RE: Shed Of The Week: Volvo 850 T5
Discussion
J4CKO said:
Having had a 944 S2 and a T5, I would say the 944 was quicker, so a 968 should be quicker still, 14 seconds to 100 vs 18 for the Volvo, but never quite pans out like that on the road.
Don't doubt it. Mine had been remapped with a alleged 304BHP map, probably a realistic 250-270. No doubt a standard car wouldn't have had a look in.As a contrast I remember a 330D easily outpacing me on a motorway slip road
Edited by Fattyfat on Friday 12th September 16:02
How about a T10?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM6tf-IcnvK4r9tF7...
Just in case a T5 isn't enough.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM6tf-IcnvK4r9tF7...
Just in case a T5 isn't enough.
A well remapped T5 is certainly around 300bhp, & with improved fuel consumption on a like-for-like usage due to the improved mid range torque.
Mine is coming up to 150k miles, & is still fast & quiet & comfortable .... & 100% reliable, plus you can hold a party - or live - in the back (with the seats down) As somebody remarked to me a while ago ... put the seats down ... shout from the back ... wait for the echo!
However, too heavy on the loud pedal from stop & you will do the front tyres in next to no time.
Lots of very knowledgeable Volvo trained, non-franchise servicing, available as well - half the price of main dealers.
Mine is coming up to 150k miles, & is still fast & quiet & comfortable .... & 100% reliable, plus you can hold a party - or live - in the back (with the seats down) As somebody remarked to me a while ago ... put the seats down ... shout from the back ... wait for the echo!
However, too heavy on the loud pedal from stop & you will do the front tyres in next to no time.
Lots of very knowledgeable Volvo trained, non-franchise servicing, available as well - half the price of main dealers.
DQ "Any young 'uns whose social media device has run out of battery and who therefore find themselves reading this will have no clue about the impact this car had when it was launched in 1995."
Rubbish, we all experienced them from the baby seats!
Dad had these... much cooler than the old shoebox big Volvos, and had a decent stereo so happy days from the back seat!
Rubbish, we all experienced them from the baby seats!
Dad had these... much cooler than the old shoebox big Volvos, and had a decent stereo so happy days from the back seat!
Where does all this only 200 t-5r model nonsense come from? Yes they were limited ed but not that limited - also to correct these figures being chucked about -
The standard t5 has 225bhp
The t-5r has 240bhp but only as an over boost function on the ECU
The last of the line 850r had 240bhp as an auto (exactly the same as a t-5r) and the manual cars had a larger turbocharger, viscous coupling in the differential and 250bhp
Also people who go on about torque steer - rubbish also I've owned and driven loads of t5s autos, manuals, standard and R model - none torque steered on quality tyres unless they have silly amounts of horsepower
The standard t5 has 225bhp
The t-5r has 240bhp but only as an over boost function on the ECU
The last of the line 850r had 240bhp as an auto (exactly the same as a t-5r) and the manual cars had a larger turbocharger, viscous coupling in the differential and 250bhp
Also people who go on about torque steer - rubbish also I've owned and driven loads of t5s autos, manuals, standard and R model - none torque steered on quality tyres unless they have silly amounts of horsepower
Axionknight said:
Good cars, I hada black T5R for around a year - they are pretty much bullet proof if you give them the usual serivicing TLC, parts are cheap too.
Points to note:
Front ARB drop links are a weak point, but they are a really easy fix and aren't expensive. Don't waste your money on the IPD uprated ones.
PCV system can clog, leave the engine running at idle, pull the dipstick out and if it's smoking like a chimney then the PCV system is likely blocked, it can be a bit trick to sort - you need to take the inlet manifold off (NEVER remove the bottom bolts, the manifold is slotted., parts are about a hundred quid from Volvo. If this isn't sorted it can blow a rear main oil seal and the engine will continuously weep oil, its a minor leak but it'll never go away.
Turbo oil seals can weep, it won't starve the turbo of oil but it'd be best to repalce them - not expensive and a ten minute fix.
Manual gearbox is solid as a rock, autos require good fluid and any second hand purchase would benefit from a flush out - Volvo said these transmissions were sealed for life, don't you believe it.
