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Volvo V70 Wagon Experience

1905 messages,  Last post on Aug 30, 2012 at 6:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volvo V70, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 191

#1 of 1905 Volvo V70 Wagon Experience by christopher8

Feb 15, 2000 (5:26 am)

I am very interested in buying a 2000 Volvo V70
Wagon (with cold weather package, touring package
and sunroof/leather package) but have heard some
negative things about recent Volvo models --
particularly the 1998 V70 (and the new V40). I
have also read some less than positive stuff in
Consumer Reports. I have never purchased a Volvo
before and have some questions that I would
appreciate any help with:


1. Has anyone experienced problems with their
2000 Volvo V70 (or S70)? Are they reliable? Would
you recommend a different wagon? I would also be
interested in hearing any problems with the 1998
and 1999 models.


2. In general for a Volvo (the V70's and the
840's) what are the average maintenance costs on an
annual basis? Do you regularly go through the
dealer? How much a a mark-up on parts does the
dealer charge?


3. Can someone who recently purchased a V70 tell
me what they were able to get the dealer to come
down to?


Any help would be appreciated.

#2 of 1905 Which one? by rbirns1

Feb 15, 2000 (8:14 pm)

I just received in today's mail a brochure about the "All-New Volvo V70 Wagon". Apparantly this is a redesigned version which looks a little better than the old V70. The windshield is raked back a little more, giving a sleeker look. Rear taillights have a look somewhat like the new S80. Interior also looks more like the S80.


Is this the car you're considering?


Regarding costs, I have a 97 850 sedan. Maintenance has been just regular oil changes. My local tire shop does them for $15 (dealer charges $30). Repairs included a new alternator, which died resulting in a tow to the dealer. Fixed under warranty. Same thing happened to my father's BMW 740 two weeks later, so it can happen to even the most expensive cars. I also had to replace the battery about a month later, obviously weakened by the dead alternator. Also replaced under warranty, including towing both times. Had a piece of door molding come loose, and a short in the traction control dashboard light both fixed under warranty.


Otherwise car has been pretty reliable. I need new brakes, but the lease is up next month, so I've been avoiding it. Don't know what the bill would be.


Good luck with your quest.

#3 of 1905 For Christopher8 by tom123

Feb 16, 2000 (7:14 pm)

We bought a '99 V70AWD last summer through the European Delivery program. Price was pretty fixed so I can't speak to dealer bargaining tactics personally, but web talk suggests that with the 2001 models due, you should be able to get within $500 of invoice, no problem.


** After 5k miles we have found these flaws: the car was delivered with a slash in the seat of the front passenger-seat leatherwork -- poor pre-delivery inspection -- but we had the seat replaced before we left Sweden and they were very nice about it. There is a terrible, almost painful wind-buffeting effect when you crack one or the other of the rear windows at speed -- it's a function of the car's exterior shape and there's nothing you can do about it. An anti-theft feature of the ignition occasionally malfunctions, letting you turn the key 360 degrees in the lock before it catches and starts, but it's not reproducible so we haven't done anything about it. And if you don't get fog lights, the plastic vent plugs in the front air-dam area are not secured very well and fall out now and then. New ones are $9. via mail order from one of the Volvo parts suppliers that advertise on www.brickboard.com.


** Maintenance will certainly be more expensive than with a Ford or something. Our 5k service was $70, and the fees go up from there. Service interval is either 5k or 7.5k miles depending on who you talk to.


** I think with Volvos the character of the dealer is everything. We are lucky to have a good one (Northwest Volvo in Lynnwood, WA) which does customer care really well. Others who complain about their Volvo ownership experience are at least as angry about dealer and VCNA arrogance as they are about the bugs in their car.


Overall we are very happy with the car and would buy it again. Would not buy a 2001 V70 though -- I think new Volvo platforms need a year or two to work through teething problems before they're genuinely reliable.

#4 of 1905 1999 S70 Experience by sunliner

Mar 27, 2000 (4:03 pm)

We bought our S70 base (non-turbo) almost exactly a year ago, and have about 18,700 miles on it. Non scheduled maintenance:


Passenger door's window switch came apart and was replaced under warrantee. Once, a month or so after we owned it.


Headlight bulb burned out about 2 weeks ago, and I bought a bulb for $15 at Pep Boys and took a whole minute to pop the old one out and sock the new one in.


Other than those two separate problems, we've had nothing but pleasant motoring. We get 29mpg on the freeway at 75mph over hill and dale, and have gone over 450 miles on a tank repeatedly. 'Course we have a stick shift and no turbo.


We have the dealership perform the scheduled maintenances at 7500 mile intervals, and supplement with an oil-change midway between that. The dealer maintenances seem to run about $50-100, though I'm not looking forward to the intensive 30k mile checkup.


We did have to have the car repainted, but not through any fault of the car. We got the driver's door keyed one night as the car sat under the carport, and then two nights later the entire passenger side took the brunt of a tornado-driven hailstorm and put about 5,000 little dimples in the body. The Pewter Silver Metallic paint was a bear for the shop to mix up ("I suppose there are 14 pearl coats in THAT") but the end result looks like it came from the factory. Insurance paid for it, but the pricetag was about $1600, parts and labor.


Here are the two parts that I know the cost of:


A headlight assembly...the whole schlemeer with the bucket, adjusters, reflector, bulbs and glass front, is about $300.


A new front fender from the factory in primer is about $500, I think.


When we bought (ordered from the factory) the dealer offered us $500 over invoice...or $300 over invoice if you use his figures. I talked him down $50 (long story, but it was unfortunately necessary) but it was essentially a no-haggle deal. We got a finance deal when we took delivery that knocked $1000 off the purchase price, so we got the car for $500 UNDER invoice.


