Would you buy this Volvo XC70 2000 with 35k miles?

Swedeboy · Post by **Swedeboy** » 09 Feb 2006, 13:05

All right already, looking for some thumbs up or thumbs down votes here on a XC70 2000 with 35k miles and full dealer service records.....

Post by **matthew1** » 09 Feb 2006, 14:18

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... php?t=1959
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... php?t=4312

AWD on these is tempermental if even slightly different sized tires are allowed on it for much time.

I'd take it to an independent Volvo mechanic and ask for his opinion. Most do these shakedown tests for $50-100. Money well spent.

Swedeboy · Post by **Swedeboy** » 09 Feb 2006, 17:08

thanks,

We got the service reports today. All scheduled services were done by the dealer with all the stock flushes/changes.

I want to drive it once more to make sure the tranny isnt noticably a problem and see what the mechanic says.

Tomorrow we are going to bring it to our local mechanic for a shake down. It looks like the tires are stock and an elderly lady owned this as the original owner and did nothing other than back and forth trips in the area............

we will see, i'll report back.....

Swedeboy · Post by **Swedeboy** » 13 Feb 2006, 07:17

Well we paid 80$ for a look thru and they uncovered an oil leak and some other things but nothing that significant.

We spoke to the dealer and the service manager regarding my objections of the ETM. The service manager said that he had heard of the problem but has never replaced an ETM. Is this possible, they are a fairly large dealer?

Just how prevalent is this problem?

400 complaints to the to the safety board doesnt seem like alot to me? how many units are there in the field, 5-20,000 with these etm's, so that is a very low complaint rate, say 10 percent of these Etm failures file complaints.....that would for 4000 out of how many cars sold with these etms....20,000, 30,000?

I am very confused......

Post by **matthew1** » 13 Feb 2006, 14:38

I'd say -- if I had to guess -- that he's not being 100% honest. Look in my ETM Room forum. Don's got all the data on the failure/units affected etc.

You'd be covered under Volvo's ETM program, only it has to show the specific codes before they work on it, and the coverage letter may take quite some time to reach you.

I'd ask for some written agreement specifically on the ETM if I bought a '99-01 from a dealer. You don't want to wait for an "on-ramp situation" to have the evidence you need.

redtelli · Post by **redtelli** » 14 Feb 2006, 23:19

I would not recommend buying one. They are extremely unreliable! I have already replaced the ETM once (at 60k) and think I need to have that one now replaced (at 90k). I have spent over $3000 on work and repairs outside of the scheduled maintenace that I am meticulous about. My car has yet again been in the shop twice in the past 1 1/2 weeks with transmission issues--I've had selenoid switches replaced, something calibrated, a transmission flush and yet my car still is not driving right. I have driven cars that were 20 years old without half the issues I've had with this one that is only 6 yrs. old. Issues that are ridiculous for a $40K car!

I actually spoke to Stephen Mchenry from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration today about a complaint I filed regarding the ETM problems I have had and he has taken hundreds of complaints and is investigating every one. These cars will just die and stop working out of the blue, without warning (sometimes), and regardless of where you are, so if you're on the highway you'd better hope your in the right hand lane and can just pull over before your steering and brakes lock up. Or maybe you'll have the priviledge of your car going into "limp home mode". If all of these things sound like challenges you are willing to pay thousands plus dollars for, then good luck. I can't wait to sell my car, I just have to get the light to stay off long enough to get rid of it.

If it weren't for all of the mechanical issues I would not have a complaint in the world, but sadly the safety issues, unreliability, and expense far outweigh anything positive this car has to offer.

In one of the documents I've read volvo admitted that over 90% of the ETMs will fail in '99-'01 70 models. I hate to sound really negative, but i wish I had known before buying my car.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make. If you do decide to get it make sure the rims are not bent (they tend to bend easily), one new is about $800.

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 15 Feb 2006, 05:06

ok, now that there's been another less than upbeat response, let me add that as I have trumpeted too many times before on this site, that I deeply regret ditching my high miliage, extremely faithful 96 850 turbo for my '01 XC - biggest automotive faux pas that I've made in my life & I continue to pay HUGE for it.....in my opinion, the late 90's were the begining of the end for this company starting with the cross country. All I can figure is that they outsourced the engineering on these things to some struggling bunch of ex Russian military types who tried to re-invent the Lada.....GO BUY SOMETHING ELSE! Is that what you need to hear? You havent mentioned how much they want for this car - I can tell you I was offered $8K 3 weeks ago for my new body style (in good condition appearance wise) I read of a guy on another board who bought an '01 in Mass last month off a lot for $6K.....these things are worthless. oh, and the service manager is full of shit & you should tell him that to his face - you want to trust this guy down the road?

Swedeboy · Post by **Swedeboy** » 22 Mar 2006, 12:16

Despite my love affair with the car, i have decided against it. I have one very unhappy wife who was heart set on it, but now i feel better knowing it was probably a mistake....

Thanks,

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 22 Mar 2006, 12:43

take the money you would have spent keeping this thing on the road & take your wife on a cruise of the French Riviera. Then as you sit on Cliffside cafe in Monaco overlooking the Mediteranean, ask her if she would have rather had a used Volvo.

Post by **JRL** » 22 Apr 2006, 22:23

Swedeboy wrote:
We spoke to the dealer and the service manager regarding my objections of the ETM. The service manager said that he had heard of the problem but has never replaced an ETM. Is this possible, they are a fairly large dealer?

Just how prevalent is this problem?

I am very confused......

Your dealer is a stone cold liar.Every 99 thru 01 Volvo's ETM will need to be replaced at some time or another.
It's free now (10 Yr 200K mile) so I wouldn't worry about it

Would you buy this Volvo XC70 2000 with 35k miles?

Would you buy this car all things considered?

Would you buy this Volvo XC70 2000 with 35k miles?