I'm on the lookout for a P80 850/V70 T5 wagon.. ?
Looking to spend around $2k-$3k and intend on doing all the mechanical work myself as I've done with my 240 project.
Looking for:
Black would be great but I'll go for all coloursSunroof would be niceAuto or Manual, doesn't bother meFWD$2k-$3k incl reg and RWC?
That'll likely be a challenge, even if doing everything yourself, unless you get very lucky.
The cars are all aging now and the front suspension on them typically needs attention, which all the key components needing replacement at the same time -
strut mountsspring seatsstrutsswaybar linkslower control arms (compete arms, as they need bushes and ball joints)tie rod endsT5 models, with their softer suspension and smaller wheels, typically not as tough on these things as R models are but they're all of that age now.
If you're paying someone to get through the above list, you're in for a $2k ish bill at the end depending on parts used.
If you're doing it yourself there are some savings to be had.
That said, a good one is still a nice car. The issue is that good ones are hard to come by.
Also doing a "stage 0" on all hoses belts water pump and vacuum lines, plugs , thermostat and sensor etc etc etc WHICH WILL FAIL ,generally means $2500 in parts including what Ash said above.
Even without looking at the suspension, you're up for more than $2,500 in engine parts alone, plus labour, plus cooling system, transmission, brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, and so on
It's expensive to make an old car new again
But so rewarding
Thanks for the replies Ash, Snoopy and Ramrod, I appreciate it.
Generally I do all my mechanical work myself (for better or for worse, facepalm) and I have a lot of contacts for spare parts so I'm able to get some really good pricing, so I'll save a few $$ there..
I'll keep an eye out and see what comes up.. I've come across a few, but most are with poor paint, interior AND engine problems.
Excellent.
Cheers for the context. I'm certainly not suggesting 'dont do it' - in fact, I've taken another one of these on only recently.
My opinion is that the water pump/timing belt/tensioners task is cheap enough in terms of parts. The front suspension and brakes task has a heavy parts list.
In my case, I was insistent on a T5 as a starting point and my existing parts stash made a V70 a better option than an 850 for me.
Mine needs paint (top surfaces are bad, but the rest is decent), the interior is very good but its beige (so I'll swap it over) but mechanically it is pretty good, save for typical front end items.
None of this worries me and I'm really working through organising the parts I want at the moment and I'm a very long way past the $3k spend (not including the vehicle purchase).
Most of the 850's will have paint problems unless kept by old person in a shed but also most will not have been properly serviced except oil etc.
If its good it will be expensive as hard to find now but you may be lucky!
Parts for Volvo we het from USA and UK r Europe as postage is nothing compared to cheap part cost although Volvo have made BIG discounts on all parts now in Australia its worth it now and easier to get the next day.
I spent years fixing up my 850/V70 P80 cars and its fun but harder to get bits now , I would go to self serve wreckers and get fantastic bargains or buy a whole car for spares and make money on the scrap. No longer........
1971_144GLhttps://cdn.ozvolvo.org/uploads/493/5BDD3J3FDMMV.png
Ripper , Have you got link?
I think that it's all been said , but it's worth it getting one of these 850s . Pretty hard to find a sorted one so expect to do a fair bit of work and if you are going to work on it yourself even better , it is rewarding.
Not counting the hours I've put into mine any more, lost count let alone the coin I've thrown at it and not looking forward to the price of a decent repaint when ever that happens
1971_144GLhttps://cdn.ozvolvo.org/uploads/493/5BDD3J3FDMMV.png
That looks like a fairly decent bargain at that price ?
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bridgewater/cars-vans-utes/1998-volvo-v70-t5-automatic-wagon/1268817901\
It looks like a good one, but I don't need any more. Tassie still turns up to occasional bargain. Being 98 it must be the 2.5T low pressure model.
1971_144GLhttps://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bridgewater/cars-vans-utes/1998-volvo-v70-t5-automatic-wagon/1268817901\
It looks like a good one, but I don't need any more. Tassie still turns up to occasional bargain. Being 98 it must be the 2.5T low pressure model.
It can be T5 2.3lt as T5s were same as R all along. The T is the LP 2.4 , only difference is boost pressure, put a MBC or an R ecu in and it's great fun.
AshDVSExcellent.
Cheers for the context. I'm certainly not suggesting 'dont do it' - in fact, I've taken another one of these on only recently.
My opinion is that the water pump/timing belt/tensioners task is cheap enough in terms of parts. The front suspension and brakes task has a heavy parts list.
In my case, I was insistent on a T5 as a starting point and my existing parts stash made a V70 a better option than an 850 for me.
Mine needs paint (top surfaces are bad, but the rest is decent), the interior is very good but its beige (so I'll swap it over) but mechanically it is pretty good, save for typical front end items.
None of this worries me and I'm really working through organising the parts I want at the moment and I'm a very long way past the $3k spend (not including the vehicle purchase).
Resurrecting cars is so satisfying to me, even just getting it to the point of road-worthiness and stage 0. It was such a good feeling to put plates on my 240 after replacing quite a few parts for it's roadworthy. But yes, it all adds up! ?
Ex850RMost of the 850's will have paint problems unless kept by old person in a shed but also most will not have been properly serviced except oil etc.
If its good it will be expensive as hard to find now but you may be lucky!
