Hello all!Need a lil advice.....looking at purchasing a 2000 S40 w/ 122K miles. Love theMPG and the look! Not sure about the reliability factor. Dealer just replaced the motor mounts, O2 sensor and turn signal. Car drives great! Slight vibration at idle anda lil hesitation on start-up. Dealer asking $6000. I plan on taking herto the dealerfor a fullpointinspection.

This is my first Volvo. Car will be primarily used as a daily commuter...D.C.area (ugh!! TRAFFIC).

Good buy or stayclear? Don't mindthemaintenance (as long as it's notevery week). Am I looking at serious money to keep her afloat???
Thanks

 

I have one from 2002. She is my first Volvo as well. This is a great car dude, you not going to regret it. Make sure that everything is fine with the car, and just get it. At the end of the day car purchase is always an emotional decision, hm?
Btw, I'm from DC, too. You are right, commute sucks.

 

if your not doing any mods and just sticking to basic maintenance than it should serve you well, they do very well on gas on highway. I will warn you depending on how deep your pockets go, it will be a little hefty when it comes time to replace certain things or have certain things fixed, but luckily some of your problems you can prevent or fix yourself since you have such fine sources as this forum and a couple others...good luck!

 

If it checks out fine from a TRUSTED mechanic and you are happy with the price then go for it. They last forever but repairs are on the expensive side.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love my '01 S40. In fact, I just bought a '98 V70 to replace my Toyota 4Runner. But these Volvos CAN be expensive to fix. Remember, you're buying what many would call an extremely used car that's 8 years old and has 120K miles on the clock. Maintenance will help keep them running, but parts will inevitably break and computers are notoriously expensive.

I've been lucky. I've gone through a bunch of brakes, a set of coils & plugs, one ECT & thermostat, a leaky turbo return line, a set of exhaust manifold studs & nuts, a heater core, a timing belt, and a window regulator. Then there's the multitude of software reloads and recall items that Volvo paid for.

If you're looking for a reliable car that's inexpensive to fix, you might want to look at one of the asian automakers. Otherwise, budget accordingly for maintenance and repairs - others have recommended around $200/mo. The Volvos are fine cars, but they come with large maintenance costs and repair bills. For me, it's just the cost of having a luxurious, comfortable, safe, yet high-performance car.

Regarding your pricing, unless the car is spotless, I think it's a bit high.

 

Thanks to all.....She's getting a through inspection today. BTW.....should I be concerned about the Turbo? Dip stick (oil)and cap look pretty clean. Turbo going out is my biggest fear.

 

The most common problem with the turbo is a leaky oil return line/gasket. I had the dealer do mine and it cost $99 in labor and $4.27 in parts.

I wouldn't be worried about the turbo.

 

Just be gentle with it, like with every turbo. I mean, let it cool down. After you stop wait about thirty heartbeats before you turn off the engine.

 

Not sure about parts pricing in the DC area, but here in AZ, I've found very reasonable parts (Aftermarket) for suspension issues anyway.

I bought my '00 S40 in '06 with 70k miles on it and it's been wonderful. I plan on keeping it at least 8 more years if not more. She drives like a tank. I have a 8 mile R/T commute :P daily, so gas milage isn't a huge issue for me... I might fill up every 3 weeks.

I might ask for less than $6k tho... even immaculate, with 122k miles on it that'son the high side. Keep us posted on what the inspection reveals. I'd like to know what they find with that mileage.

 

Thanks for all the feedback.....more to follow!!!