How leery would you be of 4C if the car otherwise checks out?

dgh74 · Post by **dgh74** » 17 Apr 2018, 20:45

Dear All,

I've been searching for an XC70 for a while and I have a lead on a well maintained 2006 with 140K and a lot of work done: the timing belt, the breather and the throttle body. And maybe a few more things. But it's got the active suspension which I understand is rare on the XC70s. I haven't heard back from the seller yet as to whether or not it's on its original struts yet, but would it be a dealbreaker if everything else is well sorted?

Thanks!

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Apr 2018, 22:25

I haven’t heard of 4C on a XC.

dgh74 · Post by **dgh74** » 18 Apr 2018, 05:52

This one has it, apparently, and the owner has replaced two. All other maintenance is up to date. I guess another question is in order: Is it a good system when it's working correctly?

Post by **Rattnalle** » 18 Apr 2018, 07:53

I'd never buy an old 4C car myself. Dampers are wear parts and they're too expensive to replace imho. Other than that it doesn't seem like a bad thing to have it's just a cost vs gain thing for me.

dgh74 · Post by **dgh74** » 18 Apr 2018, 08:15

Thanks! I also have a lead on a 2004 with normal suspension and lower miles. Which is worse, the 4C or the trannies in the 2004s?

Post by **Rattnalle** » 18 Apr 2018, 08:18

It's the same transmission as in the 2006 so that'd be more about how healthy each car is.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Apr 2018, 08:54

The 4C system is reliable and long-lived. Nothing wrong with it at all. The drawback to it is cost.

Again, I question an XC having a 4C system. The ride height is far too high on any XC to use the 4C Monroe setup. 4C was used on R cars which are lowered vs. the rest of Volvo's lineup.

Unless the owner lowered the XC70 and swapped in a 4C setup (which would require springs and something to set the ride height from the cabin), which would be a nightmare to own second-hand.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 18 Apr 2018, 09:05

A quick Google search seems to confirm XCs with 4C do exist. IPD have the spare dampers specific for both R and XC. If anything it should do more good on an XC that had more suspension travel to work with to go between hard and soft.

They're still ridiculously expensive though at $500 each. That's more than an entire set of regular Sachs dampers.

How much the system is worth is up to each of us to decide. I've decided it isn't. Matthew seems to think it is?

Post by **mrbrian200** » 18 Apr 2018, 11:01

If the once in a great while $500-700 over regular/expected maintenance to replace a 4C would present a 'financial problem' then stay away from them. Fully loaded Volvos probably aren't the best choice for people running on tight finances... Look for one with a more basic option package and be happy that, even short some of the bells and whistles, you're still getting one of the nicer, safer vehicles out there.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 18 Apr 2018, 11:17

mrbrian200 wrote: ↑18 Apr 2018, 11:01 If the once in a great while $500-700 over regular/expected maintenance to replace a 4C would present a 'financial problem' then stay away from them. Fully loaded Volvos probably aren't the best choice for people running on tight finances... Look for one with a more basic option package and be happy that, even short some of the bells and whistles, you're still getting one of the nicer, safer vehicles out there.

Very few other bells and whistles actually wear and need replacing every once in a while though. If two have been replaced recently it doesn't seem that far a stretch to assume the other pair will need to as well soon. But by all means it's still just an expense to count in just like everything else.