Why the Volvo 850 is a BEAST of a winter beater. - (And a pretty epic daily driver)

[@AF-tk6gu]

It is the best car ever built. I own one for more than a decade and it currently has 670.000 km. I completely agree to what has been said in this video. Cheers

[@rickj1983]

I've owned 3 850s. A 94 base model sedan with a 5 spd manual, a 97 850R sedan with an automatic, and now a 96 850 base model wagon (387k miles) with 5 spd manual. My favorite was the 97, however, the one sticking point with these cars is their plastic dash mounts that crack in cold weather followed by a squeaky dash.

[@michiel2156]

My T5 just did 360.000 kms. Amazing car!

[@tedbrookins]

Yep! My only gripe with my P80 C70 is the birds, fireworks and rattlesnakes in the dashboard. Well built cars, though!!

[@robertbettinghouse]

I've got a '95 850 turbo and I'm married and all but my 850 is the love of my life

[@winandd8649]

I think the 940 is! even more reliable and even more simple to repair because less electronics and simpler tech like live axle, and load of more room under the bonnet to be able to reach everything. And note; Volvo's are the best candidates to run reliable on LPG. My daily 940 has done 618.000 km on LPG, love it..

[@tylerwood92]

I got an 850 as a freshman in college as my first car. I knew nothing about cars, it was what I learned to both drive and learn about simple maintenance on. That was 2011 or 12 and I still drive it every day.

[@davidalder2201]

Love the 850! My first car was a 144 followed by a 244.. 30 yrs later and just bought my son his first car, a 07’ V70.. Took him out in the snow for a winter drive to learn recovery skills but no matter how we tried to loose control, that beast just regained traction with minimal effort.

[@VinDieselS70]

I have had a 1998 S70 with TRACS and summer tyres. I remember going out walking my dog during the winter, up in the hills in Scotland on an unplowed road, I drove in to a car park where the only veichles were like land rovers and big 4x4s... There I came with my front wheel drive diesel Volvo with only traction control as an aid and those 4x4 owners just looked at me while driving through 25-30 cm of snow..it was so satisfying to see their faces. 🙂

[@warummussmeinnameangegeben6502]

Thats impressive, I got mine pretty stuck for a half hour on ice once with winter tires and with tracs on. Needed a lot of pine branches to get me out

[@zloychechen5150]

i had a 1997 v70 awd, it was a terrible car to run cost-wise, but it could tackle unbelievably steep hills. very capable awd system. The only time i got it stuck was in mud near a geyser on almost completely worn-out summer tires.

[@VinDieselS70]

@@zloychechen5150 oh that is very impressive which meant it went quite far despite your tyres. Wonder how far you'd had gone with new tyres.. My S70 was the Diesel turbo so cost wasn't that bad really ad i could mix pure sunflower oil mixed with diesel which gave it extra boost and cleaner exhaust. Average mileage was round 45mpg or about 6.2 L/100km mixed driving.. On long run like motorway it topped out at max 52mpg or 5.2 L/100km. That engine was a dream however one day the car rattled and that's was it, total engine melt down at 50 mph/ 80kph... Saw a 1998 V70 the other day and it still looked modern.

[@HatcheDWheeL]

But my ultimate budget daily driver is the reason I subscribed to this channel, my E46. I grew up in 745s, 850s and V70s, so to me, this is a love letter to the old family dog. And if anyone wants a cheap daily driver, they won't be disappointed with a volvo. You can get a good 850 for a hot dog and a six pack in Sweden.

[@ThrottleHouse]

I wish they were that easy to find here. For me, this is the best budget daily, and the e46 is the BEST bargain performance car.

[@VolvoMoose13]

@@ThrottleHouse i know this is an old comment but any non-m3 e46 is a letdown in performance. For example the 1.8/1.9 e46 were slower than any other 1.8 car in the same range, for example audi a4, VW Passat, even less popular stations. It's funny to see how people put so much money and effort in differentials, sway bars, modded exhaust systems etc like chill bro you ain't going anywherr

[@ckinc89]

An absalute agreed....

[@razmuslind9725]

well i live in sweden and those tanks goes for 500-700 usd and they are great, easy to repair, much cheap parts for them etc etc

[@bye7418]

I wonder how much to ship one to the USA

[@swedenpaul11]

What website to use when searching Swedish Volvo’s ? I live in Germany and I don’t know the Swedish used car market very well :)

[@volvo9051]

same here in finland 500-1000 you get a 850 or even v70, s70 and they just rolling..

