Looking to purchase a S60R and have some questions

[June]

Considering your budget I agree with your father. I also disagree with the advice to buy a 850. The 850 is just too old and a 240 or 940 from the mid 90's would be better than the 850 in that regard. I wouldn't even recommend that. Better would be a 10 year old S60 non R for the 5,000 price range.

Who would be selling a R bought new serviced meticulously by the dealer only for under 5,000? Someone who is giving up on a money pit would be my guess. Reality is that owner more than likely would trade the car in rather than spend the money, or sell it outright.

My S80 was cheap to own for 12 years and 109K, since then in 2 years and 45K have been expensive. In my case I meticulously dealer service my car to this day and look at it as if I traded it in, not only would I regret it, a new V90 inscription is 60K and then I would have no key, engin stop start, 4cyl engine yuck!, and worse to get the T6 AWD which really sucks to deal with when it breaks is standard among other things I don't want in a car.

So for less than half the 60K all the P2 woes have been dealt with and with a lifetime Volvo parts and labor warranty. At my age and situation even if I spend twice that more in repairs it won't hurt me a bit. Can you say that? If not than buy a newer, low mileage, less complex model. Now the 2008 100k cars will be dumped this year due to the first expensive maintenance is due as well as the owner knows 100k is when the first wave of expensive repair comes in.

So if you are a do it yourself guy who has the ability and time a 100k 10 year old simple S60 won't be a problem for you. Better would be to spend more up front for that super low mileage one owner trade in. That is what we bought our daughter just a few months back to have at college. We bought her a 2007 C70 with no mileage from my Volvo dealer. The car was bought there new, serviced there it's entire life, than traded there for a new Volvo. That's about the best situation you can get for a older used car of any make. Also notice that car stayed at Volvo and was not auctioned off to a buy here die here lot, nor did the original owner hassle with trying to sell the car. Volvo is a premium brand unlike Toyota or Honda. What person of means is going to try to sell their own car rather than trade It? A cheapskate who likely refused to put a extra dollar in that car. Something to consider. June