how many years do you keep a car?

[RCBuddha]

I've adopted my parent's attitude: Keep them until the cost of repairs exceed or come close to the value of the vehicle.

[Mr. Clean]

Accumulator, your post is representative of what I have come to appreciate about you. You don't just generalize and paint with broad brush strokes, you get to the specifics (and the facts). Thank you I asked specifically to determine if there might be any "glitches or goblins" that I might yet encounter as she enters her "senior years"

The 850 series ran from '93-'97 a rather short model run for Volvo. Yours might have been a '94 since the first year only had a 4-door sedan in the lineup (IIRC).

Funny you should mention brake issues, yet stated your preference to the 240 (which BTW we love the body style and may one day own one of our own). It was the 240 models which I had read (and had been told by previous Volvo owners) which had notoriously poor brakes. The joke was that the poor brakes weren't an issue because you would never get a 240 going fast enough for it to be an issue Acutally, the 4 wheel disc brake setup was supposed to be a strong suit for the 850 and other than the sticky (and plentiful) brake dust generated, the brakes on our '96 are more than adequate.

Your comment on the seats really shows a difference in opinion. Ours are the most comfortable seat that my Wife and I have ever set in. Our seats are firm and have both a seat length and back support design that fits us both just right, and there is a "significant" difference in physical size between the two of us. We have often joked that if we ever get rid of the car, we'll take the seats out and put them in the den.

[BigAl3]

Originally Posted by ericsscion

imacarnut- i have no regrets on buying my tc...i love this car...i mean at first i missed my civic because i had wheels on it and a body kit and all that stuff but once i started driving my tc harder (after 1000 miles) i quickly forgot about the civic. I really dont have anything negative to say about the car.

hey ericsscion,
thanks for the reply! one thing i like about the tc is, it has clean body lines and seems to be a breeze to detail. for the price, it can't be beat and has more bang for the buck than alot of cars i've seen in it's class. you need to post a pic when done with a detail, please!

[Accumulator]

Mr. Clean- Wow, I was *way* off on that 850's model year, huh?!? Heh heh, at least I remember that the 240 was an '84. When I first saw the 240 (father's second wife's car, never waxed since new, literally washed in winter by "rubbing it with snow") I thought "worst car *ever*", but after I fixed it up it was a great dog-hauler. Now it's giving wonderful service to somebody who really appreciates it (and als appreciates all the attention a spotless '84 Volvo wagon can generate- perfect car for her).

The four wheel discs on the 240 always worked great for me; I had considered upgrading them but decided against it. So easy to modulate that I never missed the ABS, even in icey winter conditions, even in panic-stops. It's lack of power (even after my modifications) actually worked well for the intended application; with the "enhanced" suspension/etc. and the limited slip diff I had fitted, it was like a "great day at a driving school" every time I took it out in bad weather. Heh heh, nothing like messing with kids in much faster cars while driving a robin's-egg-blue 4 cylinder wagon- "gee, why can't I keep up with that thing?"

The seats will always be a personal preference thing....funny about how you find the 850's back support, that was one of our gripes! FWIW, the most comfortable seats for both me and my wife were the sport seats in my Mallett 'vette. After many hours we both hopped out feeling refreshed. Sure didn't expect *that*!

[Tenebris1]

Well, I'm just letting my 18 year-old Volvo 740Turbo go at the moment, I've driven it for just under 11 years now. It had over 195k miles (315k km) on it, and was running great but the turbo was starting to go on it.... Just bought a '94 Volvo850Turbo as a replacement. Love 'em or hate 'em, good ones will go on for ever. My loss, as I tend ot fall in love with my cars so that means I'll only own a few in my lifetime.... Any, I'll try to post some pics of the new girl once I've cleaned her up a bit....

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Tenebris1

Well, I'm just letting my 18 year-old Volvo 740Turbo go at the moment, I've driven it for just under 11 years now. ....

No way you could just keep the 740 and think on it for a while? If you saw my earlier posts on this thread you know I'm in the "hate 'em" camp on the 850 but *man* do I still miss the modded 240 wagon I gave away to my in-law. I'd hate for you to look back in a few years and wish you'd just mothballed the 740T for a while, especially after all that time and miles.

Good luck with the new one, I'll be watching for the pics.

[norahcrv]

Originally Posted by norahcrv

I'm on my third Honda in over thirty years of daily driving.
1975 Civic - drove it for 10 years
1985 Civic Wagon - almost 21 years
2004 CR-V - only 1 year - SO FAR!

Sold the 1985 Civic Wagon last week after almost 22 years of happy ownership with original paint.
Now my son has a 2007 Honda FIT & I'm still loving my CR-V after 2+ years.
Car salesmen don't like me

[BigAl3]

Originally Posted by norahcrv

Sold the 1985 Civic Wagon last week after almost 22 years of happy ownership with original paint.

talk about getting your $$$$'s worth!

p.s. loyal to honda, eh?

[Florida-LS]

My 2001 LSV8 has around 47k right now. I bought it in 2005 with 33k. I am guessing about 100k and I will trade it for a 2006 model LSV8. So far nothing has gone wrong with it.

[jaytheman2222]

the rule is

10 years for a japenese car
5 years on an american car
Until the warranty runs out on a german car

[tustah]

I've only had my Honda Accord Coupe for 4 months but I plan on driving it for a really LONG time.

[BigAl3]

*bump* having just payed mine off (have had it for 5 years), i already want another car!