[@Zkillscreen]

not as true anymore now when everyone and their mom is getting ''vinterpulka!! höhöhö''

[@volvo9051]

@@Zkillscreen talvipulkka here in finland

[@dieyoung8259]

Volvo for life....have had an 850 for 5 years here in Chicago. She is my Christine, starts up everyday. You have to treat them like women with lots of love and attention, even when they don't need it.

[@rosegold.sunset4749]

LOL

[@metaljew4456]

@dieyoung; Truer words were never written! 2004 XC70 Turbo 5 Pot here. AWD of course. Murdered out Black. Purchased new. 148K miles. Sure she has needed some TLC. She just got a new RACK........and pinion front end. Along with front and rear cross drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic pads. This bitch has a lot of NO in that left peddle. No fade either. NJ salt bath winters. She hauls my kids. She hauls my wife and all of her business art supplies & shit and she just plain out & out hauls ass. Solid are a rock after 15 years and again 147,000 miles. I’m going to pick up a new one TBD (Volvo) and give triple black to my 18 year old. Volvo For Life.

[@oljefri]

@@metaljew4456 I have a 2001 v70 with the non turbo 170hp engine, has 220000 miles, been on salt winter roads 90% of it´s life and it´s finally starting to show on the rear fenders, the level of rust protection on them are honestly pretty freaking amazing! i´ve owned it for 3 years now and it´s probably gotten a wash 6 times in those 3 years, Only work i have done during 19000 miles is oil and filter changes, brakepads, rear muffler rusted out so i bought a used one for 15 bucks, and a week ago the car got really hard to start, drove like that for a week until i worked out in my head that i was getting 100km/10L fuel consumption, looked under the car when it was running and it was just dripping gas! The fuel filter was so old that it had gotten pinholes in it from all the rust,haha! I can honestly say that it is the best 900 Dollars i have ever spent on a car! And it doesn´t even TRY to hesitate at -35c without a block heater

[@Nickfromthe816]

Got a 97 850 t5 4 months ago, honestly cant wait to see how she really feels in the snow

[@nateoverall3451]

i've been daily driving a 1995 volvo 850 non turbo 5 speed manual for about 8 months now and im absolutely in love with it. I got it for only 1200 bucks with no issues!!

[@chandlerhamilton3710]

Going on 4 years in my 95 850 glt love it

[@francisdec1615]

17 years with my 95 2.5 SE 10V. It has been in the family since it was brand new. First owned by my grandmother's cousin's wife.

[@danielwoods404]

Dude, thank you for getting straight to the point. In most youtube videos I have to skip the first minute because of a pointless intro or background info, like "before we get started, here's a look at the history of Volvo." So thanks for just getting right to it.

[@TheRevo33]

Well my 850 sounds like your perfect winter beater. It's a 1996 volvo 850 AWD estate/wagon! And it has a lpt turbo 5 cylinder. And it is amazing in the snow all time 4wd, an lsd in the front and rear as well as the rear diff electronicly locks when it looses traction :) Oh and it has a 19t turbo with 300hp :)

[@supremeballen6407]

Do you by any chance want to sell your driveshaft? Mine broke on my 850 awd :/

[@STG44VOLVO]

Thats a lot of BS mate.

[@zloychechen5150]

There's no lsd in the front, and the rear diff is a mechanical locker. It's better than later models, i'd say, because both the rear diff and the viscous clutch react fast, while in the p2 cars the haldex is slow and engages with a jerk, and the rear locker simulation is odd. What awd p80s lack is ground clearance.

[@zloychechen5150]

@@supremeballen6407 oh, come on, dude, it only costs a thousand bucks :DDDD

[@supremeballen6407]

zloychechen5150 its alot for a student

[@ctahgw]

I have one of these, and you are spot on! and honest. You capture the feeling of what it's like, which is very difficult to explain, and rare to find in a car review. Very well done.

