Why do people love the 850 T5-R & 850R estates soooooooo much

[MisterC1501]

Ok, someone tell me WHY people just love the 850 estates sooooo much. For me, it's a V70R EVERY time, a more refined and generally more pleasing car to the eye, rather than just a box!!
















Oh oh........think there's gonna be a fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!

[theflyingbrick]

good luck with this!!

[claymore]

Because they are more of a drivers car (more raw than the softer v70)

[JamesT5]

I think it's because the 850 parts are cheaper and the cars are easier to work on. But this is just a guess, 850 owners may come with a totally different reason and personally I'd have a V70R P2 or P3 any day of the week over an 850 or a P1 V70R.

[danny-R]

I've only owned 850's so not in a position to compare but I much prefer the old school boxy shape and they remind me of the btcc which is why i'm on the look out for another one :)

[t5 pete]

Lol shut the door behind you





I feel the 850's are so much better style wise and still resemble the old volvo brick with square edges also to drive they are so much more fun i like 850's that much i sold my mint gay gold v70r to keep the 850 t5.
P.S. no one rememebers the v70 but they all rememeber the 850

[T5frankie]

you have to have owned a good low mileage 850 in good nick to understand, i think the manual 850r is the best drivers car out of them all

[Kingsford G]

850`s r good but more road noise,p1 70`s r less noise and a bit heavier,p2`s are more comfortable,heavier but I`d love a 2.4t5 all day long,expensive on parts tho.They all good,just depends on what u after.I really find it hard to choose,therefore ideally would have 1 of each.

[MoleT-5R]

Because they are more of a drivers car (more raw than the softer v70)

Think that hits the nail straight in Colin, your spot on there, our T5-R is raw compared to the softened world of our V70R Awd, the 850 handles better ( far more positive than the V70 ), but that said the V70R is suprisingly fast and you don't notice how fast it real is going as it's quieter and the ride is softer. I'm lucky to be able to chose which car I want to take out and I pick them on a basis of what type of roads we're travelling and how far. If we need to do a long run then we take the V70R and if it's going to be twisty or we need to be there in hurry then we go in the T5-R. Couldn't part with the T5-R it's a real drivers car and so forgiving, you really can push on in total confidence in all weathers

[MisterC1501]

P.S. no one rememebers the v70 but they all rememeber the 850

I remember P reg if I recall. Do you have an 850 Pete??

[MisterC1501]

Because they are more of a drivers car (more raw than the softer v70)

By that do you mean unpredicable due to inferior handling??

[MisterC1501]

you have to have owned a good low mileage 850 in good nick to understand, i think the manual 850r is the best drivers car out of them all

What actually makes the 850 more of a drivers car??

[T5frankie]

What actually makes the 850 more of a drivers car??

its lighter faster, has more road feel, less cosseting than the v70 and less luxurious, i used to say the v70r's were better now i think they are not

[Jamest5r]

I have both the 855 t5r and a v70r, the t5r is soooooo much better :) (taken if both are standard)

[Kingsford G]

Think that hits the nail straight in Colin, your spot on there, our T5-R is raw compared to the softened world of our V70R Awd, the 850 handles better ( far more positive than the V70 ), but that said the V70R is suprisingly fast and you don't notice how fast it real is going as it's quieter and the ride is softer. I'm lucky to be able to chose which car I want to take out and I pick them on a basis of what type of roads we're travelling and how far. If we need to do a long run then we take the V70R and if it's going to be twisty or we need to be there in hurry then we go in the T5-R. Couldn't part with the T5-R it's a real drivers car and so forgiving, you really can push on in total confidence in all weathers
Spot on here mate.

[merc85]

Give me a Manual 854 t5r Anyday of the week over a s70 or v70,

[T5frankie]

Give me a Manual 854 t5r Anyday of the week over a s70 or v70,

thats why you dont want yours lol

[t5 pete]

I remember P reg if I recall. Do you have an 850 Pete??

That was the private plate it was a 98 reg car it had always had private plates on from new and yeah ive always has a 850 i will have had it over 9 yrs now

[T5frankie]

are you thinking about getting an 850 t5-r/850r?

