Howdy All,

Due to a complete and total lack of parts cars or salvage yards in my area, I'm thinking of upgrading from my 89 740 w/500k to an all wheel drive wagon. I've always liked the look of the XC/V70 wagons so that's where I am concentrating my search.

What I'd like to learn from the group is which year(s) and models are best? I was told by the dealer to stay away from anything pre 2004 I believe, since they were still using the viscous all wheel drive system with its zillions of seals then, before they switched to the electronic system. But I'd also be interested in hearing about folk's experiences with that system as well. As you can tell I'm a newbie to these models, but have been a Volvo owner since 81.

I'm in Colorado and would also be interested in local cars, if anyone has one for sale.

Any and all comments greatly appreciated.

Thanks much,

Jack

Took receipt of the 05 S60 yesterday. Besides the hubs and fuel pump/fuel filter issues I found that the passenger side inside door handle doesn't function. In looking at the you tube on removing the door panel the connector just snaps right in so I'm assuming it popped out at some point and I just need to reattach it...at least that's my hope.

Took it for a short drive into town yesterday. I'm really pleased with how it drives, the increased power over the 740 (even though the engine size is the same as the 740), the "gentility" of the car. It almost feels and looks too nice. I know, I know, what's wrong with me, but this is really a step up from anything I've owned before. Quiet, good power, good brakes, supple suspension, just a really nice car for a great price.

Now I just have to start all over at the beginning and learn how to work on this car. In watching one of the IPD videos on it, though, they said that in some ways this car is easier to work on than the 740, which was a nice surprise, since I've just assumed that they would be much more complex. We'll see.

Thanks to all that replied and helped me make the decision to buy this car. I really appreciate everyone's comments and advice.

We bought an '08 XC70 for the extra height available when you enter the car - we are all getting older!

See if you can find a car with traction control. I suspect that only the turbos might have that.

The system on our '96 855R worked great - except if both front wheels break loose at the same time and keep the same speed - it does not work under those conditions. I could do a dry burn-out with snow tires, but it would not slip turning out into traffic in slush!

The S60 turbos that I drove in '12 developed full torque at 1500 RPM - just off idle! I had to lock the car in first or second to drive around a parking lot

Thanks for the reply, James. Actually, thanks to all that have offered up their thoughts to help me out with this decision.

I've got a line on a dealer car, a 98 S70 GLT FWD, which seems to fall in the range of recommended low maintenance cars in this thread. It has 160k with the timing belt changed at 141k. The car looks good in the pictures with a few nicks and some wear on the leather seats, but nothing too bad, and the dealer only had to replace the radiator to bring everything in line. I'm going to go take a look at it on Monday, buy it if I like it, then bring it home (50 miles away) and have the two local Volvo mechanics go over it. If they find anything amiss the dealer has agreed to renegotiate the price so I'd be covered, and he does sound like a trustworthy type...rare these days.

I'm a little confused as to how you were able to break both front wheels loose on your 96 as I assumed that they all had open differentials like my 77 Rabbit, but appears that you had a limited slip differential, which would be perfect for Colorado and something I've long thought about retrofitting into my 740 but didn't really need once I went to Blizzaks on all four corners.

That's a lot of miles on your 740!

Are you interested in the 2001-2007 (P2) or 2008-present (P3) platform?

As you mentioned, with the AWD cars stick with 2004+ cars. Consensus seems to be that the 2006 or 2007's are the best. My sister has a 2006 XC that her family plans to run into the ground. All 3 kids have driven it.

AFAIK - the newer P3 cars are supposed to be good. A friend has a 2011 XC T6. Turbo 6 cylinder. Fastest Volvo I've ever driven. She has had no issues so far.

I'm looking at the early to late 2000 range or P2 cars. Your comments echo the one from the dealer regarding 2004s and later. I'll see what other comments people come back with regarding the most reliable model years. I'm not looking for speed, just ease of maintenance along with low cost, although I already know it will be more expensive to maintain these cars than it was the 740. If I want speed, that's what the Kawasaki is for...8)

Thanks much for the reply.

I wasn't suggesting that you want speed. My experience with the P3 cars is limited to my friend's 2011 XC T6. It's a nice car, it's fast, that's it. Too heavy and complicated for my taste.

I was looking at buying a V70 XC 2004-2007. IMHO - You can't go wrong with any of those years but I would favor the 2006-07's as they are the newest and the last two model years of the breed.

I may just shift gears altogether, to be honest. I spoke with my long time Volvo only mechanic earlier today. His experience is that once the all wheel drives get much above 150k, expensive things start needing replacement. Given that I've been driving a rear wheel drive car in Colorado since 1996 I think going to a front wheel only drive car may be just as good a replacement for the 740. I used to own a 77 Rabbit and loved the way it handled and how everything was in one location. I know I won't have the room in the engine bay I had in the Rabbit on these cars, but I'm already familiar, somewhat, with the layout, just have to learn the particulars.

Since most of the cars I'm seeing for sale are in the 100-150k mile range, his advice may be sage as I'm not looking to spend on repairs what I just spent on the car to get it down the road another 150k...

Good thought. The FWD cars will most likely hold up better with high mileage. Less to break...:)

The following cars are probably to old for you, but perhaps the best of the FWD cars are the older ones: 95-97 850's and 98 V70's. Pretty simple with minimal electronics compared to the newer cars. If you go newer then the 2003's can be added to the list (2004-2007), personally I would go for the P2 car in the best shape and as new as possible.

