Volvo S60 Reliability

"ToyotaFamily" (robbav35) 06/14/2020 at 16:52 • Filed to: None

0

34

Well Oppo, the time has come to find a replacement for my girlfriend’s trusty Civic.

We started browsing around and have been looking at tons of different cars. The S60 has caught her eye based off the features it offers and interior styling.

She’s considering a 2014+ T5 with the 2.0 and fwd. While I’m sure repairs and parts won’t be as cheap as the Civic’s, is this one of cars that’s going to nickel and dime us over it’s lifetime? The C ivic has probably had less than $9 00 in repairs over the 5 years she’s had it and that includes maintenance.

Amoore100 > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 17:25

4

yes

Sovande > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 17:41

9

I think the T5 Drive-e 4 cylinder was not an option until 2015. If looking for a 4 cylinder, I would look for one after 2016 as by 2017 Volvo figured out the issue with the piston rings in the Drive-e 4 cylinder engines.

The 5 cylinder is bulletproof but a little thirsty. The 6 cylinder is a beautiful, smooth motor.

I have a 2015.5 V60 Drive-e with 60,000 miles and my fingers crossed that the piston rings are okay. I don’t have any oil consumption, so  I’m not actually worried.

I have not had anything break in the 15,000 m iles I have had the car. The only thing I have done is replace the rear shocks, bigger rear sway bar and a stiffer upper torque mount. I love the car.

cberg > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 18:43

0

I daily an older P1 V50 T5, it doesn’t ever strand me. MPG leaves a little to be desired but it’s actually very good when I'm really driving attentively.

smobgirl > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 18:52

1

Keep the Civic.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 18:56

1

The only thing I came here to add is that the last few years of S80s used the same 2.0 engine and get similar gas mileage. Don’t cross them off the list, as you’ll get more features for similar price. 

ToyotaFamily > cberg 06/14/2020 at 19:16

0

Wagon is tempting especially since we could use extra space sometimes.

ToyotaFamily > smobgirl 06/14/2020 at 19:18

0

I might be able to get her to hold onto it for another 6 months. It’s got relatively low miles but it’s suffering from typical paint failure so it looks really bad.

Her other choice is an Accord or G37 for some reason. 

ihm96 > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 19:42

0

My dad had no issues with his S60 Polestar but he only had it two year and not that many miles and it was brand new

smobgirl > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 19:46

2

I sold mine 6 years ago. It’s still running reliably at 21 years and 250k miles  and I already needed to replace the car that replaced it.

JasonStern911 > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 20:31

0

If the goal is low maintenance and low cost of upkeep, stick with Honda/Toyota, and then low-tech models as you can get. Just realize the fun factor will be low and YOLO.

coqui70 > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 21:18

4

Re-paint the Civic.

nevereven > cberg 06/14/2020 at 21:22

0

We’ve also got a later V50 T5 AWD wagon with 6 speed, and it may be one of my favorite cars ever. Aside from clogged sunroof drains and poor milage , nothing has ever fine wrong. Quick, practical, and find to drive. It's got the same engine as the euro focus ST.

Honda owner > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 21:56

0

I have an 04 XC70 and 2 -07 Honda Accords. All have around 120-130k miles. I like the utilitarian aspect of the volvo wagon and the comfy seats. But since I’ve had it I have replaced the front passenger door lock, rear wheel bearings and now, the alarm siren went out. Gas mileage not the greatest . Typical European car . My Honda’s on the other hand  have absolutely been trouble free.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 22:43

2

I’ll make your girlfriend a deal on a 1996 Volvo 850 GLT with 168,000 easy miles on it! Its had lots of work done including interior refresh, front suspension rebuild, timing belt change, flame trap service. Its also riding on a set of C70 Zeus wheels.

Okay, seriously though, I can’t speak too much on the newer Volvos, but my experience with this 850 has been mostly positive. The car is a trooper - the previous owner had it for 9 years and put close to 100k on it. It was overdue for a timing belt by 25k miles and about 6 years. I don’t think the transmission was ever serviced, and Im pretty sure the spark plugs were original, maybe 2n d set (I think the cap, rotor, and wires are original). But it still ran, totally deserving of the Swedish tank reputation.

P arts are fairly available and not outrageous (unless you want genuine OEM Volvo, then they get pricey), but the labor can get stupid real fast. The flame trap service (same function as a PCV in other cars) cost me $100 in parts (I only replaced what was necessary, a full service kit is $250), but took me 2 days to do because you have to remove the air inlet ane entire freaking intake manifold (also because Im still recovering from surgery and am moving slower than I used to). Similarly, a timing belt + water pump kit cost about $250, but took an entire Saturday because theres only about 2" between the of the engine and the inner fender area. Its not complicated, its just very, very fiddly.

The earlier P80 Volvos are known for shit interiors that degrade badly, and mine was no exception. I think the later cars are better.

