We are considering a 03 S60 with 75K for our teens,...families 3rd car. The vehicle we are looking at has a Turbo engine. Please give insight to the life of the engine with Turbo vs NA and the additional costs associated with running a turbo. I'm aware that oil needs to be synthetic and changed more frequently. Thanks in advance for your post.

 

Oil does not need to be synthetic. just recommended.
Conventional is fine but needs to be changed ~3000 miles or every 6 month.
synthetic changed ~5000 miles or every 6 months

The only negaive, which is not a negative, is you must run premium gas (91octane or higher) maintenance will be more or less the same as NA.
Plus, there needs to be some more drive awarness. Never race the motor after starting it. let it fully warm up. let the car idle for atleast a minute after driving. even longer after longer highway cruises.

wait for others to comment

 

Theoretically speaking, less parts-less can go wrong. But if not abusing engine nothing should go wrong for years.
I vote for NA especially for teens ( turbo is fast......very fast).
On good side my S60 is turbo and no problems so far (60 000 milles)

 

1. If it is for your TEENS, I would suggest an N/A over as turbo any day of the year. Why? Because your TEENS can get into way more trouble with a turboed car then an N/A car. Turbo ='s faster. Volvo's are very safe cars, but any turbocharged car for a teen should be reconsidered because it is that much more power to get your teens into trouble.

2. Regular oil can be used but Synthetic would be the best choice for an N/A or turbo model.

3. Premium fuel doesn't have to be used in an N/A or turbo model it is recommended. And yes it does make a difference. I have run regular in my turboed s70 and premium and the premium does make a difference.

4. With Volvo nothing is cheap but theorectically less parts should cost less. So an N/A should be cheaper to fix then a turbo model. Plus an N/A is a better choice for a teen.