I still have my 95 850 wagon. That has been a very good car. No major repairs, 250k and will go more. Needs some minor repairs so my elderly father has been driving it just around town for now.

Instead of buying a XC, I ended up buying my parents FWD 2002 VW Passat 1.8T wagon. It's a blast to drive! Gets better mileage than a Volvo. Had it almost a year now, so far so good. It is my daily driver.

And why the cutoff between the 98s and the 03s? Did Volvo do something horrific in those five model years? There's a FWD 2000 V70 for a good price that I'm looking at right now...

Don't be afraid of a good FWD 99 or 2000 V70. Or S70 (sedan) for that matter. They are good cars except for the 5 speed automatics and the ETM.

Best bet in those years are the NA manual tranny (if you can find one!) V70 and the turbo cars as they have the bulletproof 4 speed automatic as in my 95 850. With the turbo cars, look for V70 GLT, T5 or R models if you want a 4 speed slushbox.

As Stephen mentioned, most or all of the bad ETM's have been replaced by now. So if you find a good 99 or 2000 give it serious consideration.

01 and 02 had trans issues, 5 spd auto. 98-00 has viscous coupling issues with the AWD system. Basically, the computer reads relatively speeds among the 4 wheels and adjusts traction accordingly. It is susceptible to tire circumferences. If you blow a tire you must replace the other 3 because the difference in circumference ruins the transfer box. It's a $4000 fix or you drop a driveshaft and it becomes a 2WD car. 99-00 had the etm issues although they should be taken care of by this point. You asked for the best choice and it's a '04 or newer if you can afford it. The best would be '06 or so. It all depends on what you can afford.

So now all I have to do is find a 2004-6 V70 FWD and I'm good then. Found one for 3k with 200k on the clock that doesn't look too bad, but it's the only one so far.

Don't need the extra maintenance/cost associated with AWD or turbos, which is pretty much all I can find for sale. Just want a good solid long wearing car that I can still work on.

Too bad they're as rare as hen's teeth around here.

Don't be afraid of the turbo's. They are virtually bulletproof and not the turbo's that came out of the '80's that had to be replaced after about 80K on the clock.

Cool. Good to know. We had an 84 242 Turbo for a while that blew clouds of black smoke when you got on it. Glad that they've solved that particular issue.

I've driven some of the newer turbo charged cars and while they're not much off the line, once they spool up they're great fun.

Looked at and drove a 98 S70 GLT and an 05 S60 today. Both had around 160k miles. I liked the giddyup of the S70 but I was hearing the same clunks and thuds I hear in my 740 when going over potholes and rough spots in the road. The S60, though, was really nice. FWD, smooth and compliant, no turbo, but plenty of off the line grunt, which I prefer. Handled well and was just an all around nice car.

Two things noted on the S60: a loud humming sound coming from the back of the car, I'm assuming that's an in tank fuel pump going out? How hard are those to change?

The other thing was a "howling" sound at speed on the highway, probably the left side hub. I just read a write up on that, here, and it doesn't sound all that bad. But I did speak to my mechanic this morning to find out trouble spots on the S70 and he mentioned having to take a torch to the axle on one car as it was rusted solid and couldn't get it free, otherwise. Hopefully, this is not one of those cars.

All thoughts and advice greatly appreciated as always.

The humming is possibly the fuel pump getting noisy or perhaps a badly clogged fuel filter. Have it checked out, if it is the pump deduct the replacement cost from the purchase price as they are expensive.

Frankly, I don't have any great knowledge of S60's, just a general knowledge of FWD and AWD Volvo's other than my 850. I do believe it is a one fuel pump system on the S60's like 850's, S70's and early V70's. My suspicion is that all FWD and AWD Volvo's are a one pump system. Can't confirm this. Maybe someone else will.

What I do know is that 850's have a single pump mounted just forward of the tank. It is Bosch pump and like all Bosch fuel pumps it is a robust little f..... My pump is original, has 250k and is still going strong. My 240's main fuel pump was still going strong at 300k when I sold the car. If the S60 has a Bosch pump I'd surprised if it is dying at 160k.

The howling noise sounds like a bad wheel bearing. If it is worse going around turns, then it definitely is a bad wheel bearing. The wheel bearing is an integral part of the hub. The entire hub is replaced as opposed to the RWD cars where just the wheel bearing can be replaced.

Just my $.02, but I'd buy the S60. It is 7 years newer!

Thanks, Jwalker, for the response.

I agree with you, the 05 is the nicer car all the way around. I've negotiated the cost of both front hubs and a new fuel pump off the price and plan to pick it up tomorrow, weather permitting, as there's snow in the forecast.

I only heard the howling at speed, getting louder the faster I went (60-80 mph). Couldn't hear it at all at low speeds.

I'm going to try swapping in a new fuel filter first per your recommendation since there's ~$400 difference between that and the fuel pump. This has a single pump system as well, mounted underneath the rear seats. Looks finicky from the videos I've seen but not difficult. The fuel filter on the other hand appears to be a 10 minute job, tops. Now I just have to find out where it is, but I'm assuming that it's underneath the car.

I've seen on you tube the hard way and the easy way to change the hubs. I'll try the easy way first but am mostly prepared to do it the hard way as well except for using heat for seized bolts as I don't have a torch. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the easy way works, though. 8)