First Gen. V70 reliability

timgrace414 · Post by **timgrace414** » 17 Feb 2009, 11:00

I'm in the market for a 1998-2000 V70. My budget ($2-3,000) means I'm looking at some very high mileage models. What goes wrong with these things after 150,000-200,000 miles? What should I watch for? Should I bite the bullet and splash out for a lower-mileage 2nd. generation model?

Any advice would be great.

Tim from Rhode Island

Post by **JRL** » 17 Feb 2009, 12:41

It's not what goes wrong at 150K, it's what goes wrong between 70 and 120K.
At 150K most of the stuff that goes cad should have already been repaired/replaced and ready for the 2nd go around soon.
If minimal servicing has been done, RUN from this car.
Buying a high mileage Volvo means you MUST get the service and maintenance records from the PO and have someone who knows these cars go over the records with you BEFORE you buy.

timgrace414 · Post by **timgrace414** » 17 Feb 2009, 12:56

Thanks JRL. But would you consider buying a well-maintained high-mileage example or no?

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Feb 2009, 13:16

Tim, you might find useful posts in the Volvo Buyer's Guide.

I'm not saying you shouldn't ask questions in this thread, just throwing that out there for you.

I always say if reliability is Concern #1 and safety/style/character/maintenance-friendliness are distant 2,3,4 etc, get a Toyota or Honda.

timgrace414 · Post by **timgrace414** » 17 Feb 2009, 13:26

Thanks Matt

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Feb 2009, 17:30

I'm with Jim on this one. You can buy a Volvo for between $2-3000 and easily put that much or more in getting it up to par. I saw a decent looking 850 last summer but after investigation, even if it was given to me I would have passed- it was that neglected mechanically.

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Feb 2009, 18:24

I should make a little MVS "widget" where potential buyers rank these

reliability
safety
style
character
maintenance friendliness

then enter on a scale of 1-3 how good they are with tools. It will spit out just a Yes or No.

I was in the parking lot of an auto parts shop on Sunday working on my 850 in the sun, and a young employee came out to talk. He owned a lowrider 2002-ish Honda Civic. He said (and I believed, having owned an '88 Civic and '97 Accord) it was very slow.

He is the perfect candidate for a later 850 or 70 Turbo, and I didn't hesitate to "plant a seed" about the affordability of a used Volvo turbo, and how easy they are to work on. If you can turn a wrench, a '97 850 Turbo, for example, for a few thousand dollars is the best deal in the automotive world.