[@ipsfryt]

About 3 years ago I stumbled across an ad for a 1998 V70R AWD. It's a 2.0 as it was made for the Italian market, and I live in France. It cost me about 4k euros, and while that seemed a lot for a 17 year old car with 256k kms on the clock I haven't regretted it for an instant. Wonderful car, so much fun, so comfortable, and while the petrol bills are perhaps a bit high I am losing zero in depreciation and the maintenance bills are very reasonable. And the best part? It's the ONLY car I have ever owned where people stop and admire it and ask me questions about it. A 20 year old car, for goodness sake. :)

[@PauliusE36]

i just bought 1997 V70R AWD 2.0 166kW and it's from Italy :D it's in rough condition, but i'll repair ir by myself :)

[@ipsfryt]

@@PauliusE36 I recently parted company with mine. It needed parts that were harder and harder to come by, and I didn't have time to spend on it. Now a friend has it, a young guy who's a mechanic, and even though he's got a lot to do he loves working on it. He was bewitched from the first time he experienced the car. Good luck with yours, they are so much fun.

[@michaelwelsh1899]

One of the engine valves bent in our 1991 740 and it then proceeded to get us home on three cylinders! 90s Volvos are incredibly durable.

[@bigguy64]

I have a 97 Wagon. 400,000 + klm on it. I only do fluids and filters, occasionally plugs and brakes. Paid $800 Aussie dollars. It will not die. I absolutely love it.

[@anthonyjankowski6122]

Awesome video and car. Nice to see all those still passionate for the 850. Still driving my 1996 blue tank a few days per week. It is just a baby with only 129,000 miles. Thanks for sharing yours.

[@DRESHCO84]

i drive a 1995 volvo 940 wagon. i love it

[@PrizeBeatzEntertainment]

I got a 93 940T. That little mitsu turbo pushes this thing right along.

[@alex_swe2432]

I had a 1995 940 estate, best car i ever owned.

[@kniveznor1]

so do I its the worst car ive ever owned

[@Ammageddon89]

1998 940FT here. Love it so much, that i have spend more on car parts, then i paid for the car originally xD But now it rides beautifully with new bushings, springs, shocks and a few new gadgets.

[@keithkameron]

Wow you’re so lucky... neat I want one

[@kramer1916]

Own a 1996 850 sedan and it has never stopped.

[@duhduhlovo1670]

It's crazy how much the 850 loves winter. That's my favorite time driving in my car

[@andreichichak5242]

Our 1997 850 wagon, with a manual transmission and no turbos, died after t-boning a civic that turned left in front of us. The little red wagon had close to 500,000 km on it and was my wife's daily driver, our highway cruiser, pulled our little fibreglass trailer all through Alberta/BC/Saskatchewan/Washington/Idaho and numerous 1 day drives to Seattle (1300km one way). It had issues, but every single one was common and cheap to fix. It ate lower A arms at a frightening rate, but they're $50 each and 3 bolts and you're done. One thing that almost killed it was having the local dealer replace the cam belt. They charged me for it, then never actually did the work. When the cam belt breaks, it bends all of the valves, in the pouring rain, with a trailer on the back, and four adults who actually want to go on holiday. At that point there were no interesting replacements around, we just finished doing a bunch of renovations, and I didn't feel like dropping 40K on a car I didn't like. So I found a web site with a 48 page description of how to take the head off and spent the next 6 days of my vacation replacing 20 valves. (Thanks dealership, ask for the old parts that got replaced) So, yes, feed your 850 cam belts and A arms and if anything doesn't work right, just google it and there will be everything you need to do it yourself.

[@kellypaws]

I've driven the 850 and it is astonishingly great handling for the look of the car.

[@AdamTheBeast]

Daily Driver- 1998 Volvo S70 (practically the same car as in this video but with a facelift) love it to death.

[@wrybread]

Me too, just got a 2000 v70. My first Volvo and I mostly love it, the hestitation coming from the cheap plastic used on the dash (all s70s seem to have dash mounts that fail), and little things like the fact that all the door panels fall apart. But with a little love it's all fixable.

[@riple4360]

@@wrybread yeah s/v 70 interior doesnt seem to last as long as 850 interior

[@wrybread]

@@riple4360 well shoot, my S70 just blew it's head gasket. Or I guess more honestly I blew it's head gasket. Still running great though, but I guess I'm looking for another S70.

[@seandog420]

my daily is an 99 s70 awd, handles snow like a beast

[@Nvananon]

Had a green 1994 850 for my first car, paid $4k USD in 2003 or 2004. I would give anything to have that car still, it was and remains my favorite car I've ever driven.

[@850are2]

Great video. I live in new england and drive an 1996 850R daily driver. 350k miles on it and still going.!

