850Tdi estate - capable high miler?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Fri 9 Sep 2005 09:25
850Tdi estate - capable high miler? - local yokel
I've done my time in small economical hatchbacks (205, Uno, Punto etc) and it's time to get a barge that can cope with a combination of the short kiddy-taxi runs, daily business mileage around M25/M1 etc. plus the long M-way trips to the aged parent.

850Tdi stands out as being well-built, decent image and potentially capable of another 60,000 miles on top of say 120,000 already on.

Is the block VAG sourced, and if so, has it been good in the A6?

Is it a choice between this and the A6? The 406 doesn't look quite so solid, to me.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 9 Sep 2005 09:46
850Tdi estate - capable high miler? - SjB {P}
Yes, a very capable high miler and actually not too barge like to drive. The motor is indeed VAG sourced and has a good reputation apart from some problems with injection pumps.

For more info see the car-by-car breakdown linked from the lefthand panel on this window.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 9 Sep 2005 10:15
850Tdi estate - capable high miler? - Happy Blue!
The Volvo 850 TDi used the Audi 5-cyl engine in 140bhp guise. It was very sought after especially on the used market - i know, I tried to buy three and kept getting pipped at the post.

I saw a lovely one with 120,000miles on it about three years ago. It looked mint and sold for handsome money. Just make sure you know all about the engine as well as the car - so you need to do two searches on the CBCB and elsewhere.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 9 Sep 2005 13:40
850Tdi estate - capable high miler? - adverse camber
It is an old engine design and is fairly agricultural by todays standards. Timing belt is a pig of a job. V70 tdi's have an 80,000 mile interval but many vw places say change at 60,000.
Find a good specialist, because volvo parts and dealers are very expensive.

850/v70 generally are big cars and do handle big miles. Watch for door check straps failing, misc suspension issues.
Personally I would go for the volvo if you need the space, otherwise the audi/bmw etc handle better. Look at a w124 e class merc as well.

My v70 tdi is on 94,000 miles so its done 10k since jan when I bought it. It is big, takes the dogs, push chairs, kids etc, but is sooooo boring to drive.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 9 Sep 2005 19:12
850Tdi estate - capable high miler? - bimmer-driver
My neighbour has just got rid of a 220,000 mile L-reg 850 (albeit petrol) and never had a single problem with it. Guess what he replaced it with? A brand new V70 D5.


Ben
Reply | Report as offensive | Link