Hi folks! First post here. Along with a growing family comes growing bills, plus my wife went down to part time. So, I'm going to get rid of my A4 and pocket some of the cash and buy a less expensive car. Really been looking at V70s; for all intents and purposes, it seems like a good value for the sub $8K range.

Checked the reliability, searched the forums, etc, but still have some questions. Should an '01 V70 be avoided at all costs? Are they really that bad? And regarding the trans, what are the signs that it's going? And once the signs appear, is it too late at that point? It seems that a new trans isn't always the only fix such as mounts and the "b4" part, but is there ways to tell?

Perception of reliability is so subjective and specific # of repairs don't tell the whole story. I realize I'm buying a 10+yr old car, so no matter what I buy it will need repairs. At the same time I don't want to walk into a known money pit.

Any help and advice from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

 

It all depends on the service history, really.

If the transmission software was updated earlier in the mileage, you're probably okay. B4 servo cover replacement is $20 and a 30min DIY repair. Mounts will go on ANY model year, and are for the most part easy to replace if you know how to turn a wrench. In most cases, when trans problems present themselves (excluding B4 related issues) failure is imminent, but life can be extended with a fluid flush and according to some, trans treatments.

 

I concur with JTapper, it depends on how the tranny has been serviced. Volvo doesn't recommend fluid changes, yet many of the dealers did this for customers. My dealer (Lawrence Volvo), changed out the software the 1st time it was in the shop without even asking! They knew of the issues and were looking out for me. I then started changing the fluid after I found the forums, and had 70K miles. I now have 105K and she still shifts perfect! The electronic throttle is another weak point. Volvo warrenties to 200K or 10 years which ever is first. An 01 is approaching this limit. If you can turn a wrench, you can fix this permanetly with a replacement (do a search on ETS) for less than $600.

So you find a great buy, and if you know a little of the history and are a little skilled with DIY, they can be a pretty good buy. Get a bad tranny, and your savings up front are gone.

Jerry

 

It seems to me it is a matter not just of the issues you list, but the overall 'context' of expected repairs.

Many cars have a weak spot. The problem is that there are a multitude with this model and the 01 has about every possible bad issue.

The Electronic Throttle Module (high failure, expensive repair) is most common on the O1 (as I understand).

The front suspension (esp control arm bushings and strut mounts) are high failure.

The transmission issue you cite.

The ABS modules go bad.

The timing belt replacement is not just preventative maintenance on these cars.*

The plastic interior pieces will degrade and fall apart.

The heater core is mostly going to fail...*

The AC Evaporator will fail (and be VERY difficult/expensive to repair).

The power steering racks fail.*

Many of these (especially the '*') happen on many cars, but they seem likely to ALL fail on these volvos....

 

Thanks for the responses and for taking the time. I'm sure this is all available with searches, but I was getting lost and having trouble finding the right info when I wasn't really sure what to search for.

I'm mechanically inclined and until a few years ago when we bought two brand new cars I've always repaired my own vehicles; so I'm not intimidated by turning a wrench.

Perhaps some of you didn't see it in my original post, but I have an A4; I know about high failure rates

I realize a volvo isn't the most reliable vehicle going into it, but $6K doesn't buy you much. I want something worth driving for the next few years until our situation changes. Volvo (as well as some other brands) have a solid following so there's support (such as forums like this) that can help if/when the problems occur.

Sailing faith, I get the impression you feel there is NO year of v70 worth buying? Something else to look at?

It sounds like I'll go ahead and stay away from an 01 unless something really jumps out at me. In the portland area at least, there's a lot of '01s to choose from which is why I asked in the first place.

'02s seem to be out of my price range so I'll be narrowing our search to 99-00s and from my research the 1st generation was more reliable? Older cars equates to higher mileage. Are the newer volvos still know as high mileage cars? There is a '98 at a local volvo dealership, but there's 173K on the clock. Stay away?

Again, appreciate the feed back.

