I've told you about the 2000 V70 that Roberta went to look at, didn't I? They've still got that throttle body issue and that's the first year of the 5 speed auto, which was another disaster for Volvo until they offered the reprogramming. Many transmissions died for that lesson, and many more have had various miles of neutral drops before they were reprogrammed, without actually dying.

I don't know if the R or the AWD got the same tranny or not.

Sweet low mile R wagon up for auction tonight Greg, check your email

This. I forgot all about the tranny issues with our V70, unlike Microsoft Volvo charges you for every software upgrade including the removal of the neutral stop "feature". Back then Valentine argued with me about it telling me the engineers designed the transmission that way. I told them I didn't GAF and to program it out, which they did for ~ $ 100-150 what a load of shit!! We also had to have the valve body replacement on ours for ~ $2K which we were lucky to get on warranty. Even at that there are still lots of stories of short lived 5 speed auto's out there. I "think" they're better now so I would look at 05+ as the earliest MY's as Volvo figured stuff out by then on the customers dime.

Sorry Greg, not trying to be a Debbie Downer, (I have no idea what that means, Lisa says it all the time ) they really are great driving cars but they eat you alive on mtce.

Greg,

Contact John Paulsen and see if he'll find a good one for you. He does this every year and has a process (as you know).

Or just get Athal to pick you up an M5 .

Actually we bid on a very nice 855R tonight, but someone else wanted it worse. Made it the highest selling 850 in the past few months.

Cheeze and rice, we should have bid on the M5- Black on black 3.6 with 72K kms sold for ~$5000. I paid almost $12K for my 3.8, but if I had to choose again I'd get a 3.6- less stressed engine and alot simpler/cheaper suspension.

/threadjack

Say what???

You old farts just can't keep up...

I guess, was pretty sure what it was but now I know http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... and%20rice (I was right).

Sorry, it was a bit of a shot at Athal, I have some relates that are BA's and it's all frick this and cripes that etc. If you're going to swear just do it FFS. Although it is good to keep the board PG rated so I'll just STFU.

/threadjack (sorry Greg)

Oh four five six!

No worries guys. Thanks for the heads up Matt and Jim...don't worry about being a downer Jim....this is all good info to have. I get really excited about this stuff, so its good to have a reality check. I've been trying to look at as late a car as possible within my price range in terms of XCs, but with the early cars being so cheap, its awfully tempting. I really wish the mileage wasn't such a deterrent, like buying a 240. My goal is to get at least an '03 XC, but if a later model is possible, I'd definitely go for it.

As Athal said, he bid on an 855R for me, and we just missed it. The price was high for an 850, but the thing looked pretty mint, and the mileage was very low. All black...gunmetal wheels...tinted windows. Oooo yeah. Bummed we missed out. Probably should have bid on that M5, but its the sedan thing that turns me off. If it was a Touring? Ohhhhhyeaaaaah!!!

Craig, I'd love to talk to John if you think he'd be up for it? I've only met him once remember, but if you think he'd be willing to talk to me, I'd be all over it. Contact info?

Damn these things are cheap!
http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z390487999

Here's one with a six speed!!!! Oooooooo, and its the colour combo I want. And is that green interior too? I think I'm in love. If only it were $8,500 like the other one.....
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Audi/allroa ... _5612663_/

I'd probably do this too....for $8,500.
http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle ... Z383368639
Good wheels are a bonus.

This seems reasonable to me.
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Volvo/XC70/ ... _5652557_/