Has Anybody on This Forum Ever...

superfeed · Post by **superfeed** » 14 Feb 2016, 19:36

Good People and Helpful Friends,

I sure spend a lot of time working on Volvos...

Has anybody on this forum ever bought a new one? Sure seems like that would be a nice thing to do. I have purchased 2 with over 200,000 miles on them and 2 with over 100,000. During one of my recent trips to the dealer for a thermostat or something, I looked at the new XC90. Wow...

Come on lotto!

I have loved Volvos ever since my buddy's older brother took us down M72 at about 90 mph on the way into Traverse City sometime around 1973. Many years later I rode in my sister's S80 and thought I need a Volvo! I sold off the Explorer (which was way to squirrely in back end for my 16 year novice driver) and bought a used 850 Wagon that seemed to run pretty well even though it was high-mileage.

First night with the 850 I drove to Ann Arbor to see Robert Plant's band and the car wouldn't climb the ramp into the parking garage! I changed out the TF fluid with some synthetic and the car didn't have tranny problems again. Sold, and later saw it in a junkyard. Broke my heart...

A '86 244, my sister's S80 when she didn't want to put any more money into it, and my '98 V70 XC which I bought thinking it just needed a control arm. Well I was wrong. lol Replaced front subframe. Blew up engine. Replaced engine. PCV, Timing belt, lights, switches, radiator, the list goes on. Still running.

The 86 though low mileage (122,000) is a rust bucket. Not sure what to do. Front lower spring mount collapsed from rust, now rubbing on tire. Took forever to get that car running right, replaced front harness because of cheap Volvo wire insulation for that year. Recently replaced timing belt when it broke. Engine runs great and is more fun to drive than the rest.

The S80.. Well, I replaced the entire suspension on that one, spring mounts, sway bars, end links, shocks.... First was the PCV to stop the damn whistling, now the crank seal is leaking and I know the timing belt needs to be done. My daughter has the car at college in Houghton, Michigan. Does anybody know of a good Volvo guy in the UP? There are no dealers up there, and I hate to have her drive it 9 1/2 hours home, risking a mortal failure to the car.

The V70? Engine, subframe, radiator, CV axle, removed prop shaft, PCV/Trap thing, and, and.. lol I still have a list of things for this one.

My friends, have a nice evening and my your cars run well!

John Gregory
Portage, MI

Post by **scot850** » 14 Feb 2016, 20:15

Nope, never bought a new one. Being Scottish may have something to do with it, but can't bring myself to pay full sticker price. I do try to buy them newish with some warranty on them when funds allow. I nearly bough a new 98 V70 D5 turbo diesel (really great car to drive and 38mpg), but got distracted by a 1 year old V70T5 with all bells and whistles. I knew the first owner which drew me to the car as he ran an executive taxi company that the company I worked for used. They only ran 960 Executives. Beautiful cars. This was his wife's car and she changed them every year. Got the car for a little over half price from the Volvo dealer as they were clearing out used stock!

I prefer to buy cars with a little warranty on them to allow for random issues to get covered I may miss on pre-purchase inspections.

I think I can beat you with the repairs on your car, $16,500 in 2 years and 4000km, and not sure how much in the year before that. Still have a groaning in the front end of the car that can't seem to find. Ah well, still hate the car, but can't afford to sell it...!

Good luck with the repairs.

Neil.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 14 Feb 2016, 20:35

I would have happily pushed an 850 uphill to see Robert Plant! Led Zeppelin or not!

New Volvos just don't do it for me... and at my age, there is no reason for me to go buy any new car... it would be good to build credit, but when I bought an entire car for less than one monthly payment, why bother?

Though, I must say, the new XC90 is fantastic in person! Very comfortable, and it's a beautiful car. I'm just not a fan of the powertrain. It needs at LEAST a 5 cylinder. Preferably a 6 cylinder with a turbo 5 cylinder as an option, like it was before. I'm not a fan of all the newer eco stuff, like the T8 hybrid twin engine thing and the twin charged 4 cylinder. Cool, but not what an SUV needs. Leave the twin charged 4 pot to the S60!
With our older Volvos, it's a labor of love. That's just what it is for any car enthusiast. Most of us love our cars enough to do whatever it takes to keep them on the road, and I'd rather keep my old Volvo (that I practically rebuilt myself) on the road than go buy a new car and let mine rot in a junk yard. I hate seeing some of these in junk yards, like this red '99 S70 T5 a couple weeks ago. The thing was beautiful... bright red over tan leather, full SC-901 Dolby sound system, and only minor rear damage. Otherwise, the car was mint.

Check out this website if you're looking for a Volvo shop: http://www.volvomechanics.com/

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 14 Feb 2016, 20:42

I bought (leased) two brand new 740s with 4+1 manual overdrive on one and a 5 speed on the other.

Sadly I didn't really read the fine print on the 12,000 mile/year lease and at that time I was averaging about 26k/year. After 3 years at $ 0.28/mile over I really had no choice but to write a check for $12,000.00 or roll it over into another lease. The latter option wasn't really an option at the time. I didn't drive the second 740 much and I bought an old beater International Scout to rack up the miles on. They were both pretty wonderful new.

...Lee

skloon · Post by **skloon** » 14 Feb 2016, 20:52

06 s60 as a company car 3 years and an above average number of dealership visits I didn't buy the lease at the end as it was too pricy in my book, I have never been a new car person I want somebody else to pay the initial depreciation

Post by **matthew1** » 14 Feb 2016, 21:37

I've never owned a new car

. I would if I could, just never had the money. Volvos: my 1997 850 T-5 since summer 2000 (still my daily driver), and for a brief period about five years ago, a 2004 V70 R.

Post by **JRL** » 14 Feb 2016, 21:39

Sure why?
98 V70XC new
2001 V70XC new
2004 V70R new
2006 V70R (near new, under 10K miles)

Cees Klumper · Post by **Cees Klumper** » 14 Feb 2016, 23:02

Stopped buying new cars fifteen years ago. Not economical. Bought two used Volvos, one with 20K miles (at half price from new) and, because that experience was so positive, another one with 40K miles at one-quarter price. Buying cars new is much more expensive than used.

Post by **rspi** » 15 Feb 2016, 02:14

Got a 740 GLE new through military sales program back in '87. Probably 25% off sticker. Put over 400,000 miles on it. Still looked and drove very good.

Post by **850 LPT** » 15 Feb 2016, 05:56

I bought a brand new 99' V70XC in nautic blue/ tan with my wife right after we got married. It became her daily driver and she loved it, we owned it for 8 years. We got 5k off sticker because it was a leftover and the 2000 models were rolling out.