RE: Volvo 850 T5 Saloon: You Know You Want To
Thursday 4th August 2016
Here we are, comfortably more than two decades after a fast five-cylinder Volvo 850 was introduced, still getting all excited when one comes up for sale. The T5 was such a significant car for Volvo that it's almost become stumbling block; inevitably any subsequent performance Volvos have been compared to the 850, and none have matched it for sheer impact and image turnaround. Well perhaps the S60 Polestar could have, but then they only made six of those.
Insert your 'hewn from...' analogies hereNow while the 850 T5 legend is built on the estate two-wheeling its way around British race tracks, it's easy to forget that there was a four-door saloon and that it was rather more successful in the BTCC. In 1995 an 850 saloon won six races, followed by another five victories in 1996. Both road cars gained a cult following thanks to that ever-popular combination of big power and an unassuming body. Stints as police vehicles will have helped its cause too.
Quite a few people may see this with 280hp!Purists will be disappointed that this isn't a standard T5, but a little more power (with an ECU and fuelling upgrade), some extra noise (from a Ripspeed exhaust) and slightly sharper handling (from new springs) sound like worthwhile upgrades. It looks largely standard from the outside at least, even down to the solitary exhaust pipe.
Volvo 850 T5 saloon: You Know You Want To
It's one of the fast car icons of the 90s for £4K; why wouldn't you?
Insert your 'hewn from...' analogies here
But 20 years later, the T5 is a very rare car indeed. When was the last time you saw one on the road? And when was the last time you saw a manual version? With so few left on around, and with this one appearing as nice as it does, it most certainly deserves some PH attention.
Doesn't it look cool in red? It must be a pretty rare colour for the 850. Moreover, while 17-inch gunmetal wheels may have been quite racy for a Volvo back then, today it looks very tame. The 850 doesn't even look that big any more, an indicator of just how large 21st century cars are.
Quite a few people may see this with 280hp!
But where this 850 really appeals is in the level of care that's been lavished on it since 1995. Sure, the advert may be rather gushing about the car's condition, but to see a recent cambelt change, every single MOT certificate and 21 services in the manual is a pleasant surprise on a car that's now only worth four thousand pounds. It even still has the original toolkit!
Whether this is a 'guaranteed future classic' or not remains to be seen, particularly given so many cars are sold as such now. Even if it isn't, you're not exactly going to lose a lot of money. So while you'll probably go through front tyres quite quickly and find some contemporaries better to drive, for speed and cool and PH kudos an 850 T5 remains pretty hard to beat.
VOLVO 850 T-5
Price: £3,999
Why you should: Very cool to those in the know
Why you shouldn't: A 21 year-old boxy Volvo to those who aren't
See the original advert here.
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Discussion
A legend, because it took volvo from pretty much one thing, to two things.
My boss had a T5 estate in 1995 when i started out in sales, all us young hopefuls, but with no hope of having a car like that, just drooled over it.
In estate form in the T5R guise, especially in GUL yellow, I cant think of anything that has ever matched it for coolness and uniqueness.
I would have an estate without question.
But at £4k that may seem cheap, but what of keeping it going after 20 years of life, forget the cheap buying price, could you afford to keep it running?
My boss had a T5 estate in 1995 when i started out in sales, all us young hopefuls, but with no hope of having a car like that, just drooled over it.
In estate form in the T5R guise, especially in GUL yellow, I cant think of anything that has ever matched it for coolness and uniqueness.
I would have an estate without question.
But at £4k that may seem cheap, but what of keeping it going after 20 years of life, forget the cheap buying price, could you afford to keep it running?
Not cheap at all for one of those, 4k is all the money on earth for a non-R 850 saloon.
Does look very nice but all the gushing about classic status puts me off - the estates are going to be the truly iconic ones, the saloons were never as desirable even though they are slightly better to drive.
Still, if I had a spare 4k sloshing around I'd be tempted if it's as good as the advert says, I'd be looking for a bloody strong haggle though.
