Psevalis, thanks for your suggestions and experience. I appreciate the comments and suggestions.
Think I will probably go with something near the deal of one percent over invoice less the $1,000 owner's loyalty bonus. Dealer can keep the one percent holdback and advertising expense. Can not imagine paying Volvo for advertising. I have been advertising their product for a long time!
My net price should be very close to overseas delivery price. I understand July orders for overseas delivery will be for 2002 models. Trade off is getting something now or waiting two or three months. Probably no real difference in resale value eight to ten years from now.
Can you please let me know which dealership you went to and which sales person you worked with? I am in the SF Bay area as well and have been looking at the same car as you, but have been quoted 4% above invoice at best (on top of all charges including adv).
I have a 00 V70 SE , black on graphite leather, I replaced a perfect 90 745 T for this car and I have had it for a year now , and I am just getting to get the hang of the car..... the cars low muscular snarl at 5000 in 3rd gear is a delight to hear and it inspires you to play with the car. The car is sophisticated and smooth, I yet under powered, I am looking at the avant wagon for the pleasures of the agile driving enthuiast .....
Anyone out there know anything about the 2001 V70 T4s being offered by Northeastern Volvo dealers that are off-lease from Boston Coach limo service? Dealer in NJ quoted me little over 29k (w/great financing) for Moondust model w/leather, cold weather package, STC and power sunroof; threw in rear 3rd seat as negotiated extra. Car's in great shape. My concern: it already has just under 20k miles. Good deal or not?
My wife and i must trade in her turbo yellow bug for a family car, she likes the volvo wagon either in regular or XC, she likes the red but has to get the regular one. any thoughts, service is at least 90 minutes, so it would be a hassle to keep taking it in for service. what has better resale value? would you buy volvo again?
Finally convinced the hubby to go Volvo over Taurus wagon. Can't afford new. Have found lots of '98s and '00s for sale (don't know why no '99s). Trying to decide whether to stick with our original spending limit or "splurge" the extra $6K to get '00 with about 20K less miles. Opinions appreciated!
Also - am I crazy to go out of state to a non-Volvo dealer (say a Honda dealer) to buy? Prices in my area are $2-3K higher compared with 100 miles away. Wondering if it's worth the drive.
I tend to look at these things in terms of: what is it equivalent to in terms of a repair bill. $6000 extra for a car 2 years newer, and with 20K fewer miles is equivalent to the cost of an engine rebuild AND a transmission rebuild.
So, if the '98 in 7 yrs needed BOTH a tranny and engine rebuild (which is pretty unlikely), but the 2000 didn't in 7yrs, you'd have just broken even in buying the 2000 instead. Doesn't seem like a good deal to me.
Saving $6000 by buying a 2 year older car, and then saving $2000 again by driving 4 hours seems like a really good deal. Even if you spent that $8g's on something else like trips in your new car! :-)
Is anyone have any good experiences with these cars? Is everyone having brake problems?
Can anyone provide a positive long term (20k+) report on wear and tear of the V70 Class of 2001? I need a third row alternative but responses for the last 4 months on the V70 have been negative.
I recently leased one of the Boston Coach v70 wagons from Martin Volvo in NC. It was moon dust with about 18,000 miles. I have only had the car a few weeks and so far all is well. Initially, two of the tires needed to be replaced because of a bubble in the sidewalls. Dealer was very cooperative and no charge. I lease the car because the financing deal was great and no cap cost reduction was required. About $1,200 down and my payment is $373 per moth with taxes included in the lease payment. Just a bit more than I would pay for a Ford Taurus and you can't compare the vehicles. The lease is 39 months (12,000 miles per year) and the car will be fully covered under the warranty for this time (4yr/50K warranty). I could go off warranty on my lease if I put more than 32,0000 in 39 months but being off warranty for a very short period was a risk I was willing to take. I too had some concerns about the Boston Coach cars so that was one reason for leasing. You can always purchase at lease end. I have been very happy with the car and I do think the Boston Coach cars are a good deal. Who knows how much they got beat up but several friends of mine have used Boston Coach and they tell me that it is a very high end operation. They guy at the dealer also said that the Boston Coach cars all arrived in very good shape. To me, it seemed like a good way to get into a $35,000 car without breaking the bank.
