Hello Revolvo,
You have great taste! Coming from a current Z32 & multiple P80 owner all I can s
ay is I agree!
I’ve restored quite a few 850R’s/C70/V70’s & all seem to have the same issues. N
ot anything too major in my experience & once all of the common maintenance issues are sorted you
should have a reliable car.
Mechanically if you sort out the below common faults then it should run for 100,000 kms plus quite easily:
- timing belt/water pump
- Abs module
- Heater core
- Radiator/cooling system
- PCV system
My most recent project also needed front & rear shocks/strut tops/bump stops, engine mounts & a steering rack. They had all been neglected but once changed it was like new again & I know that I have at least doubled the lifespan of the car.
Interior wise (as others have said) is probably the most difficult in finding good condition parts, but there are still plenty of them out there and I have found that there are plenty of people out there in the Volvo community who are always happy to assist and can find you whatever you need.
As always, buy the best example that you can afford as it will end up cheaper (and easier) in the long run.
My opinion is that anything mechanical is fairly straight forward to repair; it’s the body and interior that you should keep your eyes out for a good example.
Happy to chat if you have any queries - below is my latest project. Cheap to buy and it had a great body and interior but mechanically had been neglected over the last few years. Almost $6,000 in though I can honestly say it’s basically back to new and is ridiculously good looking (in my sad opinion!!). Ultimately for the money spent and effort put in I think it’s great value and a beautiful example of these future classic cars.
