I'm considering the purchase of a 1999 V70 XC which was rear ended in one of the rear crumple zones (which has since been repaired). The frame however is bent behind the right rear wheel (hence a very attractive selling price) A body shop has looked at the damage and said the it could be repaired. When I aksed them if the repair was ultimately necessary...they said they didn't believe it would impact the performance of the car. (The car is in otherwise excellent condition.)

I'm curious about how members of this board feel about the bent frame issue and how it might impact the performance of the vehicle? Is the bent frame something to be avoided altogether, or is it something to consider repairable that would allow me to get an excellent deal on a vehicle I would otherwise be unable to afford? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Don't buy a smashed XC because it is a vehicle you would otherwise be unable to afford. You might try looking for a deal on a nice 940 wagon instead. Read the brickboard and familiarize yourself with the maintenance costs for operating the XC and I'm sure you will agree (e.g. see tire replacement with AWD).

If they mean a wrinkled unibody ... if a "crumple zone" is already crumpled, it can't be crumpled again. Unless a VOLVO body shop was willing to put it IN WRITING that they "didn't believe it would impact the performance of the car" in another rear-end crash, I'd walk away from that one.

-Punxsutawney Phil