We had a very interesting call today. A customer who we sold a 1998 S70 to back in 2004 called to let us know that they were looking for another car. I had to look up the customer and there they are in our records.

The car had 106k miles when we sold it and it got the usual treatment back then, timing belt, spark plugs, oil change and I see we did brakes all the way around. They tell me that the car has 297k miles now and has been driven back and forth across the US several times. They've had oil changes done by various places and a timing belt done at 200k.

I haven't seen the car but they tell me cosmetically that it has seen better days but runs and drives great. They wanted to know if we had anything similar and the S60 is probably the closest version their S70.

Interesting how you never hear a word and then one day you get 14 years worth of history in two minutes!

 

I had an epiphany several years ago. I had a car with 120K miles and was thinking of trading it. Then I was passed on the highway by this amazing piece of crap car burning oil, rust holes and running bald tires. That's when it occurred to me: SOMEONE WILL BE DRIVING THIS CAR UNTIL IT DIES......MIGHT AS WELL BE ME.

Now, when I buy a car, I don't care so much about the length of the warranty, or what Consumer Reports says about a car. That only applies to the first 1/3 of the car's life. I'm concerned about the remaining 2/3 and buy accordingly. Volvo!

 

Actually considered buying a new S60 back in the early 2000's, but the test drive turned me off; not sure what it was exactly.. turning radius sucked for sure..

But then awhile after that, I found a used 855 wagon; been stuck on them ever since.. IMO the 1996-1998 MY white block cars are the best volvos ever built. Certainly the best car I've ever owned.

Suggest that customer keep their '98 S70; nothing will replace it..

 

I've never heard anyone complain about the turning radius on the S60. I wonder from a measurement point just how different it is from the S70.

After selling these things for 20 years, both cars are mechanically similar with changes in the engine systems and transmission. The base structure and components are the same, for the most part.

They are not interested in keeping their S70. They like the S60 which is the closest thing that Volvo offers to the S70.