If I can't find a good 850 wagon, my next option is to wait for a good '00 V70 FWD that comes off the lease. The reason I'm not considering 98/99 models is due to consumer reports. I'm not sure if they have enough data on 00 models.

A couple of questions...
- Has V70 really changed that much from 99 to 00 model? Any drastic change that'd influence the recommendation level? If V70 FWD getting a bad rep due to V70 AWD?

- In general, don't the leased vehicles get less maintenance? Private leasing doesn't make sense to me, but there seem to be enough people doing it. Would you buy a leased V70? Why/why not?

I also like 00 model because it has airbags that protect head as well. None of 850 has it, but if I'm going to spend more money, I might as well get this option, too.

Again, as always, thanks for your opinion.

There is one other question. What was the profession of the lessor? If a doctor or Real Estate Broker, and if they are reasonably successful, then the reason for them to lease is that they get a 100% deduction on the vehicle, as long as they have another car. A total write off!! Ain't bad. The other scenario is far more sad. They do it because they enjoy driving something that they could not afford to buy, therefore they cannot afford to do the prev maint, and they drive it until it breaks, and do NOT understand the philophy of PREVENTATIVE MAINT, therefore, it didn't get done... (A little ranting.)

I just bought a '99 S70 T5A that came off lease with 33K miles and all options. Find a dealer in your area that goes to auctions. I told him the color and options I was looking for and he found one for me in a few weeks. Even came with mounted snows and the maintenance booklet was stamped for all services by the selling dealership. Still has one year left on original warranty. Original sticker was $38- I paid $20. I am very pleased with the car. I have seen three year old wagons for around $18 in the local papers (Upstate NY).

Have had:
'72 164E: piece of junk
'73 142E: absolute GEM 100,000mi. when sold
'69 145: used but, another gem
'79 245E: another gem
'92 745T: another gem, 98,000mi. traded for '99
'98 V70AWD only issues: bulbs and poor MPG 15-16; 38,000mi. when returned
'99 V70GLT only issue: bulbs; 49,000mi. and still going strong
'01 V70T5 only issue: overhead control panel; 7,500mi. Vrooooom

One MAJOR comment: VCNA does NOT, REPEAT, DOES NOT support owners, some dealers do, to be fair.
In '72 I wrote to Bjorn Ahlstrom, then president, who arranged regional folks to investigate my new 164E, outcome: yeah, "it's a piece of junk" Dealership, Warwick, RI revoked, me: squat!
Traded to Picard Volvo for 142E and, LITERALLY, snuck out of town.
2 years later after Navy, I get a long distance call, going to Indiana U, from a CT. dealer requesting ??? on 164 and told him whole story, said he would compact into an ashtray!

Best of Luck ;)
--
Do Not Go Gently...

Most recent purchase is a 2001 V70 FWD. Previously leased with 8K miles, this was purchased from a dealer with the extended warrenty. In hind sight I was not aware of future service issues. First question to ask your self; Where will I service the car. Talk to your independent repair shop first, have they purchased the Maintanence Manual yet for your model? Be aware that this is a huge expense. Reference; visit VOLVOVIRA.COM . If the independents are not buying into the high cost of your maintanence, I hope that you are living close to a dealership. I would buy another Volvo if the maintanence manual,WISP,VDA,WSDA,VCT2000 cost issue is resolved.

volvomoh--the old saying "knowledge is power" is a very true statement. I just bought a used v70R AWD about 6 months ago through an independent used volvo specialist. Car was through the auto auctions and was an off-lease vehicle. Since my own love/hobby is auto restoration and maintanence I take great pride in looking for the "right" used car. I probably looked 3-4 months before I bought this one. Again--if you know the "who what when where how" of cars and what to look for, its the only way to go. I basically got a $41 car for $20K and it has been great. Sure, there are some minor things and the car had good "basic" volvo maintanence but the way I look at it is I let the first guy take it in the shorts on depreciation and I now own a great car. I have had 3 volvos---all pre-owned! Again-knowledge is power and the old "buyer beware".
Things like car-fax are also a big help. Its the only way to go!

Well, since there are those who will be sour around here (yes, i do find that this site seems to have more unhappy owners than other volvo sites), i'll say the following:

I have a 2000 S70 AWD. Granted it's not a V70, but it's basically the same. It's been a great car--and reliable. I'd buy another.

Would i buy one off lease? Only with the service history that satisfied me--but same goes if it wasn't leased. Look at the whole car and you'll see how well it's been cared for.

Consumer reports has indeed knocked the series, but there were some modifications done for the 2000 model year, although minor. FUrthermore, they've knocked the AWD, but i haven't had a single problem (read "zero") with the AWD system. It's worked great.

The extra head/side airbag came in the 1999 70 series models. Before that it was just the side airbag (smaller bag that didn't go up to the head). In 2001 they introduced the side curtain on the V70. I'd go for 1999 or later for the same reasons you indicated.

Good luck!

Two years ago I bought 1998 V70GLT that was leased for two years. It had 36,000 km back then now has 120,000 km. Apart from scheduled maintenance the only problems I've only had problems with: lift gate lock (replaced under warranty), stabilizing link (warranty), oxygen sensor (my wallet), secondary air injection system check valve (wallet again).
Would I buy again? Yes, I would.
Good luck.

>>Why lease?

A. People generally lease cars because they want to drive a car they can't afford. Some do it because of business reasons or because they feel the money would be more productive deployed elsewhere, but most people lease Volvos because they can't come up with $35k in cash to buy one.

>>If I can't find a good 850 wagon, my next option is to wait for a good '00 V70 FWD that comes off the lease. The reason I'm not considering 98/99 models is due to consumer reports. I'm not sure if they have enough data on 00 models.

A. Read the April issue of Consumer Reports. They also warn about the 00-01-02 models.

>>A couple of questions... Has V70 really changed that much from 99 to 00 model? Any drastic change that'd influence the recommendation level? If V70 FWD getting a bad rep due to V70 AWD?

A. Consumer Reports lists the AWD version separately in it's "Frequency of Repair" charts. The difference is between "bad" and "very bad".

>>In general, don't the leased vehicles get less maintenance?

A. I would imagine so. Particularly now, since one can turn off the service reminder light without going to the dealer. If someone can't afford the car, do you think they can afford $400 for the major services? I can only imagine what the V70 aluminum block looks like if the oil hasn't been changed for 36,000 miles. BMW, BTW, has this problem licked by including all scheduled maintainance for the first 3 years in the price of the car.

>>Private leasing doesn't make sense to me, but there seem to be enough people doing it. Would you buy a leased V70? Why/why not?

No, for reasons stated above. I would not touch a used or ex-lease car without complete service records with the proverbial 10-foot pole.

>>I also like 00 model because it has airbags that protect head as well. None of 850 has it, but if I'm going to spend more money, I might as well get this option, too.

You need to buy a '01 V70 for the "true" side curtain airbags.

For the about came price as a '00 V70 you can buy a new, vastly improved 2003 Subaru Legacy. Based on my own experiences, and reading about other's experiences here, it's doubtful that I will buy another Volvo once I'm finished with my current one. The car has been fun, but hardly reliable.

-Punxsutawney Phil

Phil,
You make me so sad to hear this. Please buy another Volvo. We will miss you on the boards when you decide to sell yours. Well, anyways, I'm hap hap happy with mine. good luck. :(