I've been a RWD volvo owner now for 15 years and my sons current driver is a 1993 940 wagon, Regina, 350k miles. This has been just an amazing car and it still starts every day (0degrees this morning) and drives wonderfully.

24 midwest winters however are starting to show especially the bottoms of the doors, and the edges of the hood. I'm thinking come spring it will start to look pretty rough.

I got an email yesterday from my mom in Colorado saying her neighbor is selling their 1-owner 2001 V70 FWD wagon. 125,000 miles. Sweet leather interior. All service performed at Volvo its entire life. No rust whatsoever. She wants to get $1200 for the car.

I am quite attached to our 940, we've traveled the country in it, brought our babies home from the hospital in it. Lots of memories.

I can repair the 940 pretty much blindfolded, I have no idea what I'm getting into with the V70.

Look forward to thoughts on this dilemma. Will my 15" rims and snow tires from the 940 fit onto the V70??

Thanks,
Matt

Check with a dealer, I think that 15" steel wheels are available for that car, but they have a much different offset than RWD cars.

Perhaps Craigslist.

2001 OEM for the s60 was 15" wheels (16" optional) so you can get steel wheels but as indicated, RWD offset like your 940 has will not work. It is a gamble but I am 90% sure Ford Taurus 15" will work but you wil have to ditch and locator pins for the brake discs.

Now that I re-read the post from the OP, the ETM/ETB and ABS modulator will both need to be rebuilt in the not too distant future if not already done. Neither are showstoppers but things you want to plan for.

Engine is turned the wrong way.

Wrong wheels are driven.

850/first gen V70 are still very mechanical vehicles with very little electronic trickery that will be new to you. Early Second gen add the electronic throttle and that complexity but not insane. At some point they went CANBUS and proprietary ODB codes (beyond the mandated ones), settings, etc.

They are much tighter to work on in the engine bay but not insanely so. The AWD models are to be avoid in my opinion because they add nothing of value except complexity.

Gas mileage is better. Cabin is quieter. Power is much better model-for-model (NA faster than NA, Turbo faster than turbo). Both first and second gen common issues are well documented with solutions (ABS module, ETB module, AC compressor clutch, PCV system, etc).

Engine is very complex to work on but not beyond the skill of someone who can work methodically.

Less tolerant of deferred maintenance and harder to bring back from a neglected state. Timing belt, tensioner and water pump need to be religiously changed.

The first gen NA manual V70 would be the only old car I would replace my 1993 NA 940 with as a daily driver...maybe. I likely will go much newer when the time comes but it is on my radar.