Does look very nice but all the gushing about classic status puts me off - the estates are going to be the truly iconic ones, the saloons were never as desirable even though they are slightly better to drive.
Still, if I had a spare 4k sloshing around I'd be tempted if it's as good as the advert says, I'd be looking for a bloody strong haggle though.
Oliver-2optb said:
But at £4k that may seem cheap, but what of keeping it going after 20 years of life, forget the cheap buying price, could you afford to keep it running?
They won't be that difficult - the engine is robust, the drivetrain simple, and minimal unreliable electronic gizmos.Krikkit said:
Oliver-2optb said:
But at £4k that may seem cheap, but what of keeping it going after 20 years of life, forget the cheap buying price, could you afford to keep it running?
They won't be that difficult - the engine is robust, the drivetrain simple, and minimal unreliable electronic gizmos.IMO swapping the PCV system required that you take the inlet manifold off (don't take the nuts off of the bottom studs whatever you do!) but that's as bad as it is likely to get short of it totally dying on you
These always keep featuring on PH and for good reason. Would love to see a few more performance Volvos too though.
Remember this SOTW from a couple of years ago? Well, I bought it. And only saw it on here almost a year later. i nearly fell off my chair when I saw my very own car on Pistonheads! It's still with us, ongoing restoration as and when I can. Still in love with it some two years later!
http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-sh...
Remember this SOTW from a couple of years ago? Well, I bought it. And only saw it on here almost a year later. i nearly fell off my chair when I saw my very own car on Pistonheads! It's still with us, ongoing restoration as and when I can. Still in love with it some two years later!
http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-sh...
Here's mine:
T5 CD Manual, 2 previous owners, Nearly FVSH on it and only 78K miles, HLM 304 remap, 16T, White injectors, Genuine RIP kit fitted from early T5, 'R' Volans and front bumper cover with a Tomcat splitter, Eibach springs, 302mm front brakes and a genuine volvo strut brace! Must be one of the lowest miles T5's left, All standard parts removed kept, Stands me in for 1/2 the price of the featured car. Owned it 4 years and still rate it
T5 CD Manual, 2 previous owners, Nearly FVSH on it and only 78K miles, HLM 304 remap, 16T, White injectors, Genuine RIP kit fitted from early T5, 'R' Volans and front bumper cover with a Tomcat splitter, Eibach springs, 302mm front brakes and a genuine volvo strut brace! Must be one of the lowest miles T5's left, All standard parts removed kept, Stands me in for 1/2 the price of the featured car. Owned it 4 years and still rate it
Edited by klunkT5 on Thursday 4th August 13:20
FN2TypeR said:
S10GTA said:
FN2TypeR said:
Four grand for a standard T5, no chance. A good condition T5R or 850R, yes, this, nope.
Good cars, though.
Agreed. You can get a S60R for 4k, or a V70R like I did.Good cars, though.
Ace cars though
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
been great so far.
£4k for a Non R T5 is too much. Unfortunately the "standard T5" doesn't hold it's value half as well as the T5R OR R, although it gives you 99% of the performance!
These can be had for less than a grand in half decent condition, but will probably be auto...
My father bought a V70 T5 brand new in 1998, still has it to this day in daily use! Kahn 18" alloys, eibach lowering springs and a custom stainless steel exhaust.
These can be had for less than a grand in half decent condition, but will probably be auto...
My father bought a V70 T5 brand new in 1998, still has it to this day in daily use! Kahn 18" alloys, eibach lowering springs and a custom stainless steel exhaust.
S10GTA said:
FN2TypeR said:
S10GTA said:
FN2TypeR said:
Four grand for a standard T5, no chance. A good condition T5R or 850R, yes, this, nope.
Good cars, though.
Agreed. You can get a S60R for 4k, or a V70R like I did.Good cars, though.
Ace cars though
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
been great so far.
LOL Hi Steaders saw your car not so long back it is still going well!
