850 T5 estate... again...
Discussion
So, given I'm currently on an LNER train hurtling south from Edinburgh en route to collect an as yet, unseen old Volvo 850... this could go one of two ways!
The brief background being I've always had a quick Volvo of some sorts in my life, this started with an ex traffic 850 T5 way back in the 12th century which pretty much set the pace for the next decade or so. An 850R came and went ( to the Nile) then came a V70R, then a Gul T-5R estate and another 850 T5 but the arrival of a little human prompted a change, and so arrived a 2005 V70R which sat alongside a sheddy V70 D5.
Jump forward a couple of years and I sold the V70R, it was just too nice, too highly strung snd too dear and had rarely seen the rain in my tenure. I went off and bought an XC70 and hated it, it lasting all of 11 days was testament to that. I went back to my old, tired V70 D5 which lead to another one but with her ladyship having a diesel V50 and me missing something intetesting in life, I went hunting.
As per my previous posts, I considered a few things... A4 diesels, a Legacy Spec B, more diesel Volvos, a 5 series but for whatever reason, I talked myself out of them. My list of needs and my list of wants seemed impossible to satisfy. I needed an estate, not too big, safe, reliable, not too ruinous to run, not too highly strung and fairly cheap and I wanted something interesting, quick and fun to fill the hole left by the V70R. A few days driving a 2003 Astra GSi Turbo confirmed that I missed the days of light, simple, quick and fun. Though I appreciate, that's no Lotus Elise but you can see where I'm going with that one...
So, in short I've gone full retard and decided a 25 year old T5 estate is the perfect car... hence why I've been up since 4am and I'm currently on a train, headed to Englandshire to buy one. To say I'm a very nervous and yet excited man is an understatement. My wife has all but given up hope and seemed totally unphased by all of this and asked if I could get milk on my way back.
More to follow...
The brief background being I've always had a quick Volvo of some sorts in my life, this started with an ex traffic 850 T5 way back in the 12th century which pretty much set the pace for the next decade or so. An 850R came and went ( to the Nile) then came a V70R, then a Gul T-5R estate and another 850 T5 but the arrival of a little human prompted a change, and so arrived a 2005 V70R which sat alongside a sheddy V70 D5.
Jump forward a couple of years and I sold the V70R, it was just too nice, too highly strung snd too dear and had rarely seen the rain in my tenure. I went off and bought an XC70 and hated it, it lasting all of 11 days was testament to that. I went back to my old, tired V70 D5 which lead to another one but with her ladyship having a diesel V50 and me missing something intetesting in life, I went hunting.
As per my previous posts, I considered a few things... A4 diesels, a Legacy Spec B, more diesel Volvos, a 5 series but for whatever reason, I talked myself out of them. My list of needs and my list of wants seemed impossible to satisfy. I needed an estate, not too big, safe, reliable, not too ruinous to run, not too highly strung and fairly cheap and I wanted something interesting, quick and fun to fill the hole left by the V70R. A few days driving a 2003 Astra GSi Turbo confirmed that I missed the days of light, simple, quick and fun. Though I appreciate, that's no Lotus Elise but you can see where I'm going with that one...
So, in short I've gone full retard and decided a 25 year old T5 estate is the perfect car... hence why I've been up since 4am and I'm currently on a train, headed to Englandshire to buy one. To say I'm a very nervous and yet excited man is an understatement. My wife has all but given up hope and seemed totally unphased by all of this and asked if I could get milk on my way back.
More to follow...
Edited by Davie on Saturday 15th June 08:10
Who doesn’t love a ridiculously long road trip to collect a car you’ve never seen or driven 
At least you’re picking up something reasonably sensible. Last time I did this was with my Brother. We flew from Gatwick to Edinburgh and then drove a ‘70’s Chevy Blazer with no exhaust, door seals or heater all the way home!
You’ll be fine
At least you’re picking up something reasonably sensible. Last time I did this was with my Brother. We flew from Gatwick to Edinburgh and then drove a ‘70’s Chevy Blazer with no exhaust, door seals or heater all the way home!
You’ll be fine
Cheers gents.
