Hello, looking at 2 V70 n/a to use for my business. One is a 2003 auto trans with 160K miles, has been in 2 accidents but looks great. The other is a 99 with manual trans, 130K miles, no accidents. Which would you buy?? What should I be looking at as far as maint. records, etc. They are both in the $3900 range. The 99 also has manual climate control, which should be less likely to screw up. Which would get the better mileage?
Many thanks!!

 

Hello, My opinion: Go for the 1999. People will exaggerate and say that the 1998s were the last computer-free cars and 1999 ushers in the end of the world. Not true. There's the chance you'll need the ETM replaced. The rebuild from the Canadian XeMODeX company is the way to go there. Do not replace it with another Volvo unit. Take the '99's VIN number to any Volvo dealer and see when, and if, the software update was done. It was a service campaign and offered free of charge. If nothing else you'll have a window to the completeness of the vehicle's maintenance. If you buy the '99, have it done. With the manual you will avoid all the headaches associated with the plain, stupid assertion that the automatic transmissions had lifelong fluid. Volvo wasn't alone in claiming to have sealed units. DO check the clutch and flywheel for wear. Use only Volvo lube for the manual transmission. There is everything else which needs maintenance, just as with any other car. Brake linings, rotors and fluid, shocks and struts, worn suspension bushings, neglected cooling systems, unknown timing belt (and roller) changes, engine mounts and exhaust (MEOW!). People who have working A/C, which dries out a car, and who don't forget to roll up their windows at night, which keeps cars from getting steamy and moldy in the first place, seem to have fewer problems with the electronics and door panels bubbling. Sniff your car. Sparkly carpeting sometimes means that a car was very well cleaned like, say, after a flood. Look up behind the dashboard for silt. Run the power seats and turn the heated seats on. Window master switches go bad after 100K. The heater core and A/C evaporator are known maintenance items but their replacement is well documented and doable. The 2003 will have the chance of a neglected, EXPENSIVE TO REBUILD 5 speed AW transmission and the totally unnecessary wizardry of 13 sub-computers spread throughout the car. I bought a BSR-PPC reader just to have a handle on this wildly complex system. Assembly line checkers and dealership mechanics can plug the car in and run (test) all the toys with this system. Any economy resulting from this convenience is not seen by the owner of the vehicle. Also, the gross dishonesty of code-marrying these various ganglia together, such that junk yard parts are almost always unusable, is never addressed. I had a 1999 and loved it. I have a 2002 now and like it alot. I feel a well maintained '99 will serve you much better. But that's just me. I don't know a damn thing. Kira

 

As an update, I bought a 01 V70 n/a, with manual trans, manual climate, manual seats, and no sunroof. Mileage is 154k. Runs nice but seems to burn a bit of oil, no smoke but the oil is being consummed. Issues are a recurring P0442, and what sounds like gear noise in the cabin. I am planning to replace trans fluid and also check trans mounts. But so far it is a nice comfortable vehicle.

 

would you mind saying how much you paid for it?

 

$3,600.00.... car came with very complete records, too.