Buying the next generation up?

[cnysabo]

Hello All-
I have read quite a bit on this forum over the past few years, but am only now officially "joining it". I have a question that I hope is simple to answer.
About 4 years ago we were given a 2wd 2000 V70 from CT. I live in central NY and have always been a Subaru driver due to several factors: affordability of fixing them, AWD, weather, hunting vehicle... But that said, I have really liked this Volvo. It has been very dependable and the body has held up amazingly well in our "high salt" state. I also am able to do a lot of the work on it myself and find parts to be affordable. And it's amazing the amount of miles these will go if properly taken care of (mine currently has 188k, but I see them much higher online).
That said, I am nearing a place where we might need to add another vehicle to our family due to another driver in the house that will primarily drive the V70.
So as I look for another car, I find myself repeatedly looking at XC70's in AWD. My question is are the next generation of wagons beyond the 2000 v70's difficult to work on? I know it depends on a person's mechanical competency, so it might be hard to answer. But are they essentially the same under the shell or have they been redesigned in a major way? I just want to avoid buying one and finding out that I have to run to the dealer for most things (which I don't even know if there is a dealer near me).

Thanks for any input. I do appreciate reading the forum and for the tutorials people have put together which have been a help to me!

[matthew1]

Welcome.

P2 is more complex, yes. You'll probably find yourself needing Vida and Dice.

I'm not convinced the AWD system is any better on P2s, despite the additional progress/time/design it holds over the P80 AWD.

P80 AWD rabbit hole: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48417

[abscate]

Welcome !

If you are near Ithaca the guru Brumsted can help keep any p80 or p2 generation running

Ithaca Foreign Car service is his shop

[scot850]

P2 is not really any more complex in the AWD drive-line depending on the year. If you are looking at an XC or AWD look at 2004 on as the AWD system was better and the 01-02 transmissions were not too clever.

The key to most of the major issues these cars get, as any brand is keeping up with the servicing. As for records and if they cannot produce any run for the hills.

So check for oil change in the angle gear (basically a front differential that turns the drive 90 degrees into the propshaft to the rear. I just tried to pull one at a junk yard last week and found the oil was like grease and the teeth in the angle gear were all stripped.

The AWD part is a Haldex system. It is again a fairly reliable unit but again it needs servicing. If the oil and filter are not changed at around 100k miles you may end up need a oil pump for the Haldex. That is around a $1000 at the dealer including the pump.

Finally transmission flush at 50,000 miles. DO NOT let your local Jiffy Lube or anyone like that near it. A specialist or dealer only if you can't do it yourself.

Suspension is an issue with P2 cars. Broken coil springs can be an issue. If one breaks then change both at that end of the car. Bushes for the control arms are another issue.

If you can avoid it don't by a car with the 4-C adjustable shocks. On an AWD and XC it has 2 settings and is expensive to replace.

Other than that there are a few 'quirks' like the dashboard failures (DIM) which can be repaired by specialists.

We have had our 06 XC70 since around 2011. We have kept up with the servicing and maintenance. Mostly at the dealer, but I have added to this with some other work myself as required.

Only thing I don't like about it is the front seats in our car are rubbish compared to the older -00 year cars.


Neil.

[cnysabo]

Thank you so much everyone!
That is the exact kind of information I am looking for. Looks like an 04' and up is what I should be looking at.

I have been thinking about working through some of the "Stage 0" check list found on the forum with our current V70 just to try and extend its life as much as I can. I do need to further troubleshoot P0505 code. I tried most everything but replacing the throttle body. But that might have to be next.

As far as my nearness to Ithaca, I am direct north about 20 miles. So thanks for the name of the shop down there.

I appreciate the advice and the forum!

Adam

[abscate]

I’ve got a summer cottage in the14886, between Seneca and Cayuga

P0505 on a 2000? You might need a code reader that can grab Volvo ECM codes on a 99-00, many readers don’t map correctly

[FireFox31]

For P2 XC70, don't buy 2001 through 2004. One of my family members had a 2004 and the angle gear failed, eliminating the AWD. The Volvo dealership said this was a common problem. The "facelifted" 2005 to 2007 P2 XC70 might have a more reliable AWD system, so research that. scot850's info seems more well researched, but I'm simply relating a personal experience.