I know Volvo is also running good lease deals on the Base v70 but I test drove both and the normally aspirate engine seed too under powered with an automatic transmission. This was really the only way I could afford the 2.4T.
My husband & I are considering V70 for our next car. We have 3 girls (6, 4 & 1yr). Sometimes one needs to be separated. Is the 3rd row seating safe for children? Does anyone have any experience I/ this seating.
We would appreciate any information anyone can share. Thank you.
I just purchased a V70 2.4 at a no haggle price of $500 above invoice from Bergeron in Metairie, Louisiana. You may be able to get a slightly better deal than this, but when you are buying a car in this price range, what is a few dollars? The $500 above invoice plus the dealer's 1% hold back seemed like a very fair price considering the excellent customer service I received and the customer friendly buying experience I was offered.
Also, Volvo has extended their lease and purchase promotions until August 31, 2001. You can either get 5.9% purchase financing or great lease rates.
I'm helping a friend who's buying a 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T. She's wondering if she will have to buy premium gas. Is is required, or is it just recommended for more performance? Do the V70s have knock sensors that compensate for lower octane gas? Thanks, I appreciate your help.
A review on an auto site on MSN listed it as 9 seconds. I also checked the Volvo site but it did not list acceleration.
I am interested in the base V70 2.4M, but have not yet been able to find a new or used one to test. Has anyone ever gotten to drive one of these? Your thoughts?
Should one be concerned about buying a 1996 Volvo 960 with 125,000 miles. They are asking $11,500 for the car. It looks nice and clean, but I haven't had the time to drive it yet. My other question concerns the high mileage dependability of a Volvo. Are they a longer life car than most other makes, or is 125,000 miles pushing the life span. Are there other maintenance items to be prepared to deal with? Thanks for any help. Picket
From what I've read, 1996 seems to be a very good year for the 960. I wouldn't let the mileage scare you, as long as the maintenance records are available; look in particular for timing belt changes. Volvos can be persnickety, and you've got to stay on top of the scheduled maintenance, but they are also known as cars that can easily go 200-300k. They're very durable. Check on ebaymotors.com sometime and see how many really high mileage Volvos are for sale, and see how much money the sellers are getting for them It's a real eye-opener. Plus, I'll let you in on a dirty little secret; the 960 is basically an updated version of the old 740 with a six cylinder engine- these cars have been around a long time. for further info, I'd check out http://www.brickboard.com for all you ever wanted to know about Volvos.
willandba, we have a 99 V70 with third row seat. Three boys 7,5,2. We occasionally put two in the third row but mostly three across the middle. Personally, I feel safe with the kids in the third row for commuting around the neighbourhood. I don't feel so safe on the freeway given the low ride height and large SUVs, trucks etc.. However, we went from a mini van where our oldest was always in the third seat close to back glass. I think our occasional third seat usage in the wagon is safer than our full time third seat usage in the van.
I believe Volvo has crash test data on the third row seating. The seat is smaller than normal seats and really not made for full time use (IMO). Where it really comes in handy for us is when our kids have a friend or two over or we have grandma in the car and we need the extra seat.
Hope this helps.
Steve ps. after 2 years with the Volvo, chances are slim that we will return to a mini van.
Finally, after 2 years researching, test driving and reading these boards I picked up my base V70 yesterday. I couldn't be happier, actually I could, my soccer-mom wife is ecstatic. After reviewing, renting and test driving the alternatives (Honda Odyssey, Acura MDX, V70 2.4T, and XCountry), I found the base V70 the perfect blend of all at a reasonable(?) price. To answer some previous posts:
Current Pricing (7/6/01): When informing dealers I was going to purchase, I was able to get any Volvo, V70, V70 2.4 T and XCountry at Invoice. The caveat here is that all the remaining available 2001 cars are loaded with accessories which help add some $ to final price. I chose to lease the car because of the current Volvo incentives. The combination of low payments with low residual made this choice quite easy. In RI, tax is only on cap cost reduction and payments, so this also soften the up front blow and make it cheaper if I wasn't going to keep the car. I still plan on purchasing this car, however, unless my four year test drive tells me otherwise.