Parts for Volvo we het from USA and UK r Europe as postage is nothing compared to cheap part cost although Volvo have made BIG discounts on all parts now in Australia its worth it now and easier to get the next day.
I spent years fixing up my 850/V70 P80 cars and its fun but harder to get bits now , I would go to self serve wreckers and get fantastic bargains or buy a whole car for spares and make money on the scrap. No longer........
I guess they've really picked up in popularity, I hadn't even heard of them when I bought my 240, and I'd done a fair bit of research.
Shame about the common paint peel, I guess that's unavoidable. ?
1971_144GLhttps://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bridgewater/cars-vans-utes/1998-volvo-v70-t5-automatic-wagon/1268817901\
It looks like a good one, but I don't need any more. Tassie still turns up to occasional bargain. Being 98 it must be the 2.5T low pressure model.
That'd be a pretty good buy, and the Spirit of Tasmania is offering free cars I believe, so that's a bonus. Very doable if you live in VIC.
The car in TAS is definitely a 2.5T (LPT), rather a T5.
The move to ME7, fly by wire and (I think) the 5 speed auto saw the LPT cars become 2.4L
Not sure if an LPT car is on your horizon - they can become quite good performers too.
For me, I was really set on a T5 though. An R was not ideal as the intended end result will make the added price tag of an 850R pointless. Engine spec and performance wise, the 1997-1998 S70T5/V70T5 is as per 850R anyway, and I didnt want an AWD P80 car (so that rules out V70R models)
AshDVSThe car in TAS is definitely a 2.5T (LPT), rather a T5.
The move to ME7, fly by wire and (I think) the 5 speed auto saw the LPT cars become 2.4L
Not sure if an LPT car is on your horizon - they can become quite good performers too.
For me, I was really set on a T5 though. An R was not ideal as the intended end result will make the added price tag of an 850R pointless. Engine spec and performance wise, the 1997-1998 S70T5/V70T5 is as per 850R anyway, and I didnt want an AWD P80 car (so that rules out V70R models)
From my limited knowledge so far, I think a 2.3L T5 would be the go. I agree with you regarding an R model, I wouldn't bother trying unless I happened upon some ridiculous bargain. ?
wzrdovryndrhttps://ozvolvo.org/discussion/comment/187843#Comment_187843
From my limited knowledge so far, I think a 2.3L T5 would be the go. I agree with you regarding an R model, I wouldn't bother trying unless I happened upon some ridiculous bargain. ?
The best of my P80 cars (first being a '96 855 R Manual with less than 40K on the clock when I got it) was a v70T , 2.4 auto, manual boost controller and eBay intercooler would have wiped all I had before it, GRUNT and auto perfect for fast tightroads which the manual is bad at.
Ex850Rhttps://ozvolvo.org/discussion/comment/187854#Comment_187854
The best of my P80 cars (first being a '96 855 R Manual with less than 40K on the clock when I got it) was a v70T , 2.4 auto, manual boost controller and eBay intercooler would have wiped all I had before it, GRUNT and auto perfect for fast tightroads which the manual is bad at.
Mmmm that sounds like lots of fun. The P80 wagons give me so much nostalgia for the '99 GT Forester I had a while back.. She used to eat up tight roads. ?
I like the 2.3 T5 variant for all the things it is 'less refined' at, those that give it character. A mate recently asked my why I was selling my Focus XR5 to buy another V70T5 - the answer is simply nostalgia and character.
The XR5 is a 'better' car in probably every measurable way, and the XR5 I had was really well sorted and very quick. I want another V70T5 because I remember watching the 850 wagon in the BTCC, the first actually really nice car I bought for myself was a 1995 850T5 wagon (in 2004).
The V70 is just a refinement of the 850 and a V70T5 is essentially, mechanically, an 850R - its still typical of any 90s turbo car, a bit raw, a bit laggy and doesnt have the 'instant on' of newer stuff, so it has character in droves.
Styling is about the peak (ignoring P1 cars), of really good definitively Volvo styling before (in my opinion) Volvo lost their way. You still pay attention when a nice one passes on the freeway and despite being over 20 years old, it's awesome that Volvo enthusiasts still call them 'modern'
Power delivery of the larger capacity LPT cars is much more linear (arguably better) but I think the shove in the back that you wondered if it was ever coming is part of the appeal.
So, for me, there's way 'better' cars out there but they've got some appeal that draws me back in - amongst a raft of other cars, I've had an 850T5 wagon, an S70T5 manual, and the car I picked up before christmas is my third V70T5.
Hit the nail on the head Ash , said it before, that's exactly why I got my 850 from watching btcc in the 90s . Awesome ?
I have a weirdly odd reason for getting the 850R , I did indeed like that Brocky was in one and seeing I think an NZ race in the wet with a wagon in it televised and I liked the shape, that they stuck it up the nose of Volvo drivers due to the 240 and 700 series OLD MAN CAR with bowling hat on back shelf of sedan.
As I rode motorcycles predominantly since 17 I also hated Volvo and had the sticker on helmet "Volvo aware motorcyclist" proudly.
I had Ford wagons and one day a mother let her daughter out of her sight and she ran flat out into my car rolling off the bonnet, I was going walking pace but somehow it made me want a Volvo , weird...
*Yes , the mother of child turned out to be an unpleasant person, who I reckon caused child to run away by being all of the above.
Thence commenced a long search for a manual R. Luckily it came with 46k K on it weeeeeeeee!
