Should I buy a 1999 v70?

[silver99s70]

Sorry ZV, I can't agree with all of your points, but I'll leave it to the nhtsa to describe ABS for those interested: please reference-

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ ... rakes.html

But thanks for your input, I may have generalized or implied too much, and it appears ABS could increase stopping distances on loose gravel, fresh loose snow, and, versus skidding your tires on certain types of dry pavement- so it's always good to have more info.

[zenmervolt]

Sorry ZV, I can't agree with all of your points, but I'll leave it to the nhtsa to describe ABS for those interested: please reference-

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ ... rakes.html

From the very page you link:

Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without?
ABS is designed to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle during emergency braking situations, not make the car stop more quickly. ABS may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads and many systems will shorten stopping distances on dry roads. On very soft surfaces, such as loose gravel or unpacked snow, an ABS system may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or slippery conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions.

Road & Track did a test in the July 1997 issue, pages 99-105 and found that ABS does NOT shorten stopping distances on anything other than on dry pavement.

The article is not available online, but you're welcome to reference using the above citation. I'll reproduce some of the relevant numbers:

(ABS is just mashing the pedal with ABS engaged, "Educated ABS" is modulating the pedal with the ABS system enabled, "Educated lock" is modulating the pedal with the ABS system disengaged, "Lock" is fully locked brakes.

ICE: (from 20mph)
ABS 220ft
Educated ABS 222ft
Educated Lock 134ft
Lock 136ft

SCARFED SNOW (from 30mph)
ABS 94ft
Educated ABS 102ft
Educated Lock 108ft
Lock 84ft

FRESH SNOW (from 30mph)
ABS 97ft
Lock 85ft

GRAVEL (from 30mph)
ABS 65ft
Educated ABS 70ft
Educated Lock 63ft
Lock 52ft

SAND (from 30mph)
ABS 53ft
Educated ABS 59ft
Educated Lock 60ft
Lock 54ft

The simple fact is that ABS does not meaningfully shorten stopping distance except under dry conditions on asphalt. On wet asphalt, the distance is not significantly shorter than full lockup. What is does is allow the driver to maintain control in exchange for that lengthened stopping distance. This is a good tradeoff for many drivers.

However, it's also very far from a necessary system. I've spent most of my live in places that have snow in the winter, sometimes severe snow. I spent four years in Pittsburgh which gets large amounts of snow in the winter in addition to having some pretty nasty hills. I've had ABS intervene exactly twice in my life, both times when I was intentionally trying to get it to intervene so that I knew where the threshold was. I've never had ABS intervene during a panic stop.

In my experience, it's largely useless. It encourages inexperienced drivers to take additional risks and entirely too many people are mis-informed and believe that ABS makes them stop faster so they fail to take appropriate precautions in inclement weather. ABS is a safety net, that's all. If ABS comes on, the driver has made a mistake. If the driver is doing everything right, he (or she) will never unintentionally invoke ABS.

Is it good to have safety nets? Absolutely. Is it good to rely on the safety net being there? Absolutely not.

Yes, this is a soap-box of mine. I'm generally against things like ABS and traction control, I don't even particularly like power brakes or cruise control. Anything that takes control away from the driver and gives it instead to a computer is a bad thing (TM) in my book.

[redbrick]

If the car is well maintained and if you really like it, buy it. You can't beat the comfort and convenience of these V70's. Sure, there are possible issues to concern with. Balance those costs against the price and make a decision. I personally think the 99 models are the best ones to buy. They have so bashed due to the ETM that no one wants to buy them. Translation, you can steal them for next to nothing. And, Volvo will cover the ETM now so all of the previous weeping and wailing about that should be a postscript. Check the service records, have a good mechanic check the car over, come up with an ETM plan, do figure that you will do the timing belt and some some suspension work sometime and figure out your offer price. Go steal yourself a V70. I doubt you'll regret it. More likely you'll be here with the rest of us reading about these cars and obsessing about when your next IPD catalogue will show up
BTW, I do own a 99 V70 GLT. My other cars rarely leave the driveway anymore.

[ekapus]

I have a 99glt wagon.

It's a princess.

I haven't had the nightmares that some people have, but I do have some annoying things going on (like my coolant sensor light that I need to smack with a shoe to make go away, and a Check Engine light that's been on for a year).

And I keep thinking about finding something to replace it with.

Maybe a Mazda6 - but the interiors don't TOUCH the good old 'Vo. I keep thinking about looking for a used Infiniti G35, it's got the power, it's right wheel drive (RWD), but it just doesn't have the utility that my wagon does.

I love that I can haul crap and haul ass, at the same time.

It's a tough call. Would I make the same call today? It might come down to price actually...