I'm new to the S60 -- a first-time potential buyer.

I'm looking at a certain S60 (2003 T5 AWD) for sale by a private party. Very high miles (approx. 250K). Low asking price reflects the high mileage. I heard a hissing sound (while engine off) coming from the engine case when I popped the hood and stood in front of the engine compartment. This was nearly 10 minutes after turning off engine following my test drive. Any idea what this might be? For all I know, it's normal. BTW, the car has a new timing belt and water pump.

Also, the tachometer would spike and flatline intermittently. A non-issue?

In any event, I'm not a DIY guy, and my local indy Volvo mechanic is the very best but he ain't cheap. Am I in for a world of pain?

 

How low is the asking price?
What does the seller say about the mechanicals?
Pay $50 to have a Volvo guy check it out?

 

Asking price is near low KBB for private party sale.

Seller is handling for his sister, and he claims to know "nothing about cars." He has repair invoices for the most recent year -- all look legit. and lots of money spent by sister on repairs and new parts during the last five months or so. I wonder if she did not anticipate selling the car, and something is now wrong, which is prompting them to get rid of it.

Yes, a pre-purchase inspection might be in order. My local indy Volvo mechanic is expensive: $150. And don't you really have to drive it around quite a bit to be sure the transmission isn't acting up and that there's no other latent problem? I'm not familiar with what an S60 is supposed to sound and feel like on the road, and so I would need someone experienced with these cars to drive it and feel and hear how it drives.

 

Get the inspection and don't trust anyone selling a car for their seester and doesn't know anything about cars.

 

I bought my S60 in the expectation of a surprise or two and I wasn't disappointed, but I did have a fund to cover those things. As a newbie to Volvo's I am in no position to give advice, but my experience has been that if they talk about any problems with the car, the fault is more serious than they are prepared to deal with or fix, in my case the AirCon and the DIM, the DIM I fixed. Drive the car and observe everything, any dashboard lights, any warnings on the LCD display etc, if the car feels right to drive, it may well be ok, but expect some outlay soon for something.

 

Run away.

Tach spiking and flat lining is an issue. Could turn into bit/expensive.

Hissing after shutting down MAY be AC pressures equalizing but should happen before sitting ten minutes. Can you localize the noise?


Inspection at the very least but with issues already see first line.

 

For $1000 it's a project car.
I think it's a bit of a white elephant.


Volvos that are WELL maintained, can run well over 250K miles, but this one sounds like a work effort

 

To me, the combination of car's complexity, European origins, high mileage, current problems, and a $150 an hour mechanic would be off-putting. it just doesn't go together.


If you are a millionaire, you can drive what you want. Beyond that, there ought to be at least some consideration of what you get for the dollar you spend above the price of basic reliable transportation. For $159 a month you could be driving a brand new Honda civic, under warranty. Think it over.

 

Wow, thanks so much for all the feedback. I think what bothers me most about this is that repair invoices were forthcoming only for the last 5 months or so, but the seller tells me his sister has owned it for several years. I didn't ask where why older repair records are not forthcoming. I just have a hunch there's something amiss. My $120/hr. Volvo mechanic would probably ferret that out, but my hunch (again) is that I'd be throwing money at a pre-purchase inspection that will just confirm my suspicions.


As much as I like the car -- the leather, the slate gray exterior, the handling, the acceleration, the low price, etc. -- I think I'm going to opt for a well-tempered, albeit boring, 940.

 

Recently sold my 1991 940 SE with 240K on the trip tik.
Greatest car until the computer kept frying itself.
Big size feel and turning radius to love.


The MECH at the Volvo Dealer Bought it for $2000 in a minute when I mentioned considering it.


Wife wouldn't get rid of it until we found the Great pumpkin S60. Same day

 

Volvos can be purchased cheaply but maintenance is something else. Things get expensive with these cars real quick. If you must have an S60, I suggest buying a newer model with lower miles and better service record. My 2007 S60 has 80,000 miles on it, I've maintained it well, and it's probably worth $6,500 if I sold it today -- findin g something like that might be worth the extra money up-front.