[Dangerous Dave]

I do like the refinements on the V70 (interior change, clocks, high level brake light, door handles, dimming interior lights, etc) but there are some little trivial things that make it not as good as the 850, key fobs having to be programmed at the dealers for instance.

[merc85]

thats why you dont want yours lol

Trust me mate, i want it. But with 5 Kids, and a Jealous wife i cant keep it. Not all wives are as tolerant as yours must be lol

[T5frankie]

Trust me mate, i want it. But with 5 Kids, and a Jealous wife i cant keep it. Not all wives are as tolerant as yours must be lol

i aint got a wife lol

[merc85]

i aint got a wife lol

That explains it then mate ;)

[t5 pete]

Lol i built a work shop in the rear garden thats bigger than the house still no divorce

[kyboy]

The 850 will always be the icon I love my R manual and T5 auto theyre the last of the proper looking volvos, don't get me wrong a black V70R looks badass but seeing an 850 screaming down the motorway still gives more of a buzz,There's just something about how they sit,I don't really like the interior and dash of the 70 either, too plastic, the 850s got character when you slide in,i drive my R to work everyday and I love it!.....god I've got it bad lol..

[MIKESC70T5]

Think that hits the nail straight in Colin, your spot on there, our T5-R is raw compared to the softened world of our V70R Awd, the 850 handles better ( far more positive than the V70 ), but that said the V70R is suprisingly fast and you don't notice how fast it real is going as it's quieter and the ride is softer. I'm lucky to be able to chose which car I want to take out and I pick them on a basis of what type of roads we're travelling and how far. If we need to do a long run then we take the V70R and if it's going to be twisty or we need to be there in hurry then we go in the T5-R. Couldn't part with the T5-R it's a real drivers car and so forgiving, you really can push on in total confidence in all weathers

I really liked my old manual t5-r estate, just looked right, subtle but menacing as I put bigger brakes on it, genuine 18 inch pegs, lowered with eibach springs and satin black grille and the genuine carbon fibre front splitter. Interior was a very nice comfortable place to sit as it had the dark interior etc. To me the v70 range look very bland and don't stand out and the front end looks too soft with its lights and rounder grille.
I wouldn't say the t5-r is a real drivers car though, it's front wheel drive, mine had a strut brace and a rica remap and it was a handful in the wet.

[V70 Graham]

Having owned a T5-R and the V70 a lot of what has been said is very true, the V70 is a fair bit more comfortable, yet it lacks something the T5-R had when being driven hard, unfortunately whilst looking for a car there were no quality 850's around and with such low mileage I just has to buy the V70.

[M-R-P]

Then you go to the P2, which, without a lot of tinkering, is rather numb. I've been in an 850 being ragged a bit, several P1s going quick and ofcourse, mine. The 850 deffo has a more involved feel to it.

I prefer comfort and airbags tho ;)

[Redbrick]

Now own an 855 T5, P1 V70R in gay gold and a P2 V70 D5. First Volvo was the mint manual red, beige/birch 855R back in '99 with 65K on it, should never have let it go :(

855 for driver involvement. D5 for long distance ski runs to the Alps. V70R wife mobile, frankly boring in standard form with auto box. 855 the original and best just cause it looks perfect with design brilliance but everyone thinks I'm eccentric!

[BlackBeast]

The only way I'd have an 850 is if I was to put the V70 interior into it and quite possibly change the front end to a V70, and while Im there the door handles, side strips and rear bumper. I'll stick with a V70 thanks lol. The only thing going for an 850 over a V70 is that its lighter and feels a little more rigid body wise.

:)

[MIKESC70T5]

Then you go to the P2, which, without a lot of tinkering, is rather numb. I've been in an 850 being ragged a bit, several P1s going quick and ofcourse, mine. The 850 deffo has a more involved feel to it.

I prefer comfort and airbags tho ;)

My t5-r came with driver and passenger air bags, I think the passenger one was an optional extra though.

[JUDGENINJA]

Taking a step down from the T5r and V70R I have only had T5 variants of both 850 and V70. I'm not sure I could tell the difference.. Personally I just think it is it the link to BTCC which will always make the 850 more desirable than the V70 to the aging boy racers amongst us..