The base V70 168 hp engine is all most people will ever need. It's not just sufficient, it's fine. Plus, from a stop, the base (non-turbo) engine responds immmediately. I tried pulling out in traffic a number of times in XCountry rentals and the initial turbo lag(?) provided slower intial acceleration than needed. As a result I was forced to punch the accelerator resulting in some less than graceful liftoffs. I felt the V70 acceleration quite similar to the XCountry and 2.4T, initial turbo-lag aside. I'm sure, however, if 0-60 is a priority you may find a second difference with the 2.4T. The only drawback I've found is the V70 is a bit noisier during this acceleration, but for comparison purposes this noise is "in the noise". Highway mileage from the dealership 30.3 mpg (another 168 hp advantage).
Owner's manual says optimal gas is 91 Octane, minimal is 87 Octane. Some indication was provided about Knock Reduction but I couldn't discern whether it meant the engine had a mechanism for dealing with it.
In terms of appointments, all Volvo's appear to be created equal. But compared to the Acura MDX and Honda Odyssey, there is just no comparison when it comes to the leather, stereo and ride. I'm not an audiophile, but it's obvious in this car the audio systems and leather have been selected and have evolved. On the other Odyssey and MDXs they were requirements just thrown in to the chassis.
We had the third row seat installed. Currently, this also appears to be another way they tack on extra $, because few of the current inventory have it installed. At most dealers I visited, they are charging a premium for what use to be bundled in the 3rd row versatility package around $1100. As "mstssc" just noted above, I'm a little leary of the safety of children riding in this seat and will restrict it's use to around town driving for the reasons he noted. The kids love the novelty and reclusiveness of it; I appreciate its 7 person functionality.
Congrats on your new V70. I don't think you will regret leaving the minivan and SUV at the dealer, especially when it comes to living with the car day in and day out. We now have 30,000 miles on our 99 with little problem - a headlight or two which the dealer fixed while waiting.
Question for you, I am now looking for a sedan for myself (I don't get to drive the V70 much, my wife does most of the miles). Despite the very interesting cars out there like the IS300, Xtype etc I keep getting drawn back to the S60 base mainly because of the interior quality and all around competency for less $$. However, I am not sure if the base is enough for me. I would likely go manual. Is yours auto or man? I drove the manual but didn't really get a chance to put it through the paces. Our 99 is a low pressure turbo and goes pretty good but I'm not too sure I want to spend the money to move to a turbo this time around. 0-60 is not a priority but having the oomph to pass and merge is. This is where our turbo shines.
Watch that stereo, it will really rattle the mirrors! The problem with ours with three kids is it is in perpetual Backstreet Boys, now and again we can get a bit of classic Queen going.
I'm trying to price out a base non-turbo V70 here on the Edmunds web site and can't seem to find prices for an automatic transmission. It doesn't appear in any of the option packages.
I have a price list from the dealer for the S60. In Canada the automatic is an option by itself and lists for $1500 CDN (about $1000 US). I'm not sure if the US price is simply the conversion rate. Normally market factors come into it as well. Based on some of the US prices I see floating around some cars, especially the imports, are a bit cheaper here. Anyway, this may give you an idea on expected cost.
The V70 Base I leased has the automatic transmission and it lists at $1,000 USD. Invoice pricing from Edmunds 6 months ago, I believe, showed both MSRP and Invoice for the automatic at $1000 USD.
I can't speak for the S60 at all, I can't even say I could distinguish between the S60 & S80 -- my research was only done on the wagons. While completely unsubstantiated, someone told me that the S60 design and components have been influenced more than the other models by FORD and that the results weren't all good.
