I currently own a '92 740 Turbo wagon that is still running strong, but we need to replace our other car. I have bee looking into buying a V70 and hope to find some advice from current owners. We live in snowy VT, so I am considering an awd (though probably not a Cross Country) model, but I have also heard that a fwd (I'd buy a turbo model) w/ snow tires would do well in snow. Can anyone help steer me either toward or away from buying a V70? Are there common problems or model years to avoid? Are the newer generation models (2001 on) significantly better (or worse) than '98 to '00? Would those of you who own these cars buy the same car if you had it to do over again? (I am also considering sticking w/awd by getting a Subaru or an Audi A6 wagon or checking out a Saab 9-5 wagon--apples and oranges, I know). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

One other site to visit is:
www.volvospy.com I've found some excellent techincal information such as the "hidden" menus that can be accessed in later Volvo radios.

Regarding FWD vs AWD, if you live in a suburban or urban area that clears its streets of snow regularly, AWD might be overkill. Also consider that the V70 has relatively low ground clearance AWD won't do much more than FWD for pushing the front air dam and undercarriage through snow. I've found the FWD with the stability traction control on my V70 and S80 works well enough to get moving on most lightly snowed and plowed streets.

Avoid at all costs the 2001 models--- they were rooted with transmission problems. Although Volvo apparently has come up with new software I went through two transmissions on my 2001 v70 within 30,000 miles. Volvo just bought me out on my lease and I am now driving a 2004 2.5T versus my original 2001 whigh was a non turbo. The 2004 transmission seems to shift much more smoothly. I am glad I leased the vehicle versus having bought it(check out my post below) and look into the lease option as well. Also as Samauri Jack pointed out to me if you are going to buy a new or lease a new one use carsdirect.com to do your pricing research. Good luck. Mike

Thanks, Metacomet.

I've owned a 1995 850, and currently own a 1993 940 and a 1999 V70. I'll take my shot at this too:

Q: Can anyone help steer me either toward or away from buying a V70?

A: I did a lot of Internet research before getting our 99 V70, including the Brickboard, but also a number of other sites and bulletin boards. I will not steer you away from a V70 persay (I would steer you to one). But maybe away from certain ones.

Q: Are there common problems or model years to avoid?

A: I would avoid the 1998 and the 2001. Not that they are necessarily horrible, but they genearlly do have more problems than the 99-00, and subsequent 02+ years, for the two respective designs. There are common problems, just go through the previous posts, but many of the items were improved or fixed in the 99-00 and 02+ versions.

Q: Are the newer generation models (2001 on) significantly better (or worse) than '98 to '00?

A: Apparently about the same, staying away from the 98 and 01's. Another note on the 98, they improved the suspension in 99, even though the model change happened in 98. Our 99 has a great ride. the 98's are similar to the 95 850 I had, not bad and very good handling, but a little rougher. The ride on the Cross Country is a little lacking, and there are BIG problems associated with the first year or so of AWDs.

Q: Would those of you who own these cars buy the same car if you had it to do over again? (I am also considering sticking w/awd by getting a Subaru or an Audi A6 wagon or checking out a Saab 9-5 wagon--apples and oranges, I know).

A: Definitely for a wagon. I think it is about the best wagon on the market. The BMW, Saab, VW Passat, and Mercedes wagons are also great when running, but as a previous post to your questions indicated, If you think the Volvo has reliability problems... (I've owned a Passat wagon, my in-laws own a Saab 9-5 and a Mercedes, and don't even think of an Audi if you are concerned with reliability). The V70 will not be cheap to own, for sure, but the feel, safety (I don't care if some others have equaled Volvo on the crash tests, more people walk away from Volvo crashes unharmed), handling and price (compared to the for just mentioned), it is the best. NOTE: If I were not going for a wagon, the Lexus and Acura would also be a good choice. If you want a newer car for the same price, the Subaru Forester is about the best there is.

All said I think the Volvo is the best Euro car for the money. And even though the Japanese cars have rock solid reliability (though they have more problems than some think) they DO NOT ride like the best Euro cars.

As for snow, we go to Denver twice a year. Our FWD V70 has stability-traction control and has never had a problem in snow. We do not use snow tires either.

Thanks a lot for your input! Very helpful. Can you recommend other volvo sites besides brickboard and Kino's (which I've visited--a very helpful site, too)?

The Edmunds.com has several good bulletin boards. www.swedespeed.com is another.

Other misc Volvo sites are:

http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/
http://www.volvospeed.com/maintence.htm
and a shop in Dallas Texas called Southwest Auto, that only does Volvos.

Parts:

www.eEuroParts.com
www.autohausaz.com
www.fcpgroton.com/CSV70/csv70brakes.htm
www.ipdusa.com
www.fcpgroton.com
www.aaarims.com
www.volvoworld.com

Here's what has been done throughout 55,000 miles:

1. Download of new idle adjust program
2. Replaced seat control panel on drivers side
3. Broken rear sway bar (common - after market much stronger)
4. LF Headlight wiper motor
5. Replace air mass meter (AMM)
6. Ignition switch replaced
7. Replaced worn uper engine torque mount
8. Leaking turbo seals

No cost to me, all under warranty. Only AMM would have been truly costly.

