Oppo: learn me some Volvo

"Tristan" (casselts) 10/03/2017 at 03:36 • Filed to: None

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Aside from their track record of safety and comfy seats, I know nothing of Volvos from the last 25ish years. I don’t know what the model numbers mean, what engines were available, what a T5 is, if the Cross Country is something to avoid, if they spontaneously combust at 163,788 miles... Nada.

Should I avoid at all costs, or would it result in a Swedish love affair?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 03:51

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I don’t know much, but here’s what I know

T will mean turbo. the number is the amount of cylinders.
So a T-5 is a 5 cylinder turbo.

V means Wagon
C means Coupe
S means Sedan

the S60, V70, XC70 and XC90 were all built on the same platform.
The auto TF-80SC transmission in these will get a problem with the valve body that results in harsh shifting. It’s a big job to drop the trans so look for either a late year model or one that’s already had the work done

Several members here have had 850's over the years, I will let them tell you how unreliable they are.

Tristan > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/03/2017 at 03:58

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Interesting! Can’t the valve body be swapped out or repaired?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 05:53

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yes, but the trans has to be dropped. Or at least if you can do it without dropping the trans it’s still a huge pita

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 07:08

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What year are you looking at as there are a couple generation changes that introduced different things to look for.

Ex. My 05 V70 is a gen 2, without looking on wikipedia gen 3 started in either 08 or 09 and has different powerplant options.

For mine the base engine is an inline 5 (no turbo), the T-5 adds the turbo, and if you keep going the XC designation that year offered awd and other options.

The Gen 3s have different motors but I don’t know much about them.

Sovande > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/03/2017 at 07:17

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The TF-80SC transmission was used from 2005-2014 in every iteration of Volvo, as well as Gm, BMW, Fiat, Mazda, Jag, Hyundai, Ford, etc, and I have not heard of any problems with it? Manufacturers are still using it.

The 2001 - 2002 V70 and XC70 is known to have a transmission that is not very durable, I would do my best to avoid those years, or budget in the cost of a replacement. If it has a replacement/rebuilt trans, make sure it is one from Volvo. Maybe this is the one you mean?

I have had two 1998 V70's with over 200k. One a manual and one an auto. I currently drive a 2008 C30 with what is essentially the same T5 engine (with some upgrades). It is a very stout motor that makes a good bit of torque and sounds great when the exhaust is opened up a bit. One downside is that it holds 6.1 quarts of oil, so synthetic changes are not cheap.

If you buy an older Volvo I would suggest that you do as much of the maintenance yourself or you will go broke, quickly. The upside is that they are simple to maintain and simple to work on. There are tutorials for every conceivable repair and upgrade available on the internet and they fit together like Legos. I also have a dedicated laptop with Volvo’s shop software and diagnostic tools loaded on to it. It cost me under $200.

I will always own one as there is something about them that I have not found in other cars. I have owned 6 at this point. Three 240's, two V70's (P80 platform) and the C30 (P1 platform). This weekend I looked at and ultimately passed on a 1965 PV544S. In a few years I will likely be in a V60, lowered and made to go fast.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Sovande 10/03/2017 at 07:42

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a mate of mine has something like 36 Volvos, his advice was to watch out on all of the early 2000's S60, V70, XC70 and XC90 for the valve body issue.
That said, one of his XC70's has nearly 500,000kms on the original auto.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 07:53

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within a few months, maybe a year ago, i think 3 different people bought 7v0r’s and I believe all three are gone.

I passed on a V70R to buy an Allroad.

Nibbles > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 08:07

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The P2 S40 T5 is basically the same car as a European Mk2 ST

CobraJoe > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 08:43

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Only thing I can add in addition to what’s been said here is to try and avoid the XC90, it’s driveline basically was just taken from the XC70 and wasn’t quite up to handling the extra weight.

Also the angle gear can go out on nearly any AWD volvo, but especially on the high powered S60R and V70R, and it’s a 4 figure job to fix the right way. (Also the adjustable shocks can be a 4 figure job to replace on the Rs).

Other than that, I owned a V50 2.4i for a few years, it was one of the most reliable and solid cars I’ve owned.

Alfalfa > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 09:28

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Early to mid 2000's models are the ones to avoid. Not to say they’re horrid, but they do have a few more issues, not just the tranny. As a whole, of you get a Volvo that’s been relatively well looked-after and keep taking care of it, you should be golden.

Generally a T means turbo, and the 5 or 6 is cylinder count. But in recent years Volvo has played a bit at the same game as the Germans, and the cylinder count isn’t always accurate.

