Well I did just buy a new coupe, and am wondering, are there any reports as to C70 reliability/problems now in after 3 model years, can I realistically expect the same durability and reliability as I have had in my 1991 740 (anvil tough at 91k)? I have only had put 1400 miles on the new C70, and am off to a shaky start, had a terrible time with an incorrectly factory installed windshield (now finally fixed after 6 tries!)

Like the old 740, I plan to take good care of this one, oil changes every 2500-3000 miles and hope to get plenty of use out of the vehicle.

I recall the 98's had more than their share of problems but are things OK now? Being built on the "old" V70 chassis, shouldn't they be pretty good?

Do you think it is realistic to someday see old C70 Volvos with 250k on the odometer, like the old 240 and 740 cars of yore?

Anyone care to comment?

Hi, (LONG WINDED REPLY)

Here is my opinion. It is based on postings, talks with independent mechanics and other folks, and includes equal parts what I want to believe that has no factual bases to support a decision I wanted to make. I bought a new 2000 HPT coupe fully loaded except navigation. (I like driving this car, don't car if I take a longer route!).

I assumed as fact the ??-98 motors had the potential to go 200,000+ miles if maintained based on many actually achieving it. The 99-2001 C70 motors had design changes for less pollution and lower end torque. These include different cam, variable valve on the exhaust side that only varies when motor is cold for emissions, looks like intake manifold is tuned for lower end torque (straighter runs) compared to my '95, and a completely different fuel deliver system (Motronic was replaced with Bosch ME7 in '99-2001). Some tuning folks said the older systems ran rich in many circumstances, which tends to cool the motor. So from an assumed baseline, there could be more RELATIVE wear due to leaner fuel mixture, more low RPM torque, and any new thing (variable valves) introduces change which equals risk. So for motor, if not pushed hard I assumed still a good bet. (Note the S60 motor is a new lower friction (I read smaller bearing surfaces if done same as the late 80's 740 motors but don't know) modification, shorter pistons, and many other internal parts changes in first rev so I like our motor better from risk mitigation point of view until new one is proved by many peoples experience). Oh, I need front wheel drive here in Colorado, and don't want all the extra hardware of AWD. Volvo has a very good reputation with FWD and lots of HP driven through the system.

For transmission, I have the older 4 speed AW automatic. It has been suggested the 93-94 versions of this had reliability issues. I hoped in the last couple iterations it would be a pretty debugged unit. Your 5 speed automatic I am unfamiliar with the history of. Would be nice to know the producer and hisory there, likely it was used in other applications. For both our transmissions, the recommendations seems to be flush (not just drain fluid) on a 20,000 mile basis. This is pretty cheap to do considering the downside.

For the suspension and such I just assumed I would face the S/V70 known issues like sway bar end links at 90,000, shock top rubber mounts around then too, and since most the older (740/940) Volvos has tie rod ends go out at say 100,000 those too. The steering ratio is nicer in our rack, so perhaps some aditional wear there, who knows. I just plan to do a lot of suspension work that is not that costly really at 100,000, and know it is coming. I have not heard of rear suspension issues, we face the risk TWR introduced bushing wear or something when shortening distance to front wheels, or widening the track.

The S/V70 has a pretty dismal record of window regulators going out if the postings are to be believed, so I bet we get that feature and the flasher/sockets/ other electrical feaures too. The regulator one will likely be the recurring thing for us. These are really nuisances, so not a show stopper.

Now for the interior. Crap shoot because many parts are C70 specific (Seats including mechanicals to move them, door panels, rear deck, headliner,...). The S/V70 features will affect us. Sunroof headliner part will likely have the environmental friendly glue fail, and the steering wheel may have sticky feeling due to glue, and all these cars seem to take lots of effort to shoosh all the creak/crack/clunks. But these cars interiors tend to look better (IMHO) in 10 years than some others (classic design, not trendy). The coupe specific issues seem to be the window adjustments to elimate wind noise, which takes a patient tech, and gurgle in rain at speed due to drainage tubes to sunroof it is beleived. I just assumed I would address these things, be patient de-noising the car, and live with the gurgle. Oh, I do like the fresh air mixture control that addresses hot air in the face when windsheild defroster is on. heated seats are awesome here in Colorado. Lights in the interior roof for rear (my kids) get used a lot, and ski pass through in rear seat is awesome for many long items. Also, the rubber Volvo mats are great to keep all the crushed rock (instead of road salt here) out of the carpets. And nice trip computer.

