98 s70 base manual 0-60; s70 vs 960 sedan opinion

Post by **CIK7** » 03 Jul 2020, 10:10

I'm considering getting a 1998 S70 base model with a manual transmission, heated seats, and headlight wipers. I tried looking at 0 to 60 websites about the 0 to 60 for this car but only the GLT and t5 are listed. I know it is rated at 168hp, the same as my previous 2001 Volvo V70 base model.

I would like to get opinions on 98 S70 base 180k vs 96 960 200k sedan. does the 96 960 have keyless entry optional or standard? which car do you like better if applicable?

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jul 2020, 16:00

To me they are 2 totally different cars with their own appeal.

Do you get much snow and ice where you are? If so you may well need studded tires and bags of sand in the trunk for the 960 in the winter as it is RWD and an automatic trans.The S70 will also need snow tires but it is easier to manage in bad conditions as the weight is over the front wheels and you have a manual trans.

If you have little or no ice/snow then they are both great cars.

The S70 manual is a nice car to drive and good gas mileage. My buddy had a stick 98 V70 and loved it, but it was sold and he bought my 00 V70 5 speed auto and loves it. He still likes the idea of a manual though.

The 960/S90 is a car I always wanted at some point. I had a 940 HPT wagon and it was a great comfortable car to cover big mileages in.The 960 is the same with more power, but both get worse gas mileages.

If you do mostly city driving then an auto is a bonus. If not then either are good.

Parts: S70 is easier to find parts for with a larger availability and range of option seven in the junkyard. 960's are getting thin on the ground.

SO if none of the issues above are an issue to you then it will come down to price, condition and maintenance. As you well know, there are no cheap old Volvos. So try to find the best you can.

Neil.

Post by **Eddystone** » 03 Jul 2020, 16:37

I agree with Neil that 960's are becoming pretty rare, parts are more expensive, and overall it's a more complicated car despite being RWD. The straight six is a "modular engine" and the 850/P80 engine is derived from it. We just had a conversation where someone said all of the P80s in his area of California have blown head gaskets. In the Philadelphia area, 850s/S70s/V70s don't seem to have head gasket issues, but just about every 960 variant I see advertised has a blown head gasket.

If you like the RWD cars, I would say buy a nice 4-cylinder 940 turbo, if you can find one. But Neil is absolutely correct that the 940/960 has very poor rear wheel traction in snow and ice because all of the weight is in the front. The 940 is dead simple to work on compared to the 850s and 960s.

I have a 1998 V70 non-turbo and find it to be a much simpler car than the 1999 S70 T5 turbo.

All other things being equal, I would say go for the S70 base, plan to catch up on any deferred maintenance, and then it will be very reliable.

Post by **CIK7** » 03 Jul 2020, 17:36

I have ruled out the 960 before seeing y'all's posts about it. not interested because the rear seats don't fold. rspi video on YT showed it being a bolt in unit. when I go on road trips to Wisconsin, I sleep in my car and the 960 non-foldable seats would highly disappoint me.

Post by **CIK7** » 03 Jul 2020, 17:38

what is y'all's opinion on the 97 850 GLT (turbo)? I like the extra option of a cheap key fob for $30. the 98s are soooooo expensive $300-450.

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jul 2020, 18:27

They have their advantages and are a good engine option. LPT and around 190bhp? Again same riders of easier to get parts for but make sure it has been loved.

Neil.

Post by **Eddystone** » 04 Jul 2020, 00:04

CIK7 wrote: ↑03 Jul 2020, 17:38 what is y'all's opinion on the 97 850 GLT (turbo)? I like the extra option of a cheap key fob for $30. the 98s are soooooo expensive $300-450.

I may be wrong as usual, but I think my 98 has a fairly normal key. My 99 has the gigantokey and all the whizbang electronical things that tend to be more complicated to figure out. Are the 98 keys smarter than the 97 keys?

Post by **abscate** » 04 Jul 2020, 03:53

I thought the 1992-1998 all ran the same locking stuff, and 99 was the change over year to vin pinned stuff including keys and fobs programmed through VIDA

Post by **CIK7** » 04 Jul 2020, 07:10

scot850 wrote: ↑03 Jul 2020, 18:27 They have their advantages and are a good engine option. LPT and around 190bhp? Again same riders of easier to get parts for but make sure it has been loved.

Neil.

yes this car has almost same engine specs as my 98 xc. I like that it's older though.

Post by **CIK7** » 04 Jul 2020, 07:13

Eddystone wrote: ↑04 Jul 2020, 00:04
CIK7 wrote: ↑03 Jul 2020, 17:38 what is y'all's opinion on the 97 850 GLT (turbo)? I like the extra option of a cheap key fob for $30. the 98s are soooooo expensive $300-450.
I may be wrong as usual, but I think my 98 has a fairly normal key. My 99 has the gigantokey and all the whizbang electronical things that tend to be more complicated to figure out. Are the 98 keys smarter than the 97 keys?

99+ require chipped key with dealer programmed fob.
98 and previous KEYS are not chipped and are cheap to get made (secret is to buy pair off eBay for $11 and send to Overland Park Volvo for $14). the 98 FOBS require programming and software from dealer ($200-450 like the 99+). 97 and previous model FOBS can be bought ($30?) and programmed by the car owner.