Spot on advice there, Also check all vacuum pipes as they will more than likely be perished and use gen Volvo plugs, Timing belt straight forward to do and rarely hear of failures, Head gasket problems also very rare, The engine is pretty much bullet proof if looked after, Manual gearbox was designed by ZF and is strong also. Ive got 2 855's, 1 is a low mileage remapped (HLM 304) T5 CD manual with white injectors and a 16T and early genuine Reverse intercooler pipework (Volvo reversed it because the throttle bodies froze in harsh winters) Volvo strut brace etc, My other is a 2.5 TDI which is my daily hack (185K and still on original clutch, DMF and exhaust system, Actually very little appears to have been replaced on it!) I was in the Motor trade for over 30 yrs and IMO the 850 series is one of the best designed/Built cars, Built when Quality was more important to Volvo than profit! I can see the prices of good T5's going up as more people are made aware of just how good they are and how cheap you can get one up to and beyond R spec performance.Points to note:
Front ARB drop links are a weak point, but they are a really easy fix and aren't expensive. Don't waste your money on the IPD uprated ones.
PCV system can clog, leave the engine running at idle, pull the dipstick out and if it's smoking like a chimney then the PCV system is likely blocked, it can be a bit trick to sort - you need to take the inlet manifold off (NEVER remove the bottom bolts, the manifold is slotted., parts are about a hundred quid from Volvo. If this isn't sorted it can blow a rear main oil seal and the engine will continuously weep oil, its a minor leak but it'll never go away.
Turbo oil seals can weep, it won't starve the turbo of oil but it'd be best to repalce them - not expensive and a ten minute fix.
Manual gearbox is solid as a rock, autos require good fluid and any second hand purchase would benefit from a flush out - Volvo said these transmissions were sealed for life, don't you believe it.
Edited by klunkT5 on Friday 12th September 19:39
Great sound effects and it all looks a bit hairy, but enjoyable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtKe2NaIrSI&t=5...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtKe2NaIrSI&t=5...
Viewed and nearly bought a similar shape V70 turbo recently. Was just after a cheap runaround but I was really surprised how nicely it drove and solid it felt inside all those years later. The seats really are that good.
It did need a fair bit spent on little odd and sod - the rear doors creaked which apparently is a tricky bit of welding needed to the hinges.
Good shed I reckon.
It did need a fair bit spent on little odd and sod - the rear doors creaked which apparently is a tricky bit of welding needed to the hinges.
Good shed I reckon.
morgrp said:
Yes it is - a later 2.5litre version - all the 850/v70/c70/s70 were 2.3 litre versions
The 2.5l 5 pot Volvo engine found in the now discontinued C30, C70, S40 and V50 T5s and the previous Focus ST was a quite different engine to all the previous 5 pot Volvos of all displacements that were fitted in the larger cars.The difference was it had a block designed and cast specifically to allow the ancillaries to be tucked in closer to fit into the more confined Ford Focus chassis to meet crash criteria. There are however a few internal reciprocating parts that are shared with the other engines.
The engine in the last Focus RS used that same block but with its liners plasma coated on their outside to overcome the tendency of the other similar blocks to split their liners with increased outputs ...
Don.
Edited by norchi on Friday 12th September 22:55
I like these lots though I wouldn't say they're dropping into Shed money... they did that a number of years back then continued to drop and hit the sub £500 mark but now even average T5's are starting to climb in value as they become increasingly hard to find. Any sub £1000 cars these days will generally be a bit rough with issues unless you get lucky. Cheapset 'legal' one I could find recently (winter runner hunt is on!) was a mega mile Cat C, no VIC check with 45mins test and several issues for £300.
They're definietly a mans car - they're heavy, they clunk and knock (think they did from new!) and there's nothing delicate and precise about them. It's all man sized bolts and over engineered components which is probably why there are so many doing 200k with ease. Engine's are just superb, awesome power delivery (relatively speaking) and pretty bombproof too, plus sound fantastic with a decent exhaust. R's are nice, bit posher but still something very appealing about a nice, original T5 estate.
I've had several over the years and all have been brilliant... even the ruined ex police estate that I abused for a year then sold to a guy who did Rust to Rome twice. My last 850R was sold to some long haired TV type who proceeded to discover the source of The Nile (I may have mentioned that previously!) and my current one is about 7,000 shy of quarter of a million miles, which should be in the bag by the new year - though annoyingly the odometer stopped working last week.