Exterior should do better than most cars, though I have some concern envirnomentally friendly paint introduces risk compared to tough Volvo paints before. I have never seen a Volvo loose paint like certain domestic minivans encountered. Again, Volvos look better in 10+ years compared to many other makes. Hey, have you seen some of the new car designs? This old '96 C70 design still looks awesome (BETTER!) than most new ones in my opinion. We do have to live with the unfortunate "water in trunk" feature due to alignment of trunk door corners with body allowing flooding of trunk when door is opened and water on trunk lid rushes in. The C70 specific Volvo roof rack is a very cool design.

Resale value on the C70 car is a pretty ugly equation if you have looked. But, I assumed I would drive this car until it drops, fixing it to get more mileage out of it a few times more than average. I would feel better fixing up this car compared to my last ('87 740) because hey, it is a great looking car, I don't see many of them, and I love how it drives and the great stereo. So, I assumed I would drive until it is fully depreciated and resale value is not an issue. There is risk an accident will interrupt this plan, and the insurance money I get is lower than I want though.

Okay, risks to longevity of the car rationalized away, I then considered how the car mitigates risks to my (my wifes, and kids for which there is actually room for in back seat, albiet time consuming to get to) longevity in an accident compared to other sporty looking/driving cars.SIPS, WIPS, call it what you like we stand a better chance of living and less injury in this car compared to many others. But more risk for rear passengers in case of submerging (harder to get out I would guess). I did kinda wonder of TWRs sheet metal work impacted crush zone effectiveness, etc, but figured biggest changes and therefore risk was rear and roof. I just assumed it would be okay, and that chasis stiffening did not take too much crush zone out.

My opinion based on the assumptions and rationalizations above is this is the right car for me. Are there compromises I made chosing it instead of others, sure. I liked the faster rear entry/exit of the Mercedes, but it was also many more dollars and had less rear head room. The Volvo interior layout is quie nice, controls generally accomodate gloved hands and has room (width) for thick jackets in winter. I am just hoping there will be a DVD Audio deck that will be able to interface to our Alpine head (SC900 and SC901) to grow the available Surround Sound CD availability.

I bet you will love this car for many years, and manage to get past the little things that will come up along the way. No car is perfect, but with these cars we all (board readers) have a pretty good ideas which flaws we have bought into. I prefer to know the problems and set my expectations, to unknown problems.

Hope this helps,

Carl

Carl,

I just picked up a new 2000 HPT Coupe, same thing, fully loaded to the exception of the navigation and the upgrade full leather interior. It's venetian red, and I just love to drive it so far. Windnoise seems a little high, but getting them to work on this for adjustments, may be fun. The last car I had was an 850 Turbo (1994) when I brought it in for adjustments, they caused more creaks and whistles than they solved, after a year I gave up on them. I hope the experience with them is not the same, I also have a rattle emenating from around the glove box. I was reading that windshields are often improperly installed, so that may be a place for them to start looking for that noise. I was reading about your "rubber" Volvo floor mats, where did you get those, or where you speaking about the standard rug mats that come with the car? Besides the recalls for blinkers any other you knew of ?

Hi,

My creaks and groans look like this:

1. Right end of dash cracks when cold and I go over end of driveway (small angled curb really).

2. Sunroof appears loose, clunks when closed going over bumps. Dealer to check next service on 17th.

3. Some sort of clunk when driver window is 3/4 way down, and being lowered. Also when down, and 3/4 way down coming up. Anyone had this? Sounds like could be the cable problem I heard once mention of?

