Volvo Repair: reliability on 1997 850 wagon, calgary canada, rear seal

Question
QUESTION: Hello Roger,  I am looking to purchase an 850 wagon with 148000 kms on it in Calgary Canada.  Currently the A/C does not work and the ABS needs to be replaced and there is a rear engine seal leak (minor leak they say).  As these are big ticket items the seller is willing to come off the price of course.  The car had follow its maintenance schedule perfectly and drives great in my opinion.  My question is...how reliable are these cars?  I need a car for my new baby and wife and a wagon is the way to go I think.  I could get a newer wagon 2000/2001 and spend more money and hopefully have more reliability or older and spend less up front and some in repairs.  What is your advise as far as Volvos' go???

ANSWER: Spencer, these are great cars as long as you keep them maintaned and change the timing belt every 70 thousand miles.  As far as what you have told me, You are looking at about 3 thousand dollars to get those 3 items fixed.  Im assuming the evaporator needs replacing for the A/C because that is a common failure.  Around 1 thousand.  The ABS is most likely just the control unit.  About 5-6 hundred.  Rear main is about another 1 thousand.  If this is all then you will have a safe decent car that will give you many years of pleasure.  Brakes are another issue but usually its just rotors and pads.  The calipers very rarely go bad.  I hope this helps.  The 00/01 will turn you off from Volvo if you buy it.  Stupid things break on those.  I can go further with you if you'd like.  Roger

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QUESTION: Roger, just a follow up...Does the rear seal need to be done right away as what will be the damage if it is not done?  Also is the control unit on the ABS easy enough for me to change out as I am a bit handy.

Answer
Spencer, as long as you buy the correct control unit, its not a bad job to do.  You need a E4 inverted torx socket to do the job.  connector pulls up and then there is another connector and 4 torx to take off.  The rear seal if its a small leak, keep you eye on the oil level when you fill up the car.  Roger