Seriously considering this buy

andrewjswitzer · Post by **andrewjswitzer** » 20 Apr 2016, 14:40

Hello all, very new to this forum. Not entirely new to Volvo.

My wife and I are seriously considering purchasing this 2000 V70-XC. http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/c ... 04599.html

I am currently setting up a time to look and test drive the car. Anything I should look out for?

Using this forum post as a guide https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=30763

I am a pretty accomplish DIY mechanic on our 2006 Honda Element, will this car be comparable in ease of maintenance and upgrades?

Thanks in advance!

Post by **scot850** » 20 Apr 2016, 15:14

As I haven't worked on a Honda Element I don't know how to compare. These AWD P80 (97-00 year) Volvos are more complex than the need to be. They are at the age where maintenance is a big part of their lifespan.

I see no mention of the AWD system. Ask if it is still installed or of the prop-shaft has been removed to make it FWD only. Once the AWD system starts to have problems they can get expensive in terms of cost and time to repair.

The good thing, assuming good quality parts have been used, is a lot of major work has been done.

When test driving the car find somewhere to do tight figure of 8's to see if there are any strange noises or shuddering coming from the AWD system.

Check under the car for oil leaking from the join between the engine and transmission (toward the LH side), check the steering for leaks on the rack, and the angle gear where the unit joins the prop-shaft just behind the middle of the engine.

Neil.

Post by **rguzz** » 20 Apr 2016, 16:32

Not much to compare with Honda anything when it comes to $$$ required to keep it up regardless of what you are willing to do yourself. Have a southern 850t which is almost up to snuff (comfortable enough with it to take long trips), a few items remaining that can still be problematic away from home. Lots of time and money to get there, though I didn't do everything myself. Many people would suggest not taking on a 2000 V70XC, IMO not a great car to begin with (can I say that?) and a well recognized money pit depending on where you are on the repair curve. I wouldn't take a winter belt XC on myself unless I was looking for a project car. Others will have opinions you are wise to research beforehand.

paredown · Post by **paredown** » 20 Apr 2016, 17:42

I've been picking away at the base V70 we bought a couple of years ago. It had been neglected, so may be more work than that one will turn out to require.

Take a good sniff inside the cabin for anti-freeze, and a finger test on the inside of the front window for film--the heat exchanger for cabin heat is prone to leaking.

Any random dashboard warning lights etc can be the ABS module (Matty Moo on this forum can rebuild economically) and/or the ignition switch--both are relatively easy repairs.

PCV and timing belt are critical...both are a PITA, but doable even by amateurs like me.

Post by **dosbricks** » 20 Apr 2016, 18:19

197k, yet the ad does not mention when or if the drive-train has been repaired. If you seriously want an XC, it would be less painful in the long run to look for much newer year in which by then Volvo had ironed out some of the big problems with their early AWD.

Post by **abscate** » 20 Apr 2016, 19:22

A 2000 has the first generation MM electronic throttle body which needs to be replaced about every 100k miles. It's a 609-700 usd job