Hi everybody. Looking for a little informed information on what to look for and what to avoid in a used Volvo purchase.

I just changed jobs and lost a company car, so I need a vehicle soon. I travel 50k miles a year for my job, so I blow through cars quickly. I have been driving pick up trucks to carry the products that I sell, but with the job change I won't need to carry as much stuff, so a wagon should work.

I have to admit, I am a BMW guy. I have many of them. However, although unjust, there is a negative perception with some people about salesman that drive BMWs. I don't expect the same negative image of Volvos. Is that naive of me?

So, my goals are:
-Stick
-Presentable (meeting customers)
-Reliable
-Mileage
-The least options as possible
-Easy to maintain (I do most of my own BWM work, so I don't see why I can't learn Volvos)
-Under $8k (starting new commission job, so I'm a little broke right now).
-Under or around 100k


I'm looking at a 2000 V70 with a stick (Front drive). Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

There's a For Sale section on his forum... also check autotrader.com or even http://forums.swedespeed.com classifieds section

~jon

 

Thanks, but I'm looking more for advice on which years were the best mechanically, and what to look for/avoid in the price range I am shopping.

 

Get a 98 V70 T5 with a five speed, sometimes referred to as a T5M. I am looking for one myself and you can find them on autotrader.com or on e-bay. Stick with the 98 model year since it is the last year before Ford bought Volvo. If yougoback to the 850 model, you will not find a five speed and a turbo. Anybody who is a BMW person, has to buy a Turbo Vovo. My son has a 98 V70 R Volvo and a 92 BMW 325IS. My son in law sold his BMW and the now drive my daughter's Volvo most of the time. He had a 330I and now they drive a 99 S80 T6. Trust me you WANT a turbo.

 

I appretiate the advice.

Yes, I would like a Turbo bt the goal of this car is effiency and realibility. I will probably pass on the Turbo. I have an M3 race car for performance. The Volvo isabout utility for me.

Does you advie hold true for a non-turbo?

 

Fuel economy is no different between turbo and non turbo unless you constantly have your foot in it. As a matter of fact some of us get better mpg with a turbo model because you don't have to run it as hard to get some pick up. Nobody in my family, well except for my mother in law, would own a non-turbo Volvo. If you are going to be driving a car 50K a year, it should be something you enjoy and you will love the Turbo Volvo especially with a five speed. I have never driven a five speed turbo Volvo to be honest.

When I bought my first 850 I was test drving a non-turbo five speed and then I test drove a turbo automatic. There was no comparison. We put 206K on the 94 850 Turbo. If you don't want the T5 at least get the GLT which has the Low Pressure Turbo. 198HP vs. 222, whereas the NA model has 168 and it's a real dog.

 

the 98 v/s 00 argument holds not water, since when ford aquired volvo, the '00 line up was well underway, and not influenced at all by Ford's way of doing things.

I will say that the pre '99 have motronic for engine managment, v/s the drive by wire ME7. The both have their plusses and minus. Many say the Motronic is more dependable, but i say the efficiency gain with the ME7 is worth it.