if the newest V70's can store a full size wheel and tire?

You're on the right track as far as I can see. We put all three of our teenage sons in well used Volvo's for the same reason. One key point with the cars you are looking at. Side air bags are on the '97 (and on all '96 and up Volvo's). However, Volvo was the first production car ever to offer side air bags, and they started in '95 by making them standard only on the Turbo. However, they were optional on all of the others, so you need to confirm if the '95 you are looking at has them installed. You tell by looking along teh outside lower edge of teh front seats. There is a plastic cover along there, and it says SIPS on all. this is not the air bag, just the Side Impact Protection System that Volvo introduced in I believe '93. If it has side air bags, that plastic piece will say "SIPS Bag". The base '95 850 sounds like it has few options, so it needs to be checked. They did come that way as still have side bags, however. We have a base '95 wagon, with no sunroof, but leather, alloys, and side air bags are there.

Question for kvalentine: Do you know what is involved in changing the fitting that holds the fill valve itself? I am sure that at least one of my leaking AC's (all three have leaks, of course) is at the low pressure fill valve. I installed a new valve core, but it made no difference. Leak detector dye shows that it is escaping into teh cap on teh fill valve, so I am pretty shure that this is still at least one leak point.