Hi all, I am thinking of buying a 2001 s60 and have a few questions. Do you really have to use premium gas, is it good in snow, as I live in Michigan, and is there anything I should look for before buying. Thank you and looking foreward to a long relationship....I hope

 

No you do not have to run premium. It will run fine on 87.

Being good in the snow is a bit subjective. It's better than a RWD car...

 

thanks for the reply. the car is from canada, and in kilometers, is it difficult to change to miles?

 

Difficult? No. Expensive? Yes. The cluster gets replaced and programmed. Runs about $1300 if I remember correctly.

 

thanks ES6T

 

Personally considering it is a 2001 I would guess it has more than 100,000 miles I think that is 161,000 Kilometers.

Would definitely pull up on on a ram and look underneath. Don't live really in snow state but obviously look for rust I think anyone from MI or Canada would know that.

Secondly the s60 is known for having transmissions that slip. It isn't on all of them, lots of people never have a problem. But I would take on a test drive and make sure driving up to speed and see if it feels like assuming it is automatic most are that there is no lag or grinding when you should be going from one gear to the next. Would look to make sure each window goes up and down each door locks. There tends to be a few electrical issues with these volvos. Also make sure each door opens from the inside.

I would ask when the timing belt/serpentine belt was last changed. They say like every 75k miles you have to do the conversion. ($300 at a dealer) If you can get it up on a ramp I would look try to look at the bushings (rubber parts) on the control arms/ball joints at like 100k-150k those need replacing. $500 job (about $300 in parts) if you take it to a shop. Top engine mount wears out usually at 120k - 50k usually a ($50 part) can find videos on youtube if you have metric sockets usually and easy fix yourself.

Also make sure your car has a skid plate. I didn't know crap about cars when I bought my 02 s60 back in 08. Luckily I live in California in an area with no snow or salt on the roads so it isn't as big of a problem. But mine was missing. The other thing I would ask for is to make sure they have the owners manual (mine was missing) and if possible vehicle history or service etc. Hard to guage also but would try to find out when brake pads and rotors where changed out. You can really check without pulling off the wheel. Also would try to make sure you get both keys. Since they have a chip in them it is at least $95 for a new one. If it is Canadian might be even more.

Anyways, not saying you still shouldn't buy the car if there are any of these problems. I bought my s60 in 2008 with 79k now at 173k. Have learned how to do almost all the repairs and matience myself reading forums like these. So I think I have a very good sense of problems that I have seen regarding the early years of the s60 about 01-05.

Very good car in my opinion. If you keep on the maintenance these cars go well over 300k miles.

 

thanks for the help, you will know if I get one as I sure to be on here alot!

 

I would skip the 2001 and 2002 because transmissions plagued with issues; usually cars go for sale for this specific issue. There are quite a few S60's in Canada, some clean as it's often times driven by older persons here. You can get a 100k miles for a good $3-5000 canadian with winter tires included. Better buy away from big cities, cheaper. For a 10 yrs old car you can declare $100 value, so no taxes.

Drives well in snow withwinter tires - noticed for some reason some guys from the states use all weather tires on snow ? - but it's a low car with small wheels, not best for deep snow.

Mph are indicated on canadian cluster

 

I would have to agree now after reading more of the older posts. I too have an 02 S60. My car had the transmission slipping problem between 2nd and 3rd gear. I bought a salvaged 03 V70 transmission to replace it. About $900 for transmission and about $1100 to have it installed. A new transmission is like $6,000. I think I was fortunate because I have read so many posts about 01 and 02 cars with the P2 Chasis (S60, S80 and V70) having these transmission issues.

After everything I have read I would punt on any 01 or 02 with the P2 Chasis.

 

thanks again for the replies, does a 2000 have same problems. Do you know if s80's are the same problems?

 

All the P2 Chasis (S60, S80, V70). Basically have the same problems. Even if you venture out into something like the XC90 there have been reported transmission problems on those as well. Not sure what years are the most common.

Read the forum more. But myself personally I would avoid any s60, s80, v70 from 00-02.