Beth has a friend who wants to buy a new(er) car. She wants a Volvo but she has some specific needs and has asked for my input...

She will use the car to transport her 90 year-old mother around so the seating position can't be too low but can't be SUV height either. I've never sat in an XC70 but I presume the seats are a little higher off the ground than a C30?

She has a fairly hefty budget but doesn't need to spend it all. What years are to be avoided? I know after '98 they had some issues but when did they correct them? While her budget won't buy her a new one, it will get her something 2 or 3 years old...

Thanks guys...

If she had 20-25K to spend, I would look at an offlease/coming off XC70. She could buy a CPO/VIP warrenty to take it up to 160K Km if she wanted.

I wouldn't go older than probably 03. So I'd look 04 and up. Honestly, not too many problems, SOME have a bevel gear leak, but very few. The biggest problem would probably be tie rods out here, and forward control arm bushings (Which are gravy work) But they like to separate on all the newer P2's.

The seat height is a nice height, great for getting in and out of. Should fit the bill. I would probably stay with the XC to get the AWD and height. You could go for a V70 of the same vintage (available with AWD and turbo), but around these parts resale is not very high if that is a priority.

03->
XC70
W/ CPO/VIP. Right now is a good time to look for one as the 4/5year years are coming up. VIP is pretty solid warranty also. Cover pretty much everything except wear items like brakes and "shocks". She'll be set.

Personally though, I'm looking for an 01-02 S60 T5, if anyone gets any leads.

I would stay away from the 01-02's for her, unless the Valve body has been changed already w/ updated wiring. Earlier than that the Throttles suck, did another one today.

I would avoid S80's unless it has a 5cyl.

Jordan

Thanks Jordan. I suspect her budget will get her a car that's only a year or two old. I see some nice low mileage XC70s on canadatrader.com so we'll see what happens...

My dad had an 05 xc70, with a cow leather interior.

its exactly that, not too high, and not too low. very comfortable.

I would recommend one for sure.

They are sexy sweet. And yes...the angle gear will leak but that can be fixed. Ft control arm bushings will go and make the front end a little loose but new ones are easy to put in (for us). The only other thing is the endlinks but thats normal for a volvo haha

How about the 3.2L engine? I see there is one at the Volvo dealer in Edmonton...a 2009 for under $40k...

3.2 is a gutless sewing machine, I highly dont recommend it.

Good to know. I doubt she wants a rocketship though...

when we brought in an xc90, everything I'd read or heard said the 3.2 was decent, but the V8 was only a ~2mpg fuel penalty so what was the point of going with the 6. I would hope/suspect that down the road it will be lower maintenance than any of the turbo engines, but that remains to be seen....

V8 rear mains are leaking pretty good now a days too, I hear yamaha is stopping parts production on the engines once their contract is up.