Bought my 99 S80T6 in Nov of 2000 with 24K on it from the dealer (Calabasas Motorcars in So Cal). The car has been in the shop 14 times since I've owned it. It even broke the first day I had it. I have spent almost 3K in non-routine repair since the warranty expired. It's had the radiator, radiator fan, alternator, front strut mounts, ABS control unit, trans solenoids, mass air flow sensor, front subframe mounts, front ball joints, and gas tank replaced. One time, the rack and pinion decided to leak and had to have that fixed. The last straw was the gas tank. Car was out of warranty but Volvo picked up the tab of approx $1000. Last week talked to G/M to buy back the car. I'm waiting a response. Any other options I can present to him?
In all fairness Calabasas Motorcar service is excellent and the GM seems to be interested in keeping my business, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a reasonable solution to this nightmare. Sigh.

'99 was the S80s first and worst year. The '02s have had few problems compared to other years and have the latest type throttle unit too, which is known to be yet another problem with older S80s, V70s ('99-'01).

If you LIKE the dealer, and now that Consumer Reports likes Volvos again (after those "awkward years" of 1998 and 1999) why not just trade it in on a new one? Or lease a new one, then you can buy it at the end of the lease or turn it back in if it gives you trouble.

I'm usually not an advocate of leasing but since there seem to be wild fluctuations in auto build quality from year-to-year within the same manufacturer and since interest rates are so low, that might be a rational thing to do.

-bill d cat

I wouldn't hold my breath. I highly doubt that they'll just "buy it back" unless you're trading it in on another car. They're not going to just give you money for an older, high mileage car otherwise.

I would look to trade what you have in on another Volvo. You will have maximum trade potential at your local Volvo dealer. I would use your spotty service experience as leverage to get the absolute best deal you can get on something else.