I'm planning on purchasing a 2000 s80 T6 and have never owned a Volvo before. It has 80k miles on it and only one key with no keyless entry fob. I've read on several sites that it's pretty costly to get duplicate keys and keyless entry fobs (especially from dealerships), so I'm wondering what that's going to set me back. I was also wondering if anyone can tell me the normal problems this particular vehicle has had and what the repair costs are going to run me. I know Volvos are safe reliable vehicles, but I just don't want to end up paying $500 every time it breaks down on top of loan payments. Any information would helpful and greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

You will have significant costs every time it breaks down unless you do the work yourself. Mine is an 02 T6 (103k) and I really like it, but it is not a Honda or Toyota and when it comes to repair costs it approaches BMW & company. You can do a lot of the work with help from this forum and an independent mechanic will cost less than most dealers.

The timing belt etc is usually due at 105k, but a lot of people do it early as it will kill the engine if it breaks. The belt etc is about $700 & the rest of the 105k service could be $600. The non-belt 105k service stuff can certainly wait, but as I said a lot of people do the belt early (I did not). The primary weak spot on the car is the transmission. I would evaluate that carefully before buying it. If you buy it I would drop the pan and change the filter and fluid per instructions on this or other Volvo sites.

My advice is only buy it if you really like the car. If you simply want a tool to get from point A to point B there are better options.

 

What jmallie said is more than correct. Only buy the car if you are absolutely in love with it. They are not cheap to maintain, and definitely head for non-franchised repair shops for regular maintenance. Having said that, you have to go a very long way to find a car as beautiful and satisfying to drive for the price as a used S80 T6. At 44 I'm no boy racer but the T6 is so subtle that blowing away a BMW 333i, Mini Cooper S, Hot VW GTi just for the look of shock on my opponents faces, is sheer joy. Set the cruise control at 120 mph and blast past everything else in silence, safety, & comfort. I'm off back to my tent now