Now in York and on to train number two of the day. Also on toilet stop number two of the day too... not sure if that's nerves or the copious amounts of coffee I've consumed whilst trying to fend of the urge to have a power nap, miss my stop and find myself in Kings Cross.
Now in York and on to train number two of the day. Also on toilet stop number two of the day too... not sure if that's nerves or the copious amounts of coffee I've consumed whilst trying to fend of the urge to have a power nap, miss my stop and find myself in Kings Cross.
Fun (but scary) times!
I've done a couple of similar trips - Reading to Stirling on the sleeper train, and handover at a dark & rainy supermarket car park at 7am was a highlight. Good memories! Makes my most recent buy seem pretty tame - it was local, and I'd seen & driven it before putting in a bid.
I've done a couple of similar trips - Reading to Stirling on the sleeper train, and handover at a dark & rainy supermarket car park at 7am was a highlight. Good memories! Makes my most recent buy seem pretty tame - it was local, and I'd seen & driven it before putting in a bid.
Davie said:
Cheers gents.
Now in York and on to train number two of the day. Also on toilet stop number two of the day too... not sure if that's nerves or the copious amounts of coffee I've consumed whilst trying to fend of the urge to have a power nap, miss my stop and find myself in Kings Cross.
Where's the car located?Now in York and on to train number two of the day. Also on toilet stop number two of the day too... not sure if that's nerves or the copious amounts of coffee I've consumed whilst trying to fend of the urge to have a power nap, miss my stop and find myself in Kings Cross.
Jealous.
I like the line from your wife about bringing back some milk.
Older Volvo's do get to you and are hard to beat.
I'm getting older and decided an XC70 was the next car for me ......... but a test drive of a 2013 model left me confused as it didn't seem to deliver what I expected.
Interested to hear why the XC70 didn't work for you?
Best wishes for your new car.
I like the line from your wife about bringing back some milk.
Older Volvo's do get to you and are hard to beat.
I'm getting older and decided an XC70 was the next car for me ......... but a test drive of a 2013 model left me confused as it didn't seem to deliver what I expected.
Interested to hear why the XC70 didn't work for you?
Best wishes for your new car.
Feirny said:
I'm guessing you ended up in Selby and bought it then 
Just seen a guy I know on Instagram with his 850 being driven off back up to Scotland.
I always have a nosey to see what 850's are about (more T5/T5R). Maybe this is the one ending TNT on Gumtree?Just seen a guy I know on Instagram with his 850 being driven off back up to Scotland.
Edited by MDMA . on Saturday 15th June 13:46
te. Good luck sir! Keep us posted.Dark blue M-reg you say? Might be this one - if so it has been well looked after indeed and already has most of the 'desirable' add-ons. Strut bar, dog guard etc.
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=28...
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=28...
So...
I'm home, back to the greyness of Edinburgh with milk in hand and that frankly, is all her ladyship seemed concerned about.
Indeed the car is the one that was listed on the usual sites in Selby. Bit of an odd story but I knew of the car / previous keeper via the Volvo forums and his build thread. The link was tha a few years back, I bought the sister car to this as it were from another Pistonheader, Ecurie Ecosse. But I passed it on when me wee boy arrived. A mistake. The sale that is.
I saw this car listed on the forums but I was too late and it'd sold. It then popped up again but having made contact, it was withdrawn from sale. That was that, or so I thought. However it popped back up for sale and the rest as they say, is history. It made sense, mechanically excellent but not too blingy that you'd never want to drive it.
Anyways, to the point... it's just dispatched about 250 miles with absolute ease. Drives remarkably well, feels lovely and tight, no knocks or rattles which is a miracle given its age but testament to the care (and copious parts) it's had of late. Certainly no problem dicing with the Germans in lane 3 and despite pressing on, 38MPG seemingly.
Bodywork is OK, not minty fresh and a few items to sort but I tend to forget it was built in 1994... I also forget that things have moved on so the purchase price seems a bit scary, but such is life. Just nice to be back in something old, retro and very mechanical to drive... you drive it and that's what I wanted yet it wafts along at 80 as well as most things.
I'll need to suss out the picture situation... I'm back in the mid 90's on that front too.
I'm home, back to the greyness of Edinburgh with milk in hand and that frankly, is all her ladyship seemed concerned about.