We've been very satisfied with our car. The square shape means you can pack it to the gills with stuff, and the seats are astoundingly comfortable. It still feels like it was machined from a solid brick of steel, and the only rattle inside it is from the front license bracket that we never installed, and have sitting in the glovebox.

#5 of 1905 98 v70 glt by dardson

Apr 16, 2000 (5:57 am)

sorry to say i just traded my 98 turgo wagon for a toyota.....finally gave in and bought something from Japan....one small problem after the other with the Volvo...battery exploded (making a nasty mess of the garage floor and who know what kind of problems under the hood)...headlight switch conked out leaving us with no lights....rattles, first here, then there....seemed to float around but never any one place so we could take it to the dealer for a fix....sunroof problems and the leatherette began separating from the door panel.....very unpleasant from a 36k automobile....finally 17,000 miles all four tires had a tread separation problem and after replacing two tires decided to replace the car. I say SORRY as it was absolutely the most fun to drive i've had, beautiful, easy to love...great car but there are quality issues and part of the deal with a high priced car is it needs to be reliable. And when Con.Reports put it on the "don't buy" list, i had to move on.

#6 of 1905 Feel any engine brake in 850 Wagon ? by pchiu

Apr 18, 2000 (7:03 pm)

Hi:
I'm driving a 97 859 Wagon GTA (base 2.4l engine Auto). I used to gear down one gear when try to slow down before traffic ligth, i.e. from 'D' drive to '3', in other cars. but in this Volvo 850 when I do that, it just wo'nt slow the car down, as some say using the engine brake. I complaint to the dealer 3 times already, the best they did is to reprograme the 'shifting' programe to the factory default again, of course with no real problem solving, it still NOT slowing down. Anyone has that experience ?


The other thing is the oem Michline tire wore out on the edge (really only on the outer edge of the tire only) the center (flat contact portion) and the inside edge is prefect. The dealer always say is the aligment, which cost CAD $99 + 15% tax, almostthe same as the brake pad. Again everytime its the same, by the timeI goes back to complain, they say aligment is not guarantee. And I notice at the third (last) fix, they put back the steeering wheel back to the not horizontal way when I am driving straight, which was exactlly I complain the car was out of aligment ad tell them to fix it (end up charge me fro $99, which I did not expect). Am I getting ripped off both for the wore out oem tires which I don't think I can use it anymore for (40,000 km which I have winter tire to rotate. ie may be only 20,000km on that tire only). Again anyone has that same problems. If we have enough responses, we may make a case to the Volvo !


Thanks
Peter Chiu

#7 of 1905 2001 V70 Platform by muffi

May 05, 2000 (7:56 pm)

Just wanted to add to the comments that tom123 made about Volvo needing a year or two on their platform ... The new V70 for 2001 is actually built on the S80 platform, that is why you can see commonalities between the S80 interior and exterior in this new car. Since the S80 has been out a couple of years now, it is looking like the wagon will be a wonderful car ...


I am going to see it at the local Volvo Family Experience event here in Dallas the weekend of 5/13. The car is longer overall and has a couple of inches longer wheelbase than last year's V70 and the turbo version is supposed to be rocket. I drive a 1999 S80 T6 and have nothing but praise for this safe, encapsulated rocket ship.


I do my maintenance at the retailer to make sure there is no chance I will void my warranty, although oil changes and the like are probably okay done outside if you keep all the receipts.


With 7500 mile intervals, though, you aren't going that often unless you drive a lot ... so why not be sure everything is done correctly!!!

#8 of 1905 V 70 turbo lag by andact2

Jul 04, 2000 (5:09 am)

Just purchased a V70 T5 wagon..fit and finish is lovely but I'm disappointed in the responsiveness of the drive train when hitting the accelerator..this is a momentary delay (.5 sec or so) Anyone have a similar comment or maybe just a simple adjustment will fix it.
talk to me..Art

#9 of 1905 by fectos

Jul 18, 2000 (9:46 pm)

Prospective 2000 x/country v70 wagon buyer: Cut a good deal upfront because you'll need the extra cash to cover repairs. I have a '99 cross country with under 14,000 miles that has been plagued with problems (brake repairs, check engine lights, electric door problems, auto shifter sticking, three headlights!, one tail light, gas leaks, etc)
I essentially like the car when it is running and the dealer, perhaps because I see everyone there so often, has been friendly but the car has been a pain, a constant repair problem (and I've owned Peugots). Remarkably, whenever i bring the car in for another service visit, the Repair Guys say "yeh. . .that's a common problem." Then they fix it. Then it fails again. When the warranty's up, we're trading the beast. perhaps the new version will be better. good luck. chicago

#10 of 1905 V70 Wagon Experience by jmott38

Jul 19, 2000 (1:51 am)

Like Fectos, I love the car when it's running. But I sure am dismayed by the UNreliability and Volvo's customer service (for details on what has gone wrong, visit my webpage, www.myvolvosucks.com). Repair issues are one thing, but when the company OUTSOURCES the initial point of contact for corporate customer issues, you have to wonder how much they care.


When the transmission on my 1986 sedan went at 66k miles, I wrote the president of Volvo NA and even though the car was past warranty, he authorized it's repair - because the company knew that I hadn't bought a Volvo to have the tranny go at 66K.


With this V70 wagon, we haven't suffered really major stuff, but I've had to go back to the dealer EIGHT times in 15K miles?


By the way, when the sedan went, I bought a Camry.


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