Advice on potential purchase of '07 XC70

[mkc1]

You will be stranded more, because P2 has more to break.

That's what I'm afraid of! Not sure what the alternative is though -- a Subaru Outback?

[vtl]

That's what I'm afraid of! Not sure what the alternative is though -- a Subaru Outback?

About 20 years ago car manufacturers started to shift towards the enforced lease model, when you have no choice, but jump into a new car every 2-3 years, or deal with very expensive repairs on your own. So pretty much any car younger than 20 years is not what you used to have.

If you want a Volvo, look at FWD S60 or V70 with natural aspiration engine (2.4). They have half the drivetrain problems that 2.5T AWD has. Also engine compartment is not that thermally stresses in those, so plastic, rubber, wiring degrades lot slower. But it is FWD, which is not what you want in snowy lands, perhaps. But P2 AWD is weak, breaks often and is expensive to repair. I'm on my fourth collar sleeve, second angle gear, third propeller shaft, third Haldex electric pump and second Haldex computer, for example. If you're not plowing snow, a set of good winter tires and chains is more reliable than P2 AWD.

[scot850]

Not sure what you are doing to your cars vtl to break the AWD system that often? I see a good few AWD cars here for sale with well north of 200k miles on them and never had an issue with the AWD systems. The rider here is you do have to service them just like any other parts that have oil in them. The Haldex needs a oil filter change every 100k miles or so, or you will run the pump. That also can go. Ours started to go on our 06 XC70 at 100k miles. So far not needed a drive-shaft on either of our cars, but at only 125-140k miles I would not have expected to. Both on original angle gears, collars and drive/prop-shafts.

Where I do agree that a FWD is a lot simpler to maintain with a good set of winter tires and if rural, then studded winters.

If you want really simple go for a FWD with non-turbo engine for more simplicity. I still regret selling my bas model V70 P80. That is still soldiering on with well over 200k miles and the engine is still sweet as it has been maintained (my buddy has it and won't sell it!).

Neil.

[vtl]

Not sure what you are doing to your cars vtl to break the AWD system that often? I see a good few AWD cars here for sale with well north of 200k miles on them and never had an issue with the AWD systems. The rider here is you do have to service them just like any other parts that have oil in them. The Haldex needs a oil filter change every 100k miles or so, or you will run the pump. That also can go. Ours started to go on our 06 XC70 at 100k miles. So far not needed a drive-shaft on either of our cars, but at only 125-140k miles I would not have expected to. Both on original angle gears, collars and drive/prop-shafts.

I was extensively testing the "cross-country" part of the name.

Got a vibration, found support bearing dead. Removed the propshaft for inspection, found a cracked boot on the front CV. Decided to replace with a rebuild from Colorado Driveshaft.

First collar sleeve died the regular way (Gen 2 Haldex, no preload, which costs dearly to splines), put another one. But there was too much damage done to angle gear, so it stripped early. Got a used leaky angle gear with good splines, did a full rebuild, installed with the third collar sleeve.

DEM corroded (I'm in rust belt), water got in, damaged the PCB. It would be the end for the DEM, but I can repair electronics, so it was repaired. Count it as a second DEM.

Support bearing in Colorado driveshaft disintegrated after 8 years. I looked closely at how the propshaft was rebuilt and found they fix U-joint by welding it. Screw you, not gonna buy again. Installed a brand new Dorman shaft, which is more heavy-duty and is fully rebuildable at home.

Was rebuilding the transmission, saw the first signs of damage on the collar sleeve splines, replaced it the fourth time while I was at it.

Haldex pump dies every 10-11 years. It simply wears out brushes. Can leak oil and destroy internals much quicker, but that never happened to me. The car is 21 y.o., so I'm on my third pump.

Oil and filter is replaced every time I remove the propshaft, which happens lot more often than it takes to drive 100k miles.

[jonesg]

yeh you can do all that, I pulled the haldex fuse, solved. It woud be nice to have awd but I've been fine the past 8 yrs without it.
I'm researching how to delete the angle gear and prop shaft rather than fix it.

[scot850]

Have you ever tried to remove a angle gear collar? Nearly impossible. Pull the angle gear, then refit the axle and use a couple of rubber hose clamps on the axle close to the collar to hold it in the trans.

Neil.

[DavidE7]

Back to the original questions!

The 2007 model year P2s are the best built modern Volvos in my opinion. I have been looking for a blue or silver 2007 XC70 with the premium radio/speakers/amp, the good headlights, and charcoal interior. It will last forever with enough maintenance - especially if the prior owners did additional rust protection. P2 was the last Volvo designed without help from Ford or the new Chinese owners. As the other contributors have mentioned, parts are getting harder to find. Junkyard cars are helpful if the prior owners had replaced parts shortly before their car was crashed or had a catastrophic failure.

All the items in the Volvo maintenance list plus all the other stuff that breaks will keep you busy. Regular maintenance items will remain easy to get: fluids, filters, non-4C shocks and struts, wheel bearings, tires, brake pads. Non-regular items are getting harder: struts, shocks, steering racks, radiators, HVAC blower fans and resistors, brake calipers.

I would buy it if it was a USA spec XC70 near me and an engine compression test had even results. I am wondering what happened to all the small hubcaps?

Edit - I forgot to add that the 2007s all had factory tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) which is handy for the picking up any random road debris which has happened to me just enough to want it on future cars.

[abscate]

2005 2006 2007 all have the high speed can bus and are solid p2 cars.

[Georgeandkira]

Re that high speed CAN BUS:
I brought my 2007's alternator in for a rebuild as the freewheel fritzed at ~150k.
They handed me an alternator for a pre-2005.
It charged, but the absence of the LIN protocol (?) gave me a "check charging system" message.
They made good on it. I just had to do the job twice!
Oddly, I feel better having my original alternator back in service.

[volvolugnut]

Here is a good P2, but wrong side of the country.
viewtopic.php?t=108137
volvolugnut