hello all i am new to this site and to volvo too i have alway wanted an 850 and now have saved the money i am going to look this weekend for one so now to my question as i am only 28 the 850 2.3 turbo is to much insurance :( so it is going to the 2.5 10v or the 2.5 20v so which is the better one and what do i need to look out for when buying it please

THANK'S ALL Pete :devil:

I'd go for the 20-valve option/version, dude... You'll thank me for the power, later. :lol:

As far as things to be wary of, look into the General Volvo Non-Model Specific Discussion section on the top part of the list.

Good luck!

A full service history and a careing owner are far more important than the number of valves if you are looking at an older 850. Took me 3 months to find mine and im glad i waited! The 850 does not tolerate abuse as well as the more "traditional" volvos did.

Why not consider the 2.5 20v LPT turbo. Not sure if this engine was available in the US but is in the UK and develops 193bhp - but at much lower insurance grouping than a 2.3 turbo. I also actually think it is a better engine than the T5 2.3, it has a much more progressive power delivery and isn't really that much slower.

If it is a toss up between 10 and 20 valves on a 2.5 - I would consider how you drive. I have had both in the past and both have their merits.

The 10valve lump is gutsy bottom end and delivers it power much lower down the rev range, feels more "Torquey" and gives a slightly deeper exhaust note.

The 20valve in a good state of tune (namely with well set up cam timing) is weaker bottom end but Loves to revs hard and delivers its power top end. They also produce a sharper, crisper sounding exhaust note thanks to a varible track inlet manifold.

If you don't want to rev the pants out of the engine go 10valves. But if you like to rev the engine hard (and who wouldn't with an 850!) go for 20valves.

Have to be honest, 20valves just does it for me over 10.