[@stecrumpton69]

850 ARE alright matey I've got a black1996 850r wagon.. i wondered what upgrades u've done..?

[@ThePieMan159]

I love my 850 T5 so much. Got it in May - I can't wait to drive it in the snow!

[@Scootersbro1]

I'm driving a 95 Volvo 850 GLT sedan non turbo saldy. But it's a tank comfy and extremely hard to kill. It's so reliable it's stupid, and I picked mine up for $400.00. Killer deal it's awesome.

[@zloychechen5150]

@Mike Butchko it'll add some kick to the head gasket, and provide you with a healthy bit of knock. It's better to go straight for a used t5.

[@jor8625]

i love the 850 sedan. Has all the charm of an old Volvo with all the modern amenities.

[@mleekahh]

This video made me want to buy a volvo.

[@rikuurufu5534]

I own the manual version one year newer with almost 200k miles, and I love it. Everything you said in this video is true, and the more I learn about the 850, the more I realize I couldn't have made a better choice for my first car.

[@nook969]

Comments like these make me happy and less anxious, I'm planning on buying a 850 soon with 260k km on the odometer and everything looks to be in great condition. I wanna take it to the 500k!

[@francisdec1615]

I'm driving a 1995 2.5 SE 10V. The odometer broke at 280000 km, but I estimate that it should be at least 400000 km by now. Unlike the one in the video it has had serious rust problems, but I live in western Sweden 400 meters from the ocean...

[@mishview]

this is actually one the best volvo's made...hands down !!! ....great video segment man, keep up the good work, and the results will come faster than you thought ;)

[@volvonaut6634]

I own a '89 Volvo 240 caburator, daily driver. I love it so!

[@erikny3137]

My V70 has 310000 km on the meter, I have owned it for 120000 km, only issues have been an ABS-ring and rear caliper. Just fantastic.

[@KeikoFXDesigns]

I have the 93 850 GLT with a bad water pump that squeals still runs without breaking down for months. When the car is warmed up the sound goes away. Pretty impressive for it's age. But, soon I will need to replace the water pump. Other than that...? It's a gem.

[@coffinman5007]

Lol! Replace it before it fails or it could be costly! May as well do the timing belt at the same time (not much extra work).

[@donfoster5576]

My '97 850 has the same/similar squeal, also goes away after a few minutes of warm-up. New water pump didn't help. Neither did a new tensioner. It appears to be the p/s pump.

[@Sonny13_]

If you have not done the water pump, I suggest you do it soon plus the timing belt. These Volvo 5 cylinder engines are interference engine, so if the belt should break or skip alot of teeths, or if that water pump SEIZED, then the engine is destoryed.

[@mikkelhansen7931]

Dude, I had the 92 variant and had it for 6 months. I drove my 850 REAL hard the first 2 weeks. Then the squeal came from the water pump. I had it for little over 6 months... Didn't change the pump or nuttin.. it just kept going. And on top of that, I sold it for just as much as I bought it for.

[@GONZOFAM7]

I had a 850GLT Wagon. Loved it. Replaced the fuel pump and tires in the 2 years I had it. I moved out of the country or would still have it. Quick enough to be fun, decent radio and could carry a nice load of groceries, bikes and model airplanes.

[@appalachianunderground8474]

1997 850 non turbo wagon here.... the leather seats are worn the rear hatch needs a prop to stay open....replaced the upper motor mount but there’s still a slight vibration ..... had the PCV system replaced....208000 miles.....I really really really love this car. I like my car

[@dolphlalala]

I bought a Volvo 850 GLT 2.5 20V stationcar from 1993 (227000 miles/365000 km) a couple of days ago for roughly 2400 USD and drove about 200 miles in in it with a ready-to-explode engine (it did not because volvo) without knowing it. I now have gone through full service of the engine for 1000 usd. So many parts changed by professionals. Now why would I do that? Because it is the best car I have ever driven in my life. The mechanic say that it is a beast and that it will run for years to come.

[@RichieRouge206]

The 850 is an icon! Love my Volvos - currently on an 06 V70. Volvos have so much character

[@jeffgutnk6491]

I agree, I had 850 GLT sedan purchased in 1993 and it has saved lives of my wife and daughters when the 850 GLT was broadsided. SIP - side impact protection saved the family. Please continue with a legend...

[@maksimpraslov1954]

Как это произошло?

[@caracine]

My inexpensive DD is, and always has been, my 1983 300D Turbo Diesel (W123.133). Easy to work on, awesome design, ultra reliable. OM617 (5-cyl) engine is simply amazing (363K mi. so far). It is my cheap Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall daily driver here in in Northern California. Please note: I love Volvo's, too.

