04 xc70: Are deep pockets needed for this vehicle? Topic is solved

[CIK7]

Yeah I found one with 200k miles, cheap. Its something like burgundy or candy apple red. Beauty. But Im on SSI. Im familiar with the p80 but not p2. P80 is cheap to deal with. Do I need deeper pockets to own a 200k mile xc70? I dont know what else to include in my query.

[cn90]

Similar costs P80 vs P2, as I have owned both P80 and P2 cars.

Buying a 200K-miles car for cheap (such as $800-$1500) is NOT cheap, sometimes the cost of bringing it back to stage 0 is expensive.

My personal opinion is: buy a 100K-mile car for let's say $3500-$4000 and slowly bring it up to par. It is more cost-effective this way

[scot850]

A little over a year ago I spent several weeks bringing back a 'free' 2002 XC70 for a friends son. The car had the usual neglected and minimalist maintenance carried out in it over the last few years. The car was donated for free by another friend. The first task was to eliminate the 12 (yes 12!!) engine codes. The challenge was to do that for less than $250 CDN or the plan was over. I got 11/12 fixed using Rock Auto and used parts. I did not have time to fix the 12th but I think it is an issue of a timing belt having been fitted one tooth out by a repair shop.

Once that was done it then needed new brakes all around including parking brake cables. A windshield was needed along with a host os other maintenance parts and some electrical parts and even taillights as they had burnet out sockets.

The new owner also helped and once it was running well we had to also replace all 4 shocks and parts to mount them as they were leaking.

All in I think the 'free' car ended up costing in the region of $3000 CDN and since then has covered around 20,000 miles (it is currently over 250,000 miles) and has needed new tires on top of the $3000. It is no worse for the most parts than a P80, with the exception of you also need to service the Haldex pump which adds another $800 or so.

If you want to go this route, try to find the best cat you can with no check lights and recent service history.

Neil.

[erikv11]

I have owned several p80 FWD and several p2 AWD. I usually buy them in about the 150k range but I look for well maintained cars.

The p2 cars definitely cost more to maintain. These are the main reasons for the additional expense:
- AWD parts. They will fail. You can ignore it and drive FWD, that is one way around this pervasive problem.
- there are a bunch of new, additional parts (or differences) on the p2 that fail or wear out very predictably (steering sensor, alarm solenoid, additional EVAC parts, lower quality CV axles, PEM, VVT hubs, additional new sensors less likely to fail but can e.g. yaw sensor; other parts I am not thinking of ...)
- some things are stupidly expensive to replace on a p2 e.g. thermostat

[jonesg]

Yeah I found one with 200k miles, cheap. Its something like burgundy or candy apple red. Beauty. But Im on SSI. Im familiar with the p80 but not p2. P80 is cheap to deal with. Do I need deeper pockets to own a 200k mile xc70? I dont know what else to include in my query.

pull the awd fuse, the rest is DIY.
It will soon be due for full timing belt service with water pump.
DIY is affordable, mechanic fees are out of reach.

[jonesg]

I have owned several p80 FWD and several p2 AWD. I usually buy them in about the 150k range but I look for well maintained cars.

The p2 cars definitely cost more to maintain. These are the main reasons for the additional expense:
- AWD parts. They will fail. You can ignore it and drive FWD, that is one way around this pervasive problem.
- there are a bunch of new, additional parts (or differences) on the p2 that fail or wear out very predictably (steering sensor, alarm solenoid, additional EVAC parts, lower quality CV axles, PEM, VVT hubs, additional new sensors less likely to fail but can e.g. yaw sensor; other parts I am not thinking of ...)
- some things are stupidly expensive to replace on a p2 e.g. thermostat

I paid $57 for thermostat, housing and temp sensor.
The sensor was junk , so I reinstalled the old one.

[vtl]

Many, many 2.5T engines on P2 get a burnt exhaust valve in the 220k-250k miles range. Because of solid tappets vs hydraulic lifters you had on P80.

FWD P2 with N/A engine (2.4) is much more affordable to own. These ones don't have many problems, especially later years.

[erikv11]

I have owned several p80 FWD and several p2 AWD. I usually buy them in about the 150k range but I look for well maintained cars.

The p2 cars definitely cost more to maintain. These are the main reasons for the additional expense:
- AWD parts. They will fail. You can ignore it and drive FWD, that is one way around this pervasive problem.
- there are a bunch of new, additional parts (or differences) on the p2 that fail or wear out very predictably (steering sensor, alarm solenoid, additional EVAC parts, lower quality CV axles, PEM, VVT hubs, additional new sensors less likely to fail but can e.g. yaw sensor; other parts I am not thinking of ...)
- some things are stupidly expensive to replace on a p2 e.g. thermostat

I paid $57 for thermostat, housing and temp sensor.
The sensor was junk , so I reinstalled the old one.

Yeah, thermostat should be $20 and easy. But it's neither.

[scot850]

I thought that on the pre-2005 cars you could just replace the thermostat and not the full housing? Has the gasket for the older unit gone NLA?

The 01/02 runs the viscous coupling system of the P80 cars, although some parts that were supposed to start did in 2002, but not the drive-line. Personally I hate the standard XC70 seats. I like the AWD but the seats are awful. I have a tailbone injury and the flat seat base puts the pressure al on that area. I kept a look out for a V70 AWD with what I call the 'sports' seats which have good seat bolsters. I agree with vtl that that like for P80's the FWD NA are the cheapest and easiest to maintain. If you don't need AWD then a good set of winter tires if required (studded where needed) is the way to go in my opinion.

Good luck with your search!

Neil.

[cn90]

My previous 1998 S70 burned an exhaust valve #3 at 178K miles. Then the Auto Trans reverse solenoid was kaput at 180K miles. Both of these jobs are high labor/high cost, even if I DIY. So, I traded it in at a used car dealer for $500 and bought a 2004 V70.

This is why I usually by the P2 at ~100K bc this is a sweet spot...the 1st or the 2nd owner sees the timing belt job coming up and just wants to get rid of it.

At 180K-200K miles, it is like an 80-year-old person, anything can happen, not much "life" remaining lol...