OK need help about to purchase a V70 wagon T5 2001 need to know what should I be looking for I seen 2 cars one for 5500 dollars 112k miles dollars the other for 4500 dollars 136k . Should they bring it down based on the cost of any repair. Please help we have purchased lemons in the past and really need a family car that will keep us a good while. Can you give any advice on what should be changed at this mileage or will be going out soon according to your experience. Thanks so much

 

I have the same model and year with 105k on it. Make sure the timing belt has been replaced. It should have been done at 105k miles. This is mandatory and will ruin the engine if the belt breaks. If not, I believe it's a $500 - $800 service depending on whether you also replace the idler, tensioner and water pump. I did mine myself so others can give more accurate cost. I would have a mechanic familiar with Volvos do a pre-purchase inspection. You'll either have piece-of-mind if everything looks good or leverage to negotiate the price down if they find problems.

 

Read the many threads here about the automatic transmissions in '01 V70's and S 60's. Roughly estimating, you have about a 50-50 chance of being stuck with a multi-thousand dollar repair bill. Its not immediately obvious how to check the trans fluid since Volvo in its wisdom hides the dip stick. Apparently, the symptom is a slow upshift where the engine revs between shifts. Please spend an hour or so searching here.