Ok - my cousin is very interested in purchasing a cross country volvo, but he is not a car guy, but appreciates a nice car. I on the other hand am a car nut, and therefore I am on the research path for him.

His budget is 15k +/- and has found an 2001 xc for about that amount. He has an itchy trigger finger, but I told him to wait until I asked actual owners about them. The only thing I found (may be wrong) is it appears 01 was the first model year of this body style, and consumer reports has a lot of black dots on the 01, but the 02 has a lot of red dots. Naturally, my car experience tells me A. The first year of any car is usually not the best and B> Consumer reports often is not always right.

PLEASE Share your experience! I will get a call for help everytime this thing goes in the shop - so I have an direct interest in what he purchases!


THANK YOU!

FWIW - We are in Upstate NY, and this will be his wifes car, but also the family machine on weekends, trips etc.

The 2001 was the first year of the "new" body style, but from my understanding, the XC engine on the 01 is virtaully the same as when the XC was introduced in 1998. I would not be as cautious of the 01 as I would be with, say the 1998XC or the 03XC90.
-Todd

caution of the ETM on 01 models.

Be careful with the ETM on the 1999 models.