Unfortunately, the '98 V70 R AWD Volvo you currently have joins with the first two years of the S80 as about the most problem prone Volvo's ever made. There are many other very fine Volvo years/models that you should be very satisfied with. My inlaws have a 2000 Mercedes and it has been nowhere near reliable.

You should be able to find a relatively loaded new V70 for under $40,000 if you find a Volvo dealer you can negotiate with. May consider a 2 year old lease return for much less $$.

Are you in Canada?

I am also annoyed over being nickeled and dimed (it's more like $500 and $1000-ered!) by my FWD '98 V70T5.

Based on thousands of owner questionaires, Consumer Reports current recommends 2 Volvo models, the S60 and the V70. They recommend NO Mercedes models. They recommended the old style BMW 5-series which was available as a station wagon. They actually recommend several BMW models, including the '99 5-series as used cars.

If you want AWD and reliability look at the Lexus RX330 and the Acua MDX. Of course they don't have the "road feel" of a Mercedes, BMW, Audi or Volvo but they're much much much more reliable.

-Punxsutawney Phil

'98 V70T5M, 136k 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

I believe that Mercedes are an expensive car to own because they charge an arm and a leg for parts. Another consideration is the cost to insure it, check with your insurance company; I believe Mercedes is expensive to insure because the cost of replacement parts is much higher than other cars. But don't take my word for it, do check with your ins company. Having said that, Mercedes is a very nice car.

As far as my 2 cents is concerned, I would always buy a new car over a used one. And a new V70 is a fine choice as I love my 02 V70. No reliability issues as yet.

To be honest all cars require about the same kinds of routine maintenance. Either a Mercedes or a Volvo will require about the the same kinds of service to the engine, transmission, brakes, electrical, etc. The all wheel drive mechanism on any car will require service.

It is possible to defer the expense of maintenance by not doing it as requred. But that just pushes the cost into the future and means that you will be faced with maintenance AND repair costs.

I wish there were low maintenance cars...I'd buy one.

Mercedes has been having a lot of quality issues, too. I doubt they
would be relatively maintenance free (Japanese or American cars do
better in that catagory).

Go to google.com and search on "mercedes quality" to see more.