[Wagon Wednesday Review] AutoArt Volvo 850 T-5R Wagon

It's my first review ever! I hope I can give you a nice opinion on this great model. The Volvo 850 Wagon is my favorite car of all time! I don't really know where all this Volvo love came from, but I believe it's Volvo's fault when they put the 850 Estate to race in BTCC. Everyone close to me know that I love the 850 Wagon, and so my brother gave me this model as a christmas gift.

This replica is an AutoArt in 1:18 scale, in that lovely shade of yellow of the T-5Rs. As an AutoArt, the attention to details is unbelievable.

Design and Accuracy: 9/10

I'm no connoisseur in 1:18 models, but compared to the real car and to other 1:18s I had contact, this model is perfect. From the door handles to the dashboard, going through the carpets, seatbelts and engine decals (that match those photos com Haynes manual), everything is perfect!

However, as you can see, the two turbos and the radiator aren't so detailed, and if the engine had more hoses I would give this model a 10/10.

Fit and Finish: 9/10

Since this model wasn't bought new, it came without the right mirror :(. But I'm not considering this fault in my evaluation. The panels fit perfectly, and the system to make the hood stay open is close to the real one. The doors, when closed, show no gaps, and the interior details are also perfect. The paint is also very accurate.

It's possible to see the narrow gap between the fender and the hood on the top of the image. However, the other gaps are very narrow, as you can see on the door.

Features: 10/10

Detailed dashboard, blinker repeaters on the fenders (I really hope that's the right name for those blinkers in english...), manuél transmission, the name 850 on the carpets, door handles, painted keyholes, ventilated brake disks... Everything's awesome in this model! It doesn't have active suspension, but since I won't play with this models, this isn't important. However, the steering wheel works, and this is a nice touch. Everything opens here.

The trunk is so big it can fit another Volvo 850 (from Wiking, in 1/87 scale)!

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Value: ∞/10

I give this model a ∞ for value because I got it as a gift, haha! But that was me, so let me correct

Value: 9/10

As a 1:18 model, we're talking about a heftier amount of money. I found a dozen of these models on eBay for prices ranging from R$150 (~$60 USD) to R$400 (~$160 USD). However, it costs around R$450 (~$170 USD) on MercadoLivre, sort of a Brazilian eBay. I believe it's a fair price, given the quality of this model.

Rarity: 7/10

It isn't a common as Maisto's 1:18, but it isn't rare either. It's way easier to put your hands on this model living on US or Europe than in Brazil. If I was reviewing it in a Brazilian website, I would put it 9/10, but since there's a lot of these Volvos on eBay I'm giving it a 7/10.

I found 5 AutoArt 850 Wagons on MercadoLivre, but that Wiking 1/87 was the only one :)

Total: 44/50

Should you have one? If you like Volvo 850s as much as me, YES!!!!!. If not, well, it's up to you to decide :]

This is my sole 1:18 model, and I really love it. Not only for beign a Volvo, but for it beign a gift from my brother, who knew exactly what I liked. I bought an AutoArt acryllic case to protect it from dust and curious fingers, and I must confess I need to take a quick glance to it every day.

That's all, folks! I hope you liked my first review!