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I've been looking at ads and saw a '98 S70 T5 with only 59,000 mi. I also saw a GLT with 54,000 mi. Then there's the basic 99-00 S70's, which I've heard have electronic throttle issues. Then I read some threads on AWDs being expensive to maintain.
I currently have a '98 V70, which I thought could use a little more power that's why I'm eyeing on turbo models. But I'm really getting confused now since a lot of these turbos come with AWD.
I wonder what would be a smarter buy for less expensive maintenance costs and worry free driving in the long run ? Sometimes I think of getting a Toyota Camry and look like most other cars on the freeway...but then the Volvo feels safer and more luxurious for the amount of money I could spare (due to its low resale value :-)
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70
on
Tue Mar 7 08:16 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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The T5 is very strong, but you might find that the GLT, which has a low-pressure turbo, to be plenty strong. I had a 99 V70 which was plenty strong. We only traded it in because when we had our child my wife wanted a mini-van. I loved that V70. I had a 99 S70 for 2-1/2 years, but it did not have quite enough power for me, and I just (this past Saturday) traded for a 99 S70 AWD. The AWD has a low-pressure turbo like the GLT (plenty of power), and is amazing in the mountains and snow. While the Toyotas are extremely reliable and very fine cars, if you like the outstanding performance of a Volvo, especially the turbos, you could not live with a Toyota.
By the way, it is not just the GLTs that have the ETM problem, all 99-00 models do. But as Volvo now warrants them for 200,000 miles it does not really matter.
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Thanks for all the advice.
I saw the '98 S70 T5. It looked good outside, but it looked 'over used' inside. The suede portion of the front car seats were still dirty after a detail. Apparently, the owner's dog was a regular passenger! The window control knobs were eaten up by nails, and the plastic on the gear shifter is broken. Opening the hood, it looked like the engine hasn't even been wiped with a rag for years! Oil was spilling out of the head gaskets. So much for that 59,000 mile car.
Then I saw this '98 S70 with 65,000 miles. It had a carfax report. only minor cosmetics noticed, like buckling of leather on the doors. No tears but the leather just contracted (maybe due to weather ???) I also figured, since I am getting it for a 20 year old girl, she would not need that power and speed! The slower the better :-) So, there's no need for a turbo engine. Also, the dealer replaced rotors, brakes, timing belt, serpentine belt, and did 90,000 miles service already. In short, I bought this one and they even threw in a 30 day warranty on engine and transmission.
Only thing is, the mechanic did not replace the timing belt tensioner !!! Gotta do that soon.
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Good car. Timing belt is good for 70K miles. Tensioner replaced every other T belt, so your are good there. S belt at 90K miles (about every 30K). Flush the tranny now and again at 90K with DextronIII.
The glue holding the "leather/vinyl" dries up and becomes useless. The 960 had the pucker on the tops of the doors, the 70s have the bubble in the side of the doors. There is no good fix. It's not like you can take it off and just glue it back on.
The leather seats must have lanolin/oil applied at least twice a year when the temp is above 70 outside. Otherwise it cracks and gets hard. Use lots of it!
Tell your daughter to have fun,
Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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Thanks for all the good expert advice!
OK, so then I don't have to change tensioner ? the dealer's mechanic (it's actually a car broker, not Volvo dealer. they specialize in Volvo as the wife is from Sweden) did tell me that he typically does a visual check and if tensioner still looks ok then he does not change it. I'm just afraid that it's a ticking time bomb.
I should ask if he did the tranny.
Driver's seat has minor cracks already, but no open cuts.
As per my daughter, I told her I have to drive it first this week to test it, LOL! Then she goes, I KNEW IT !!! She finally drove it today, and even called me to say, IT'S NICE!
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I agree...you bought her a nice car! At up around 100K, have someone clean out the pcv hoses and change the oil trap. This will keep her engine seals intact and keep down expensive engine repair work.
--
1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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Thanks, I'm already printing the postings to remind me.
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70
on
Wed Mar 8 03:24 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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I agree with the above posts, you made a good choice. I did not realize you were buying it for your 20 yr old daughter, best to stay away from the turbo with her. With the 98 you avoid the ETM failure, though the T-belt should be replaced sooner than the 99's and up. They say 105,000 for the 99, but I will do it between 95,000 and 100,000 to be safe.
Good luck.
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I've seen quite a few postings about the different mileage on timing belt changes between 98's and 99's and up.
My question is: Isn't the belt made of the same material ? if so, then it should break at about the same time. But maybe it is wider on the 99's ?
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Difference between the tensioner. '98 has an automatic or hydraulic tensioner. '99 and above have a mechanical tensioner that goes with the CVVT (Constant variable valve timing), so belts are not the same. The CVVT belt is actually harder to change but lasts longer due to the smaller amount of pressure against the belt by the tensioner. Hope this helps.
--
1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70
on
Fri Mar 10 16:23 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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That may be the reason, I do not know. However, I asked the two dealers and one indy here today, and they all said definitly 70,000 miles for the 98 and 105,000 miles for the 99.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Brian
on
Thu Mar 2 09:39 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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The 98 S 70 T5 definitely feels more powerful and road worthy then even the v6 98 Toyota Camry...there is a cost though. Oil should be synthetic and changed religously...all repairs and parts will probably be 25% to 40% more. High test gas . If you do the work yourself you will be fine but if you send your car to the shop it will cost you. It will be more comfortable than a Camry (except for the last few years) by an order of magnitude (we also have a 2004 Audi A6 and it is less comfortable than the Volvo (though the Audi is AWD and holds the road like no other car I have ever driven). If you can get service and maintenance records of the prior owner and can afford the increased attention and costs I would recommend the Volvo....but make sure you get the timing belt changed prior to 70,000 miles and make sure they check the belt tensioner. The T5 is a great urban car...good mileage, comfortable and plenty of pop when you need to pass or do high speed merges (though there is a little more turbo lag than the new turbos out there today). Just remember it is not a sports car though there are times when it feels like one (also there can be emissions control issues and electrical issues).
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Consumer Reports recommended the 99-00 S70 last year (probably so Mum and Dad would still have some Volvo to buy for Muffy as her first car.) I haven't seen the April 2006 issue yet, so I don't know if CR still recommends the S70.
KBB gives a private party value of $8260 for the S70T5A and $7735 for the Avalon XLS, both '98s with 60,000 miles.
Probably the RATIONAL thing to do is buy an Avalon.
Yeah, the S70T5 is not a Sports Car. But often the ONLY thing that keeps my car from going off to auction is the performance. Some things have been replaced 3 and 4 times.
If the 5-speed manual hadn't been available, I wouldn't have purchased the car in the first place.
R&T 2/99:
S70T5 5-speed 3425 lb, 236hp, 243lb-ft 0-60 6.1 1/4 14.7@97.0mph
-BTC
'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 167k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, 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 Noel Adams (1952-2001)
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