Post 704899 by Monkfish on 2014-04-20 13:48:36
Hello all,
Seems to be the done thing to make a quick introduction... I recently bought this http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?55319-850R-estate-auto-seven-seat-selling-after-7-years-very-happy-ownership having found the car on eBay and then being pointed in this direction by Richard, the previous owner.
I'm a bit of a Volvo fan, having owned in the past a 20v S70, mint 850 T-5, ropey 850 T-5, remapped and shabby 850 T-5 and a V70R. Always preferred everything about the 850 and had a hankering for an auto 'R' for as long as I can remember.
I've enough older projects that consume my time and money so plans are to simply enjoy and maintain as I go along. It's clearly been loved and it would be rude not to keep that up (it shouldn't be hard, I already love it, and so does the dog!). With that in mind, I gave the old girl a clean this weekend, both inside and out, so have a few quick, shoddy iPhone pics for now...
Not bad for 199,250 miles!
Post 704902 by foammanmark on 2014-04-20 13:50:49
Car looking great, and I know I said hello on the other thread, but hello again anyway.
Post 704904 by merc85 on 2014-04-20 13:51:15
Great looking example, certainly doesnt look as its covered those miles.
Post 704978 by AndysR on 2014-04-20 17:13:43
Welcome to the fold , car looks lovely and your right it certainly doesn't look like it's done the miles it has when you look at it.
Post 704988 by WOODY T5 on 2014-04-20 17:36:13
welcome to vpc nice ride too
Post 704993 by jamesy12345 on 2014-04-20 17:47:35
Hello there, looks like a nice one
Post 704997 by munster732 on 2014-04-20 18:04:03
I so almost nearly bought your car, really like it in that colour.
Welcome into the asylum :-)
Post 704999 by stribo on 2014-04-20 18:06:29
Welcome to the forum, nice looking R, also liking the 2.8i Capri behind it.
Post 705164 by Monkfish on 2014-04-20 23:21:38
Thanks chaps, much appreciated.
Post 808511 by Monkfish on 2017-01-06 10:13:15
Thread revival! Unfortunately I had to sell this R when I was doing around 700 miles a week and the fuel bill was killing me. It remains one of the best cars I've ever owned and I've been on the lookout for another for a little while... which brings me to here.
Obligatory 'fill up' pic before the 260-mile dash from Suffolk to my in-law's birthday in North Yorkshire just before Christmas.
I had to make time so can confirm it pulls really well, better than my old R, and drove really nicely with the exception of what felt like slightly iffy tracking (suspicions have since been proved correct; 4-wheel alignment really is the best £25 you can spend on an old car!). It’s come with a great pile of history and mechanically it’s been really well kept, but my GOD was it dirty on the outside!
Still, I’d much rather buy a well-kept but grubby car than a glittery turd, and polishing is much less likely to lead to sweary blood-soaked afternoons than oily enforced maintenance, rounded nuts and rusty bolts.
A good wash and scrub made a world of difference, and a 5 minute polish of the bonnet has also shown signs of encouragement.
Since then I’ve been on a flying visit to Glasgow and generally racked up the miles. Little things like new headlight wiper arms have been fitted, the rattly rear hatch cured and odometer gears ordered. Once the winter is nearing an end I’ll look into rear bumper paint, a proper machine polish, a wheel refurb (the silver is the spare, due to a slow puncture) and then a few subtle upgrades...
I’d forgotten how great these cars are. Absolutely love it.
Post 810428 by Boxzoo on 2017-03-12 06:52:21
Any idea where it went? Presumably not a member here? Very pleased you cured the rattly tailgate. I never managed!
Post 810568 by Monkfish on 2017-03-17 00:15:16
I sold it to a guy from the Nottingham area as far as I remember, but it's moved around at least once more since then - it cropped up on eBay last year, but for twice as much as I sold it for so as a matter of principle I could not buy it back!
