I am looking to purchase a used Volvo. I have two choices... both cars are 1998's.

One is a S70 that has about 190,000 KM... around $4500 asking.

The other is a S90 that has 114,000 KM... around $3000 asking.

Given that they're both in decent shape, would anyone recommend one over the other.

I'm aware the S90 is RWD and I live in Nova Scotia with snowy winters. Either car I'd get the best snow tires on it.

Is one considered more reliable than the other? Does the extra clicks really make much difference considering it's still under 200,000 KM on the S70?

I've always loved Volvos. I'm looking for an inexpensive used Volvo that hopefully won't cause me too many repair bills in the next few years. I know both are getting up in age but they've been well taken care of and both have relatively low clicks.

So... S70 or S90? Thanks for your input!

 

Well, the S70 is a continuation of the 850; the S90 is a rebadged 960. If you plan on doing the work yourself, the S90 would be a bit easier to work on...the engine bay is not nearly as jammed up. Also, the S90, being the final gasp of the rwd Volvos, is pretty trouble free as all the design work had been tested for the better part of a decade.

 

S90. I have owned both.

 

Thanks for the advice.

Any reason why the S90 over the S70, rspi?

 

Swiff said it all perfect except the last 2 words. I would have said "3 decades".I hope to sell my yellow sedan soon and I hope to replace it with a 960/S90.

 

Of course I was referring to the engine/powertrain as it appeared in the 7/9 series when I said decade but it is quite true much of the 960/S90 engineering was done in the 70's and fine tuned in the 80's and early 90's.
I will confess to being partial to rwd cars. The engine accessories are at the front and easier to access. The engine itself, being in line with the drivetrain, loses less mechanical advantage. U joints are simpler to change than CV half shafts. One has a chance of seeing what is wrong under the hood of the rwd cars. The fwd cars, particularly the 95 T5R, freakin' rock as far as handling and acceleration...no denying it. They are fun to drive. The advanced engineering involved, combined with the constricted space under the hood, are the reasons I will not own anything newer than the 960/S90. When my car needs proprietorial diagnostic tools from Volvo, special tools to prevent the VVR twin cams from getting out of synch while changing timing belts, scanners to repair false/fixed codes...well, that's just a bit much for me.

 

I love my S70, but I've long thought I would rather have an S90. Very nice cars.