A friend asked me to recommend which XC wagon?

[abscate]

Neil recommends the 2000 R for a low maintenance AWD ride…..

[Krons]

I think part of the answer depends on how comfortable your friend is with maintenance and repair. I'm ok bargain shopping on something that has had regular maintenance but needs a few repairs. Others want a pristine example. Just have to budget for what you are getting.

The 08 S60 2.5T I just bought needed suspension, PCV and fluids...but bought it at the right price where it's still good value.

[vtl]

I think part of the answer depends on how comfortable your friend is with maintenance and repair.

This.

[TisMe]

I said stay away from '01 and '02 transmissions, generally go for 2004 to 2007.

The transmission in my '01 feels as strong as I'd suspect they feel off the lot, 245K miles included. I've built this theory: that the only logical reason for that is that the PO [young Capitol Hill officer, his PO was his dear mother] replaced the failed tranny and forwarded the savings to me. But he never offered any records, so this is, sadly, pure hypothesis.

[Blacklab467]

I think they're all pretty good. I've only owned one and bought it as a beater......then fell in love with it and dumped a bunch of money into it without regret. It's an '03 and and I've put almost 100000Kms on it with few problems. I really like the glass headlights, I think the plastic looks cheap. I'd confidently buy any good P-2 Volvo that was well maintained or low miles. I'm currently contemplating and researching a P-3 XC 70 for the wife and wishing my preferred Volvo lineage wasn't 20 years old. I sure like the looks of the P-3's but it really isn't very Volvo to me.

[abscate]

I said stay away from '01 and '02 transmissions, generally go for 2004 to 2007.

The transmission in my '01 feels as strong as I'd suspect they feel off the lot, 245K miles included. I've built this theory: that the only logical reason for that is that the PO [young Capitol Hill officer, his PO was his dear mother] replaced the failed tranny and forwarded the savings to me. But he never offered any records, so this is, sadly, pure hypothesis.

A car that has a 10% failure rate on transmissions is considered a lemon. Meanwhile 90% of the owners enjoy their cars drinking the lemonade.