Opionions on Volvo ??

fastfredracing · 02-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Our 96 volvo 960 is growing older, and we are consiering a replacement. The car now has 167K miles, and has been a workhorse of a car. A couple of timing belts, brakes tires and fluids, and it just keeps going and going. I think the onlly thing that has ever broken has been the cd player, and a parking brake cable . I am diligent about maintanence.
I really want a bmw station wagon, but they are a little hard to find. My next choice is The Volvo xc 70. This would be for the familly car. Grocery getter etc. I have heard a few bad reviews, but for the most part, everybody I know that has one has been real pleased.
I will probablly buy something with near 100k on the clock. I spin a wrench for a living, and dont mind having to sort out a few issues here and there.
Any of you have one?? any major catastrophies??

mossguy · 02-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Fred - We have a 2004 Volvo V70 AWD and it has been one of the best cars we've ever had. Trouble-free. I would guess that you are used to the wide turning circle from you 960.

Best,
Tom

mikester · 02-09-2009, 06:26 PM

I have a 2000 V70 and it's okay but I keep having the same ignition pack go out (twice now) and it has a couple of switches that don't work well and the doors don't always unlock or lock all the way when I hit the remote. Also sometimes the button the gear selector doesn't release all the way meaning I can't get the key out until it releases - it just takes a little fiddling but it's irritating.

These nuisances are expensive to fix and irritating. Not sure I would buy another.

Axeman · 02-09-2009, 08:13 PM

I've had a couple old Volvo 740's wagon and they were bullet proof, easy to work on etc..got well over 200k miles out of them. But I made the mistake of buying an 850 4 door, first front wheel drive Volvo made and I should have known better (I hate front wheel drive cars in general). that was one of the biggest mistake I've made!! Nothing but trouble, transmission went out twice, electrical problem, ABS sensor problem, A/C problems, etc, etc...cost me an arm and a leg until I finally got rid of it. Whatever you do, do not buy an 850 model.

Pat S · 02-10-2009, 01:50 AM

Currently I drive a 240 wagon, the wife has an S60R.

The 240 seems like nothing does or could go wrong (although it is exceptionally underpowered). The R has some issues here and there (turn signal switch X2, clutch pedal assembly, sensors, etc) but even with the issues it is still our favorite sedan we have ever owned. Plenty of power and great comfortable ride.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Different generation of cars, but I have a 1990 Volvo 740GLE. Car has 253,000 miles on it and runs great. It HAS had a transmission swap, but the motor just keeps going and going. What a tank.

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

I'm trying to keep up my Mom's '04 S40. It's not looking like this car wil go the long haul like it was planned. Over $400 per month for the last 5 to 6 months so far.

poorsche930 · 02-10-2009, 05:18 AM

I had an 850R wagon, and it was quite possibly, overall, the best car I've ever owned. Reliable, I mean REALLY RELIABLE, fun to drive, would do over 130+ mph

, and actually handled good too!

That was one of the last pre ford volvos though. I'm not sure about about the newer one. I've heard good, and I've heard bad. Seems to depend on the model. I really would consider another one.

Remember these three letters IPD.....

www.ipdusa.com

Sarah · Sarah's Garage

I have a 2004.5 S40T5. I have not had many issues & so far have been very happy with it. Driver side window rubber seal had to be replaced twice & an electrical issue causing cd player not to work (warranty time frame covered it) & a few recall things volvo took care of. I also change out the wheels/tires fro winter.

But...I know I have an issue that needs to be looked at soon. Sometimes when I turn the key...it sits there a sec...makes a high pitched "ziitttt" sits a sec & then starts. So, I have not been stranded...but it concerns me. It could be a number of things i'm sure...just hope it isn't $ painful to take care of.

Otherwise...in the future i plan to get an XC90. S

RKC · 02-10-2009, 08:17 AM

Had a 2001 V70 XC - ran flawlessly for the 3 years we had it. Great car to drive and enough room without being any bigger than it had to be. If you have mid-age kids, the pop up booster seats are the best.

steve911 · steve911's Garage

I've got an '04 V70 T5, which replaced a '96 850 GLT. The V70 is a HUGE improvement over the 850, IMO. Handles well, its FAST and comfortable. and holds a lot of stuff. Its my dd sports gear hauler and family vacation mobile. I can put 4 bicycles on the roof rack, 3 sets of golf clubs and 4 rollaway luggage pieces in the back and get to our house in Sunriver in less than 8 hours - and get 20 mpg.

BTW, I bought the T5 over the XC 70 since I didn't need the ground clearance and I thought (still do) that the XC is fugly. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy the T6 AWD, mainly to avoid having to put on or carry Spider Spikes (though I like them a LOT more than chains).

ben parrish · 02-10-2009, 03:27 PM

had an 850R wagon and loved it. Great car! We only sold it because we were leaving the country. When we returned we looked for another 850 but couldn't find one we liked. We ended up buying a 98 Mercedes 320 wagon. This has been a very good car. The ride quality is better than the Volvo and the leather is FAR better than Volvo's.
I think we will always have a wagon as I will NEVER own a mini van but we need the room to haul two kids, a large lab and all associated gear. I have owned a few Mercedes and have always had good service from them. I would recommend them to anyone.
Why not keep the car you have? Keep up with the routine maintainance and continue to drive her. Best part, it's probably long been paid for.
Ben

Scuba Steve · 02-10-2009, 03:59 PM

I've had a good experience with my fiance's '92 960. It's at 144K miles now and should be good through 200 at least. It's surprisingly easy to work on, except for the timing belt tensioner bolts that must've been installed by King Kong.

