Learn me: Turbo Volvo

I was getting about 26 mixed with my 740 turbo manual.

EDIT: I should add that it's been really easy to work on with everything straightforward and easy to access. I bought mine for $500 in pretty rough shape with a dead turbo. Once I put a fresh turbo on it blew the headgasket. It's just shy of 200K.

clutchsmoke wrote: I was getting about 26 mixed with my 740 turbo manual. EDIT: I should add that it's been really easy to work on with everything straightforward and easy to access. I bought mine for $500 in pretty rough shape with a dead turbo. Once I put a fresh turbo on it blew the headgasket. It's just shy of 200K.

Not bad.

Been snooping around the interwebz to learn more. I'm heavily leaning towards the 850 because I can find newer examples and I plan to keep for a long long time. Or at least until the wheels fall off. Good choice or bad choice over an older 240 or 740? My intention is to use as my everyday car and modify for boost happiness.

I liked my '95 na wagon. It served me well for 60k miles of 105k to 165k.
'95 was the last year for regular gas. The following years required premium.
Interference Timing belt so be aware.
Very comfortable highway cruiser.

In reply to B14boy: Depends on weither you want fwd or rwd I guess,I have an 850 turbo and the lack of front traction with even stock boost level is ridiculous(lsd would help ALOT).

If you're now thinking about picking up a FWD Volvo I would also take a look at Saabs. I personally would rather have a Saab over a FWD Volvo.

kevlarcorolla wrote: In reply to B14boy: Depends on weither you want fwd or rwd I guess,I have an 850 turbo and the lack of front traction with even stock boost level is ridiculous(lsd would help ALOT).

Hmm that does sound like a problem. Traction is good and lack of it sucks. This is something I'll have to heavily consider.

clutchsmoke wrote: If you're now thinking about picking up a FWD Volvo I would also take a look at Saabs. I personally would rather have a Saab over a FWD Volvo.

I was looking at older Saab 900's for a while but my needs for a car are for something newer and a wagon. I didn't like any comparable Saab models comparable to the 850 turbo wagon.

What exactly is newer? And what price range?

clutchsmoke wrote: What exactly is newer? And what price range?

By newer I mean as close to present day as possible with lowest miles I can find in the best condition I can find all relative to cost. Price range is anywhere until $4000.

B14boy wrote:

Shaun wrote: I have 180k on a Volvo 850 100k of which have been with 17psi available and not a peep from the transmission. It works that same as the day i bought it. I change the fluid at 30k or so (every 2 years), and put a smallish cooler after the fluid exits the radiator. The FWD cars do not handle very well- besides being understerring pigs, the inputs are all very vague and inaccurate. They handle O.K. I think of it as a GT and am quite happy. The seats are divine, and it can haul loads and loads of people and their crap.

What kind of tweaks did you do other than the tune? I would guess you at least have a catback? Was the power measured on any dynos? What kind of MPG do you get? So many questions...lastly do you live in the SF Bay Area? This all sounds very familiar to me which is the only reason I ask that last question...

big 3" angle flange downpipe to go with the a 2005 model year big 3" angle flange mildly ported 16T , $100 ceramic 3" cat, 2.5" IPD cat back, K&N filter element, new o2s. that is a very common set of tweaks that yields 250-260 hp and 280- 300 ftlbs at the wheels for other people who fix everything and have dynoed their car. I get 18 if urban only, 23 on a road trips with the cruise at 70-80. the wife gets 25 on road trips as she goes 60-65. I live in Portlandia Oregon.