[phil850t5]

there old school turbo fun

[JUDGENINJA]

If we are really honest it is the 2.0ltr 20v 855 that should be the most desirable!!!

[phil850t5]

for me with the 850 t5 its the 1st turbo 850 like s1 rs turbo the look off them and i think there a better car all round and i use my car every day

[lance]

I had my first 850 t5 in 2002 and can honestly say it was the first car I owned that would do over 130 mph. It was an amazing car and compared to anything else on handling standard equipment refinement even economy and reliability for what it was it was it was unbeatable it was a 1995 gle red with black leather one owner car and vary well cared for with just 100k on the clock! I ran it for about 18months and made a fatel mistake of part choping for a s80 t6, since then I have had in my care a v70 p1 t5 cd which I had for 3 years and did quite a few upgrades, an 850 t5 s low miles (but the worst t5) a p2 v70 t5 se, mapped I had to fit a louder exhaust as it was too deceptive and easy to pick up points! S60 d5 and an 850r. Out of them all the first 850 t5 was good but the phase 1 stayed with me the longest, the s80 and the phase 2 were just too much cruisers and not nimble enough for me. The 850r I owned was just a bit too old school by the time I owned one I have to visit clients and parking up outside in a 15 plus year old car and giving financial advice to the general public is a bit like turning up in an old lada most people that don't know about cars. Although the 850r has a rawness it's also from the last century great if you like your CDs scratched. For me my v50 is the best Volvo I have owned they drive and handle better ok there smaller and not as redefined as a p2 but if you imagine the power plant low down of a d5 crossed with an 850r (with just a chip) you get the general idea. So they handle better are more fun on back roads stop better and you can listen to CDs without opening the boot and avoiding pot holes. In terms of tunning ability it's all there's sure the cylinder linars may be weak above 350 bhp however 300 bhp and 350 lbft of torque in something smaller the size of a golf Astra or focus estate is seriously fun. For me newer is better once modified plus I only have a narrow drive and p2s only squeeze on at a push and a swerve in the middle of the road manover so an r could be a nightmare. In short my baby t5 is the best yet with an induction kit and big zaust she has the rawness of the 850s the mapping and small turbo means she has the low down grunt of a played with d5 and the original 850t5 but more. Ok she doesn't quite have the refinement on the motor way of a p2 but she doesn't have the remote I am driving a boat feel either so it's horses for courses. I know people won't all agree but that's my opinion formed from around 200k worth of road testing ;-)

[phil850t5]

i have had loads off turbo car ie escort rs s1 and 2 rover 620ti saab 9000 2.3t and 900 turbo and a s40 and the best one i have had is the 850t5 i have got now but thats me

[WOODY T5]

Would have to be 850 for me as it was the car that put volvo back in the game;-)

[phil850t5]

Would have to be 850 for me as it was the car that put volvo back in the game;-)

you got it in one there

[M-R-P]

My t5-r came with driver and passenger air bags, I think the passenger one was an optional extra though.

My poverty-spec P2 has at least 6. Plus all the suspension and body components are bigger and stronger, giving it a feeling of bomb-proof safety. Unfortunately, that's where the numbness comes from.

[M-R-P]

My t5-r came with driver and passenger air bags, I think the passenger one was an optional extra though.

My poverty-spec P2 has at least 6. Plus all the suspension and body components are bigger and stronger, giving it a feeling of bomb-proof safety. Unfortunately, that's where the numbness comes from.

[MisterC1501]

are you thinking about getting an 850 t5-r/850r?

No. Never liked the interiors and generally they just look old and dated. Sorry if that offends peeps........just my opinion

[MisterC1501]

If we are really honest it is the 2.0ltr 20v 855 that should be the most desirable!!!

Why?

[MisterC1501]

Would have to be 850 for me as it was the car that put volvo back in the game;-)

So, did you have a Volvo before the BTCC or did you want one after seeing the 855 in the BTCC

[sartain87]

Would love an 850, not sure i could sell my V70R for one, think there just so under estimated, same as the SAAB 95 aero