Volvo: Is the 95 850 GLT a good used car purchase, engine lifters, rear main oil seal

Question
I found a '95 850 GLT sedan with 100,000 miles. I want a safe reliable car for my daughter.  Reviews online are mixed. Is this model expensive to repair? What are the most common repairs? Any specific questions I should ask the mechanic? What model would you suggest if not this one?

Answer
Gail,
Yes all the 850's are expensive to repair. That is just saying that all front drive cars cost more to fix. Things are stuffed in tight places and that raises the labor, just a fact of front wheel drive. The 940 4 cylinder is one of my favorites. Take the car to a shop that works on Volvo so they can inspect it and give you a list of all things good and bad. See if there are any service records, making sure that the latest service has been done. Rear main oil seal, front trans pump seal, axle shafts, brakes, loud engine lifters, blower motros, A/C service, speedo head. These are some of the things that go wrong.