I haven't had a chance to drive the V70 since we brought it home, but will run it through the paces tonight -- I'll provide an update )
A V70 GLT is tons of fun when you hit the gas pedal at an intersection and kick in the light pressure turbo. I've had both versions of the 5 cylinder engine. Once you get going, the non-turbo has plenty of power. The base V70 gives you all the good stuff Volvo does so well at an affordable price, and seem much closer in spirit to the old Volvos we all remember and loved so well. It's not a rocket, but it's quick enough. It wasn't too long ago the 2 ton Suburban had a 200hp engine. A 168hp engine in a 3200lb Volvo is plenty.
My wife and I are considering buying a 2001 V70 but really don't want to pay for the touring package (at an MSRP of $1250) when all we would want out of it is the in-dash CD player. Sine there is a space in one of the rear compartments for the optional Volvo-installed CD changer, how easy/feasible would it be for me to simply go to a local audio shop, buy my own changer and install it back there myself. I realize it might not synch with the head unit, leaving me with another control to mess with, but I think I could learn to live with that.
The only reason I'm even suspicious that this might not be as easy as it seems is that when I went to Crutchfield.com, the online electronics place, their installation applications charts did not even list Volvos. Kinda got me wondering . . . . Any thoughts?
My wife and I are considering a pre-owned V70. I think a '98 non-turbo with an automatic transmission is what we need. Edmunds is telling me that with leather they can be had for under $19,000(US) while Carpoint tells me $1500 more...
What's a reasonable price for a mid to high mileage '98 with a 5cyl, auto and perhaps leather?
Additionally, is there anything I should look for in a used V70 that might indicate problems down the road? Just how reliable are these cars?
I'm pretty sure Alpine makes Volvo-compatible adapters and changers. Any knowledgeable (read: NOT Best Buy or Circuit City) stereo shop should also be able to help you. Whatever you do, DON'T get an RF-modulated CD changer (the kind with the separate control unit.) At that point, you're losing so much sound quality you'd be better off just transferring your CDs to cassette. I went to crutchfield's website and it doesn't look like they've got 2001 data for Volvos yet. (it's also possible that the marketing guys at Volvo decided to be jerks and speced a stereo system that's incompatible with anything from the aftermarket.)
I don't own a Volvo, but here's a suggestion: you should try asking your local Volvo dealer to recommend an local after market audio store.... that works on Volvos. Many brand dealers use, or are aware of, local businesses that specialize in after market audio for their own models/makes. Not sure about Volvo, but my own dealer had no problem sharing this info with me. If the sales department is not familiar..., you should try asking your Volvo parts and/or service manager.
From there, you may even get this local audio store to sell/install an after market cd changer at the dealer cost (reduced price). Btw, this is the route I took when I purchased my vehicle: I worked it into the sales contract... with a referral slip to have cd changer installed at a local audio shop at dealer cost. This saved me $400.
I just installed a volvo ad player in the glove compartment of my 98 s70. The volvo player is an Alpine 6 disk and was not too hard to install (the stickers and instructions have Alpine logos). The factory radio has all the inputs that the cd player plugs into. It was pretty straight forward. I bought my ad player last month at the dealer while they were having a special on the DC player with the glove box mounting brackets for around $250. You may want to check a few dealers in your area to see if they are running the special as that would be the easiest to install it. At that price, it's worth getting as it comes with everything you need including all plugs, cables, brackets and mounting instructions for only a few $as more than after market. It's worth it in installation ease alone. If not, then I would think that as long as you get the equivalent Alpine 6 disc unit, it should be fine. As the other poster suggested, I'd check some knowledgeable after market retailers.
I finally wrestled the car away from the wife and had a better chance to evaluate the base V70 engine. Both of us are still elated with the car. No defects and a lot more people driving slower by the house when the cars out of the garage.