My verdict is great cars, fun to drive, but be ready to sink a lot of time in repairs or have deep pockets to pay a shop.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 22:44

0

We bought a 2016 V60 CC T5 a year ago when my GTI slipped its timing chain. At 39k miles it was probably off lease and was pretty darn cheap ($22).  It’s  done almost 20k with nothing but oil changes. Can’t speak to the future though.

SwedeMarine > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 22:56

0

I've got a 2015.5 T5 AWD, and after 110k miles, it's needed absolutely nothing outside scheduled maintenance. While it doesn't get the MPG of the Drive E, it benefits from being absolutely bulletproof, plenty of power with the overboost function, and that sweet Volvo 5 cylinder sound.

SwedeMarine > ToyotaFamily 06/14/2020 at 22:58

1

See my other reply, but mine is also a V60, not the S60. The wagon is worth it. I think it looks much better than the sedan, plus you get all the wagon benefits.

CoughingDog > ToyotaFamily 06/15/2020 at 00:31

0

We have a V60 T5 AWD, we haven’t had any repairs so far.

The only thing that popped up is the shocks make a weird noise at below -25C. I haven’t had a chance to get it check out at those temps. The dealer couldn't  find anything wrong with   them at -15C.

MightyVoice > Sovande 06/15/2020 at 10:33

1

I daily drive a 2012 s60 with the 3.0 turbo I6. My advice is try to get a 6 cylinder, probably one of the biggest hidden automotive gems  of the last decade. I’ve driven a few of the 4 cylinder “drive-e” motors, and while it's not bad, it lacks the smoothness and refinement of the 6. 

My car has 80k miles, the last 50k are my doing. It’s been a very good car, just a few   minor repairs . The front suspension is a weak point in these Volvos. Find a good indie Volvo repair shop, save big money over dealer repairs . Sure the car won’t be as cheap to maintain as a Civic or Corolla, but will be much more fun to drive....and probably more safe in a collision too.

Sovande > MightyVoice 06/15/2020 at 11:09

1

I agree on the I-6, but the letdown with that drivetrain is the 6 speed transmission. The 8 speed on the Drive-e is a better unit, in my opinion. The Drive-e, as you said, is far less smooth and refined feeling , but it makes up for it by returning about 37 mpgs on the highway. My V60 has the sports chassis and R Design suspension, but the engine doesn’t really have any sporting intentions. It’s perfectly fine around town, and more than adequate in sport mode, the flappy paddles are kind of slow, but at least they work, and the passing power actually seems better than some other newer cars I have driven, but it’s not going to blow the doors off anything.

My front suspension has not been an issue, though I did just replace the rear shocks as one was shot. Took about 40 minutes, start to finish with my 9 year old assisting. I have heard the fronts are a giant pain as lowering the control arm far enough to remove the strut is difficult.

The only t hings I don’t care for are the navigation as it’s kind of a pain to use, and the lack of a physical dipstick (though the oil level can easi l y be checked in infotainment thingy).

I have a huge soft spot for Volvos, so understand that I do tend to look at them through rose colored glasses... That said, I think the S/V60 of this generation is a pretty nice car.

MightyVoice > Sovande 06/15/2020 at 12:49

1

I’m on my third set of front struts/mounts/bushings and second set of control arms, I’ve heard the weight of s60/v60 is hard on the front suspension, but sounds like you’ve had better luck! And yeah, I’ve also heard the front is a big pain to do, while the rears are super easy (as you experienced). I didn’t even try to tackle the fronts on my own, the first replacement set was actually covered under CPO.

You are right, the 6-speed auto is not a great transmission, but I don’t think its awful either, and in SPORT mode I’ve noticed it will snap off some surprisingly quick shifts under spirited driving .

My only experience with the 2.0 4 cylinder has been with loaner cars, both I believe were the turbo only variant (not the 302hp turbo/supercharged combo). Unlike the I6, it never felt like the 4 cylinder would pin me in my seat, and the soundtrack of the 4 cylinder reminded me of a tractor. But from an MPG standpoint the 4 cylinder blows away the I6....I normally get 20mpg city and 28-30mpg highway....which isn’t bad, but a far cry from the 37mpg you get out of your wagon. LOVE the wagon by the way!!

And agreed on the soft spot for Volvos, there is something about them that just feels good. Pretty unique as well depending on what part of the country you are in. I’ve never seen a duplicate of my s60 T6 on the road in the 5 years I’ve owned it. 

Sovande > MightyVoice 06/15/2020 at 13:21

1

The rears are as simple as can be. Takes longer to remove and replace the wheels than it does the shocks. I guess I have been lucky on the fronts. I don’t look forward to having to replace them, but when the time comes I’ll use the same Koni Active series I used in the rear.

Now I do have a problem that will be expensive... I need two new wheels or I need to repair two wheels as they both have big flat spots. I am leaning heavily towards getting a set of Polestar wheels as replacements instead of risking it with another set of Bors which are know to be a bit soft. Neither option is cheap as the Polestar wheels will be about $1500 for a set of 4 refurbished and the Bors are about $400 each, refurbished.

Or the Polestar wheels would look something like this...

