I currently have a '93 Volvo 945T and a '99 Honda Accord. I plan on buying a new car in about a year and have pretty much narrowed it down to a new V70 or a new Honda Odyssey.

If you buy the base V70 Volvo, I think you'll be disappointed. I never really liked the base-model dealer service loaners I had. Without the turbo, the V70 is a slug, even with the manual transmission. For '05, the T5 isn't available with the manual. That marketing strategy on the part of Volvo moves the manual transmission enthusiasts up market to the 300HP V70R with a typical transaction price anywhere between the very high $30s and the high $40s.

My wife drives an Odyssey, and I also drive an Acura (with 6-speed manual) in addition to my Volvo. I was considering a nice used 81k V70T5 automatic for my daughter. Then I looked through my maintenance receipt folders for the Volvo, Odyssey and Acura and decided I'd need to get my head examined.

If you can control yourself with the options and buy the basic ($27k, 255HP) Odyssey EX, it's an awful lot of car for the money.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 155k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new, Michelin Arctic Alpins