So far, the engine has provided all the oomph I've asked of it with plenty to spare. It does have a noticable groan when accelerating, but I like to think that of it as a reminder that your burning more fuel. The car accelerates proportionally to the depression of the gas pedal. I prefer this the to the light resistance, time-delayed acceleration you get in the Toyotas and the Acuras. I thought that I felt at least the delayed portion component of the acceleration with the Volvo 2.4T engine. I could see adding the extra 29 HP to the base to help remove some of this slight noise but don't know if the 2.4T engine answers all the questions. Ask anyone if they would like more horsepower and they most likely will say "sure". In the comparison between the 2.4T and the base, I don't think your getting much more.
After driving 200 miles from the dealership, the gasoline's still above the half tank mark. Very nice to have a 21.1 gallon tank. So far 24.3 mpg at an average speed of 25mph (combo highway and town).
Did a little more looking into the S60, but at that price I think I might prefer to drive the latest version of the baby Benz.
Thanks, all, for the good information about adding a CD changer to the V70 without paying the dealer the $900 they're asking to do the job. Now, though, I have another question.
On Saturday my wife and I spent a few hours test-driving the base V70 against the 2.4T. Like SINGLETHREADED, we found little acceleration difference between the two and just a little more of a noisy growl during accleration with the base model (which I kind of like). Right now we're leaning toward the base model; however, with both the base and the 2.4T we noticed a pretty pronounced resonance or hum at idle. Our salesperson describes it as simply a signature of this motor. Does anyone else notice this sound with their V70 and, if so, do you have any tricks for reducing it (salesman said pulling the cargo cover helps cut it some).
I appreciate your comments but here a similarly equipped S60 is less money than C240. Both the base price is higher as are the options I am interested in. IMO the interior doesn't compare and MB only offers leatherette (unless you go Elegance with a base price of about 7k cdn over base S60). Finally, lease interest rates are 3 points higher (although residual is a bit better). I find MB options up really fast if you want things like a 60/40 rear seat, headlight washers etc that are standard on S60. I find the same with BMW. As far as Ford bits go, I don't see them. A lot of the parts look the same as my 99 V70, certainly not Ford.
S60 and V70 designs were locked in place before Ford took over. Therefore, you won't find any Ford influence in these current designs. The drivetrains are pretty much carryovers from the last generation S/V70s, which in turn were carryovers from the 850 series. There have been tweaks and improvements along the way, but they're all very similar under the hood.
Thank you so much for all your comments re your new V70. My husband is surprising me for my birthday next month w/ a 2.4 loaded & I cannot wait!! I have wanted one for years! I was so happy to hear the engine has enough 'pep' without being a turbo. We too are getting the third row seating. We agree, for around town it's ok. With 3 girls (1, 4 & 6) we need that extra seat.
We too looked at the MDX but we all ready have a Durango which I do not like!! I miss the Gr. Caravan's space but that's all. I can't wait to drive my V70!!
Thank you for your comments re the third row seating. My husband is surprising me with a 2001 V70 for my birthday next month. I'm extremely excited!!
We agree the 3rd row seats are ok for around town & when you need the extra seat for the 6th person/child.
We too had a minivan & the space was so convenient. How did you adjust w/ regards to the 'cargo space'? The V70 is so gorgeous it was probably no problem. Curious to know if you felt a difference. Thanks.
Wondering if anyone has experiences to share on the 2001 T5? I havent read all the posts in this topic yet...
FWIW, Im very happy with the car. There are a few nitpicks I think other V70 owners can sympathize with, like the funky center console box that isnt really a box at all, the lack of any place to put change, tic tacs, etc...and the useless pencil clip where such a storage space MIGHT have gone had Volvo thought about it for 2 seconds.
Plus, I dont know if anyone elses car does this, but often when I get in the car, after having been the last person to drive it, the seats automatically revert to the saved position for my wife, who drives the car most of the time. This is extremely annoying...I still havent figured out why it seems to sporadically default back to that position.
My wife and I bought the 2001 T5 and I do agree that there are some nit picky oversights. I do miss having a place to put coins and the center console storage bin should (in my opinion) close completely. Why it is designed in a way that allows would be thieves to see what is in it is beyond me. If these are the only things that I find to complain about for the rest of the time I own this car, I will be a very happy man.
