the most exciting but dreadful time is coming soon again...

Post by **CIK7** » 01 Mar 2026, 18:11

i did mean 'again'. How many times have i bought a new car? And here I am sooooooo close to selling my 09 toyota rav4, and Im torn. I could get 2 cars with the sale. I like the 1st gen toyota highlander. then I could get a cheaper Volvo. Or I could go all out by getting a 100k mile 850 turbo. id be set except for a lack of extra room. Ive seen a cheap 07 xc90 v8 awd (190k) and 04 xc70 (205k).

With all that said.... I actually have a decent full set of p80 sedan backseats in storage. m56 is sitting on back porch. i think xc70 and xc90 require deeper pockets, right?

The 1G highlander is a great all-rounder no matter how I look at it. Great towing, a boatload of cargo space (rivaling+ the volvo 965), cloth seats, a sunroof, great mpg, reliable ample engine. My fav config.

Can I please get suggestions?

Im considering picking up Matthew's Volvo (no not his site

) and a 1st gen Highlander.

Post by **matthew1** » 01 Mar 2026, 19:05

Whoo I can't help with the big buy/sell questions, but I'm curious what the 4.8M engine is?

Post by **CIK7** » 01 Mar 2026, 19:10

matthew1 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2026, 19:05 Whoo I can't help with the big buy/sell questions, but I'm curious what the 4.8M engine is?

it was rare for the 1999-2002 chevy silverado to come with a 5sp manual paired to the 4.8L v8. It is common to find the 4.3L v6 paired with the 5sp manual.

Post by **matthew1** » 01 Mar 2026, 20:31

Ah ok. I had a 88 Blazer (the small one) 2dr with a Vortec, tree shift auto.

Post by **CIK7** » 01 Mar 2026, 21:04

matthew1 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2026, 20:31 Ah ok. I had a 88 Blazer (the small one) 2dr with a Vortec, tree shift auto.

Sounds like a quick setup. Kinda like 'the get up and go got up and went' lol My understanding is that even the older vortecs had decent power.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Mar 2026, 00:09

I think Matt’s red 850 R is calling you, and since it’s only a few states away it can’t be more than an hours drive or so, right?

(I once drove in NY VT NH ME MA RI CT in one day)…still my record.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 02 Mar 2026, 03:55

.
Unless there is a good conditioned Highlander that can wait till you sell the RAV4 be content. Helped two people purchased 1st Gen Highlanders and they love it and have been reliable. Neighbor has one also and I would acquire one if timing was right.

Most reliable in our fleet is an 03 Odyssey owned for 12 years with over 100K miles under my watch and is at 258K at this time. Wife likes it so there is a duplicate with 161K sitting at friend’s waiting for some maintenance then a surprise swap

.
.

.

Post by **CIK7** » 02 Mar 2026, 07:41

MoVolvos wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026, 03:55
Most reliable in our fleet is an 03 Odyssey owned for 12 years with over 100K miles under my watch and is at 258K at this time. Wife likes it so there is a duplicate with 161K sitting at friend’s waiting for some maintenance then a surprise swap .
.
IMG_5189.jpeg
IMG_5188.jpeg
.

My neighbor has an identical one.

Post by **CIK7** » 02 Mar 2026, 15:11

After putting feelers out in the p2 and xc90 forums, Ive decided to stick with the -98 p80 platform. Ive got so many parts and I cant just switch to another platform. The thought of more electronics needing replacement and spending more money is not appealing. One day though I would like to get a 4.4L V8 or its 5.6L cousin and put a 6sp manual on it.

Post by **abscate** » 04 Mar 2026, 00:07

The best part of those Odysseys is the Homer device that leads them back every night.