[@oljefri]

Yep, there isn´t many engines around that can compare with the om617 in terms of reliability and longevity, sadly the w123 bodys aren´t that reliable in terms of rust protection, here in Sweden many just rotted away beyond repair long before the engine was even getting close to it´s potential milage, too much road salt in parts of the country, but their is like a ´´salt border´´ within the country, cars from the northern parts of the country has soooooo much less rust that it´s almost unbelievable, if i got a hold of a nice 123 i would never ever drive it during the winter where i live, because repairing rust sucks

[@caracine]

@@oljefri Hello from Northern California. Salt on the roads to the extent that is needed there has sent many W123's (of course others, too) to their grave much too early. When I drive my '83 300D Turbo to do work in Reno, NV or Lake Tahoe, CA (from the San Francisco Bay Area) in the winter I go to great effort to keep my undercarriage clean. I've located the manual car wash places up in the Sierra Mountains and visit them often to keep the dreaded salt from wrecking my 'Benz. My biggest challenge owning this car is keeping the body and interior in good condition. The engine & trans show no signs of stopping any time soon. Thanks for sharing. Stay virus free!

[@mecheng1977]

That's the reason we have two: 850 turbo glt and S70 T5. Zero rust, and very reliable with basic maintenance. Very true I've had a whole bunch of emission codes and drives perfect, always use OEM parts

[@simonu.x.heereman4432]

Hi! I couldn't agree more - even though I am driving a v70 from 2003 (not sooo swedish anymore :-/ ) with a whopping 450000 miles on it - still the 5 cylinder sound, the everyday driveability and overall comfort are genius. And it returns 56 MPG!! As a car from 2003!

[@trevoryoung2687]

Jesus H Christ how do you have that many miles😂😂 I've got a '97 850R and I've only got 119,000

[@PistonShack]

Great car. Indeed!

[@proarmy70]

Oh you have the d5 right not a petrol

[@b33gft67]

Couldn't agree more! I just bought my 1997 850 wagon a few months ago and I love it!

[@bengtpersson2734]

Got myself a -96 855 2.5 litre 144hp as a Winter tank thanks to this video😊

[@baylorboo69]

Absolutely love mine. Got it for 2200 and it’s perfect. Been driving it for a year and a half, love it for daily use

[@Ashleenaccarato]

I bought a 2000 V70 last summer with 85,000 miles in excellent condition. Much like a dream come true...

[@atl_850_fan4]

Nice video, and I agree with you completely. Twice I've bought them on the west coast for a few hundred dollars and then driven them immediately to the east coast. I hear horror stories of high repair estimates, but for me they just keep running and running. I bought a platinum wagon in Eugene, Oregon last year -- the owner's mechanic told her the head gasket was bad and she shouldn't drive it more than around the block, so it was parked under a tree (for about a year) in her front yard. I checked the fluids, jumped it off, and drove it to Atlanta via Los Angeles. Smiled the entire trip. I DID stop in Albuquerque to swap out the cracked reservoir, but after a year the only other work I've done was change the fluids and the tires. These 850s are the BEST. If it weren't for the interference engine they would be PERFECT. Thank you Mr. Volvo.

[@Thingswithwheels1]

I own a 99 V70 and the car is fantastic. Well built and comfortable.

[@carolinethunman71]

I bought my first Volvo today. An 850 glt 2.5 automatic (170hk) from 1996 only 220000 km. Nice and easy to drive, very good comfort and quiet inside the car. Feels very safe!

[@christianfayb4]

I had a base '97 850. Wow what a tank it truly was and so much fun to drive! Great vid

[@Patrikblombergsweden]

Just got myself an 855 -95. Drives like a DREAM

[@michaellogrande8609]

I have a 1994 Volvo 850. It has a button for winter and sport mode. In the winter it is a beast and goes anywhere, I never get stuck in the snow. One year we got a foot of snow and it went right through it. I also have a 1993 240, that is also a beast in snow with snow tires on all wheels.

[@Oxydus1]

I am a die hard Volvo fan... Own a 1999 S80 T5, its a beast, a tank!