I echo the comments about third gear wheel spins, consuming tyres and front suspenion parts for breakfast and the eye watering fuel economy. Granted will do 35mpg if you drive with a degree of care and find an Eddie Stobart wagon to slipstream but if not then it's sort of low 20's.
They're definietly a mans car - they're heavy, they clunk and knock (think they did from new!) and there's nothing delicate and precise about them. It's all man sized bolts and over engineered components which is probably why there are so many doing 200k with ease. Engine's are just superb, awesome power delivery (relatively speaking) and pretty bombproof too, plus sound fantastic with a decent exhaust. R's are nice, bit posher but still something very appealing about a nice, original T5 estate.
I've had several over the years and all have been brilliant... even the ruined ex police estate that I abused for a year then sold to a guy who did Rust to Rome twice. My last 850R was sold to some long haired TV type who proceeded to discover the source of The Nile (I may have mentioned that previously!) and my current one is about 7,000 shy of quarter of a million miles, which should be in the bag by the new year - though annoyingly the odometer stopped working last week.
I echo the comments about third gear wheel spins, consuming tyres and front suspenion parts for breakfast and the eye watering fuel economy. Granted will do 35mpg if you drive with a degree of care and find an Eddie Stobart wagon to slipstream but if not then it's sort of low 20's.
aka_kerrly said:
I still find it funny that the 850 is forever remembered as a touring car and THAT picture of one up on 2 wheels yet as far as I recall they never actually won anything. If anything the whole business of TWR bending the rules and stories of roof chops on estates with custom windscreens is more interesting than the car itself.
850 estate was year one and to be fair, probably a bit of a publicity stunt and a learning exercise than a serious attack on the title. It worked because not only are we still talking about them but TWR then gave Rydell an 850 saloon and he went on to knock up a impressive CV of poles and wins.Edited by Davie on Saturday 13th September 09:21
Edited by Davie on Saturday 13th September 09:22
Great shed & article, but why spend so much of it talking about T5-Rs, to introduce a car that isn't? Didn't really get that, but never mind.
Oh, and hasn't a T5 been done on SOW before?
Great cars and even greater noise. Very reminiscent of a UR Quattro. I remember seeing one (safely) dispatching a long line of bank holiday makers at full chat with a golden retriever stood up in the boot! He looked slightly disheveled as his owner mashed his beige furry lined zip-up boots and ventured into three-figures!
Oh, and hasn't a T5 been done on SOW before?
Great cars and even greater noise. Very reminiscent of a UR Quattro. I remember seeing one (safely) dispatching a long line of bank holiday makers at full chat with a golden retriever stood up in the boot! He looked slightly disheveled as his owner mashed his beige furry lined zip-up boots and ventured into three-figures!
norchi said:
The 2.5l 5 pot Volvo engine found in the now discontinued C30, C70, S40 and V50 T5s and the previous Focus ST was a quite different engine to all the previous 5 pot Volvos of all displacements that were fitted in the larger cars.
Don.
Are the MTE remaps still available for these older cars now? Don.
Yeah - just to re-emphasise, the BTCC Estates were a GENIUS move, we're still talking about them years after the other cars have drifted from memory (Alfa 155, Vauxhall Cavalier or Toyota Carina anyone?)
Winning wasn't required - just existing was enough in itself. I reckon they were a major part of Volvo's move from being a sensible/safe car for staid family types to being considered (by some, at least) alongside Audi and BMW or as an alternative to the bigger marques.
p.s. anyone got a LOT of spare brave pills?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-VOLVO-850R-T5-2-3-A...
Looks tatty but it's a 'R' and it's under a grand ;0
Winning wasn't required - just existing was enough in itself. I reckon they were a major part of Volvo's move from being a sensible/safe car for staid family types to being considered (by some, at least) alongside Audi and BMW or as an alternative to the bigger marques.
p.s. anyone got a LOT of spare brave pills?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-VOLVO-850R-T5-2-3-A...
Looks tatty but it's a 'R' and it's under a grand ;0
Edited by 405dogvan on Saturday 13th September 12:10
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