As for the seat adjustment issue, I was wondering if you were by chance using your wife's keys when this happens. If you are not, I would say that your T5 needs to go back to the dealer for a check up. Using your wife's key remote to unlock the car should set the seat and mirrors back to her settings, but if it is happening using your key remote, then there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
We only have 1400 miles on our T5, so it may be a bit early for the odd problems to arise. I must admit the one arena that scares me about this car is the electrical problem potential. Let's hope the problems with the S80 roll out have been dealt with prior to us buying our V70's.
Actually, we find the cargo space more usable in the wagon than our previous minivan. With 3 kids, we sit three across the middle which frees up all the back for cargo. In the van, we could only sit two across the middle which meant the third seat was always used. This limited cargo room substantially. Of course, if you were to use the van strictly for hauling (all seats out) then it certainly hauls more than the wagon. If you want even more space, the third seat pops out completely and allows a few more inches to store flat items. We found this out on vacation last year and stored five or six beach towels easily in here. With some planning and proper packing you wouldn't believe what you can get into the back of a Volvo. There is a reason they make these square (or use to).
I have a 2001 V702.4T and I'm having a terrible problem with the driver's side mirror. Every time I open the car door the mirror reverts all the way to the left (outward) or all the way to the right (inward). I've taken it to the dealer to be looked at and they are stumped!!! They told me to bring it back when I have it serviced at 7000 miles. I have a little over 4000 now and this is driving (no pun intended) me nuts!!!! Anyone have any suggestions. I've tried programing both set of keys and I still have this problem. Anyone else having this problem??? Thanks
I have a 2001 T5 and love it, but I agree with your comments about the lack of front seat area storage. Also, my wife has the same problem with the memory seat sometimes going to my position when she uses her remote. The mystery is-I never use a remote.
My only ongoing irritation, so far, is that the turning circle has been increased over my previous '98 V70. This has made it harder to "square up" the car in tight parking spaces
The other issue, discussed in earlier posts, deals with the Pirelli P6 tires on the optional 17" wheels. The tires have been fine, so far, but neither Pirelli nor Volvo will provide any info on them beyond what is in the sales brochure. It appears they were produced just for this Volvo application and replacements can only be purchased from Volvo. Several inquiries to each referred me to the other for more info.
We too have had the alarm going off unexpectedly on our '01 C. Dealer checked both emotes - Volvo has issued a service bulletin on the emotes being too sensitive. Also had the "moving seat" problem when using the remote (returning to my wife's seat position), vibrating right rear speaker (asp. with a lot of bass), rumbling shifts when changing gears (which was corrected by the dealer who re programmed the transmission), interior door trim bubbling for no apparent reason (Volvo is correcting at their expense), and the interior fan coming on several hours after car is shut off (dealer says this is"normal"). Even with these annoyances, we love the car!
The seat and mirror movement you've noticed upon opening your car is due to the memory positioning system. Exclusive and regardless of any defined seat presets, the driver's seat and side view mirrors are tied to the remote controls. If you have multiple remotes and multiple drivers you should label your remotes and stick to using your assigned remote. If you either use alternate remotes or alternate between opening the door with a key vs. using the remote you should expect some odd things to happen. When you use a remote, the seat and mirrors will automatically move back to where they were the last time the car was opened and started using that set of keys and remote.
alwaysed, I'm very surprised your dealership wasn't aware of this and I even think it's in the manual if memory serves me right. Take a look when you get a spare moment - if you find it there you might want to consider finding a more knowledgeable dealership in the future if possible.
Good luck to you both (from a man who has learned to pay attention before I hop in either the S80 or V70 after my wife has had it lest I end up with broken legs because she sometimes uses my remote instead of hers!)
Does anyone know what has been recent pricing for Volvo V70 2.4 in Canada? I am planning to buy soon and wonder if anyone received any good deal? With arrival of 2002 models, will there be further discount?
