Can these cars vapor lock? 1998 V70 T5 Topic is solved

Post by **abscate** » 09 Jul 2026, 23:36

Good luck with new Bambino and I hope Volvo Gremlins avoid you for a year. You need a new/used car payment like a hole in the head. I just found out I’m going to be a Gruncle!

S Carlson · Post by **S Carlson** » 10 Jul 2026, 14:52

Thank you to Matthew and Abscate for the well-wishes!!

No matter what, we will not do a car payment. I can absorb several grand in cashfor a used prius, but would prefer to have a little time to wait for the right one, and to spruce up the V70 so that someone could buy it and keep it going. For a nearly 30 year old car, daily driver, the body is in quite decent condition, and I have a ton of extra parts. I just have to redo the headliner and give her a good cleaning.

My wife's reasoning is that the V70 w/ slushbox guzzles gas (she is right!) and the extra carrying space we have over a newer car is taken up by all the tools and parts I take with us in case we break down. She also says my Saab is enough classic car for the both of us. The real dream is to sell the Saab and get a Citroen DS. Probably won't happen until both kids are in public school. Daycare is the big expense here.

gdog · Post by **gdog** » 17 Jul 2026, 00:22

Very interesting thread; just found it and read it start to finish. Interesting theory too, but no, I've never seen an EFI engine vape lock, or diesel (which the last carbureted engine I owned did do..).

But on a more serious note, resist the temptation to sell your '98 V70 T5!! You'll forever regret it IMO. This was the last "good" MY for these cars (again, my opine) as you can do anything and everything regarding maintenance yourself with minimal special tools, and you don't have to be concerned with "programming" new (or used) electrical parts to "work" with your car (as is required with most, if not all, modern cars).

Not to mention, with minor mods, these cars are very fun to drive!! I have two of these vintage white blocks and I only carry a small bag of tools and spare parts in each; fits easily in the spare tire stowage area. You can thank me in 10 or 20 years when you're still enjoying this car..

Good luck w/your next generation..

Post by **abscate** » 17 Jul 2026, 06:22

But on a more serious note, resist the temptation to sell your '98 V70 T5!! You'll forever regret it IMO. This was the last "good" MY for these cars (again, my opine)

It is indeed the last great year of the T5 before the awesome 1999 with the sexy Italian Throttle Body.

Unsolicited financial advice. A credit union will give you 5% used car loan, which is almost free money of you put the balance into a CD.

Conserving cash with a recession in near cycle is a good thing. The last loan I had was a CPO bimmer at 0% which was golden

S Carlson · Post by **S Carlson** » 24 Jul 2026, 15:41

Had the baby yesterday! Will be bringing him home tomorrow in the V70, as we did the first.

I had to drive the car like I stole it, back to the hospital after going briefly home to bathe and put to bed our toddler, when I got the call that my wife had transitioned into active labor! It is, indeed, still fast. Probably burnt a valve...

I know we have the last good one! Electric throttle bodies can be a huge pain. I've more or less kept up on the maintenance, and I do think about quality. My neighbor, who is babysitting for us while we are in the hospital, drives a Kia Soul. It is already burning enough oil to plug up the cat, with just over 100k on the clock. The body is practically rust-free, the transmission shifts fine, but people say it's the rings and bearings that go. That's a disposable engine, folks.

Re car loans: It's not the interest that necessarily gets you, but the needing full coverage on the car in most cases. Our old cars get liability coverage and that's it. We sock the money away, so we could go buy a new used car if something did happen, rather than giving it to the billionaires that run the insurance industry.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Jul 2026, 17:41

S Carlson wrote: 24 Jul 2026, 15:41 Had the baby yesterday! Will be bringing him home tomorrow in the V70, as we did the first.

I had to drive the car like I stole it, back to the hospital after going briefly home to bathe and put to bed our toddler, when I got the call that my wife had transitioned into active labor! It is, indeed, still fast. Probably burnt a valve...

I know we have the last good one! Electric throttle bodies can be a huge pain. I've more or less kept up on the maintenance, and I do think about quality. My neighbor, who is babysitting for us while we are in the hospital, drives a Kia Soul. It is already burning enough oil to plug up the cat, with just over 100k on the clock. The body is practically rust-free, the transmission shifts fine, but people say it's the rings and bearings that go. That's a disposable engine, folks.

Re car loans: It's not the interest that necessarily gets you, but the needing full coverage on the car in most cases. Our old cars get liability coverage and that's it. We sock the money away, so we could go buy a new used car if something did happen, rather than giving it to the billionaires that run the insurance industry.

I completely forgot about the insurance nut, I haven’t had crash on a car since 2010. Indeed thst is good cash to stash