I'm a Honda guy. I've had four of them over the past 40 years and love the cars. Each easily reached 225K to 275K before moving to the next one. Yep, I love to drive and we've used them for vacations across the country. Now that I'll be turning 60 this year, I'm wanting something bigger and more luxurious than an Accord or Acura. I've looked at used S80s along with some S60s and was wondering about the cost of repairs for these older vehicles. I have three in college so I'm limited to the late 2000 models of each. The cars I've looked at are around 140,000 miles and have run Vincheckpro reports (like Carfax) on them which yielded positive results. In addition, each are either one or two owner cars. I keep hearing that I should stay away from used Volvos because they cost a lot to repair as they age. I decided to go to a good source of info by joining this group. Are the cars I've reviewed on the brink of needing expensive future repairs? Should I move on from older, used Volvos? Hondas are my comparison and I did most of the work on them (even replaced the clutch and pressure plate on my '78 accord back when i was a teen). Any useful info would help with my decision. Thanks in advance.

 

You'd need to research the cars by model and year to learn about common problem areas and whether fixing them is in your skill set. My personal history: We sent an 850T wagon to college and retired it with 255K miles (it was about to need some big repairs due to issues with the PCV and boost). Owned since new, biggest repair there was replacing the AC evaporator at $1500! Also sent a gen 1 S40 to college and its still a daily driver (has only 120K miles ) most expensive repair on that car was replacing the brake hard lines due to rust (20 years of New England salt and rigid Massachusetts safety inspections). Also just did the PNP switch but its still going. I've done a lot of other stuff on those over years but mostly common repairs for that model.

 

Having owned a Volvo shop for 38 years and worked on mostly imported cars for ~50 years - (Volvos were very good to me financially, So I'm not complaining)

Stay with your Japanese cars if you don't want to spend a whole bunch of money repairing a Swedish/British/German car. Especially one with over 80,000 miles on it.

Any European car long term repairs will cost $$$ compared to a Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Mazda, Etc.

 

With some children in college and money tight (been there, done that), my advice is to consider the purchase of a Lexus. My 2007 Lexus ES350, bought new, is now 15 years old with 100K miles. My ES looks new. Paint and interior holding up very well. Absolutely no mechanical problems. Engine seals are a tight as a drum. Don't burn oil. City mpg 21, while highway 32-34 mpg. V6 requires premium gas, but buying it at Costco results in a lower price than regular gas at local gas stations. The only thing I've ever had to replace, other than normal maintenance items, is one front brake caliper, which seized, and one front CV boot. For the time period you are looking at, the Lexus IS is comparable in size to a Civic, while the ES is somewhat larger than the Accord of the same era. Both the Lexus 4 and 6 cylinder engines are bullet proof.

My advice ...

#1: Yes, a used Lexus (or Toyota) will cost more to purchase, but will likely cost less to maintain and be more dependable.
#2: Get the Volvo, or any other luxury car brand, after the kids are finished with college. I helped put 3 through college, including grad school. Crazy expensive.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm moving towards Lexus and Acuras after y'alls input.

 

I own a Lexus and have owned a Honda. Based on my experience, Lexus is in a different league, reliability wise, than an Acura. Whatever you decide to buy, I suggest having it inspected by a mechanic of your choice prior to purchase. Don't just rely on the dealer and Carfax (cars can have accident and/or flood damage and never be reported).

 

My experience is a bit different here.
Gave my oldest the wife's S70 when he started driving in HS, he took it to college 1/2 way across the country. Not one problem. Two years later, I swapped him out with an Infiniti and gave the Volvo to our other son in high school. He took it 300 miles to college for 4 years then med school for 4 more. In the end, the Volvo went 100,00 miles more (300,000) with fewer problems. The volvo was done in by a bad PCV system and failure of my son to recognize it but prior to that the car was running great, using no oil and still looked presentable. The Infiniti looked and ran like a 70 YO cheerleader.

 

I don't know enough about Volvo, having just bought my first one in 2020. My guess, however, is that in the past Volvo's were far less complicated, longer lasting and more reliable. I heard from others that Volvo's 5 cylinder engine was particularly study and dependable. Can the same be said for the newer Volvo's that OP is considering?

 

True, but then ALL cars get more complicated every year. This is most likely the biggest reason that Lexus - for years the most consistent winner of Customer Satisfaction and Reliability awards - has dropped in both ratings. Of course so has everyone else.
But I was raised in an era when a car was nearing it's "end of useful life" at 40,000 miles, good only for the poor and high school students.

My 2005 S80 does appear to be mechanically similar in quality to the 1998 S80, the leather also is of excellent quality. But many parts are breaking and when replacing them I have noriced a decline in apparent quality.

 

My first car was an Acura Legend, by accident I bought an XC90 when I was shopping for an TL to replace the Legend. Since then all is history, never cared for other brands. My dad's Mercedes, my sister's Lexus, etc., all are good, but Volvo fits my need the best. Plus, I found that Volvo drivers are in general nice and helpful.

 

The Vincheckpro reports and single/two-owner history are promising signs. However, older Volvos could potentially require pricier upkeep compared to your Hondas. Regular maintenance is key, but some parts might edge higher in cost. If you're up for occasional repairs or have a trusted mechanic, it could balance out.Considering your situation with college expenses, it might be wise to weigh the potential future costs against your budget. Exploring detailed owner forums or talking to Volvo specialists can give you more insights. You've got a knack for car care, so staying informed is half the battle.By the way, when it comes to financing, have you checked out options like used car loan Singapore? Sometimes, finding the right financing plan can make the transition smoother.