1996 Volvo 850 T5

[geekman]

First of all a bit of an introduction: I don't post here very much, but have lurked for a long while! Anyone who went to the last southern meet may remember me, I was the guy with the grey mazda 3

So, thought I'd make a post to introduce you to my latest purchase: a 1996 volvo 850 T5

I've been looking at these for ages: originally as a daily driver, until I realised that they're pretty terrible cars for constant start stop traffic on my journey to uni and commute on the m25 every week. Combine that with me needing to park in tight spots for work and I decided I'd have to get something more sensible.

So, I ended up getting a mazda 3 sport, which has (touch wood) been perfect for the job. With only 150BHP though, it's not the most exciting drive and since getting it I've had the urge for a second car as a kind of weekend toy.

Being 18, insurance was a pretty major factor, and eliminated pretty much every quick car other than the volvo. I kept looking on ebay, but most of them were either overpriced or utter wrecks, but I persevered until I found one that looked decent and had some nice mods. I spoke to the owner, put a bid in for £965 and won it, totally unseen. Probably not the most sensible thing to do really....

The next morning, I got up and proceded to break my sat nav and leave my car and house keys in the back of the cab I took down to the station. Not the best of starts, but I managed to fix the sat nav and the cab driver very kindly drove all the way back with my keys after his next job. Despite several train delays, I made it there on time, took a quick look over the car, trying to pretend I had a clue what I was looking at. Everything seemed fine so I handed over the money and signed the documents.
Anyway, here it is:

It's had a recon engine and gearbox, plus a pretty large amount of mods - I didn't realise how many there were until I came to collect the car: he'd missed several out in the description. I'm still finding more stuff, but here's the list so far:

T5R Gearbox
Rica 304 remap
Iridium plugs
k&n cone filter
ferriter exhaust with decat
polyurathane engine mount
red silicon turbo and coolant hoses
T5R Interior
Vented and grooved front brake disks and brembo pads

Having never driven an auto before, it was an "interesting" experience on the way back but I made it back alive. I also had a great conversation with some police at a service station who thought it was fantastic (apparantly they used to drive one). It's considerably faster than anything I've ever driven before and I haven't yet managed to master the fine line between a quick start and lighting up the front tyres (which it will do at 70MPH.....)

I took it for a proper drive with some friends this afternoon and it's brilliant fun. It also attracts a surprising amount of attention, probably because it's quite noisy and I look a tad ridiculous driving it, but people seem to take it in good humour. Had a bit of a brown trousers moment when I booted it onto a motorway, failing to see the police bike behind me, but he just flashed his lights and motioned for me to slow down, which I duly obeyed

So, here's a few more pictures (will update with better ones once my friend has sorted out his camera). Comments and even critisicm are welcome, I realise that for most people, the idea of an old volvo as a weekend car is madness!

 

[geekman]

And of course you told your insurance about all the mods a.

I reckon it's a Brilliant car for an 18 year old.

Thanks! To be honest, I had to because they're not exactly subtle!

Pretty awesome toy for an 18year old! Great for karting around a load of mates on epic road trips too I bet!
How much did insurance skin you for an 850 T5? Presuming you're the main driver

That's exactly my plan for it: going to take it on a road trip to scotland hopefully. I added it to my current policy so it wasn't actually too bad, but then again my premium is massive anyway.

There were a lot of similar looking Volvos at Trax this year. Gained massive respect for them when I saw how bloody quick they were

Yeah, they don't look like they're fast but they definitely shift.

how much power?

Around 350BHP apparantly, once I've properly got to grips with it and had it checked over I'll get it on a dyno.

i thought that looked familiar, it must have been local to me at some point, atspeed and pipecraft are just down the road

I got it from southend, if that's anywhere near you?

A car i've never honestly been tempted to buy, but I can sort of see the appeal - maybe i'll pick one up at some point if that's the kind of money they go for!

Oh and if you can spin your fronts at 70mph in anything other than properly sodden conditions the first thing i'd be doing is removing the ditchfinders and put some proper tyres on it!

The fronts actually aren't too bad: these cars will spin their wheels no matter what tyres you have, especially if the traction control is disabled. I do however plan to get larger wheels with some continentals fitted, then do the 302mm brake upgrade. The rear tyres are definitely ditchfinders, and are very worn so I'll be looking into replacing everything very soon.

You want to get the brembo calipers for the front.

Will be getting them for sure if I change the wheels and disks

 

[geekman]

i get the feeling he has the EBC brake disks on the front, they seem to sell with brembo pads on ebay but i've heard they warp and sometimes shatter even on a normal drive.

other then that looks good, not keen on the front grill but the rest looks cool

I think you're right there, I seem to remember he mentioned EBC disks. As I said in the post above, I might completely overhaul the whole system so would replace the disks and pads. Don't like the idea of them shattering!

Impressive given your age.
I'd lose the stickers, new numberplates and get some heat into the black plastics to restore them. Pretty tidy for a 15 year old car!

