1994 Volvo 850 - Senisble Insanity

Wehey! I just did a fuel economy test today. I drove 100 miles from the gas station and then filled up again.
Now, bear in mind - this is West Virginia - mountains everywhere, it feels like a rollercoaster ride. So on some hills, the transmission had to downshift to third in order to keep my 60-65mph speed.
I also did some full throttle starts and took a few corners a bit vigorously (the inner rear tire was squealing like mad:)
So I would say, I had a pretty good, realistic run. The end result was...
...
28MPG! mixed driving

I bet if I drove in Kansas or Florida I would be able to get at least 30mpg by doing 70mph in 4th gear.
 
Heh that sure as hell beats what I got with my T5. :p
 
Time for a fall update...I will skip all the problems with the car. I just wanted to post some autumn pictures with the car clean:
8733_515283611096_74502451_30634395_8362036_n.jpg


8733_515283626066_74502451_30634398_5070226_n.jpg


8733_515283636046_74502451_30634400_6867976_n.jpg


8733_515283715886_74502451_30634415_5600204_n.jpg


And here is me, showing off my freshly painted red calipers :)
8733_514981162206_74502451_30625548_7731527_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
It is officially winter, and time for some new pics:
We got 4 inches of snow this morning.
11169_516708909786_74502451_30676937_8088838_n.jpg

11169_516708914776_74502451_30676938_3011522_n.jpg


11169_516708939726_74502451_30676943_5086011_n.jpg


11169_516708959686_74502451_30676947_2035531_n.jpg


11169_516708974656_74502451_30676950_5015168_n.jpg


11169_516708979646_74502451_30676951_1424090_n.jpg


11169_516708989626_74502451_30676953_429386_n.jpg


11169_516708949706_74502451_30676945_3767262_n.jpg


It looks so good, and purposeful in the snow!!! In reality, it's rubbish. Heavy, FWD, Automatic and no handbrake. Still, wheel spinning is fun. (Gotta enjoy the little things)
 
You hit the nail on the head with the FWD bit, I had a lovely time with my parents 940 today :D :D
 
public said:
You look so photoshopped-in in that last pic :lol:
Click to expand...

Haha...I never saw it before you mentioned it. Are you doubting that it isn't my car, and want to provide proof? :lol:
 
IMO they're as far from rubbish as it gets in snow... or I guess it depends on how you look at it. They're not fun, but definitely very competent for a partial wheel drive car. I grew out of looking at the road through the side window a long time ago, these days I just hate not having traction on tap.

I wouldn't call an 850 heavy either, not by todays standards.
 
You can't go smoking starts? Try brake torquing it. Hold the brake pedal down as far down as possible and build up the revs, then release the brakes. My GMC Jimmy will start spinning it's tires before I let the brake off so I can't imagine how your car couldn't do it.

EDIT

I forgot, this vehicle is FF....

However, it still might work.
 
Last edited:
More winter pics:
17832_518275630066_74502451_30720006_6848201_n.jpg


17832_518275640046_74502451_30720008_1016478_n.jpg


17832_518275669986_74502451_30720014_2008033_n.jpg


17832_518275679966_74502451_30720016_1307817_n.jpg

There is a 200 feet drop and no guardrail...nice!

17832_518275694936_74502451_30720019_7533697_n.jpg


17832_518275689946_74502451_30720018_1302_n.jpg

This is when I got stuck. I decided to park, didn't think the snow would be very deep...it was. Thank god for Winter mode transmission and "cradle" method.

17832_518275699926_74502451_30720020_1242691_n.jpg

Stuck again...

17832_518275709906_74502451_30720022_2473227_n.jpg

Free at last

These are my favorites from the day:
17832_518275714896_74502451_30720023_668297_n.jpg


17832_518275719886_74502451_30720024_6768721_n.jpg
 
Actually no.

It starts in First, but no matter how hard you press the pedal, it only goes to 2500rpm.
 
Thats probably a better way of doing it. I've never had to use the feature, but I've read in the Astra's owners manual that it takes off in 3rd. But it also means it comes out of sport mode, so I've never bothered trying :lol:.
 
Last edited:
_HighVoltage_ said:
Actually no.

It starts in First, but no matter how hard you press the pedal, it only goes to 2500rpm.
Click to expand...

Winter mode makes it start in third gear, trust me. My '94 850 did it, my '98 V70 with the same transmission does too. Your engine has a mechanical throttle with no way to override what your right foot tells it to do (except for the rev limiter at the redline) so there's no 2500rpm rev limiter of any kind. It just happens to stall at 2500 (or thereabouts) when you floor it from a standstill with winter mode engaged. It's how a torque converter works.
 
Last edited:
Perc said:
Winter mode makes it start in third gear, trust me. My '94 850 did it, my '98 V70 with the same transmission does too. Your engine has a mechanical throttle with no way to override what your right foot tells it to do (except for the rev limiter at the redline) so there's no 2500rpm rev limiter of any kind. It just happens to stall at 2500 (or thereabouts) when you floor it from a standstill with winter mode engaged. It's how a torque converter works.
Click to expand...

I can confirm this. My 850 Turbo started in third when I put on winter mode.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top