[@sebastianp8211]

Totally with you on that. I own the 1998 S80 T6 optimised to 340hp, pulls like a beast, absolute machine

[@LordFetustheGreat]

My father just went to pension and wanted an a car according to his age so he downplayed from a E39 530d to a 850 2.4 NA and these are his words: "I was sceptical of the FWD but when I test drove it it felt like a RWD car". He loves it more than his BMW and has never had any issues with it mechanically. The BMW was a moneypit.

[@joelbolton7252]

I just bought a 1996 wagon like this for $1350 USD and its the best thing I've ever done. It's my weekend car and I am in love. I have missed Volvo for so long and cannot afford a new one, so this was the next best thing! Cherish it forever.

[@Saks5thFrick]

Is it turbo and in what color thinking about buying a 94

[@dreadmok]

Agreed!!! For several year I had a 1995 850 T5-R... I bought this car with 22,000 miles from original owner. I live in northern Michigan and with my steel wheels (15 inch) and summer stock 17s with Toyo tires it handled AMAZING!!!. This tank was a beats in the extreme with we have and had GREAT power to daily drive. If you have not had headlight wipers you don't know.

[@papaberrystudios]

owned a 940 once - inherited it from my late father in law who, disappointingly, did not take a good care of the car at all. but despite all that, that was the best car i have driven. and i am so in love with volvo i want to buy an 850 and make it my daily driven car.

[@alanwatson7472]

Oh I miss my 850. What a car!

[@vincemelson9655]

Just bought one in Corona Ca for $288 usd. Runs, pefectly strait body, great paint, looks like new besides a few seat tears.

[@dingFAching]

Miss my 850... Best car I ever had. I'm sorry I totaled you, wherever you are!

[@SveticaHellFlower]

Me to

[@Ethrax2]

That's your steed in Valhalla. Good choice.

[@dingFAching]

@@Ethrax2 thank the gods!

[@Tuxcz]

Wait how did you totaled it? It's like the Nokia 3310 of cars.

[@Anthonybrother]

@@Tuxcz I'm guessing he got into a road accident while driving it, that's how cars get totaled usually.

[@tommycox630]

Love your enthusiasm for the Swede Speed, or lack thereof even when in the Red Sport Mode Map. I have had My 1996 850 GLT Non-Turbo since new in Central California from the dealer. Due to its solid and weighty build quality and feel, I have only in the last several years come to fully enjoy the dutiful get it done temperament of this so-comfortable companion. I can share that I always appreciated the durability of the Volvo Brand and the 244 that came before this one that My Mom owned as her daily. It is also quite possible that I quietly revered this car all along with its square yet sporty silhouette that certainly defined it as a Volvo. As of today, it could still be parked out in front of the old Hughes Dealership Show Room Floor and be quite a stealthy head-turner. The absolute topper is...She just this Month turned just 64,000 miles! Yes, 64,000 miles and not 124,000!! So, roughly just about 45 miles a week for Her entire life and moving us along safely, & in a low-key Swedish manner. Over 28 years of consistently performing when the key has been turned, and never failing to fire. Only once, a couple of years back, did She complain with a rough idle and a repeated miss-fire after a start-up. It was a simple, OBD plug-in diagnosis of the Mass Airflow Sensor and then a R&R with an OEM MAS that brought back the inline 5-Cylinder to life with a smoother idle, and improved acceleration, as well as a slightly better mpg gain. She is again admired, and appreciated as we head out and push beyond the tarmac beneath us to take on the miles ahead.

[@samuelzarcone2160]

I have the identical car,same color, only mine is a 1995 and it's a Turbo,26 years old,zero rust even living in upstate NY,every day driver and I love it

[@ZK-hh2or]

I drove a 264 in the 90's. Happy drive. Young family. A V50 is my daily drive today and I have been itching for a 850 for a while now. But it is difficult to find a decent 25 year old 850 and I don't want to pay too much for it. $2500 makes a good buy.

[@andrewgregerson2244]

My best winter beater car is the 1991-95 Pontiac Bonneville...I live in northern Wisconsin, and had a '91 LE for eight years as a youngster, that car was bulletproof. 3800 Series I, topped *40* mpg's several times (on highway trips); room and comfort to spare; front wheel drive was excellent in our constant snow; plenty of power, despite being rated around 165 hp; required basic maintenance, nothing more; and, if you wanted to get ballsy, a supercharged SSEi put you over *200* hp 🔥🔥🔥

[@markusschaffer9712]

Drove a 1996 850 AWD wagon for a few years. Rock solid reliable, fun to drive and apparently sought after. When I put it up for sale, it was sold for asking price in two days.

