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Volvo XC70/V70: Prices Paid & Buying Experience

390 messages,  Last post on Oct 17, 2011 at 5:34 AM

You are in the Volvo V70 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volvo XC70, Volvo V70, Volvo V70 R, Wagon

Messages Page 36 of 39

#351 of 390 Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? by kmauss

Jul 14, 2009 (5:53 am)

Hi all,
 
I drove my first Volvo last night and to say I was deeply impressed is a major understatement. I absolutely loved it. I drove two different XC 70's -- both five years old and far more solid than many new American cars, and the seats - to die for! I was really amazed at how well it drove, handled, the power, all of it. It was like nothing I had ever driven before. But having said all that gushy stuff......
 
I am not at the point of buying anything yet, despite a moment of serious temptation last night. I have heard some real horror stories about Volvo lemons that would put you in the poorhouse and on the opposite end of the spectrum, have heard from many near religous devotees who swear they are the best car ever made and run them to 250K miles with no problems. I've heard little in between. It leaves me to wonder what the deal is. Are some years bad years? Is it just luck of the draw?
 
I will have a very modest budget for replacing my leased Impala. I really can't go over about $350 per month, so my only option would be to purchase one with some years and miles on it. The great attraction to a car like this IS the possibility of getting many good years from it after it's paid off, unlike certain other American vehicles that have been disposable at five years old. (Like a certain Intrepid that broke my heart and my bank account before I ditched it! ) But on the other hand, it won't do me much good to have a nice car that's always in the shop and bankrupting me.
 
So I would really love to hear from some XC70 owners - the good, the bad and the ugly. I have plenty of time to make decisions -- my lease isn't up for months yet. If I do decide to go this route, I want to make sure I walk into it with my eyes wide open.
 
Thank you all VERY much in advance!
Karen

#352 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [kmauss] by jim314

Jul 14, 2009 (10:17 am)

Replying to: kmauss (Jul 14, 2009 5:53 am)
Look at the Subaru Outback and Forester and compare with the XC70. There are some maintenance problems with the Volvo geartronic transmission and all-wheel-drive (AWD) and turbocharger systems. Be sure to compare Subarus with the same safety equipment as the XC70--full airbags and dynamic stability and traction control.
 
I got a 2004 V70 base model 2.4L 168 hp gasoline non-turbo as a hand-me-down and it has performed perfectly. It is great on the interstate, great mpg, but cannot handle rough roads.
 
See this and scroll down to "Elusive World Car?"

#353 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [kmauss] by qbrozen

Jul 14, 2009 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: kmauss (Jul 14, 2009 5:53 am)
I have heard some real horror stories about Volvo lemons that would put you in the poorhouse and on the opposite end of the spectrum, have heard from many near religous devotees who swear they are the best car ever made and run them to 250K miles with no problems. I've heard little in between. It leaves me to wonder what the deal is.
 
When researching cars, this is pretty much the norm you will find on the internet. Keep in mind, folks seek out a forum on which to spew the extreme examples (for the most part). Those thousands and thousands of owners who have no issues have no reason to go looking for a forum on which they can vent.

#354 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [jim314] by kmauss

Jul 14, 2009 (6:27 pm)

Replying to: jim314 (Jul 14, 2009 10:17 am)
Thanks Jim! I very much intended to go and look at Subarus as well as several other things that interest me. I also like the Honda CRV even though it's a completely different animal - looked at one of them like 2 years ago. Drove a Ford Edge two weeks ago and was surprised how much I liked it as well.
K.

#355 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [qbrozen] by kmauss

Jul 14, 2009 (6:34 pm)

Replying to: qbrozen (Jul 14, 2009 2:17 pm)
You make a VERY good point! I have noticed that when looking at many different vehicles American, European, Japanese, etc. There are few reviews in the middle of the bell curve!
 
I was given some very good advice by an experienced mechanic today. He said if it's a used Volvo and you know it's been regularly serviced by the dealership, it is probably a very good bet. But if you don't know where it's been, or who may have done what to it, run away, run away as they say in Monty Python! He said in his experience, local mechanics, good as they may be on 'normal' cars don't have the extremely pricey software needed to even do normal maintenance on Volvos and thus they get permanently screwed up. I never would have thought about that - as unmechanically inclined as I am, I thought an oil change is an oil change! Would you all tend to agree with him?
 
Many thanks!
Karen

#356 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [kmauss] by qbrozen

Jul 15, 2009 (9:14 am)

Replying to: kmauss (Jul 14, 2009 6:34 pm)
yup. That's pretty much true of any used car. Service history is a VERY good thing to have.

#357 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [kmauss] by ronsteve

Jul 24, 2009 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: kmauss (Jul 14, 2009 6:27 pm)
Do you want a SUV or a wagon? How important is AWD and how much do you plan to do with it?
 
Look at the Outback... if I coulda found an XT with the manual, or if I hadn't found the particular V70 I ended up with, I'd probably have an Outback. Look at the Forester. If you want an SUV and AWD is important to you, look at the Toyota RAV4.
 
If you get a used Volvo, dealer service history is important.
 
If AWD is important to you, Subaru is better, as is the RAV4.

#358 of 390 Re: Is a used XC70 a good bet or a "run away!" situation? [ronsteve] by kmauss

Jul 24, 2009 (6:08 pm)

Replying to: ronsteve (Jul 24, 2009 5:38 pm)
Hi ronsteve, thanks for the thoughts! In truth, I am not picky whether SUV or wagon, or whether AWD or not. I have briefly looked at the RAV4 and I also got a good impression from it. I have not yet gone to look at Subarus, but they are on my list.

#359 of 390 say NO to Subaru! by mvosburgh

Aug 22, 2009 (7:28 am)

Regarding a choice between a Subaru and a Volvo, I can only say that having had both the choice is very clear. We had owned Volvos until 2003 when we opted to purchase a 2000 Outback. Auto ran fine until 65,000 miles and then the clutch, cooling system and brake trouble began. We have spent nearly $5000 over the past 3 years and the vehicle noise is loud inside (gaskets on front windows replaced and still no good). After reading good and bad about the XC70, we are trading in that bad Subaru for a solid quiet Volvo. By the way, you can find a blog for dissatisfied Subaru owners through Google. Apparently, Subaru was well aware of head gasket problems during the 1999-2002 years and did little to stand by their vehicles. Hope this helps!

#360 of 390 Seeking residuals and MF on Volvo XC70 by ab68

Aug 24, 2009 (10:17 pm)

Car_man,
 
Would you please post the residuals and money factors for a Volvo XC70 (both trims), whichever term (up to 48 months) is most favorable, lowest mileage allowed by Volvo. I understand Chase underwrites their leases, correct?
 
THANKS!!!

Messages Page 36 of 39

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