The Magnanimous 2004 S80 T6... a sub $1K car?

[theWIFES_S70]

I've seen the following two posts on CL around here for quite some time. And every so often, a few of these pop up. (Being that there is only one P80 priced around here for this price, I'm wondering, what gives?) These two cars are obviously not scams... (Or rather, nothing in their posts indicates they might be.) And they look nice.


2004 Volvo S80 T6 -OBO - $900 (Greenwood Lake)
https://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/cto/6024182517.html

and

2004 Volvo T6. S80 - $900 (Yorktown Heights)
https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/6040541777.html

So what gives? Is this a case of parts being insanely expensive? Hmmm, lets have a look.

OK, the CAT is one of those fancy, split pipe versions that cost around $600. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 80-vo73583 (Shop would probably charge $2k for it...) and another $400 front CAT... Those two cats, and a muffler, you're looking at a $3K job around here in NYC.

What else? Woah, there's a $500 YAW sensor? https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-yaw-rate-sensor...

A SWEET $400 PCV hose... https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0-30731004

Oh man, a $350 Electronic Fuel Pump Module... https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... e-30742823

And a $350 rear electronic control module... https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... ex-8696098

Hmmm... these sound like money pits... I think I answered my question......

[June]

None of those parts have been replaced on my 2004 S80 T6. The engine and turbos are excellent. On YouTube two S80 T6 cars traded in under Cash For Clunkers program are being killed and ran 5 minutes each at high rpm without oil and engine disabling Sodium Silicate in the crankcase which was to lock them up quickly. No Honda ran more than one minute, Chevrolet 350 engines lasted thirty seconds, but these Volvo engines kept going and one of them would have gone longer had it not caught fire and the cold fire extinguisher caused the engine to explode literally. I personally have had no trouble with the transmissions in either the 2002 or 2004 S80 T6 cars I have owned. I owe my life to my 2002 so I can say without reservation that these cars are well built and perform well in a launch and rollover accident.

Where my 2004 has really cost me a fortune is the front suspension. At 12.5 years and 120k things really started to show wear. Now most on here would have left things alone and just drive it, but I want it kept right. The rack-and-pinion had play and the struts and springs were sagging the front hight was 2 inches low. I replaced everything, every part from rack-and-pinion $3k by itself to every piece of strut, springs, tie rods, control arms, bump stops, both axles absolutely every piece of the suspension is new. Also this year the radiator and all hoses needed replacing, at 110k $1,500 for timing belt with water pump and thermostat plus housing at Volvo. The first twelve years and 110k were nothing but oil changes, tires, batteries, and breaks. Really a trouble free car. Let's face it most people would have traded her in years ago and never replaced anything. I just did not like the V8 or 3.2 T6 which replaced the 2.9 twin charged T6. My big complaint with the V8 and 3.2 T6 is Volvo only offered these engines connected to AWD drive train only. My only complaint with my 2004 S80 T6 car is Volvo refused to upgrade the AT&T car phone and Oncall equipment when AT&T quit providing service and I fought with Volvo for years about the constant messages on the dash about Oncall not working. Finally Volvo of North America sent the removal procedure software at a cost to me of $100. That really pissed me off that I payed for a option that than drove me crazy for years with messages because Volvo dropped the ball, then to charge me to reprogram the computer to end the Oncall messages. Sorry for the rant, but that is my only complaint with the car to date. Other than a total accident taking her from me, I will never trade her in. Once you drive a T6 the T5 is just clunky in comparison. I did order a 1995 850 T5R 4 door and a 1998 V70 T5 and neither drove near as good. I did buy them all new.

So my experience has definitely been the front suspension has been the truly expensive portion of the car mechanically and should be inspected closely before purchasing a used T6 otherwise the usual checking of pcv and other things normally looked at on any used car. June

[June]

I forgot to mention last year my sister's new boyfriend opened my moonroof for the first time in probably 10 years and the sunshade fabric came loose. That cost me $900.00 to replace at Volvo for a new part installed. The part alone was over $700.00. My dealer told me they had no luck with recovering them and new part was the way to go. So any Volvo you look at with a moonroof and the fabric has any signs of wrinkles or coming off be prepared for a nightmare. Also I hear the drains can leak into the car. So far only the sunshade has been a problem with mine. June

[theWIFES_S70]

Where my 2004 has really cost me a fortune is the front suspension.... My only complaint with my 2004 S80 T6 car is Volvo refused to upgrade the AT&T car phone and Oncall equipment when AT&T quit providing service and I fought with Volvo for years about the constant messages on the dash about Oncall not working. Finally Volvo of North America sent the removal procedure software at a cost to me of $100. That really pissed me off that I payed for a option that than drove me crazy for years with messages because Volvo dropped the ball, then to charge me to reprogram the computer to end the Oncall messages. Sorry for the rant, but that is my only complaint with the car to date. Other than a total accident taking her from me, I will never trade her in. Once you drive a T6 the T5 is just clunky in comparison. I did order a 1995 850 T5R 4 door and a 1998 V70 T5 and neither drove near as good. I did buy them all new.

So my experience has definitely been the front suspension has been the truly expensive portion of the car mechanically and should be inspected closely before purchasing a used T6 otherwise the usual checking of pcv and other things normally looked at on any used car. June

June, thank you for this thoughtful write-up. I really appreciate it. I've always been curious as to why the S80s are so "cheap" around here. But it's probably because of the maintenance. Over here a strut job is a $1K job and even rear shocks are close to that. So unless you want to pay, you really have to do the work on your own. All that front end work over here, you're looking at $5k worth of work. Who would want to spend that on a ten+ year old car! (Other than Volvo-die-hards of course!)

