Hello everyone,

I am a brand spanking new member of this forum, and I've spent the last few days browsing the various threads. I've been doing a lot of research lately about what my next car is going to be. I currently own a 1992 VW Passat, which has been an awesome driving car, even for it's age, but the maintenence issues, its consmetic and reliability issues are just starting to get to be too much. I origionally focused on an early 2000's Passat, but after researching the car, I found that it was the same story "Great car, but only if you own a dealership, cause it'll put your kids through collage."

I started looking into Volvo's and now I'm totally in love with the S60. I'm still in University and not able to spend huge money on a 'new to me' used car, so I've been focusing on an early model (01/02) S60 Non-Turbo with the Manual Trans. Originally I chose the Manual because I love driving a stick, but now that I've read up a bit on the S60, it seems that it's probably a good idea, because the Auto's have had many issues... From my research at least, but as was posted... People don't generally post, how much they love their Auto and how flawlessly it's run... So that's why I'm asking what people think of the Manual trans on a NA 2.4 . I'd really like to end up driving an S60, but I just can't afford to spend near $15,000 on a car that I'll be working on every few months. I do most of my own work, and am rather mechanically inclined, but dealing with all sorts of electrical problems is something that's not only difficult, but often too much for me..

If you've read all this, I thank you already, but any input that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

Most likely I'll be looking at a car with aprox. 120,000 KM's (Canadian) on it..

Thanks again, and glad to be joining all of you!

P.S. a bit of a digression, but it seems to me that Volvo owners are like Mac computer users, once you go Mac you never go back, and same goes for Volvo... Drive one and never look back... I just switched to Mac, and I'll never look back... Convince me that a Volvo is the right way to continue such a trend :-)

Cheers,
Tom

 

Hello Tom,

Greetings from Narita, Japan.

Thanks for doing the research, as well as courteous post.

As I'm an 850 driver, I'm not privy to S60 models. All I can say at the moment is:

PRO's:
1. Volvos are the safest passenger cars available to the public.
2. Exhilarating acceleration (turbo models only).
3. Sharp handling, as long as the steering & suspension components are sound.
4. Generally durable, as long as people take good care & follow scheduled maintenance.

CON's:
1. Poorly designed electrical & electronic systems that have been bothering many Volvo owners.
2. Repair bills can be quite high, unless one does his/her own repair.
3. Some cheap-feeling interior parts.

One parts vendor many of us here use:
http://www.fcpgroton.com/volvo.htm#s80

Also, make sure to check for recalls and have them fixed at the dealer, free of charge:
https://volvoforums.com/m_66630/tm.htm

I wish you luck finding a decent S60. Let us know whenever you need technical assistance. We are not 24/7/365, but try to be close to that.


JPN

 

I would seriously not be looking at s60's.

I would be looking into 850's, s70/v70 's. Plus you can buy a nice turboed model.

 

S70driver,

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the suggestion, but, and this is not to be offensive just an opinon, I have always hated the look of older volvo's (too boxy and lacking of personality in my opinion) and love the look of the newer S40/S60/S80 models. This is a good portion of why I am ineterested in the S60 (it's in the size that I'm looking and it's got beautiful lines, again, in my opinion). As for finding a turboed S70 or something... I'm absolutely, and totally not interested in a turbo'd Volvo, I like the idea of a base, naturally asperated engine. I'm not in the marked for a performance vehicle, and honsetly, heavy pickup isn't something that I need in a car. Most important to me are, 1) a reliable vehicle, 2) a good ride and road response (not necessarily sporty, just responsive), 3) stylish lines, and finally decent passenger accomodations (particularily for the front seat passengers). All of these things I have heard the s60 is very capable of delivering. I am wondering what the reliability of the drivetrain in the s60 is like with a N/A engine and a manual transmision.

Thanks again for all the input, and I really do appreciate any response (including yours s70driver),

Please, if anyone has any more advice, keep up the posts :-)

Thanks,
Tom

 

OMG O.O pllleeaassee tell me he did not just compare a Volvo to a Mac..............BLASPHEMY I SAY. dont get me wrong windows is no crown jewel but a mac.....i need to go sit down. I mean technically they both are good and really suck at the same time. hell even XP is just a big xp. i think microsoft was trying to say something

 

I'm not a turbo kind of guy either (more of a V-TEC guy), but my opinion has changed completely after driving the 850 Turbo T5. You can stick to NA, but it doesn't hurt to test drive both turbo & non-turbo models. I don't want you to regret, by getting an NA S60 and later find out that you should've gone with the turbo.

Turboed Volvos are as reliable as NAs, and overall reliability is pretty much the same. Plus, extra punch actually make it safer when you merge into a 70mph freeway, as turboed Volvo gives you more than enough acceleration. Fuel consumption rate is notdramatically different, either.

The best car out there is the one you like, not the one recommended by others. However, and again, it doesn't hurt to try a turboed S60 just to get the feel of it.

I wish you the best of luck finding a decent Volvo.

Cheers,


JPN

 

in fact it might be down right adictive

 

I will definitely take the advice of test driving both turbo and non-turbo models. The problem is that I want a manual trans. and the 2.4T doesn't come with a manual trans option, in the early models at least (don't know about newer models) and I can't afford a T5. I've heard wonders about Volvo's turbo engines, and that they are probably one of the best companies for buying a turboed stock vehicle. It's just the issue of not having the option of a manual trans and a turbo in the early s60's unless I look for a T5 (which again, I wish I could, but can't afford).

Oh and in regards to my statement about comparing Mac's and Volvo's, I was more speaking to the point that people seem to never look back once they've made the switch. :-)

Cheers everyone, and thank you for all your posts so far,
Tom