Hi,
I'm considering the purchase of a used S60, maybe an '01 or '02. I currently have a '93 940 - I love it and have never had a better car - but it's getting close to having 200K mi so it's time to upgrade.
Can I expect the same kind of reliabilty with an S60 as I got from my 940?
What should I be on the lookout for?
Thanks

Consumer Reports is no friend of Volvo, but they like the S60.

I have a '95 940 and '01 S60.
At the moment, the S60 is at 57K and the 940 is at 237K and is with my son a college. We do all our own maintenance.

I agree and doubt that the S60 will equal the 940 but I suspect that it'll last into the 150K- 200K range. Mine is the "non-turbo" 5 speed. It's fun to drive, comfortable and not bad on gas mileage. But as others have stated - more complex hense more to repair or go wrong.

If you're not keeping the 940 - what do you want for it? I have a second son in High School!

I have a 2001 S60, non-turbo. cooling fan was replaced under recall. I've had a problem with door panels rattling. The dealer replaced two speakers and added felt under the panel to get rid of the rattles. It is better but not fixed. I will try to fix it myself next. Currently having some hesitation issues with the engine and the "service emission system" light has come on, but now it is gone. Some days I love some days I hate it. I would recommend the 2.4t, rather than the base engine. I find it a bit weak for such a sporty car.
good luck.

I have a 2001 S60, non-turbo. cooling fan was replaced under recall. I've had a problem with door panels rattling. The dealer replaced two speakers and added felt under the panel to get rid of the rattles. It is better but not fixed. I will try to fix it myself next. Currently having some hesitation issues with the engine and the "service emission system" light has come on, but now it is gone. Some days I love some days I hate it. I would recommend the 2.4t, rather than the base engine. I find it a bit weak for such a sporty car.
good luck.

Generally, in these forums you hear from people with problems, not from the ones like me that don't. So here goes...

It's probably a toss up. 200,000 may be middle aged for a Volvo, but then you are the one living with it. The S60 will be more fun to drive and has more advanced safety features. The seats are wonderful on long trips. Trunk and back seat are a little tight.

My 2003 S60 (2.4 with Manual Trans) has about 40,000 miles after 2.5 years. No repairs or problems whatsoever. I have done all the maintenance myself(except brake fluid change). I drove a Honda for nine years before the Volvo, so I've been pleasantly surprised.

My '01 S60 2.4T has been reliable enough for 30-some thousand miles.
A recall for something, IIRC, front sway bar links, and A/C was freezing up.
All corrected under warranty.
I doubt that S60 will equal the 940, if for no other reason than the iffy throttle control motor.

S'V'

i have a 2002 s60. the following are the repairs that have been done (all under warranty):
automatic door locks, wouldnt unlock from the inside master button
rattle in the rear turned out to be a ball joint and it was replaced
car phone wouldnt recognize the sim card, problem went away after about 2 months (no repair needed).
front brake pads and front tires replaced due to wear

Consumer Reports recommends the S60 as a new car, but not as a used car. However, the only S60 they have on their "Used Cars to Avoid" list is the 2004 S60 AWD.

"Can I expect the same kind of reliabilty with an S60 as I got from my 940?"

Maybe, but probably not.

I have a case of cognitive dissonance about the cars. I love the seats, performance and safety, and I hate the fact that they're so "maintenance intensive". I've been contemplating buying a V70R for the last 2 years, one big reason I haven't made the plunge is that I'm concerned with the long-term reliablility since the 2001-up Volvos are far more complex than mine, add on the AWD and a computer-controlled suspension and computer-aimed headlights, and, well, you get the idea.

So for now I just keep piling the miles on my old one!

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 164k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

I unloaded my 98 S70 T5 with 200K. Except for the usual rear seal leak, the basic mechanics of the car were fine....easily good for another 100K miles or more. But everything else was going wrong. ABS. Air pump. AC. The CE light came on at $115K and never went off. Lots of black marks with that car compared with other models (yes, it's on CR's cars to avoid list). Still this gives you an idea.

And in the S60, all everything is software controlled, and the software is controlled by a monopoly (designed to short circuit the independent dealer as well as your bank account).

In short, don't plan on 300K troublefree miles - especially if that crafty independent mechanic has been cut out of the loop. (Why haven't those crafty Russkis hacked Vadis, yet?!?)


Blueshift
2002 S60 AWD Geartronic
Our eighth Volvo

My advice, keep the 940. It's good for another 100,000 miles.

Agreed!
--
1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon