Looking at a 1998 V70 XC, advice wanted.

[V50M66]

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Here is an interesting one but you have to use one of their Brokers unless you're a dealer or dismantler. Auction is tomorrow morning.

If the AWD breaks will using just the FWD be similar in terms maintenance as a reg FWD?

Selling Branch: Central New Jersey (NJ)

2000 VOLVO V70 R
Buy Now Price: $1,000
146,576 mi
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The interior and door cards!

https://www.iaai.com/VehicleDetail/40811948~US
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Nope, only way to not hate yourself is to FWD swap it. Even then, 2000 is the grenade of a 5 speed autp. Not worth it, at all, unless you have a full manual-trans, FWD parts car to do a drivetrain swap

[V50M66]

For the OP, I'd highly suggest looking into an 06-07 XC70 or V70 2.5T. Whether you go AWD or not is up to you - P2 AWD was actually engineered properly and has parts availability aplenty. 06-07 can be Polestar'd as well if you want some more spice and better transmission and AWD tuning, and by that point the P2 platform had been in production so long that most of the kinks have been worked out. They're really solid cars.

[SparksLP]

I'm totally fine with FWD. So I'll keep an eye out for V70s and V70Rs. What years of V70 regular and R version are okay? Are the automatics okay in those? Sounds like the 2.5T motor is the one to go with regardless. Thanks everyone!

[V50M66]

I'm totally fine with FWD. So I'll keep an eye out for V70s and V70Rs. What years of V70 regular and R version are okay? Are the automatics okay in those? Sounds like the 2.5T motor is the one to go with regardless. Thanks everyone!

If you're fine with putting in some work and want a more analog experience, '98 V70s are solid. Avoid '99 for ETM issues and other first-year RN fun, and avoid MY2000 non-turbo automatic cars because they use a problematic (new for the year) 5-speed auto.

I'd personally avoid Rs of all years - P80 especially is a nightmare with the AWD issues, and P2R cars have lots of potential for expensive issues, though they can be fun if you're ok with shelling out for repairs. I'd look for a 2.5T car instead - it's essentially the same car without most of the expensive tech that likes to fail.

Early P2 (-04) had some growing pains, especially automatic cars. Valve body issues are relatively common, as are DIM failures on earlier (01-02 mostly, though some up to 04) cars. Try to find an '06 or '07 - most of the kinks had been worked out by that point, and they are generally fantastic machines.

[SparksLP]

Awesome, thanks!