Not that they specialize in Volvo's but I bought my V70 T5 from there a month ago and it was a duffer.
For the first (and last) time in my life I bought a car over the phone without looking at it. My mistake, however the worst faults weren't noticable at first anyway. Bornmouth is 130 miles from me and I couldn't get there quickly enought o see the car, which seemed like a bargain (£6995 for a very high spec 52 plate Geartronic car with 84k)
First thing I noticed was a squeaking from the steering column from half lock or more which turned out to be the steering column rubbing lower down. Secondly I noticed that the Surround Sound stereo was only playing out of one speaker but I thought this could be easily sorted once I got it home, which didn't turn out to be the case, and I was curious why my car came with a slightly different stereo to the drivers handbook.
A few days later I noticed that the drivers door lock kept popping back up after locking the car. the deadlocks would work after 2 mins anyway so this wasn't a major problem. Then a couple of times the memory seats started shifting as I unlocked the car, without me pushing anything and I got concerned over the electrics. Finally the next weekend in daylight I noticed some oil on the driveway as I was cleaning her, but put it down to remnants of some of the older cars I had up to last year.
The car was shortly due a service so I booked it into Tony at Independent Volvo Service.com in Letchworth who called me later in the day with the bad news. In short he said I should take it back and demand a refund: Major oil leak at front of engine that would take some time and money to fully diagnose, evidence of a front end repair (possibly the cause of the leak), the turbo wasn't even connected up properly, both headlight bulbs were in upside down and pointing light the wrong way, both wiperblades were shot to bits, and best of all - some idiot had replaced the original head unit with a different one and buggered up the cars software in the process (not a cheap fix).
He said that worst case - the cost of straightening it all out could exceed the value of the car. He had nothing to gain from telling me this, particularly as he cut short some of the jobs as he suggested I just got rid of the car and challenge the dealer.
Rather predictably the dealer claimed Tony (a trained Volvo mechanic of 30 years) was 'talking out his ****', and said he 'didn't do refunds'. He 'kindly' offered me to bring it down to his mechanic to have a look at as he didn't trust mine. Clearly I wasn't keen to drive 260miles to have his mate tell me there was nothing wrong with it in exchange for the dealers continued business, so I wrote him a strong worded letter quoting some legal mumbo jumbo to put the frighteners on him.
As his 'Pre Delivery Inspection Check's' are allegedly covered by Bornmouth Trading Standards, I'll be going to them to complain.
With a second baby on the way, plus an imminent house move, I don't have the time or money to push this through the courts (much as I'd like to), so I've unloaded the car in a part exchange on a new Kia (not as bad as you'd think!), as the wife is not keen on me buying another used Volvo.
A real shame as a healthy one would have been perfect for us (fuel consumption aside) it was mega comfy, spacious and fast.
Frankly my experience tells me that buying from used car dealers, you're no safer than buying privately as their warrantees aren't worth the paper they're written on and they clearly employ chimpanzee's to check the car over before they go out. No point paying the extra for peace of mind that won't exist!

 

You bought a car, over the phone, without looking at it? This is wrong in so many ways...

 

Have to agrree, you travelled a long way, without seein the vehicle,I travelled to coventry for a van for my work from cardiff. that was about 180 miles plus. but i looked over it for 3 hours, I dont care what the seller thinks, if i am buyin the vehicle, i want to be happy with it? hope youve learnt by your mistake giblets.

 

I have bought cars as far as 600 miles away. It cost me around $100 for a plane ticket to get there. I had an agreement with the seller that if I did not buy the car he would give me a ride back to the airport. So it would have cost me $200 roundtrip to look at the car had I not bought it. It was the white 850 R that I have had for two years. It's a hard car to find and what I wanted.

By the way AutoTrader said it was about 400 miles and it turned out to be more like 600. It was about 3:30 pm before I got back on the road and I didn't make it all the way home. About 1/2 way I got too tired so I stopped and got a motel room for the night. I love driving though, so it was not problem for me.

I bought the T5R 200 miles away. Put down $100 over the phone to hold the car, then drove 3 hours to look at it. By the time I got there three other people had called about the car, and wanted to look at it if I didn't buy it. I didn't have much bargaining power, did I? Bought it, drove home and had my wife take me back on Saturday to pick it up.

I bought the V70 in No. Va. but it was close to where I have relatives and had them look the car over before I went to get it. Wife and I both flew in to pick that one up and spent the night with her Mom before driving home, about 440 miles.

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR

"nuff said?

r.

 

600 miles jim, blimey, im glad you are happy with the car,you must have wanted that one bad, good on you.