Thanks! That's exactly what I'm going to do this afternoon actually, you must have read my mind

 

[geekman]

I would also like to know this.

220-250hp?

Edit: 350???! C'mon i know it must have been around 220hp without mods and new, but given it's age i'd like to see 350hp after a trip to a rolling road. Though haivng said that, does look in good nick.

To be honest, you could well be right. They're 225 stock, the engine was rebuilt a few thousand ago, so should be producing that now if it were stock. Other cars with similar mods have produced 320-360, so the 350 I was told isn't out of the question. Once I've had it looked over I'll do my best to get it on the dyno and we'll find out.

As others have said, lose the stickers and you'll have a nice sleeper there

Gotta love a quick, cheap estate car, which is why I love my Legnum!

I'd love a legnum, unfortunately my insurance wouldn't

if you do upgrade your disks, buy a full set of evo/sti brembos (330mm, might need to buy bigger wheels) these sell for about £700 sometimes with disks, theres a guy called DB power on sxoc who is a brake specialist and if you ask him he could probably make you some brackets to fit the calipers on the volvo.

i think he sells a 345mm evo kit with brembo grooved disks (or plain) for £300 with brackets. (no calipers)

Brilliant, thanks for that. I'll definitely bear that in mind

350bhp?! From those mods?

See above

 

[geekman]

what boost pressure you running and what kind of controller?

i assume if its mapped the previous guy would have upped the boost

14 psi I believe, no idea on the controller I'm afraid.

Thought I recognised this from Pistonheads

I've always liked these.

I wouldn't be expecting any more than about 280bhp from those mods tbh

Yeah, I posted it on there as well Tbh 280bhp would still be "adequete"

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18449576

I'll check my calendar when I'm back at uni, it's a bit far but I'd definitely like to get it on a dyno. If it makes less than what I was told, it's just an incentive for me to mod it further

Love these, remember being taken out by my dad in a bright yellow T5R he was testing. Brought a massive smile to my face when he planted it and was gutted he decided to get an Audi diesel.

The yellow ones are fantastic, pretty rare now as well.

Nice car, I know it well, but your deluded if you think the mods you have will give you 350bhp, hlm 304, ferrita and a cone filter will give you about 265bhp tops, as for the gearbox, there is no difference between a t5 and a t-5r. the 850r manual has a different box.

You certainly do seem to know it well! I'll post up the results when I get it dyno'd and we can see which of you guys was closest!

 

[geekman]

OP I'm curious how you can insure a modified car at 18.

To be honest, it suprised me as well. I can't, for instance, insure a standard focus ST or Mazda 3 MPS without a ridiculous quote. I do have a good postcode and driving record (been driving pretty much since my 17th birthday) which I suppose helps. I also declared a very low amount of mileage for this car as I won't be using it as my main car, and added my relatives as name drivers which reduced it signifigantly.

 

[geekman]

welcome to the volvo club. I've got an 07 v70 T5 and beleive me, you'll love it. One thing I dod notice on the photo's were the front window tints, I'd get them checked and make sure they're legal, don't want plod pulling you over.

mick

According to the seller the fronts are legal, and from inside the car they're noticeably lighter then the rears so I've no cause to doubt him. I do expect to be pulled over a lot though, I get a lot of WTF looks even from the general public!

Aren't these on a 16t turbo? It'll be struggling to get that hp IMHO
Think the Rs run 18t's, hop over to vpcuk those guys know a thing or two

From what other people have said, it seems that it's definitely not getting the 350BHP I assumed, but I will dyno it at some point. I believe it's had a new turbo, but am yet to ascertain whether it's a 16t or 18t (it has lots of R parts so could be an 18t). Am going to bring it home for the weekend and sort out a few niggles and will check then

 

[geekman]

How's your 850 getting on, geekman?

We were talking about cars whilst travelling home in my bro's car yesterday, and after talking about getting a cheap car (which I've mentioned on here before) he suggested the 850 T5. From Pistonheads and Autotrader, there's probably about 10 for sale at the moment, under £1k - probably averaging £850 - which seems like quite a good amount of power and barge-like qualities for the money.

There's good tuning potential (which I would probably never explore ), but for the price, it's either a 220bhp Volvo, or something far more boring and perhaps not even as practical.

Anything break? Anything untoward? Insurance is reasonable for me, only £500 because I'm an older scrote than you.

I haven't done a huge amount of miles in it but apart from a dead battery it's been pretty solid. The tyres are getting very low and I'm currently looking for some new ones: thankfully they're not that expensive. Judging by my experience so far I'd definitely recommend it.

I'd be interested to see what the rolling road results were?

To be honest I've been so busy lately it's slipped my mind and I haven't had a chance to get it done. Everyone's been asking me what power it puts out so I really need to find out! Any particular places in Surrey or Kent you'd recommend?

 

[geekman]

That looks like a really nice example: what mileage is on it? Your wheels are in better condition than mine which really helps, but if I could justify it I'd be getting the T5R wheels like the ones below, think they look fantastic.....