hey guys volvo owner wannabe here. i need a new commuter car and i have had bad luck with my VW's so a friend told me to switch to a volvo. basically im just wanting to be talked into why i should go with volvo.

Im looking at 850's or s-70's from the late 90's.(bc they seem to be readily availible in my area on Craigslist and seem to be priced well. good mpgs..or as good as they can be is a must as i put alot of mileage on my car. and of course reliabilaty is most important.

ive doen a decent amount of work on cars so most repair jobs i can do myself.

the thing im most worried about is the trans and engine cant afford to replace either after i buy the car. i would like to get manual if possible but if the auto are reliable im fine with that.

any help is MUCH appreciated thanks!!

 

id like to add that i know NOTHING about volvos except that a few people i kno said they were reliable so ANY info is helpful

 

bump...anything?

 

Like any used car, have a mechanic inspect it before you buy it.

I've got about 240k miles on my 98 S70 GLT.
The trans hasn't hadn't any problems, it's an automatic.
The engine has been great as well. Only issues I've had have been with the vacuum lines and I had to replace the O2 sensor.

It's a comfortable ride, quiet, reliable, good milage, and people are always surprised when I tell them how old it is, and how much milage is on it.

 

With an 850 stay between the years 1995-1997 and with a 70 series only go with a 1998 model. 1999's-2000's are headaches.

 

Volvo's are like any cars in the sense if you take care of them, they will last. The only difference between Volvo and Ford is Volvo will last alot longer when taken care of.

Like alec said, they are comfortable, have alot of nice little perks for a late 90's car, ride gentle and are efficient.

I've had my Volvo for 2 years now and albeit had some problems with it, bought it used from a shady dealer that hid alot of problems the car had, which have cost me some money in the long-run, but that was my fault for not having the car properly inspected.

But, even with having to do that, I've not had to do any major repairs. Transmission still runs fine with 170k miles on it, engine still quiet and purrs beautifully.

There is also the fact that repairing a Volvo CAN BE a bit of a pain. Things are done differently because it was not a Ford product before 1998. It all just depends on what you have to fix.

 

GREAT! thanks for the info guys! and im really glad to kno the autos will last if treated right since its a bit harder to find a used 5 speed.

also good heads up on the years to stay away from ive learned through my jetta commuter now that i got one of the headache years.

 

If you are handy and don't mind fixing things yourself, the late 90's Volvo's are awsome. If you drive a lot and enjoy a little power, get a turbo and change the oil often. Don't abuse the turbo by stomping on it while cold or not letting it cool down properly. The turbo can last forever as well.

The good thing about Volvo's are they usually don't fall apart like most cars do. They look good and are respectable, are pretty economical. You can get 32 mpg with the 850's and S70's. And if you have a smaller frame, like under 5'-6", the seats are super comfortable, compared to the 960's. I have a little bit of a hard time getting real comfortable in my 960, I'm 5'-4" short.

Another good point is that the Volvo's are made for the mechanic. Pretty easy to work on. The only head aches are the PCV system, Speedo gear, and the AC evaporator. They are hard to get to and labor intensive. Other things can be fixed in minutes. I hope I never have to purchase a car newer than what I now have. Unless I strike it rich and never have to work on my own car again. These cars have what most new cars have and are pretty solid as well. Most people can not tell that the S70's are 12 years old. Awsome!

Did that do it for you? LOL

 

i think it did haha.

i also started another thread in the 850 section with good feedback there too. if i go with an 850 or S70 just depends on what deal comes my way first.

yes i agree from the used volvos i have looked at i cant beieve how nice they are and the features they have for being 10-15 years old!

i wont make my purchase based on a turbo but if one comes my way i would be nice. i got a turbo in my truck and im very meticulous about the turbo with cool down times and such so ill be sure to take care of the turbo the way im supposed to.

thanks for the feedback and ill post back whenever i make the purchase. probly wont be for at least a month though

 

These Volvos aren't troublefree cars and parts are expensive. But they are nice cars and the powertrain is rugged and lasts and lasts. They are more reliable than VWs.

 

the powertrain is what im most worried about and it seems from the feedback here and other places that what u said is correct assuming the car has been taken care of. im looking foward to owning one!