I had the interior fan come on, called the dealer, and he said this will happen after the A/C has been operated on humid days. Its purpose is to inhibit mold formation and odor removal.
rollie: You read too much into my post; I never went to the dealer on the memory seat issue. My wife always uses her own remote, so I knew that we would get some unexpected movements because of it. I haven't reread the owner's manual, but I thought it just said the seat position was set by the interaction on the remote(s), not the key. If the key has some role in the seat programing, that might explain some of the "unexpected" movements.
I'd like to get a new V70 or T5 with a 5 speed; but, my dealer told me that they don't exist. The Volvo brochure says 5 speed is available on V70 and T5. Wonder if anyone out there has a such car.
A good friend of mine has a 5 speed V70 T5. At the time he was purchasing, his dealer also told him that there was not one such car available to dealer trade in the entire country! My friend really wanted the 5 speed so they ended up taking European Delivery and ordering the car exactly as they wanted it. I know he is very happy. I just took (local) delivery of a T5 V70 myself this past weekend (automatic). Obviously I've only had it for a few days, but I absolutely love it. The Geartronic automatic is a nice compromise.
Comments
Think I will probably go with something near the deal of one percent over invoice less the $1,000 owner's loyalty bonus. Dealer can keep the one percent holdback and advertising expense.
Can not imagine paying Volvo for advertising. I have been advertising their product for a long time!
My net price should be very close to overseas delivery price. I understand July orders for overseas delivery will be for 2002 models. Trade off is getting something now or waiting two or three months. Probably no real difference in resale value eight to ten years from now.
Thanks again for advice.
Can you please let me know which dealership you went to and which sales person you worked with? I am in the SF Bay area as well and have been looking at the same car as you, but have been quoted 4% above invoice at best (on top of all charges including adv).
Much appreciated.
Will let you know of the details.
Thanks
PS
horespower?
ANYONE know the 0 to 60 mph time? I think edmunds review lists the incorrect number.
Thanks
Also - am I crazy to go out of state to a non-Volvo dealer (say a Honda dealer) to buy? Prices in my area are $2-3K higher compared with 100 miles away. Wondering if it's worth the drive.
So, if the '98 in 7 yrs needed BOTH a tranny and engine rebuild (which is pretty unlikely), but the 2000 didn't in 7yrs, you'd have just broken even in buying the 2000 instead. Doesn't seem like a good deal to me.
Saving $6000 by buying a 2 year older car, and then saving $2000 again by driving 4 hours seems like a really good deal. Even if you spent that $8g's on something else like trips in your new car! :-)
Can anyone provide a positive long term (20k+) report on wear and tear of the V70 Class of 2001? I need a third row alternative but responses for the last 4 months on the V70 have been negative.
I know Volvo is also running good lease deals on the Base v70 but I test drove both and the normally aspirate engine seed too under powered with an automatic transmission. This was really the only way I could afford the 2.4T.
We would appreciate any information anyone can share. Thank you.
Also, Volvo has extended their lease and purchase promotions until August 31, 2001. You can either get 5.9% purchase financing or great lease rates.
I am interested in the base V70 2.4M, but have not yet been able to find a new or used one to test. Has anyone ever gotten to drive one of these? Your thoughts?
Thanks.
Picket
I believe Volvo has crash test data on the third row seating. The seat is smaller than normal seats and really not made for full time use (IMO). Where it really comes in handy for us is when our kids have a friend or two over or we have grandma in the car and we need the extra seat.
Hope this helps.
Steve
ps. after 2 years with the Volvo, chances are slim that we will return to a mini van.
Current Pricing (7/6/01):
When informing dealers I was going to purchase, I was able to get any Volvo, V70, V70 2.4 T and XCountry at Invoice. The caveat here is that all the remaining available 2001 cars are loaded with accessories which help add some $ to final price. I chose to lease the car because of the current Volvo incentives. The combination of low payments with low residual made this choice quite easy. In RI, tax is only on cap cost reduction and payments, so this also soften the up front blow and make it cheaper if I wasn't going to keep the car. I still plan on purchasing this car, however, unless my four year test drive tells me otherwise.
