What to do with $12,000???

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » 29 Jun 2009, 07:23

I have several Volvos, but I drive a 1989 Mercedes wagon (300te). It has reached a point that I do not want to put any more money into it. I have $12,000 to buy a car. I need a wagon. I want reliable, comfortable and a tad of luxury. I could put that into a 2000 E320 Mercedes (with about 125,000 miles- that's kinda the going price and milage)...OR what is GREAT in the Volvo line?
I must say that I have an S40 for my son, and I find it kinda 'cheap' inside. It does not insulate sound very well and the finishing touches are all hard plastic. This is what I want to avoid. Could go Japanese, but am concerned about longevity.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 29 Jun 2009, 14:37

Buy the most recent, best maintained V70 Volvo that you can buy for that money and you won't be sorry! '02 or later- stay away from the '01's.

JimLev · Post by **JimLev** » 30 Jun 2009, 17:32

Aren't '01 and '02 both built on the same P2 platform?
I know that the 850's and the '00's are built on the P1 platform and those are not as good as the P2's.
My wife has an '01 S60 and I have an '02 V70, other than the difference between the bodies, everything else is identical.
Her S60 has been unbelievable, 87K miles and it has only needed tires and front brake pads.

_________________
01 S60
02 V70
00 BMW 540 6speed (heavily modified-my toy)

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 01 Jul 2009, 06:10

The reason I said to stay away from the '01 is because it came with built in transmission glitches... (going into neutral at a stop comes to mind)...if driven for a period of time without this software being upgraded and disabled, you get a car with a weaker transmission that is apt to go bad on you quicker than the '02 model- other than that, there isn't much difference.