Q. Are there common problems or model years to avoid?

A. The FWD '98s were once on the Consumer Reports "Avoid" list but aren't now. The AWD versions remain on the "Avoid" list. See Kino's Volvo page, and look at the owner's surveys. http://kinovolvo.velez.ws/ The same stuff that has always failed on the 850-70s still seems to fail and it seems like they always will if you drive the car long enough.

Q. Are the newer generation models (2001 on) significantly better (or worse) than '98 to '00?

A. ONE year of the "new" V70 is currently on the Consumer Reports "Avoid" list, the FWD '01s.

Q. Would those of you who own these cars buy the same car if you had it to do over again?

A. Like everything, it seemed a good idea at the time. If I knew what I know, would I buy it again? Hmmmm. I don't know. The Volvo hasn't been so awful that I've gotten rid of it. It's still fun to drive but has been awfully "maintenance intensive". It's currently my "winter beater" this season. I'm giving it to my teenage daughter (I hope) after the winter. So it's not completely hopeless to buy a Volvo. But I did just buy an Acura, which so far has been absolutely perfect . It also requires far less ROUTINE maintenance, the plugs go to 110,000 miles vs. the Volvo's 30,000 , there's a timing CHAIN which needs no service vs. the Volvo's 70,000 mile timing BELT, etc. To tell the truth, if I knew what I know now ... well, probably not.

But it's been a FUN car!

Q. (I am also considering sticking w/awd by getting a Subaru or an Audi A6 wagon or checking out a Saab 9-5 wagon--apples and oranges, I know).

A. The only one on your list that I'm convinced isn't significantly WORSE than Volvo is Subaru. The guy in the next office to mine is going through the process of a lemon-law buyback on his new Saab. Caveat emptor. I've heard similar horror stories about Audi. Besides Subaru, the other AWDs I'd actually consider buying with my own money are the Honda CR-V, Honda Pilot , Acura MDX and the Toyota-Lexus models like the 4Runner, Land Cruiser or RX300.

Good luck!

-Samurai Jack



'98 V70T5M, 132k mi., iPd stabilizer bars, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, Bilstein HD struts and shocks, Valentine-1, Mobil-1 always, E-code headlight lenses, Michelin Arctic Alpins

Thanks for the input! (your '98 has 132K? When, if you recall, did things start going wrong with it? Thanks again)

Began to go wrong? The day it rolled out of the dealership. Seriously.

But I hope I didn't leave the impression that the car is awful, it's not. It's not really been much worse than either of my Saabs or Porsche. I've lived with it for 6+ years and giving it to my daughter. It's fast, fun to drive and practical. Great seats, too.

I should add that at 132,000 miles the car still uses absolutely NO oil between changes, the clutch is original and the transmission still shifts like brand new. Mechanically the car has been pretty good. The majority of the problems have been electrical things. (I add that it's always been "babied' as far as maintenance, by-the-book or better. And I have had zero failures that could have been avoided by routine maintenance.)

Many problems that have not been electrical have been things that are not unreasonable to fail over time but have been poorly placed for service. An example is the AC evaporator that requires removing the dashboard to replace. I'm not as annoyed by the evaporator failure as I am by the fact that it takes an experienced tech an entire day to fix it. Another annoyance that is part of the design is that there are an awful lot of vulnerable underbody components. I hit a piece of flying semi tractor tire and the resulting bill was close to $3000. None of that was for paintwork, all was for the fragile components placed under the front of the car. The other two cars - a 940 and a Cherokee - that the tire hit pulled over, inspected for damage and drove off. My car earned a flatbed ride home.

Although I think that much of the 850-70 design was inspired, there were a lot of things the Volvo engineers really didn't think through completely.

It's been a fun car and I still enjoy driving it, but....

-Samurai Jack



'98 V70T5M, 132k mi. (Yes, 132,000+, and there are 850-70s around with 200,000+), iPd stabilizer bars, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, Bilstein HD struts and shocks, Valentine-1, Mobil-1 always, E-code headlight lenses, Michelin Arctic Alpins

"If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?" -Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

Thanks again. Glad to hear it wasn't all bad. The fact that you have your daughter driving it says a lot; I'll be buying this mostly for my wife and two young ones....

MY 98 AWD that everyone seems to despise has been good I only have 120kilometers on it with only 30 being mine and it is not jap perfect, but i don't want a jap, don't really know why either. (my other car is a Saab conver which i LOVE ).I have had to replace the diff seal, door actuator only thus far.We love the ride, size,power handling ,comfort,a nd of course seats.I looked at an outback the other day, 2000,which was already rusting. mine is pristine.I do find the plastic creaking is annoying though i seem to have this fixed for the moment. Would i buy another?perhaps,this is my second volvo already.
den

Thanks again for the input, DEN