I have always liked retro cars and have owed a Green 850 T5 R Auto saloon since 2006
And they aren't to bad to keep going as long as you use genuine parts or you can do a proper overhaul and for some reason the Swedes seemed to make them a bit stronger than average cars of the same era but the rewards when mapped and tuned properly and fitted with quality performance parts are staggering.
In 2010 mine was converted to manual after the auto box was nearly dead, at the same time I had a plated Gripper differential fitted (Transformed the handling) with some small performance mods the next size Volvo turbo 16T and injectors. I later properly modified mine in 2012 with KW V2 suspension and a Mitsubishi 19T turbo 440cc injectors larger Intercooler and methanol injection as it was to become a road legal track toy as lets face it in the UK it rains a lot and for most RWD cars the day is over but if you have FWD you can carry on very well!
After many fun track days the engine finally felt a bit tired at 150k plus so had an investigation to find a cracked piston even so the car still ran no problem? but had left light scoring in the bore,
So at this point I had the 2.5 block and sump from the S60R/V70R fitted along with the M66 6 speed box and of corse the Gripper diff and with all the other goodies that I had fitted over the time it was tracked.
There had always been something about the the way an 850 drove for a front wheel drive car. I found you felt part of the car but every other car since has felt rater muted and driving position not as good, also sitting in an 850 you felt part of the car for example seats in a Focus ST or the RS the feeling was as if you sat on top of the car. lots of other modern cars feel to me out of touch with the driver and I have had a fair few other cars since lol. But work and times has changed and I had to get ride of my daily drivers and 4x4 and had to choose what car to use? so did a small restoration and now use the 850 again as my daily driver as well as the odd track day.
Don't get me wrong I love RWD a nice balanced 3 series or a Lotus is epic and feel great and the there are other FWD cars quicker in the corners but the the way an 850 drives and feels is very rewarding. I know of people who have got ride of 850's for much newer things better handling, quicker and they all at some point go back to an 850 because it they say it feels better? I guess they are like Marmite at the end of the day love um or hate um.
I have always liked retro cars and have owed a Green 850 T5 R Auto saloon since 2006
And they aren't to bad to keep going as long as you use genuine parts or you can do a proper overhaul and for some reason the Swedes seemed to make them a bit stronger than average cars of the same era but the rewards when mapped and tuned properly and fitted with quality performance parts are staggering.
In 2010 mine was converted to manual after the auto box was nearly dead, at the same time I had a plated Gripper differential fitted (Transformed the handling) with some small performance mods the next size Volvo turbo 16T and injectors. I later properly modified mine in 2012 with KW V2 suspension and a Mitsubishi 19T turbo 440cc injectors larger Intercooler and methanol injection as it was to become a road legal track toy as lets face it in the UK it rains a lot and for most RWD cars the day is over but if you have FWD you can carry on very well!
After many fun track days the engine finally felt a bit tired at 150k plus so had an investigation to find a cracked piston even so the car still ran no problem? but had left light scoring in the bore,
So at this point I had the 2.5 block and sump from the S60R/V70R fitted along with the M66 6 speed box and of corse the Gripper diff and with all the other goodies that I had fitted over the time it was tracked.
There had always been something about the the way an 850 drove for a front wheel drive car. I found you felt part of the car but every other car since has felt rater muted and driving position not as good, also sitting in an 850 you felt part of the car for example seats in a Focus ST or the RS the feeling was as if you sat on top of the car. lots of other modern cars feel to me out of touch with the driver and I have had a fair few other cars since lol. But work and times has changed and I had to get ride of my daily drivers and 4x4 and had to choose what car to use? so did a small restoration and now use the 850 again as my daily driver as well as the odd track day.
Don't get me wrong I love RWD a nice balanced 3 series or a Lotus is epic and feel great and the there are other FWD cars quicker in the corners but the the way an 850 drives and feels is very rewarding. I know of people who have got ride of 850's for much newer things better handling, quicker and they all at some point go back to an 850 because it they say it feels better? I guess they are like Marmite at the end of the day love um or hate um.
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