OK here is my question...

If you could get either of these cars for the same price, which would you pick?

Door Number 1)
2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD
65000 miles
Silver/Grey
Very clean at the local Volvo dealership.
However, it was serviced in Virginia, not PA where the dealer is and they do not know the true history of the car.
They did the 60K service and checked the car from top to bottom


Door Number 2)
2006 S80 AWD 2.5T
54000 miles
Light Green/Saddle

Very clean and it was bought from the dealer and always serviced there. Just had the 60K service.



Both cars are very clean and drive very well
V50 has more cargo space but not much back seat room
V50 is 'sportier' - drives like my BMW

S80 is heavier and drives more like my Mercedes.
S80 has much more back seat room

S80 lacks the 'coolness factor' the wagon has, it looks like the wife's S60

This car will be used primarily for my commute - 100 miles EACH way to Washington DC

Currently I am driving a Jeep GC and it is killing me...


OK, so which would you choose?
What are the known issues, things to look aout for on both cars?
I know the S80 is a bit underpowered, but it seems good enough for these roads around here.

 

V50. Doesn't sound like you need the back seat room. It should get better gas mileage. You don't have that much winter to need AWD. You'll have the extra cargo space if you ever need it. You will have less problems with women hitting on you.

 

I love Volvo wagons, but you have the 'burban if you need to haul (and it will do it more and better).
Used to commute 45 miles each way and I prefer ride quality over gas mileage personally. That's well over an hour in a car and I want all the comfort I can get.

Also, I am not a fan of silver (or gray) cars, especially in areas with lots of inclimate weather. They are harder to see in rain, fog, snow.

So I vote for the S80, but we should all have such 'difficult' choices to make!

 

Brad at Lehman Volvo, great guy who loves cars as much as I do - don't get him started on 1980's Mercedes Diesels, we both owned two of them :-) - took $1000 off the S80 and now she is in the driveway! Or rather the parking garage here at work.

She (nameless at present) is a nice car. The AWD makes her handle like she is on rails and there is just a hint of turbo noise under full throttle
I have to see if the average mpg will come up from her present 17.3, but I am sure I can do better than that.
So now we are a two Volvo family again. We have the 2004 S60 and now her younger sister the 2006 S80.


Pix, and name to follow...

 

S80. Because I like them better and silver cars are blah.