I have an 850, and it’s a gem. It has the odd problem here and there as 20 year old cars do, but the engine is a tank.

functionoverfashion > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 09:34

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I recently bought a 2012 XC70 (P3) and in my research found the following:

- the P3 has a marked improvement in handling over the previous generation of XC70 (pre-2008)

- engine options are both 3.2 liter inline-6, one with a turbo, one without. Get the Turbo because it’s very similar in reliability (generally good) and ~300hp vs ~250hp.

- if you want a manual wagon you’ll have to get a P2 or earlier and only the V70 and V50 offered it, and even then only until maybe ‘07? There were manuals in some of the smaller sedans but only until about the same time period. The C30 was the last manual holdout... I’m not sure when that ended.

- The V70 was offered until 2010 in the ‘states, basically a lower, better looking XC70. I especially like the ‘08 - ‘10 V70 R-design. If you can get that with a T6, that’s a sweet car. Also a unicorn, even in automatic.

- The T5 engine is really, really good. Like, its roots go waaay back and it’s so good they even brought it back for the late-model XC70's.

- The ‘04 - ‘07 V70R’s are amazing, and can be had with a manual BUT as others have said, they are expensive to keep going. I looked at several and nearly made offers on two different ones. But the maintenance records all go like this: routine, routine, routine, BAM $1,500 for some failed module or something like the bevel gear, routine, routine, BAM $1,500. And the well-maintained ones are now on their third owner and people think they’re worth a premium because they’re rare, and because they’ve personally spent $10k just keeping it running right.

My wife had a 2005 S40 with the T5 engine and a 6-speed manual, and AWD. It was a fantastic car that went 140,000 miles without much for issues - one piece of the turbo failed, and some oil seal behind the timing belt was leaking at some point. I loved that car.

I put an upgraded sway bar in our XC70 but my other car is an E46, so while it’s comfy, I just can’t love the handling. It’s a lovely family car. I’ll leave it at that.

And yeah the seats are comfy.

Tristan > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 10/03/2017 at 10:36

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I suppose gen 1 or 2. I want something on the cheap!

Tristan > functionoverfashion 10/03/2017 at 10:38

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It’s a shame the Rs are so attractive... Oh well... I guess I’ll be avoiding them!

Sovande > Nibbles 10/03/2017 at 10:38

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It’s actually the P1 C30 which is the same (2 door hatch) and also shares the platform (and a bunch of suspension parts) with the Mazda3. I run a Mazda3 rear sway bar and some other suspension components since they are cheaper to buy.

Nibbles > Sovande 10/03/2017 at 10:58

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Same platform on both.

awmaster10 > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 10:58

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Lots of good info here already but I had a 2001 s70 GLT that I drove for a little under 30k miles. It was a turbo model with awd and was one of the most fun winter/bad weather cars ever. You could just floor it from a dig and no wheelspin. It looked great, sounded great, had a good interior, and was surprisingly spacious for its small exterior size.

Had no reliability issues with it either.

awmaster10 > awmaster10 10/03/2017 at 11:00

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Edit: 1999 glt awd I got it mixed up with my Lexus

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 11:15

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They’re no more unreliable than any of the other models. They just cost more to fix in certain areas. Bigger brakes cost more, bigger tires cost more. The suspension is really the only thing that’s super crazy compared to any other model. A “good” price on a new strut(singular) is $350. They have a tendency to break more things due to people not respecting the torque output and hauling ass around tight corners. The entry cost is also relatively low (especially for S60R’s) so people get in over their heads. Much like people getting older AMGs or 7-series.

functionoverfashion > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 11:15

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I know! I tried really hard to buy one. But I couldn’t. I have a friend with one and he’s had a string of issues with it. Doesn’t help that it was lowered before he got it (I never would have bought a lowered V70R).

The V70 R-design might only be FWD, I’m not sure. There are only 2 on autotrader right now and they’re both FWD. There’s one V70R on ebay, an ‘04 with 126k for $15,000. LOL a regular V70 from ‘04 is like, under $5k.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 11:16

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Avoid the AWD models in that case. The angle gear and Haldex units are extremely costly.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Tristan 10/03/2017 at 11:59

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On a related note adding bluetooth doesn’t look to be too bad, I am going to upgrade mine this spring since I don’t have time to take that part of the dash apart right now.

Sovande > Nibbles 10/03/2017 at 12:56

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Yes, the S40, V50 and C30 all share the same P1 platform. My response was unnecessarily confusing.