I'm considering buying a 1998 V70 with 95Kmiles. Price is $5200. How is reliability? What problems might I expect? What major maintenance should be considered at this mileage? General thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

What model? Volvo made an R, a GLT, a plain V70, a Cross Country and a T5. $5200 is probably a pretty good price for any except the plain non-turbo model. The R and the T5 being the most desirabable. Make sure the timing belt has been changed. It's due every 70K or five years whichever comes first.

 

Thanks for the reply. It's a plain non-turbo V70. Are there reliability issues with the plain V70 versus the R or T-5 that make them more disireable - or is it just the higher performance of these models? I am mainly interested in having reliable transportation that may eventually be handed down to my teenager (understanding that there is a certain level of risk in buying a used car with 100k miles). If $5200 is too much, what price is reasonable?

Thanks again.

 

KBB Private party value in Excellent Condition is $5,530 and Good Condition is $5,030. That's if it does not have leather interior or any bells and whistles.

I don't know of any reliability issues with the car. I just would not buy anything less than a GLT model. That has the low pressure turbo. The one you are looking at has not turbo, so it just loses is sportiness and the resell will be harder. My daughter just test drove one without a turbo and said no way. She ended up with a 95 850 Wagon Turbo.

 

3 months ago, I bought the same car off a guy on craigslist for $4500. We have the same plan as you - little interest in resale value, just run the car ril it drops. We are very happy with it. Have had to put about $2000 into it for general wear and tear - brakes, axle, tires, but that's to be expected with the mileage (98k).

 

I just bought a 1998 V70 XC with 197000 on it for about $4,200. It was listed for $5,800, but when I saw it I found a lot of cosmetic and interior issues that turned me off. In factI am looking for used leather front seats to replace the badly stained leather and canvas two-tone seats the car came with.
I went ahead with the sale after some negotiation because the owner was a Volvo mechanic who was able to get the car through his dealership before it went to auction/salvage. The timing belt went and the engine died. He checked to make sure no real damage was done and then he "rebuilt" the engine replacing the transmission, belts, etc, etc. I have the service history, too. So I thought it was a safe bet as far as any big engine items breaking down any time soon. So, to answer your question, at that price for 100K less on your car, if it's clean and runs well today, do a major maint (belts, etc) and I think you will have made a good deal. I'll let you know in 6 months how mine is faring.

 

I have this car. I bought it with 112K. In the last year I've replaced the rear main seal, both oxygen sensors, the ABS control module, the MAP sensor and charged the A/C. These are all typical repairs for this car at this age. I did all the work myself except the main seal. These repairs have set me back about $1,800.