[@JDYTC]

Awesome recommendation! Completely agree! You only forgot to mention the 850's awesome turning radius, which is just 10 meters! (Volkswagen Golf from the same era needed 11!) But I guess nobody gives a crap about that when you live in between nothing but space lol. But for Amsterdam, where I live, it's almost its best feature! (The Netherlands has the most Volvos per capita after Sweden by the way.) Anyway, first vid I saw and I immediately subbed. Kind regards from Amsterdam

[@scrambaba]

Thanks for putting in a good word for the qualities of the base non-turbo model. Form + function, can‘t be beat. Be nice to it, it will be nice to you!

[@trevoryoung2687]

I have a '97 850R that I bought for $500. Needs some paint work but I put in about $4000 to redo the exhaust and turbo as well as add some other customizations and it's sexy. Turns heads everywhere I go. Insanely reliable and I still get about 25mpg City. Not bad for a '97!!

[@suehiple7195]

Got the same car from my Dad. I really love it! It is a beast in the winter.

[@simonhansen1748]

As an owner of many brands, I can say I have two daily drivers, a Volvo V-70 Cross Country and a 1991 Honda Civic four door, red with black interior five speed. With cvid-19 in the air, I'm driving the Volvo. When the pandemic kills off a few million, my Honda will do the long hauls.

[@sebg1224]

1997 Volvo 850R here, love beyond words

[@SIideAway]

I bough a 850 2,5 20v 144hp, 95 during summer last year, i love it. the 5 cylinder sounds really good but it doesnt sound as loud as in this video, i can only hear it if i lower the radio and hit the gas harder. So far ive had to change the interior fan and motor, it just died one day. And the usual things like break caliper and discs. Ive always had problem with cars but this one seems pretty durable. It has only been running for 19.000km so it will hopefully keep going for lots of years to come, but now ive probably jinxed it by saying that

[@derekchisholm972]

Great review. I grew up in 740 and 940 sedans, and classic Saab 900s. Couple that with a second generation Swedish grandmother with killer Swedish meatballs, pancakes, and decor, and you have yourself a kid (me) with an affinity for every thing Scandinavian.

[@ObjectionHearsay]

😅 Swedish meatballs sound amazing right now!

[@jeuwlz7170]

I own a 98 S70 with a turbo, and man it is a blast to drive. Turbo Volvos are the ultimate sleepers

[@johnfullerton3270]

Great review and spot on. I bought my 1997 850 base wagon 5 speed last November with 250000Km. No rattles or squeaks, needed some TLC. Love driving it, so easy to work on. Unbelievable in the winter. My first FWD was a 75 Renault 12 wagon, it too was unbelievable in the snow but that's the only thing comparable to the 850. I ride a motorcycle during the warm months so the 850 is my winter beater! I'll be looking for a turbo wagon at some point.

[@peterlampropoulos3505]

Been 8 years since my 850 t w and I still have dreams about it.

[@jonassonbe476]

I drive a 850 GLT , 1995 model...I agree on everything you say...these cars were made to last and be driven in cold weather..is a tank that makes you feel safe and comfortable when the weather is nasty

[@jking4020]

I went from an old 850 turbo that was reliable as hell. To an 02 V70xc wagon that is a tank. Volvo's for life!

[@ldlvideo]

Love your video! 2 weeks ago I traded in my worn-out 240 estate for a '94 850 GLT estate and I already love the car tremendously.

[@FirstnameLastname-ni9uh]

I just sold my turbo 850. Mainly because my parents and everyone in my family made me do it :( I really liked that car too it was pretty good in 20cm of snow

[@Financmajster]

that was a mistake, they just dont understand

[@Jiwjow]

You can buy mine from me if you really want one haha.

[@Millisekund]

If they made you sell it are they really your family though?

[@joebradshaw5247]

1994 850 213000 full load 1200.00 runs great Just love it . Great video

[@michaelmueller487]

I fully agree with what your saying in your video. However, my perfect daily driver is - a S70. So basically the same car. I bought it four years ago as a daily driver, not only to leave my three old Mercedes in the garage during winter. And this S70 made me a Volvo fan. Indeed, the seats are absolutely comfortable, it's reliable and so relaxing to drive. I am never in a rush while driving the S70. And I just love that 5 cylinder sound. And I am going to keep it. I bought it with 111.000 Miles and right now I am at 135.000. So lot's of potential left in it.

