Hi I am a new driver and forum-er from Wisconsin in search of a car. I have my temps, and im searching for a manual 850 or v70 (wagon). I have a little time before I get my license in April, but I want to have a car before school gets out in June. I search the nearby Craigslist at least 3 times a day, and am always doing research on various Volvo's, especially the 220 Amazon, 145, Duett, 850, and V70. If anyone has a good recommendation for a good manual first car, or just wants to talk about cars, let me know, my top dollar is around 4000 dollars. Otherwise, im stuck borrowing my dads 2004 xc70. Thanks, Logan

 

Well, you are covering quite a range of years. I have owned 5 Volvos - from a 1960 122S to my current 2015 V60. The only thing I would specifically warn against is a mid 70s with the Volvo-Peugeot-Renault V-6 engine - big problems!

 

I dont really think getting a car older than 1980 would really be a great idea for a first car, but i'm thinking about buying an 850 wagon or first gen v70. I think the first gen v70s looked the best out of the years that they made them. I basically just want a vehicle that I can rely on and drive in the winter, and a project car I can drive the rest of the year so I don't get salt on it. My friend and I are thinking about getting a 242/740/940 sedan to turn into a rally racing-type car with a full roll cage and Hella headlights and all that good stuff. It seems that there are way more older Volvo's out west (Washington and Wyoming) but that's a long ways to pick up a car. Just some thoughts

 

Got it - your mention of the 220 & 145 prompted my reply. I had an '03 V70T - excellent car until it blew a piston at about 160,000 miles - repair cost would have exceeded value so I sold it to my mechanic.

 

I also hear that they had some issues with the "new" drive by wire electronic throttle body from '99-'03, but i'm not sure if thats something I really need to worry about a lot, or if its something to avoid. I really haven't decided if I was the base manual v70 or the T5, seeing that the base gets a little better mileage. That is a shame you had to sell your other V70, I really think they're one of the better cars volvo made.