The most expensive part of owning a P80 these past couple of years have been the suspension parts. Granted some of that was my doing by not spending the money up front, but I've learned my lesson.

I need to get my dad a car to replace our beater and he's recently mentioned that he wants a Volvo (go figure), I have been thinking about an S60 because I somewhat understand the 5-cylinder. But I will give the S80s a better look. I've only ever driven N/As, I'm kind of nervous of getting behind the wheel of a turbo and falling in love. What's the saying, ignorance is bliss?

By the way, I hope you took Volvo to small claims court for that one. That's, for lack of a better word, Ffffed up.

[theWIFES_S70]

A consistent $1500 car...

VOLVO S80 2002 $1599 - $1599 (Westchester)
https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/6119767456.html
VOLVO S80 2002 198k HIGHWAY MILES, FULLY LOADED, SUNROOF, CD PLAYER, HEATED SEATS ,AC COLD, LEATHER INTERIOR(MINT CONDITION) INSIDE AND OUT, RUNS AND DRIVES EXCELLENT, GREAT ON GAS, CLEAN TITLE AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MUST SELL DEAL WILL NOT LAST.

ASKING $1599

THANKS.

[June]

I need to get my dad a car to replace our beater and he's recently mentioned that he wants a Volvo (go figure), I have been thinking about an S60 because I somewhat understand the 5-cylinder. But I will give the S80s a better look. I've only ever driven N/As, I'm kind of nervous of getting behind the wheel of a turbo and falling in love. What's the saying, ignorance is bliss?

By the way, I hope you took Volvo to small claims court for that one. That's, for lack of a better word, Ffffed up.

Don't be afraid of Volvo's turbo engines. The people who have trouble I can guarantee 95% fail to properly use and maintain a turbo engine.

1. Use synthetic oil and change it. I read so many on here who think it is wonderful some how to run oil for 10K and even 15k and how the money saved outweighs the cost of replacing the clogged pcv system, but don't mention the excess wear to the turbo and engine ie. rings. Even if you look at it as the car is just a throw away and you don't care. Unless the car is crushed someone else inherits the nightmare. Either way you loose by having to replace the car early, and the next owner looses by eating the repairs over cheap oil changes not performed.

2. Never just shut a turbo engine off after driving. This is in the Volvo manual and says idle up to a minute before shut down after normal driving. Up to five minutes if driven hard. This is to keep the oil pump of the engine supplying oil during spool down. Otherwise turbo bearings are starved for oil while the turbo is still spinning at high rpm shortening the life of the turbocharger.

3. I have owned two five cylinder high pressure turbo and two T6 twin charged and one red engine with turbo and all ran better with premium gas. Both T6 engines ran horrible on 87 and we're drivable with 89 but low power and both grades cause noticable drop in gas mileage. While the car runs on 87, why wouldn't you want a turbo engine to perform at it's best? That is the whole point to me.

I have followed all three of those suggestions and never had a burnt valve, or turbo failure. Otherwise I do the scheduled maintenance as per my maintenance schedule provided with my car. In fact I have enjoyed passing all those annoying slow appliances pumped out these days wishing for higher speed limits! LOL

I look forward to seeing how many miles my current 2004 T6 gets before either the engine or transmission dies. I hope to report some day 300k and still going! I am at 140k and both engine and transmission feel smooth as silk and no oil used between changes and absolutely quiet. My vote is test drive a turbo Volvo and gain bliss! If I knew how to attach a YouTube video I would of the two Cash for Clunkers Volvo S80 T6 engines dyeing as it clearly shows how tough Volvo white turbo engines really are. Be ready to cringe if you watch as it is horrible to ruin perfectly good cars ( especially Volvos ).
June

[Teddy1975]

A consistent $1500 car...

Volvo S80 2002 $1599 - $1599 (Westchester)
https://newyork.craigslist.org/wch/cto/6119767456.html
Volvo S80 2002 198k HIGHWAY MILES, FULLY LOADED, SUNROOF, CD PLAYER, HEATED SEATS ,AC COLD, LEATHER INTERIOR(MINT CONDITION) INSIDE AND OUT, RUNS AND DRIVES EXCELLENT, GREAT ON GAS, CLEAN TITLE AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MUST SELL DEAL WILL NOT LAST.

ASKING $1599

THANKS.

Typical sales pitch... 'Mint condition' leather interior when you can easily see the leather on the handbrake is torn/shredded in one of the pictures?

Something like that makes me wonder what else is overstated, maybe the 'highway' miles. Sorry for my upfront thoughts.

/Teddy

[theWIFES_S70]

Typical sales pitch... 'Mint condition' leather interior when you can easily see the leather on the handbrake is torn/shredded in one of the pictures?

Something like that makes me wonder what else is overstated, maybe the 'highway' miles. Sorry for my upfront thoughts.

/Teddy

I was thinking the same thing... But I hadn't noticed the arm rest. It's important to scrutinize potential Volvos ad nauseum.

[abscate]

Check the AC ports on an older car advertised with "cold AC"

Before you touch them....compare the dust level on them with the engine compartment nearby

If they are wiped clean, they probably have a leak, and just stuffed Freon in to cover it up for a few weeks.