 

According to the source described in ads as "a leading consumer information magazine", '01 V70/S60 has the dreaded overall black dot in the annual auto issues I've compulsively saved over the years. 02 is better, 03 better yet, and by the time the end of that generation (06 - 08) is rated, its a 1/2 red dot or better. And that magazine compares 01 models to other 01 models, not 01 models to 05 or some other year.

I don't know how well these models sold in 01 versus, say, 02 or 03, but there are many 01's for sale on eBay and other internet sales places.

And, many of the painful inquiries here are from owners of 01's. The big hit is, as you know, the transmission. Go thru the search function here and you'll see.

Since you own a Audi, you're not unfamiliar with the upkeep expenses associated with Euro cars. So any Volvo you choose won't give you a heart attack. If you're looking for "cheap to keep", you're better off elsewhere. Volvo maintenance isn't Ford or Honda maintenance, for instance.

 

I would not say they are not worth buying, just that one needs to go into it with eyes open.

OBTW, I forgot to mention high failures of all door lock mechanisms... at ~$150 a pop... and there are 5 to go out.... and WILL go out.

Then the silly issue of the fuel door hinge that is made of the amazingly poor plastic that plagues this car... it will fail with impunity and spares should be kept in the glove box.

Your Audi is a rock of reliability compared to the 70 series Volvo.....

Excuse me now, I have to go change my power steering rack.

 

I'm not looking for "cheap to keep". Looking for a car that will get me through the next 4-5yrs, big enough for our family of 4 and comfortable on trips (we have a Mazda 5 for around town), and pleasant enough to drive on my daily commute. Understand a volvo will be higher upkeep than a corolla, but I feel I'll get something in return for that higher upkeep. It sounds like there's issues to fix but it appears any given issue won't break the bank.

As an aside, I think my Civic broke down more than any other car I've owned, so you never know.

 

You'd be surprised

 

I'm past the young kids stage when we had a Sable wagon, Plymouth minivan, Olds minivan (the rolling junkyard). Olds replaced with Honda Pilot when the kids got older. My wife loves her 06 V70 way more than she did the Pilot which is now "my" car. But at 157K, remarkably little trouble and except for the timing belt replacement, no big service hits with the Honda. We travel in the Volvo (especially in the winter with the heated seats), but for carrying junk around, the Pilot is a pretty good 19mpg overall pack horse. Pilot resale, like many larger SUV's isn't that great, either, so the price might just be right. Watch out for 03 transmissions -- there was a recall (sort of like 01 Volvo) that prevents failure.

If the seller claims the car is dealer serviced, get the records. You don't want to learn, for instance, that the trans was "flushed" 2000 miles ago since that would make be very suspicious of a failing transmission. Suspension bushings and the like are also prone to what I see as early wear. Look at the service schedule (a small book itself and not in the owner's manual, at least not in 06)
and you'll see relatively little maintenance up to 60K. Thereafter, inspect everything seems to be the rule.

 

Malaka, would love a Pilot and have always loved the Elements. They seem to be just slightly more than I'd like to spend as well. My issue is that if we end up buying much over $8K, I'm not really getting any benefit of substantial money back to pay off some medical bills. Therefore I'd assume keep my Audi since I know where I'm at with it and we love the car.

Looked at some used volvos and well.... they were in fact used. I don't know if it was the fact they were a decade old and and that's what 10yr old cars look like or they weren't taken care of.

Speaking of '01s, came across one at a used volvo only dealer. Was the vehicle that looked great for it's age, but it was still an '01. 160K on the original trans (according to dealer); is that promissing at all? It seemed to shift fine as well, but don't know that I specificaly what to look for in these trans. It's my understanding it was the hard downshifts that beat the trans up, correct? I would of written it off based on it's yr, but it was the one we came accross that we really liked. ugh!

 

Oh, I'd also like to add that I'm viewing this as a 5yr max car for me. Does that factor in at all?

IDK, maybe I'm just looking for justification.