The arrogant one > ToyotaFamily 06/15/2020 at 14:31

0

If you go for an MY 2014 S60 the 2.4 liters , 5 cyl T5 is by far the best option.

MightyVoice > Sovande 06/15/2020 at 14:56

1

The Bors actually look pretty good but if you can go Polestar rims then I think its a no- brainer, get the Polestar! Haha 

Michael > ToyotaFamily 06/15/2020 at 14:57

0

We own 2012 Volvo S60(since new) with 5 cylinder engine but it’s a diesel(D5 215hp) and its been rock solid. Nothing never broke, interior quality is 10 times better than Audi A4 B8 and touch little bit better than the BMW E9x chassis, on par with F3x/F8x BMWs and IMO little bit worse than Mercedes C class W204 facelift. We’ve put around 70k miles on it so far. Most expensive service is brakes and tires and transmission is a little bit slow(it’s the Aisin TF80SC, 6 speed single clutch) but it’s reliability is very good(it’s better than in first gen S60). To sum it up, we’re very happy with the car and we’re coming from first gen 2002 S60 T5 Sport which during those 10 years was rock solid as well and only parking brake broke during those 10 years of ownership but it was a 5 speed manual so with a Aisin it would most likely break at least once 

wuzilla > ToyotaFamily 06/15/2020 at 19:41

0

My wife has a 2016 V60 T5 Fwd. Bought new, and now at almost 40k. She still loves it, and has had no issues aside from regular maintainence. My only real gripe was that the tires that came on it were crap, and got super noisy after only 20k miles.

Definitely try and get the Drive-E model (2016+). It’s an 8spd that not only drives great (coming from someone that prefers manuals), but it gets over 30mpg on the highway on regular gas, and high 20s around town. It’s no slouch neither - 240hp could easily outrun the mk7 gti I used to have.

Later models also get a better Sensus system (Volvo’s computer system). It’s an old feeling system in general, so nice to get as late a version as possible. One complaint here is that they made remote start part of the Volvo connect subscription service (I think like $200 a year) - earlier models just had it in the keyfob.

Finally, yes, you want the heated steering wheel, but good luck finding one equipped with it!

PyramidHat > ToyotaFamily 06/15/2020 at 20:03

0

So, my experience is with a 2004 XC70. It was a good car and reliable in that it never left me stranded. But it was a bit of a maintenance hog - I think I spent around $2000/yr on maintenance and random repairs. Also, it ate headlights, for some reason. Mind, this was a car that was approaching 200K miles when I replaced it. Only reason I replaced it was it was in need of a suspension rebuild and the AC wasn’t blowing cold - did not want to put that kind of money in to a 16 year old car.

Mind, I had a mechanic do all the work - naturally, it would have been cheaper if I did my own maintenance. All that said, I’d buy another Volvo (the newer XC70's were out of my price range when I got the Outback, and I did not want the last gen V60).

Here’s the thing: Before the Volvo (and concurrently for a few years), I also had a 4WD Tacoma that was so low maintenance, it was stupid. I got spoiled. Any deviation from that, will invariably be more expensive.

1999sel > MightyVoice 06/16/2020 at 00:18

2

My 16 T6 RD is very reliable for the past 40k mile. The only thing I need besides oil change was rear pads. As for power, I have a TDI tune box with Polestar tune, it can hang with my wife’s Benz C450/C43 with no issue.

UserNotFound > ToyotaFamily 06/16/2020 at 09:52

0

I have only ever met two kinds of BMW owners - people who lease a new car every year or two, and mechanics.

I have only ever met one kind of Volvo owner - unhappy people with perpetually broken cars.

Sovande > 1999sel 06/16/2020 at 10:36

0

Those BBS wheels are another option - they look awesome.

Leigh > ToyotaFamily 06/16/2020 at 11:53

0

Also, many of these models have a recall on the doors because they were not latching properly, so make sure it has been taken care of by a Volvo dealership. If not, it should be free of charge.

FlubbleWubble > ToyotaFamily 06/16/2020 at 16:24

0

My 2015.5 V60 with the 2.0 and FWD has been a fantastic car so far at 54,000 miles. Only problem I’ve had was a plug falling out of the windshield washer reservoir and a failed thermostat. Costed ~400 USD to fix at an independent shop  to repair but you what you’re getting into with a Swedish car.  Otherwise flawless. Great performance, best seats in the game, phenomenal economy and loads of trunk room. I recommend buying a car on this platform. 

Nick > Sovande 06/16/2020 at 19:53

0

They are all 4 cylinder engines, from t4 to t8, 2.0l inline 4.

T4 is plain,, T5 has a turbo, t6 has a turbo and a supercharger, to has all that plus electric engine.

But they are all inline 4

Sovande > Nick 06/16/2020 at 20:18

0

There is no T4 in the US. In 2016 you could get a T6 I6, a T5 5 cylinder or a T5 4 cylinder. I think they went all 4 cylinder in 2017. I was referring to the older cars in my post, not the new engine line up.