Robert Lutwak

Well, so much for that one.

A couple of days ago, doing about 65 mph in the passing lane of Route 128
around Boston, my 1996 850 suddenly decided to shift itself into neutral and
stay there.

Fortunately, I managed to coast safely across two lanes of traffic to the
side of the road. I had it towed to the nearest Volvo dealer where they've
determined it needs a new tranmission ($3200). While they were at it, they
pointed out that I need new tie rod ends, steering knuckles, and motor
mounts. Also, at 65,000 miles I'm almost due for a timing belt. They
offered to do it all, in two weeks, for a mere $ 5500.

So, that's it. It's over. Just two weeks ago I gave it a new exhaust
system ($650). Now I've paid for the tow, a $50 cab ride, missed a day of
work, and I've got to get it out of the dealer's lot before they start
charging me for storage. I'll probably have to donate it to charity, which
means I have to pay them to tow it away. I've spent a fortune on this car,
including the purchase two years ago and the fact that it now has zero
value, it's cost about $500/month.

65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.

Anyone out there want it?

I will never buy another Volvo (though my wife still drives our other '96
850).

-----

-RL ('76 262, '78 264, '87 240, '89 240, '96 850)

Stephen Henning

"Robert Lutwak" <Lutwak@alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> 65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.

Did you buy it new? It is hard to believe there is a '96 850 out there
with less than 100K on it.

If it was a wagon, it would be worth fixing even if you just sold it.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to rhodyman@earthlink.net
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

~^ beancounter ~^

find a used tranny and sway it out for $800
including labor.......there are prob 100k miles left
on the car....

~^ beancounter ~^

find a used tranny and sway it out for $800
including labor.......there are prob 100k miles left
on the car....

~^ beancounter ~^

find a used tranny and swap it out for $800
including labor.......there are prob 100k miles left
on the car....

don't take an old volvo to a dealer...ever...they just
want you to get into a newer one....find a good
local machanic/volvo shop......

James Sweet

"Robert Lutwak" <Lutwak@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:p-adnXscQ-YOKEjfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
> Well, so much for that one.
>
> A couple of days ago, doing about 65 mph in the passing lane of Route 128
> around Boston, my 1996 850 suddenly decided to shift itself into neutral
and
> stay there.
>
> Fortunately, I managed to coast safely across two lanes of traffic to the
> side of the road. I had it towed to the nearest Volvo dealer where
they've
> determined it needs a new tranmission ($3200). While they were at it,
they
> pointed out that I need new tie rod ends, steering knuckles, and motor
> mounts. Also, at 65,000 miles I'm almost due for a timing belt. They
> offered to do it all, in two weeks, for a mere $ 5500.
>
> So, that's it. It's over. Just two weeks ago I gave it a new exhaust
> system ($650). Now I've paid for the tow, a $50 cab ride, missed a day of
> work, and I've got to get it out of the dealer's lot before they start
> charging me for storage. I'll probably have to donate it to charity,
which
> means I have to pay them to tow it away. I've spent a fortune on this
car,
> including the purchase two years ago and the fact that it now has zero
> value, it's cost about $500/month.
>
> 65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.
>
> Anyone out there want it?
>

I'd sure take it if I were nearby, junkyard tranny $150, timing belt and
water pump $150, motor mounts and tie rod ends $100 or so, figure about a
weekend and it'd be a heck of a car at a great price.

Pat Quadlander

Is this car turbo?

Where are you located?

What is exterior color? Interior color?

"Robert Lutwak" <Lutwak@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:p-adnXscQ-YOKEjfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
> Well, so much for that one.
>
> A couple of days ago, doing about 65 mph in the passing lane of Route 128
> around Boston, my 1996 850 suddenly decided to shift itself into neutral
and
> stay there.
>
> Fortunately, I managed to coast safely across two lanes of traffic to the
> side of the road. I had it towed to the nearest Volvo dealer where
they've
> determined it needs a new tranmission ($3200). While they were at it,
they
> pointed out that I need new tie rod ends, steering knuckles, and motor
> mounts. Also, at 65,000 miles I'm almost due for a timing belt. They
> offered to do it all, in two weeks, for a mere $ 5500.
>
> So, that's it. It's over. Just two weeks ago I gave it a new exhaust
> system ($650). Now I've paid for the tow, a $50 cab ride, missed a day of
> work, and I've got to get it out of the dealer's lot before they start
> charging me for storage. I'll probably have to donate it to charity,
which
> means I have to pay them to tow it away. I've spent a fortune on this
car,
> including the purchase two years ago and the fact that it now has zero
> value, it's cost about $500/month.
>
> 65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.
>
> Anyone out there want it?
>
> I will never buy another Volvo (though my wife still drives our other '96
> 850).
>
> -----
>
> -RL ('76 262, '78 264, '87 240, '89 240, '96 850)
>
>

Henry

Stephen Henning <pighash@aol.com> wrote:

> "Robert Lutwak" <Lutwak@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>
> > 65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.
>
> Did you buy it new?

Erm...the OP did mention 'the purchase two years ago'.

> It is hard to believe there is a '96 850 out there
> with less than 100K on it.

We just this week went over 69 000 _kilometres_ (<43K miles) on our '95
850T (which we bought new).

cheers,

Henry

Steve

Second opinion?

Junkyard Trans?

Independant shop?

Transmission shop?

Sure Volvo might be a better idea, but I am sure the trans can be repaired
by any shop that has experence with european transmissions--Volvo, good as
they are does not make their own transmissions, and I suspect that soon
enough the jointly developed and (?) produced GM/Ford 6 speed slushbox will
find it's way under Volvo hoods as well...

Click and clack are in your city too, you know...


"Robert Lutwak" <Lutwak@alum.mit.edu> wrote in message
news:p-adnXscQ-YOKEjfRVn-pQ@comcast.com...
> Well, so much for that one.
>
> A couple of days ago, doing about 65 mph in the passing lane of Route 128
> around Boston, my 1996 850 suddenly decided to shift itself into neutral
and
> stay there.
>
> Fortunately, I managed to coast safely across two lanes of traffic to the
> side of the road. I had it towed to the nearest Volvo dealer where
they've
> determined it needs a new tranmission ($3200). While they were at it,
they
> pointed out that I need new tie rod ends, steering knuckles, and motor
> mounts. Also, at 65,000 miles I'm almost due for a timing belt. They
> offered to do it all, in two weeks, for a mere $ 5500.
>
> So, that's it. It's over. Just two weeks ago I gave it a new exhaust
> system ($650). Now I've paid for the tow, a $50 cab ride, missed a day of
> work, and I've got to get it out of the dealer's lot before they start
> charging me for storage. I'll probably have to donate it to charity,
which
> means I have to pay them to tow it away. I've spent a fortune on this
car,
> including the purchase two years ago and the fact that it now has zero
> value, it's cost about $500/month.
>
> 65,000 miles and not worth the price to fix it.
>
> Anyone out there want it?
>
> I will never buy another Volvo (though my wife still drives our other '96
> 850).
>
> -----
>
> -RL ('76 262, '78 264, '87 240, '89 240, '96 850)
>
>

John Horner

Steve wrote:

> Sure Volvo might be a better idea, but I am sure the trans can be repaired
> by any shop that has experence with european transmissions--Volvo, good as
> they are does not make their own transmissions, and I suspect that soon
> enough the jointly developed and (?) produced GM/Ford 6 speed slushbox will
> find it's way under Volvo hoods as well...
>

I think that vehicle has a Japanese Aisin-Warner transmission, so a
tranny shop which works on lots of Toyotas would be a good choice.

John