Quote:
Originally Posted by P1et
We have a low mileage 850R tucked away in the garage. Also red. Always loved the yellow T5R estate myself.
|
Back in 1996 ours was my solution to not getting a minivan which we fortunately never owned. We added the 3rd row seat option (which was rarely used btw) which I negotiated for free in the deal. The 850R was a bit beastly for a wagon back in 1996, and the 205/45-17 on Volans looked very aggressive on a wagon along with the deep front airdam. It wasn't but just a tad faster than the 850 Turbo due to a small amount of additional boost for a short period of time, but it came with a whole host of other features some of which weren't available on the 850 Turbo for not a whole lot more in price. Somewhere I still have the spreadsheet comparing the two with added options on the 850 Turbo to approach the R content.
It wasn't a trouble-free car by any means, but it never stranded anyone in all that time at least...although it did come close when the A/C compressor bearing locked up but fortunately just a mile from home.
For the last 13 years with us, we used it as our go anywhere/do anything extra car. With the Nivomat rear shocks, putting 18 bags of mulch in the back resulted in a level ride just after moving a few feet. Adding IPD sway bars, Eibach front camber adjustment bolts (the stock front camber on these is 0.0 resulting in horrific outside edge wear) and Pegasus 8" wheels helped a good deal in the handling department.
The E91 replaced it for said beater duty.
Here's what it looked like just before the new owner picked it up back in 2016 after 20 years and 170k miles: