As the title says, I'm in the market for a used car, my budget being <$3500, but I'd obviously prefer to spend less. I'm mostly looking at 98-01 models, because they're generally the ones in my price range. I've been doing some research, but I don't feel like I know enough yet.

Are there any glaring issues to be wary of, or any reasons I should be looking at something else? I need something that I can perform maintenance on myself to keep costs down, and something with decent gas mileage. I'm no mechanic, but I can learn.

Any other knowledge you can share is always helpful. Thanks everyone.

 

Someone posted this same question in the S70 section, check out that thread.

 

That was me, again. I was hoping to cover both 70 series forums, and see which one got more help.

 

Some time ago volvo stopped recommending regular transmission flushes in their maintenance schedules. So even your brand new volvo never had its tranny flushed, unless you did it yourself. Be sure to check the tranny dipstick and look at the fluid. pinkish reddish is good, darker/browner/blacker/grittier is bad. Oh and don't forget to get a T5!

 

Every single car out there has "issues" to watch out for. Not just the Volvos. Buy the one you like if it is clean and well maintained.

$3500 is not much of a budget when buying a Volvo. An old 240 will bring that much.

 

Well, after 98 you have the ecm and not wire to deal with. The trans are allegedely pretty good either way, but AWD could have failure which is expensive. Some owners just choose to de-couple the awd at that point.

No expert here, and expect those who are will comment. But I continually have heard how extremely reliable the T5 engines are and one of the few that can go 300,400,500k etc.

IMO, for a consumer car in this age range (not collectable) you are pretty much looking at condition, mileage, and condition. Blue book doesn't really capture it IMO. Good luck and I hope you find the "right" one. With ANY thing that isn't brand new with a warranty, it's a bit of a shell game. Condition, mileage, and service records are all factors in the "odds" analysis.

 

Blue book is a point of average. Some go for more and some for less.