Starting the search for a used s60. Unfortunately don't have much to spend so I need to find a reliable one. 6k is my ceiling, and I have found some nice looking s60's in the 2000-2004 range. Any particular year or model s60 with a good track record? Or any year/model to avoid? Any particular issues that plague s60's I should ask about? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

Try to stay away from the ones prior to '03. They suffered transmission and throttle body issues. You should be safe with the '03 and up. Look for ones with complete maintenance records. As with any used car, under the hood it should be free of leaks. Overly clean or shiny with Armor All may be evidence of an owner trying to hide a problem. On the test drive the transmission should shift smooth in all gears. If it flares at all move on to the next one. If properly maintained, these cars can continue beyond 200,000 or 300,000 miles. $6k should be enough to snag a decent one if you are patient.

EDIT: add
Reliability thread link. Good thread, though the numbers by themselves can be misleading without knowing additional info.