crossroads

[erikv11]

I hear you!

My situation is similar; My 98 V70 is old but still remarkably reliable, I will keep driving that around town. And I still have a 95 R, but its usage is dropping to zero and I need to move it. But overall, I've almost completed a transition to P2 cars. I've accumulated far fewer spare parts for those, instead I mostly buy as needed. If you resist replacing every part someone on the internet has a problem with, or blindly replacing parts on miles etc, then the maintenance is not bad and buying parts as needed works out. But P2 cars will soon be as dilapidated as the P80s were a few years ago, so this strategy won't last of course.

My read is that the P2 platform is a cutoff for the optimal combination of quality and DIY serviceability. Does have annoying computer problems but most are surmountable, still very easy to work on, not so old that something fails every week, still has the rock solid 5 cylinder, has a list of known, common failures, service is not much different from P80, parts still widely available (this will change, admittedly), etc.

So you could consider moving to a *well kept* US market '07 V70 turbo (your market's equivalent to '07), knowing you won't be in that car forever. S60 is an equally good car but the cabin space is ridiculously small. For either, the 07 and 06 models really are worth getting over an 05 or earlier. A P2 will be basically about 10 years out from the crossroads your 850 is at now. Then when the P2 near the crossroads, consider the much newer car that someone else maintains. This move basically pushes the decision down the road, but it seems reasonable. For me, I've probably got another 10 years of car work in me so this strategy is a good fit. Might be for you, too.

Would be curious to hear from Chuck - he still runs two 850s in his household as daily drivers and I don't think he has plans to move on. But he's younger (I think)!

[scot850]

We have a P2 06 XC70. It, so far, has been a pretty good servant to us since buying it from the local dealer in 2011. It is just coming up on 125,000 miles and has been serviced to the book. That includes timing belt (new one needed next year), Haldex service including pump, trans flush by the dealer. It has had the 4C shocks and springs replaced as well. Only 3 other things have really failed on it, the Evap pump (a swine to replace due to lack of access), the brake booster pump and the heating system fan.

My son owns the car but as he works from home here, his mum shares it and the servicing costs, especially over the winter. The only issue I have with it is the front seats are terrible. They have no thigh support so it puts all the load on your spine. I still don't know why they did not fit the same seats as most of the other P2 models have which do have thigh support. Although rare, I would maybe keep an eye out for a late V70 AWD as they have the better seats in them. Only issue is how low the cars are when you have aback issue. Maybe a gen 1 late XC90 with R-design seats?

Neil.

[Clemens]

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts. I will definitely keep my 96 R and continue to drive it, but for a daily it just has too much power. It's somewhere close to 280hp and paired with the Quaife and TME exhaust it just screams for more RPM and boost - and living in a town with most streets sporting a 20mph limit, this gets old. If ever it stops working, I will just keep it for the looks.

I never got to like the P2 Volvos, they just don't look good interiorwise. Their center console is almost as hideous as the P3 metal faceplate with the cheap plastic buttons.
The first Volvo after the p80 that has a very appealing exterior and interior is the V90.

But yes, spending 25K on a 5 to 7 y old car with around 100.000 miles and full of electronics is a scary thought.

I just looked into P2s. There are practically none below 200.000 miles and alot of them beyond 300.000. And while we know they can run these many miles, they are 20 years old.

I'm 44, I could probably wrench for years to come, but after a decade of wrenching I just feel that my time is limited and that I'm beginning to realise that all the p80 parts and partscars and various other appliances and motor driven tools are starting to take their toll on me.
Sometimes I wonder if a pre electronic carbed V6 or V8 car with a simple 3 speed auto would do the job, but then I realize they aren't rust proof like p80s, so maybe not.

[Clemens]

.Maybe a gen 1 late XC90 with R-design seats?

Neil.

I thought their AT isproblematic.

[454cid]

.Maybe a gen 1 late XC90 with R-design seats?

Neil.

I thought their AT isproblematic.

I believe it depends on the engine. The inline 6 always got a GM FWD transmission that could be an issue. The 5 got whatever the cars got, and I don't know about the V8. I've looked at two XC90's and have not been impressed. I'm not sure if it's the XC90, or it was just the wrong individual vehicles, or the fact that they are P2's and I'm always disappointed in the P2's not being a P80.

[scot850]

Did all the i6 engines get the GM trans? The early 6 cylinder T6 models did and if you got 100kkm out of a trans you were doing well. When they 'upgraded' in around 2007 to the 3.2l i6 did is get the same trans? I believed it was changed to the later version as used on the XC60 and P3 models. I know the 201/4 years used this trans: Transmission: TF-80SC AWD

I've not really looked into it, but not heard any horror stories other than the issue of removing axles from it like we had on the 200,000 mile trans on a 2013 XC60.

Neil.

[Clemens]

Could one keep a solid 122 running essentially forever? Assuming it’s not rusted. Simple machine, parts are available.

The same could be said about an old Beetle or American pickup I suppose.

Most likely this could work, but as you say, rust would really be an issue for long term daily use.

A fellow local Volvo guy suggested switching to a 7 or 9 series instead of the second p80.
I came across a 170.000 mile 780, this is a very tempting option. It will outlive the V90 by far, I believe. Even if I drove it in winter.

[Clemens]

I read up on various Dora about V90ies, and generally they seem to be okay cars id you live close to a dealer and don't mind stopping by for code reading and getting new software uploaded for a low triple digit number everytime something electronically fails.
So while the creature comforts in these New Volvos seem to be awesome, they surely are not trouble free.

What I've read from V90 owners is annoying, to say the least. Like the rear doors frequently not unlocking. Or failure of the AC/heater/Fan unit for no obvious reason. The screen getting slow or hot or go black. Antilock failing, power steering gone, can't turn off the motor.

If we encounter this stuff on a p80 we get upset, but if this were to happen on a 25K car, I'd get really irritated.

[scot850]

Must be my Scottish blood. I am really struggling these days to even contemplate spending $30,000 CDN (Approx $22,000 US) or more on an 8 year old Volvo with no warranty and over 100,000 miles. Heck, a car just out of warranty at 4 years old they are asking for $40-50k! The worst of all is the XC40 which prices being asked are more than they sold for when they first came out for 2019 models with 50-60,000 miles on them. Nope, well off my radar. Can't recall if I mentioned it before, but 2 people who are friends of friends just sold their XC90's as they said they could not contemplate owning them out of warranty due to the high level of repairs they have needed for stupid electric and other parts that should not be breaking. The information was not more detailed unfortunately.

Neil.

[Sveedy]

My daily driver is a '94 Jeep Cherokee. I bought it from the original owner over 20 years ago, and In that time I have rebuilt most everything, including interior and paint. Venerable Inline 6 cyl with a 5 sp manual trans. & 4x4. Manual windows, door locks, seat adjustment etc. Minimal electronics. Supper basic vehicle, but it's as reliable as a toaster. 416k miles so far. It's not too tall or too low, so very easy to get in and out of for my aging body, and plenty of cargo space plus a Yakima roof rack.
I still see these running around all over which, after apx 30 years, I take as a testimony to its good design. They're still fairly inexpensive and very easy to work on when needed. Even bought one for my son when he was in high school. I honestly can't see any reason why I will ever stop driving it, except for possibly a problem with my left knee.
Now is it as fun as the turbo 850 ? No. Not usually, except in heavy snow