| Product: |
Volvo 850 |
| Date: |
14/08/00 (2302 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Load space, fairly quick
Disadvantages: Bad handling, build quality, ownership costs
After 3 years of ownership, frankly, I wouldn't recommend the 850 model to anybody.
Consider the following when making a purchase:
1. Poor steering design
I believe that this was the first of Volvo's modern front wheel drive vehicles: it shows. The steering is imprecise and has far too much play, giving you the feeling that you are driving a boat rather than a car.
The front tyres wear unevenly and can quickly become illegal with bald outer tread after only a few thousand miles.
2. Poor manufacture
The glass sunroof rattles all the time. I believe that this is a design fault. It is really annoying.
The tailgate panels break loose if the rear door is used a lot. The interior panel is held on by flimsy plastic lugs that are not up to the forces of regular slamming shut.
3. Bad quality parts
The air conditioning units are prone to failure due to poor quality condensors that quickly rust. Unfortunately they tend to fail just outside the warranty period -- so beware. Replacing the condensor requires the removal of the dashboard and will leave you with a bill that is only a gnats under a thousand quid.
I have also had problems with brake failure, cruise control failure and numerous little problems that added together make this "the worst car that I have ever owned".
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 04/11/09 I HAVE OWNED LOTS OF CARS,AFTER DRIVING FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS. AND THE 850 ESTATE PROPERLY MAINTAINED WILL DO UP TO 800,000 MILES CONFIRMED!
AND ALTHOUGH PRICES OF SERVICE AND SPARES,CAN BE FAIRLY HIGH.GENUINE PARTS ARE MADE TO LAST.
I HAVE TWO,THE WIFE DRIVES ONE OF THEM,AND BETWEEN THE PAIR THE AVERAGE SPEND IS £250 A YEAR TO GET THEM THROUGH THE MOT?
PUT GOOD TYRES ON,REPLACE THE WORN DISCS AND PADS TOGETHER,BALANCE THE WHEELS,AND KEEP ON TOP OF THE TYRE PRESSURES. |
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- 23/08/02 I think it is very unusual for a Volvo to be that bad, although every manufacturer has their Friday afternoon cars I suppose. As for the tire wear did you ever check the tracking or tyre pressures? If they are wearing that quickly it could be something like that, unless you drive it like a mad man? |
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- 23/08/02 I think it is very unusual for a Volvo to be that bad, although every manufacturer has their Friday afternoon cars I suppose. As for the tire wear did you ever check the tracking or tyre pressures? If they are wearing that quickly it could be something like that, unless you drive it like a mad man? |
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