I apologize for not first using the search function to see if this has been posted before, but I'm going to go look at and hopefully buy this car tomorrow, and I have company coming over shortly.

So, the car is a `99 S70 with 99k miles in supposedly mint condition, driven by an elderly male and ready for a new home.

I will be purchasing the car solely for commuting 125 miles round trip 4 days a week from Prescott, AZ to Phoenix, AZ. There is roughly a 3000 ft. difference in elevation so I will be climbing a 7% grade in 100+ temps for about 10 miles every day.

My current car handles this easily and the temp gauge barely moves with the ac on at 75mph.

I'm concerned with this being a turbo car, that it will be more susceptible to heat. Valid?

My current car is a `94 Mercury Cougar XR7 V8 with 161k miles that has been absolutely reliable while giving me 24 mpg and 230hp.

I'm hoping the S70 can deliver similar power with 30+ mpg. Realistic??

I've always been able to get awesome fuel mileage out of my cars due to using K&N filters, Mobil 1 oil, and being very **** about tire pressures.

I'm hoping to drive the Volvo for another 2 years and 80k miles before handing the keys to my son for his first car.

What should I check for on this car for potential costly repairs? Obviously the timing belt would be the major issue; can an average shade tree mechanic do this himself, and if not, how much would a shop charge?

Thanks!

 

I finally did some research and read about the crappy Electronic Throttle Body on the `99s, along with the belt issues.

I was really dissapointed that the car I was so set on buying was turning out to be an apparent lemon waiting to happen.

I then read some other threads about 5spd Turbo cars being pretty rare and I couldn't remember if the car Iwas looking atwas a 5spd or auto, so I looked at the ad again.

Turns out the car is a '98! (and an auto[&o])

So, it looks like it might be a decent deal after all, especially at $3900.

 

Sounds pretty good. Make sure a mechanic checks it thoroughly. Don't know about 30 mpg though.

 

Doubt you will get 30 mpg at 75 mph except when you're coming down hill. But when going up hill the turbo is great. I lived in Colorado Springs when I bought my 94 850 Turbo. Sucker ran like crazy right up over the Rocky Mountains. Temp gauge never moved either. Blew the doors off of a Cadillac CTS one day going up hill out of the Springs. Son loved it, wife wasn't too happy.

 

Well, I looked at the S70 today.

It was a disaster! It had almost every problem I've seen listed on this board. Dash clips, lights out, check engine light on, bad door lock regulators, etc.

It felt like it had been in a bad wreck and put back together in about 3 hours by 2 drunk guys.

Power steering was "pulsing" while cornering, numerous switches were loose, the seat heaters were on and couldn't be turned off, one rim looked like it had suffered a flat and then been driven on for a few miles.

My `94 Mercury Cougar with 160k miles on it was tighter and felt 10 times higher quality than that POS.

I certainly hope that was not representative of most older Volvos!

One thing it did have was impressive power! The motor appeared to be very clean and it ran very nice.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...

 

It is definitely not representative of most older Volvos. Most of us take great care of ours, hence our presence on the forum. There is always someone who doesn't care as much. Undoubtedly you just happened to run into one of those. Keep looking, you'll find a good one out there.