Indeed the car is the one that was listed on the usual sites in Selby. Bit of an odd story but I knew of the car / previous keeper via the Volvo forums and his build thread. The link was tha a few years back, I bought the sister car to this as it were from another Pistonheader, Ecurie Ecosse. But I passed it on when me wee boy arrived. A mistake. The sale that is.
I saw this car listed on the forums but I was too late and it'd sold. It then popped up again but having made contact, it was withdrawn from sale. That was that, or so I thought. However it popped back up for sale and the rest as they say, is history. It made sense, mechanically excellent but not too blingy that you'd never want to drive it.
Anyways, to the point... it's just dispatched about 250 miles with absolute ease. Drives remarkably well, feels lovely and tight, no knocks or rattles which is a miracle given its age but testament to the care (and copious parts) it's had of late. Certainly no problem dicing with the Germans in lane 3 and despite pressing on, 38MPG seemingly.
Bodywork is OK, not minty fresh and a few items to sort but I tend to forget it was built in 1994... I also forget that things have moved on so the purchase price seems a bit scary, but such is life. Just nice to be back in something old, retro and very mechanical to drive... you drive it and that's what I wanted yet it wafts along at 80 as well as most things.
I'll need to suss out the picture situation... I'm back in the mid 90's on that front too.
Davie said:
So...
I'm home, back to the greyness of Edinburgh with milk in hand and that frankly, is all her ladyship seemed concerned about.
Indeed the car is the one that was listed on the usual sites in Selby. Bit of an odd story but I knew of the car / previous keeper via the Volvo forums and his build thread. The link was tha a few years back, I bought the sister car to this as it were from another Pistonheader, Ecurie Ecosse. But I passed it on when me wee boy arrived. A mistake. The sale that is.
I saw this car listed on the forums but I was too late and it'd sold. It then popped up again but having made contact, it was withdrawn from sale. That was that, or so I thought. However it popped back up for sale and the rest as they say, is history. It made sense, mechanically excellent but not too blingy that you'd never want to drive it.
Anyways, to the point... it's just dispatched about 250 miles with absolute ease. Drives remarkably well, feels lovely and tight, no knocks or rattles which is a miracle given its age but testament to the care (and copious parts) it's had of late. Certainly no problem dicing with the Germans in lane 3 and despite pressing on, 38MPG seemingly.
Bodywork is OK, not minty fresh and a few items to sort but I tend to forget it was built in 1994... I also forget that things have moved on so the purchase price seems a bit scary, but such is life. Just nice to be back in something old, retro and very mechanical to drive... you drive it and that's what I wanted yet it wafts along at 80 as well as most things.
I'll need to suss out the picture situation... I'm back in the mid 90's on that front too.
Easiest way is when you reply, click the Upload an image (beta), select your photo, forum fit, upload and that's it. I'm home, back to the greyness of Edinburgh with milk in hand and that frankly, is all her ladyship seemed concerned about.
Indeed the car is the one that was listed on the usual sites in Selby. Bit of an odd story but I knew of the car / previous keeper via the Volvo forums and his build thread. The link was tha a few years back, I bought the sister car to this as it were from another Pistonheader, Ecurie Ecosse. But I passed it on when me wee boy arrived. A mistake. The sale that is.
I saw this car listed on the forums but I was too late and it'd sold. It then popped up again but having made contact, it was withdrawn from sale. That was that, or so I thought. However it popped back up for sale and the rest as they say, is history. It made sense, mechanically excellent but not too blingy that you'd never want to drive it.
Anyways, to the point... it's just dispatched about 250 miles with absolute ease. Drives remarkably well, feels lovely and tight, no knocks or rattles which is a miracle given its age but testament to the care (and copious parts) it's had of late. Certainly no problem dicing with the Germans in lane 3 and despite pressing on, 38MPG seemingly.
Bodywork is OK, not minty fresh and a few items to sort but I tend to forget it was built in 1994... I also forget that things have moved on so the purchase price seems a bit scary, but such is life. Just nice to be back in something old, retro and very mechanical to drive... you drive it and that's what I wanted yet it wafts along at 80 as well as most things.
I'll need to suss out the picture situation... I'm back in the mid 90's on that front too.
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