[@whatevernevermind5960]

One of the best looking Volvo's ever made, especially the R!

[@gijscornelissendebeer7361]

Dude, you're not gonna believe this.....but I just bought a 1995 volvo 850 with 124.000 miles on it. All original, perfectly maintained, in 2023. Never thought I'd see the day that I'd be able to buy my dream car, and yet I'm driving it🎉🎉🎉

[@jollyrancher73]

I love the video! I too like many people, have a 850 T5. Solid, boxy, and reliable, and super comfortable and FAST!!!

[@janibeg3247]

i had a 1995 Volvo 850 turbo and kept it for 22 years. I finally gave it to my brother-in-law and he sold it for $400. It only needed about $10,000 US dollars worth of work. Yeah, it kept running but a lot of stuff stopped working.

[@jaredgarrison8979]

1997 850 T5 wagon with almost one quarter million miles. I just have to point out that when you said everything is easy to repair or replace I had a flashback...the passenger side headlight wiper motor is almost impossible to remove and replace. I removed mine. Great video and great car!

[@Tacos0528]

Explaining why a Volvo is great for snow is like explaining why a surfboard goes well on water... People forget that these things were literally designed and made for the Scandinavian mountains and long winters :)

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I believe that the 850 was both the first FWD (in the USA/Canada) and 5-cylinder Volvo. It's absolutely a nice car and a prefer the steering weight on it to the new Volvos.

[@MrDavidpnoel]

Currently driving a 1994 850 wagon with Blizzaks for the winter. Unstoppable....

[@shawndayvis6169]

I own a '96 Volvo 850 GLT TURBO station wagon.....I have never had 1 single problem with it...EVER !!!! I am also 1/2 Scandinavian , 1/2 native american. I bought it in 2015 for $5,000.

[@Supernaut413]

Shawn Dayvis ”scandinavian” what do u mean? Scandinavia is not a country its a big difference between norwegians, swedes and danish

[@islami658]

Benjamin Jenssen it means white

[@TSC-Detroit]

I own a 1997 850 estate non turbo automatic Bought it for $2000 I put another $2500 into bringing it up to date on maintenance and service I plan on driving for a long time Using this car has been pleasant

[@damytzeus]

i have a '98 v70t5 and i love it in the snow. my gf has a bmw x5 awd suv. when it snows, i prefer to drive the fwd v70 in the snow or any kind of inclement weather. i've only been stuck once in 25 years, when the v70 high-centered in deep snow. i love driving the v70 in the snow and inclement weather. totally confident inspiring. in fact, i just love the v70 t5

[@kolen0421]

The best "Winter beater" as you say is the Volvo 7/940. If you have the 116 hp B230F with the manual M47 gearbox you can drift all wintet without any problems. That will never brake.

[@Passt949]

I bought a Volvo v70 1998 that had been sitting for 7 years and I changed the fluids and it started right up, sure it hat a little bit of rust but no holes. Greetings from sweden

[@stronkmandrinkmilk1383]

i have been driving with a secondary air injection system code for like 3 months with my 850 and it runs perfect

[@Hairybarryy]

I miss my 850 I got it when i was 17 had until i was 25 and i bought a xc70. The 850 had 432,000 miles on it. Interior was falling apart but thats it. It drove like it was brand new. i drove that thing everywhere. Drove it up and down a mountain for years. Great car would buy it again

[@jedisix]

I have owned four cars in my life. Three Volvo's and a Chevy. Volvo is always a a bit left of centre. They are quirky and innovative. Love my S40.

[@OHAApple]

Totally agree with you, i got my first Volvo last September, a diesel V40 2003. It's really a great and comfortable car

[@marclaguitare]

I have a 2009 Suzuki SX4 awd and I'd argue that this is the best winter beater lol. It's also very safe and the awd grts you absolutely anywhere. Love from Montreal!

[@weirdshibainu]

I have a volvo 850 with a manual. During winter I put mud and snows on it. Unstoppable, especially if one knows how to use a clutch on hills and from a dead stop

[@englishclubusa3571]

Awesome! I found one of your great old reviews. I live in Montevideo, Uruguay. Our coldest winter day is 3C: but Uruguay is a country where cars never die. So, I am considering adding to my car collection a 1998 Volvo 850 with under 200,000 km as a fun car. I am loving your channel. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@martinv1995]

Had my 95 blue sedan for going on 7 years now, love it still.