Robert Adams · Robert Adams's Garage

My wife drives a 2000 XC which we bought new and after about 6 Volvos we will be moving onto something else, they just don't makem like they used to!. Had VWs for a long run, got sold on the Volvos for over 2 decades now, but the cost of keeping them running has gotten nuts. Costs more than my P-car; any of them! The one service that just put me over the top was we were having trouble starting and it turned out to be part on the fuel pump. Don't now recall what the part was, but it was under $25.00 for the part. In order to replace it however, they needed to drop the entire awd suspension to get at it. So a $25 part would cost about $2500! Even the dealer was embarrassed, just not enough to drop their price. We live with turning the ignition on twice and buy a new battery every 18 months. This seems to be pretty indicative of our latest Volvo experience - BRING LOTS OF $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!
Ridiculous! Don't honestly know how they stay in business, well actually I do, they design cars that require hideously expensive services. These days, Volvos aren't really anything special, to me not much safer to drive than most any other car, the ride is OK and they have a reasonable amount of power, reasonable MPG by 90's standards I guess, but so do any number of other cars that probably are more reliable and cost way less to begin with. Looking at consumer reports I would say get a car with as few black dots as possible unless you have deep pockets. They only way we as consumers will get a decent or improved product is to vote with our wallet.
Don't know what the next wagon will be but I sure know what it will not be and I would advise anyone even thinking about buying one of these lemons, DON'T unless you like HUGE service bills every time it goes to the shop-dealer or independent- doesn't matter. Volvo controls the parts costs and the labor to do the work is pretty much the same $ wherever you take it. I just looked up my 08 service total without the above service being completed: $4,900 for just under 10k miles and nothing major! The '00 model was supposed to be a good year! Most of that was done at one or two GOOD Volvo independent shops and a few at the dealer. Can't even imagine what the bills would have totaled if it had all been done at the dealer.
Sorry for the rant, just don't buy one of these things, OK. Maybe a Subaru next time? Can't be any worse than the Volvo!

TimT · 02-10-2009, 05:08 PM

My sig other drives her 240 every day of the week... and has for the last 25+ years..

She often says she wants to buy a new car... I mention hers was paid for 20 years ago... and other than routine maintenance ( and that one nasty accident where she was unharmed, and the others insurance paid the whole claim) The car has been great.. stars when really cold -20f... never overheated...

Underpowered... yea by todays standards..

AbbyAk · 02-10-2009, 11:10 PM

Have 2002 XC70. Very good car, although I will say probably not the lowest ownership costs on the long haul---parts and service not the cheapest. . Quality car though and is perfect up here in Alaska.

It is my company car (heavy civil const. and marine company--definitely not the usual white pick-up with a lab in the back).

I will not hesitate to turn the current one over for another Volvo. Excellent ergonomics, design, safety and styling. The car I have has the inline 5 cylinder turbo--decent enough HP. In the snow (with Blizzaks) the thing handles terrifically. I love the car.

That said absolute best bang for buck I have ever owned is the Subaru Outback. Had a late 90's model. All we ever did was change the oil and fill it with gas. AWD, great mileage, quality build, good safety rating--affordable acquisition price--smaller cabin and not the prettiest thing ever designed--but the value for dollar was/is tremendous.

A.B.

PS: The new Volvo XC 60 due out soon looks promising as a crossover

poorsche930 · 02-11-2009, 03:45 AM

Volvo is expensive on parts, thats true. BUT why do you guys go to the stealership? I'm probably lucky because I have two separate independent shops that my friends run. If that is, I don't do it myself. But still there has to be another alternative than the dealer. There ALWAYS is. Only under warranty will I EVER have anything at the dealer.

Robert Adams · Robert Adams's Garage

Actually, as I mention in my rant above, I went to the dealership only about 1/4 to 1/3 of the time even though they have a monument erected in the middle of the service center in my honor. ( After 6 Volvo's and countless referrals they should have one anyway).
Parts are expensive and so is the labor to fix them. Living in NJ doesn't help either I'm sure, but I doubt it's much cheaper to fix these cars in different geographical locations?
Everyone I speak with that has owned one has recommended Subaru's so I think that is where I'm going next. Their design up until lately has been quaint, but the newer models are leaps over the older ones in terms of style, just hope they haven't sacrificed quality engineering and reliability.
My second 2 cents.

T77911S · 02-11-2009, 04:17 AM

95 960 just about to turn 200k. a couple of things to look out for on the 960. the fuel rails leak, not sure what year this was fixed, maybe 96. also, the rear exhaust cam seal leaks. mine started on a trip. took about 6 quarts of oil to get home. should be around $100 to fix the seal. another problem are the vacuum controls for the air vents, one requires teh dash removal.
my next volvo would be the V70 T5.

poorsche930 · 02-11-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Adams

Actually, as I mention in my rant above, I went to the dealership only about 1/4 to 1/3 of the time even though they have a monument erected in the middle of the service center in my honor. ( After 6 Volvo's and countless referrals they should have one anyway).
Parts are expensive and so is the labor to fix them. Living in NJ doesn't help either I'm sure, but I doubt it's much cheaper to fix these cars in different geographical locations?
Everyone I speak with that has owned one has recommended Subaru's so I think that is where I'm going next. Their design up until lately has been quaint, but the newer models are leaps over the older ones in terms of style, just hope they haven't sacrificed quality engineering and reliability.
My second 2 cents.

I agree, Subaru is probably the ONLY japanese car I'd own. (toyota trucks excluded from that statement)