4. Oil piston valve (I think it is called) in engine bay whines. There was rumored to be a replacement part that is some what quieter, but I am no fan of taking things apart done at the factory. I'll catch it when I do the timing belts.

5. Door rattle.. No wait, that was just my sunglasses in the side pocket rattling with the radio.

On the recalls, I don't actually know. there have been others that posted some of them. I suggest a brand new post with that question. I would not be surpised to see:

1. Flasher unit

2. Light sockets

3. Turn signal indicator

(early models) rear windows seal on coupe

4. Convertible only real trunk hinges that are rumored to prevent leaks in

tunk when open door. never seen these myself.

5. oil something or other valve in motor. Just whines, does not seem to be an problem, just noisy.

I would search S70 and V70 archives. Oh, i can say that the ECU program is rumored to be unique to the C70s, not same as S70 or V70.

Could be some of those, and/or more. Would also be interested in list too.

Carl

Hello:

I am the recently new owner of a 98 C70, one of the early models with the 2-tone beige leather interior. The car has been great, except yesterday I drove thru a touchless high-pressure wash - I don't usually, and some water was dribbling in around the rear quarter windows. I have noticed that the rear quarter windows on the 2001 C70 I looked at seem different. Is it true that there was a campaign to change the windows to stop the leaking? Does anybody have that in a written form, or just verbal?

Thanks,

Jeff

98 C70, 95 855GLT

My 98 C70 had the rear window recall, once they were replaced

the re windows began to leak. The problem was fixed my cleaning the seals

Carl,

I apologize for sending this through the bulletin board, but for some reason I cannot sent an email directly to you

received your email and the pictures , thank you and if you can forward the other pictures it would be appreciated.

I will be in for my summer alloy wheels next week so I look forward to that, it will also be the day for my first adjustments. I will do a seperate post asking about recalls on the C70.

Also could you let me know about the "rubber Volvo mats"

are they the standard mats ? or did you buy something else?

thanks

I dont think the piston valve replacement is very invasive. I had it switched out on my 00 S70, and I saw the warranty paperwork, and it only amounted (parts+labor) to around $100 being billed to Volvo. It made a BIG difference.

Just an Opinion! What do you gents think?

On the flip side, if our vehicle has tendencies

towards quirks and annoyances maybe it will

keep the "stealability" and "car jacking" factor

to minimum.

This gives me a little ease of mind since I

live in a major city.

Just my ray of sunshine in a very touchy subject.

RD

I also have the problem in my 2000 coupe, when the passenger side window is coming up, at the halfway point I am hearing a clunk. I kept thinking it was a regulator on its way out, but the regulators always seem to go suddenly with an awful cracking sound. I'm getting that checked out at next service. Now I've noticed two new things - my front tires are looking much more worn than the rears (only 11K miles on the Michelins and I just had them rotated in January), and the seal around the rear window on the inside driver's side is rippling. I hate all of these little nuisances! I expected better from Volvo!

Currently own and drive a 98 C70(M) HPT that I’ve put 48000 miles on.

Overall that car has been vary good and I would highly recommend one to anyone interested in such a car..

The problems that I have had, have been normal problems that have all been fixed under warrantee

But like any car you can still occasionally get bad ones..

I think that with regular maintenance and care there should be no problem with seeing well over 100,000 miles on any new Volvo car.

Have C70LTP 2000. Now have 23,000 miles, with no problems. In fact bought my wife the new S60T, now I have the C all to myself. Have been driving Volvo's for the past 23 years, and in most cases if you take care of it you should have few problems. I'm sold, think most all early model C70's problems have been fixed in the 2000 and 2001. Early problems were more to do with new hurry design and new factory and people. You will be happy with your new C70.

I also have a 2000 LPT coupe that is just over a year old with 11,000 miles. The engine is great, but I have had my share of nuisance problems, the majority electrical - (several broken window regulators, broken blinker relays, bulbs/sockets burning out, CD player always turning off random feature, an oil leak, etc.). Like I said, nothing major, just nuisance problems. It sure is a good looking car, though, isn't it?!