Hello all,
I currently have a 1990 740 GLE with 190,000 miles on it. I picked it up 8 years ago with 100 K on it and it has treated me well. I am looking forward to the purchase of another used Volvo wagon in the next year or so. My independant Volvo mechanic leans towards 850's or V 70's. He claims the addition or Turbos and 4x4 or AWD tends to add to potential repair problems. He is also less enthusiastic about them and parts post Ford buy out. I'd like to look toward something newer than a 850 which is why I'm currently looking at V 70's. Based on my listed prorities can anyone please help with recomendations?

1) Budget of up to $12,000

2) Model with low history of repair or chronic problems

3) Non turbo and preferably FWD?

4) Hoping for 2001-2002


I don't need tons of power and bells and whistles. The safety,general reliability,trim and looks are what attract me to Volvos.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!


Vance

I have a 99 V70 turbo wagon front wheel drive with 142K now. There's another post asking a question similar to yours. Try to find it ( http://www.brickboard.com/AWD/index.htm?id=1240920 ) as it has some info you 'll need. Good highway car but sometimes painful to own

I got me my first newer volvo.And i have to say its totally different car from 94 945t, and 90 245.

Can be costly when things start to break.

It is nice to have an upgrade though.here is a photo.

00VR with 68k




If you decide to get something newer, try to get a warranty. i got a volvo warranty with mine. cost me 2k but when things fall apart, i know itll be well worth it.

Depending on which part of the USA you are from will determine the price. I like to avoid cars from NYC and northern NJ. You are right about avoiding the early AWD, but the later Haldex design are quite reliable.
The low pressure turbo is a very nice compromise, still good on gas and enough power to merge into traffic. The high pressure turbo needs a little more work and is hotter under the hood.
Stay away from Torch Light Motors in NJ! Check your local craigslist.org and just do a search on "volvo".
The 03 and up V70s are very nice...

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

After having driven 240, 740, 940, 850, now driving a 2004 V70.
Most of the cars were driven over 200K miles or close to it.
If you do not need AWD, do not add that complexity.
I would buy the latest, lowest milage V70 you can get for what you are willing to spend. I bought the 04 in June 07, 65K on it, in near perfect condition, got a 100k warrenty and it had new tires, brakes,rotors, filters, etc. installed by the non-Volvo dealer (but spealizes in Volvo's) before I could leave the lot.
It did cost over $15K. I have put 10K miles on it and it has run perfectly.
It is a better car from a driving point of view than any of the earlier models I have driven. Will it be more expensive to fix, most likely. I can't really detect any Ford degradation of the product ( I think by 04 Ford was involved).
Bottomline: if you can buy 2002 or newer, you will be getting a car with the earlier V70 transition bugs resolved (I hope). good luck,

Ford - Volvo deal was announced in January 1999 and Ford was very much involved shortly thereafter. By 2004 Volvo management team was already asking to be divested. They very specifically asked to sold to Renault, which to Ford has to be one of the great insults in the history of the industry.