The 2001 has a few issues. These cars are not Toyotas!!! However, the 2001 is a safe, modern car if it is maintained to a high standard.

Ours has about 109k on it (pretty high for a new body style XC).

It has not been very reliable, but is IS safe, comfortable, stylish (in my soon-to-be retiree mom's view).

The 2001 XC has a slow throttle tip-in that is resolved by a TSB. After the TSB, ours has markedly improved throttle response (just like any normal car, now).

Ours needed a new steering rack. In Minnesota, steering components are typically destroyed around 100k in many types of cars (Jeep Grand Cherokees for another example). This is because of major road craters in sub-zero weather. Arizona cars will not suffer this.

Auto transmission fluid needs to be changed, or the tranny would fail sometime after 100k. Ours was very black but recently was changed. Our transmission shifts like new at 109k miles. Not bad.

The engine requires a timing belt replacement at 105k miles. It might be a good idea to do early, since belt failure will wreck your engine. Ours just got done.

In sum, a 2001 car will have needed around 5 grand in mechanic maintenance by now. Hopefully the cars you are looking at have been maintained by the owners. If not, these cars will disintegrate and break in magnificent fashion. Ours almost did, but I think it is safe till 150k now. We have not had any AWD issues whatsoever (knock on wood).

These are extremely comfortable, safe cars. For the proactive, involved, caring owner, they are great cars. But they are extremely maintenance intensive (by today's standards). Without me around, my dear old mom's car would be 100% dead.

Although the XC70 is a big beast of a vehicle to me, you can hustle it down the highway pretty well. The 5 speed automatic makes the most of the rather modest power. These are neat vehicles.

This car has improved in many ways over the model run. Had a 2001 that just didn't measure up to Volvo standards in driving feel which was hard to explain to the shop. Didn't keep it long enough to have any major problems. Have Had a 2004 almost a year now. Great car, only some minor fixes under warranty.

Get an extended warranty if you can. The XC is as reliable as most but repairs to such a complicated car can be costly.

Biggest change has been the drive system in '03 and general bug removals, grabby brakes, spedo error, numb steering and the like.


As for your 960 you will probably have to take it out into the woods and shoot it to get rid of it. Chuck turned 530000km on the way to work Thursday and hasn't been in my pocket except for worn stuff and maintenance.

Dan

I am on my second XC, the first was a 98' & second a 04'. Now have 43,000 miles with no problems.

2001 has the highly problematic electronic throttle module that Volvo has had to give a 200k warranty on - it still can fail without notice, perhaps on a high speed highway, etc. It also has the first generation all wheel drive system that some have had very expensive issues with, but others have been fine (our's for instance). The 2002 has a newer throttle module, but the old AWD. 2003 has a new Haldex based AWD and no particular issues that I am aware of. Recommendation is often to get teh latest XC70 that you can afford, as they have gotten steadily better, but at least the 2003. Ate least a strong recomendation is to get one with a really strong documented service history. Having said that, our '98 XC(same AWD but the old reliable mechanical trottle) was one of the best cars we have owned, but it did have great mainenance all of its life which seems to be a real key.
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Mike Sullivan '07 XC70, '95 855T (100k), '95 855 NA (148k). Past Volvo's: '85 744 (256k), '86 245 (165k), '86 245 (195k), '88 745 (208k), '91 745 (196k), '93 965 (147k) , '98 V70XC (98k).