2001 V70XC Am I insane to get a 2001/2002 V70xc?

[mjbrox]

I just moved to CO and I have a job where I will be driving about 30k miles a year.

Being in CO, it is very nice to have something with AWD, but I really need to spend less than $5k and $4k would really be better.

So the question is how bad is this transmission issue? If I check the fluid and it looks clean, and the car shifts correctly is it okay? I would think that a car with 130K miles had most likly dodged the issue.

What other major issues should I be on the lookout for?

Also, how much are people geting new/rebuilt transmissions installed? Would a trans from a 2002 or better yet a 2003 fit?

[JRL]

NO!!! (or rather yes).
You would be insane to consider an 01 or an 02 Volvo
unless... you have a service history of fluid changes that goes back to at least 30K miles or a record that shows proof of either a recent installation of a NEW or REBUILT (not used) transmission.
Besides that there are other first year issues with 2001s.

You need to find a way to extend you budget a bit 5K these days does not buy you very much car and you drive too much each year to gamble on this

[vtl]

For $5k you can buy a really nice full suspension mountain bicycle to ride in beautiful CO mountains Buying a 13-years old Volvo, year infamous for problems, for these little money is a very risky step.

[matthew1]

I've lived here since '87, with the exception of 8 years in Seattle, and I've never had a problem with 2wd cars. Tires and skill more than make up for no awd.

That said, if you're going to the mountains often in the winter, awd would be nice.

[draser]

Well, actually that's the mileage when the tranny issues start to surface - lot's of info on this forum on this. Price wise a good replacement will take you down about same you contemplate paying for the car.

[precopster]

2002 XCs avoid the throttle issue with a Bosch unit however they share the same transmission as 2001. Many detail changes under the hood on a 2002 however after having tried both years I would only buy a 2002 with a recently factory fitted transmission.

Anything upwards of 2002 in XC gets you a proper Haldex AWD that isn't fussy for tire size matching from front to rear. That alone will save you hundreds unless you rotate the tires every 10K miles on a 2001 or 2002.

Besides 2003 and above had a larger cylinder capacity and a much flatter torque delivery which gives smaller throttle openings and greater economy.

[clyburnkl]

Yes. Do not do it!

I bought my 2001 V70 XC three years ago and in those three years it has been in the shop a minimum of 8 times. Not to mention Volvos are not easy to fix and generally aren't repaired correctly unless taken to a Volvo specialist. That means forking out a lot of $$$$. I have already doubled what I paid for the car in repair expenses.

[mydamnvolvo]

I just moved to CO and I have a job where I will be driving about 30k miles a year.

Being in CO, it is very nice to have something with AWD, but I really need to spend less than $5k and $4k would really be better.

So the question is how bad is this transmission issue? If I check the fluid and it looks clean, and the car shifts correctly is it okay? I would think that a car with 130K miles had most likly dodged the issue.

What other major issues should I be on the lookout for?

Also, how much are people geting new/rebuilt transmissions installed? Would a trans from a 2002 or better yet a 2003 fit?

Don't take my advice, I bought two of them. BUT, you should look into a 2005-07 XC90 or a 1999-2000 (skip 2001-2003) 2004+ v70 or XC

[abscate]

Go FWD with four aggressive snows on steel rims. Great in snowy upstate NY

[01_Nautic_V70]

Avoid the 01-02 transmission issues. If I had known then what I know now, I'd have held out for an 03-04.