I am thinking about picking up a 2002 V70 from a neighbor for my son. She owned it from new and never had anything more than normal maintanence done to it. She says I can have it for $3000.00. It has 93,ooo miles on it and no accidents or major problems. Will this be a good car for a 19 year old ?? Anything I should be on the look out (trans, engine timing belt, etc) or maintenance issues ? Will it be expensive on maintenance if he keeps it for 4 years and drives it for 50K miles ? thanks in advance for any tips or points you can offer us. thanks Larry

 

Turbo or N/A?

Regardless, unless you're willing to keep up maintenance on a old European car, I wouldn't. Timing belt is probably due, so is PCV system, suspension is probably all worn out, hopefully the trans have the software updated, etc.

 

My kids drive a 95 850T wagon with 200K miles and a '00 S40 with about 90K miles. Both have been in the family since new so I know the full repair history and do about half the maintenance on my own (don't have time to do the longer repairs any more). To me the key is the maintenance history. Car should have had its timing belt at 10 years so check if that was done. Coil packs tend to need replacing after 100K miles, AC clutches tend to need reshimming (most shops will tell you you need a new compressor). If the car got regular oil changes - a good sign. I the car got treated to synthetic oil, a bonus. Best thing to do is have a shop do a full inspection (struts/brakes/bushings/motor mounts/battery & charging system) and you can see if all things function normally - ie no check engine light, AC blows cold etc.

 

Thanks guys, gonna take a good look at it and test drive tonight. I'll know a lot more about it after I "interview" the owner

 

I have a 2002 V70 2.4 (n/a). Mine was a rebuilt salvage car, I bought it with 214,000 on the clock. $1,300.

So far, nearly the entire front suspension was rebuilt, IPD sway bars installed/added (the base did not have a rear and wallows like a pig in turns), 2 sets tires (ate a pair of tires after an alignment because the shop didn't diagnose that the ball joints were bad), a DIM rebuild; all in addition to regular maintenance like brakes, plugs, oil changes.

Right now, fighting a limp mode issue and trying to diagnose what to replace/repair, probably needs an ETM and CEM, driver's door module is messed up, due for timing belt/water pump/PCV stuff done soon. Now at 256,000 miles.

Yes, the engine and body are solid as you would expect in a Volvo. The electronic modules are some kind of sick joke. The suspension will likely need TLC regardless of mileage because of Volvo's use of recycled rubber.

TBH, I'm looking for a car for my son. But I'm looking for a Toyota. This after driving Swedish cars for most of my adult life.

 

I'd buy it, especially for my son. But my son drives like an idiot... always checking his phone and not really paying attention. If/when he blows a stop sign or doesn't notice some other dummy and gets smashed, I'd rather he was in a proven safe volvo than a tin can on wheels.

If your son is like mine, tech savvy with some mechanical aptitude, I'd have him research what to look for on the car and if it's a good buy. How to maintain it and make it last 300k+.

A good car now can go to the junk yard in 6 months if it's not taken care of...

Best of luck

 

He's going to hurt someone soon.

 

You can only tell someone fire is hot, they don't understand until they get burned. Hopefully things are understood before lives are changed... a father gives knowledge but has to let go sometimes.

It makes me sad and afraid.