Cheap S80 for sale, but is it worth it?

[RocketUSA]

I'm looking at maybe purchasing a cheap 2002 S80 that needs catalytic converters. My main goal for this car would be to get this for my mom (she'll buy) who currently drives a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim. As old an crappy as that Acclaim is, it just keeps going. Short of explosives, I think that car will get through anything, but it can't last forever. Right?

Enter the S80. It's got 201,000 miles, and I'm concerned about the transmissions from that year. What's the overall impression of this year, and things I may be up against? I have been through the CEM nightmare with a 2004 V70, which wasn't fun but finally figured out. I'm her primary maintenance/repair person, and she doesn't have a lot of money for replacement parts. Some, just not a lot. First off, it needs catalytic converters, which I found for $100 each (it takes two, right? ). Parts don't seem outrageously expensive, at least the common brakes/cooling system/alternator sort of things. At least, not that much more than her Acclaim, amazingly.

I'm not looking for hard answers here, just maybe a discussion about some pros and cons on this car. I know as well as the next guy there's no way to predict the future, but if I can identify some of the "gotchas" before getting into this, it will help my decision. Thanks!

[Elliot9874]

I have a 2004 volvo S80 with 160K miles.

Biggest cost is that some parts require programming by the dealer you can just swamp them out.

The biggest cost you may have in the future maybe having the ABS module going bad. That costs around $600 - $1500 to replace. You can get a rebuilt 1 but do your research on parts extensively.

Other than that I really love the car.

All cars will break and need some repairs with that kind of mileage.

Just be careful a lot of parts especially electronic parts are not super expensive but almost always require some sort of programming by the dealer.

[June]

I also am still driving my 2004 S80 T6 with 137k and love it as well. I had a 2002 S80 T6 before the 2004 which saved my life and the life of my little dog sitting in my lap in a launch and rollover accident off the interstate. I had not a bruise or scratch when I opened the door and stepped out of the car. I never had the first problem with the 2002 but it was still basically a new car. The first twelve years of the 2004 was completely trouble free, but I have had pretty much everything in the front suspension replaced, other than the timing belt, lower control arms, and axles, all other parts I could have driven for years and years without replacement. I simply wanted my car to be tight and perfect. I still prefer my S80 T6 to anything any company has made since including Volvo. That is how happy I am with my S80. Had Volvo not discontinued the 2.9 T6 option, they would have sold me three more cars just like it as I used to trade every few years. June

[RocketUSA]

Just be careful a lot of parts especially electronic parts are not super expensive but almost always require some sort of programming by the dealer.

Ah yes, of course. The dealer wanted $400 for an extra key due to not only programming, but buying the software that would be programmed. Highway robbery, in my book.

Excellent points, thank you both.

[cmblackburn]

Is it a T6? If so, run away. 2.9's are quite good.
Transmission failure rate is ridiculous on the T6's, they just weren't designed for the torque of the twin-turbo I6. GM actually made Volvo sign a waiver disclosing the transmission could not handle the torque...

[Cees Klumper]

We have the 2002 T6. Have had it for 7 years and 100K miles so far. Issues have been limited to the usual front suspension wear parts, one bad ignition coil and a drive shaft (PO damaged from small accident I believe). What we do is when the engine is cold, religiously wait until the rpms settle down before putting it in gear, so as to spare the transmission. And we don't gun it too much, just when needed. So far it's been the most comfortable and trouble-free car we've owned.

[ThommyKent]

It`s worth remembering that not every single T6 will have a transmission problem. The T6 does have a failure rate higher than normal, but not everyone will have an issue. If you do the expense for a replacement is much less than trying to buy a car with similar attributes. ie. BMW, Audi or Mercedes. Don`t even think one of those will not need something super expensive replaced.

[FLXC90]

It`s worth remembering that not every single T6 will have a transmission problem. The T6 does have a failure rate higher than normal, but not everyone will have an issue. If you do the expense for a replacement is much less than trying to buy a car with similar attributes. ie. BMW, Audi or Mercedes. Don`t even think one of those will not need something super expensive replaced.

Unless the car dies for another reason first, or someone does drain and fill services on a regular basis (30-45k) I think they all WILL die. It is just a fact of the compromise in design and the nincompoop marketing ploy that will spell their doom. However, they are still comfy, safe cars for the right drivers. And going in with knowledge is the best strategy.
If I were to buy a T-6, I'd look for a crashed parts car to get a spare trans from. I have saved the original from my XC90 for that reason. (haven't rebuilt it yet, but it's on the radar!)

And to quote an MVS sage-The most expensive Volvo you will own is the one you buy cheap

But-OP that only applies to the twin-turbo cars, the N/A cars are within the parameters for the particular transmission.

[oragex]

An S80 is definitely not the cheapest car out there, why not going with a much more reliable, less thirsty and easier to fix S60? Probably the only attractive aspect about the S80 is it's price. But buying a car only for it's price it's not a wise approach.

[June]

It`s worth remembering that not every single T6 will have a transmission problem. The T6 does have a failure rate higher than normal, but not everyone will have an issue. If you do the expense for a replacement is much less than trying to buy a car with similar attributes. ie. BMW, Audi or Mercedes. Don`t even think one of those will not need something super expensive replaced.

Unless the car dies for another reason first, or someone does drain and fill services on a regular basis (30-45k) I think they all WILL die. It is just a fact of the compromise in design and the nincompoop marketing ploy that will spell their doom. However, they are still comfy, safe cars for the right drivers. And going in with knowledge is the best strategy.
If I were to buy a T-6, I'd look for a crashed parts car to get a spare trans from. I have saved the original from my XC90 for that reason. (haven't rebuilt it yet, but it's on the radar!)

And to quote an MVS sage-The most expensive Volvo you will own is the one you buy cheap

But-OP that only applies to the twin-turbo cars, the N/A cars are within the parameters for the particular transmission.

The 2.9 NA also has the 4 speed GM. Why worry about a possible transmission problem? Same era 5 speed fail too. Mine is 13 years old and I do run my car harder than most and at 137k is just fine. My car is used to WOT getting on the expressway, and I think nothing of hitting the floor when I want to pass. I use the manual mode and don't shift till at least 5000 rpm when in heavy traffic rather than ride the brakes. I read nothing but bad transmission bs on here about these cars when my my V70 auto had nothing but trouble during the first 4 years which made me feel sorry for the person who bought it after I traded it in for the 2002 S80 T6. I originally bought the S80 to get away from the 70 series transmission and only the 80 had a different auto transmission. For me if it fails I will spend the $4000 at Volvo for a new one with a lifetime warranty no big deal! So why not buy that car for what it is rather than what might happen? June