05 and later S60 turbo buying advice

[erikv11]

I've been in P80 cars forever, starting to look now at P2. An S60 is a near-term need but also have my eye out for the right V70.

I have figured out that I want to go 05 or newer on the S60, now I can't remember exactly why I thought I had settled on 07 as a sweet spot ... the past few months I see many more 08 for sale than 07. Any important differences? 09 OK? What are the drawbacks of 05-06?

I am also trying to talk myself out of AWD but again, there are a lot of AWD for sale here, I see those more often than FWD. I am thinking the additional hassles are not worth it, e.g. difficulty of fuel pump access, more crap in the way under the car, more to go wrong for an AWD I don't think I'll need. The P80 FWD is more than sufficient with decent snow tires, although I presume the S60 is a lighter car.

Just looking for advice (c'mon, you all like to give advice!) in a thread I can come back to as I browse the listings.

[oragex]

I would skip the awd although I think they reinforced the collar sleeve from 2007 on. A good set of winter tires are worth 4x an awd with all season tires.
I believe transmission solenoids were also redesigned after 2007. Before this they may get clogged and cause harsher shifting.
Turbo needs synthetic oil - check maintenance papers. Look for a car with less wear on the drivers seat - means it has seen more highway which in turn is important to keep the PCV breathing.

[JDS60R]

07 is the sweet spot. DSTC is standard. AWD switches to insta traction (rear is always engaged at low level- no wait for front to spin) I would get the AWD. I have 2 of them and love it. But you can live without. Good tires are a must but when I visit family in Cedar Rapids I can tell you the AWD is working. So much better than the fwd . When I visit Iowa in winter its snow tires and AWD for me.

[MadeInJapan]

Low miles are always better. My son got an '07 FWD 2.5T. I've talked to many mechanics and most claim the 2.5T is the best engine that Volvo built. He loves his car btw, and besides the peeling cloth A-pillars not one issue. We replaced his A-pillars for plastic ones off of an '04 from the junk yard for cheap and they look a lot better...you can also repair them with 3-M 2 sided adhesive tape but they still have to come out of the car to do this repair.

[erikv11]

Great comments from you guys, thanks.

Useful stuff here viewtopic.php?f=9&t=79978 and here viewtopic.php?f=9&t=80763, too.

With the S60 AWD is a fuel pump change a tank-dropping, or floor cutting, ordeal?

[quidsid]

I'm new to Volvo's. I always wanted a Volvo but could never afford on. Two weeks ago I was at a Volvo dealer with my daughter, who was purchasing an Infinity G35 Coupe from this dealer. I mentioned to the salesman that I always wanted a Volvo, but couldn't afford one. He said "I have one you can afford". Two days later I drove off the lot with a 2005 S60 2.5T with 36650 miles on it. Another salesman who worked there, told me that it was his neighbors car, and she is elderly and hardly drove it. This car is the best car I ever owned, and I owned quite a few in my 69 years. I also purchased a Volvo 5 year 60,000 mile warranty. I hope you find a low mileage car like I did.

[jenkinskg]

I have an 04 2.5t bought for my daughter and a few issues, all easy and cheap to fix. Runs great has 190K miles and no oil usage between oil changes

!!!! Even low miles cars need, new timing belt, Trans flush and regular low mile oil changes and coolant flush.
Prob even brake fluid change would be very good for it


Working on awd 02 s60 now, for my son

[abscate]

Erik...get Jim to snag that 2007 with manual and you won't need AWD

Be quick!