I am looking to trade in my older 1997 Volvo 850. I has seen a lot and being my daily driver it has started to fall apart, I have done what I can for it on my budget.

So I have been looking around my area and found a couple I might, might be able to afford.

First one is a 2012 Volvo S60 T5 for $12,691, though it might be out of my price range monthly.

Then there is a 2007 Volvo S40 2.4i for $5995, should be able to handle payments here.

But I have no clue what is considered a good model/make to get after my 850. So I am looking to see what people have to say before I go check any car out in person. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. Maybe I should look outside Volvo as well, if that is the case any suggestions there.

 

Just general stuff - payments aside, the older car will require more maintenance. If you can't do things like timing belts, brakes, axles, and such you may well be looking at the same money. Even if you can, the parts expense will not be insignificant. The S60 is a little larger and nicer car - sort of a direct descendant of the 850. the S40 is smaller and is a bit more spartan.

 

So I am looking more at the S60, it has 70k miles on it. I have been looking into the common issues etc. Is there anything outright I should be worried about if I get it over the issues I have had with my 850?

 

Roughly 15 k a year, a tad high. city miles or highway. If city brakes are about do or just done. Shocks will be on last legs too. if highway then those issues won't be needing attention for a while. couple of years before timing belt.

Personally, miles scare me less on a volvo than on many other cars - if the car has been maintained. Any chance of seeing records? A dealer car or individual seller?

 

Well I ended up buying it already, the records had two past owners, each taking up about half the mileage on it. It was a dealer car and being sold by them. From everything I could tell it was in good shape, read the car with ODB as well etc. I have a 15 day window to make sure nothing major happens, likely taking it to a mechanic I know soon just to make sure, if I can get it there.