The base V70 168 hp engine is all most people will ever need. It's not just sufficient, it's fine. Plus, from a stop, the base (non-turbo) engine responds immmediately. I tried pulling out in traffic a number of times in XCountry rentals and the initial turbo lag(?) provided slower intial acceleration than needed. As a result I was forced to punch the accelerator resulting in some less than graceful liftoffs. I felt the V70 acceleration quite similar to the XCountry and 2.4T, initial turbo-lag aside. I'm sure, however, if 0-60 is a priority you may find a second difference with the 2.4T. The only drawback I've found is the V70 is a bit noisier during this acceleration, but for comparison purposes this noise is "in the noise". Highway mileage from the dealership 30.3 mpg (another 168 hp advantage).
Owner's manual says optimal gas is 91 Octane, minimal is 87 Octane. Some indication was provided about Knock Reduction but I couldn't discern whether it meant the engine had a mechanism for dealing with it.
In terms of appointments, all Volvo's appear to be created equal. But compared to the Acura MDX and Honda Odyssey, there is just no comparison when it comes to the leather, stereo and ride. I'm not an audiophile, but it's obvious in this car the audio systems and leather have been selected and have evolved. On the other Odyssey and MDXs they were requirements just thrown in to the chassis.
We had the third row seat installed. Currently, this also appears to be another way they tack on extra $, because few of the current inventory have it installed. At most dealers I visited, they are charging a premium for what use to be bundled in the 3rd row versatility package around $1100. As "mstssc" just noted above, I'm a little leary of the safety of children riding in this seat and will restrict it's use to around town driving for the reasons he noted. The kids love the novelty and reclusiveness of it; I appreciate its 7 person functionality.
Be safe. Thanks Edmunds!
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
Question for you, I am now looking for a sedan for myself (I don't get to drive the V70 much, my wife does most of the miles). Despite the very interesting cars out there like the IS300, Xtype etc I keep getting drawn back to the S60 base mainly because of the interior quality and all around competency for less $$. However, I am not sure if the base is enough for me. I would likely go manual. Is yours auto or man? I drove the manual but didn't really get a chance to put it through the paces. Our 99 is a low pressure turbo and goes pretty good but I'm not too sure I want to spend the money to move to a turbo this time around. 0-60 is not a priority but having the oomph to pass and merge is. This is where our turbo shines.
Watch that stereo, it will really rattle the mirrors! The problem with ours with three kids is it is in perpetual Backstreet Boys, now and again we can get a bit of classic Queen going.
Any more comments/advice on the base performance?
Thanks,
Steve
I'm trying to price out a base non-turbo V70 here on the Edmunds web site and can't seem to find prices for an automatic transmission. It doesn't appear in any of the option packages.
Could someone please help me out?
Thanks,
Kal
Steve
I can't speak for the S60 at all, I can't even say I could distinguish between the S60 & S80 -- my research was only done on the wagons. While completely unsubstantiated, someone told me that the S60 design and components have been influenced more than the other models by FORD and that the results weren't all good.
I haven't had a chance to drive the V70 since we brought it home, but will run it through the paces tonight -- I'll provide an update
The only reason I'm even suspicious that this might not be as easy as it seems is that when I went to Crutchfield.com, the online electronics place, their installation applications charts did not even list Volvos. Kinda got me wondering . . . .
Any thoughts?
What's a reasonable price for a mid to high mileage '98 with a 5cyl, auto and perhaps leather?
Additionally, is there anything I should look for in a used V70 that might indicate problems down the road? Just how reliable are these cars?
Thanks in advance,
Jon
From there, you may even get this local audio store to sell/install an after market cd changer at the dealer cost (reduced price). Btw, this is the route I took when I purchased my vehicle: I worked it into the sales contract... with a referral slip to have cd changer installed at a local audio shop at dealer cost. This saved me $400.
In addition to asking here..., you may also want to copy/paste your message into this Aftermarket & Accessories discussion: Audio system upgrades (Head units, speakers, CD changers etc.) . Good luck and please keep us posted. ;-)
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
I just installed a volvo ad player in the glove compartment of my 98 s70. The volvo player is an Alpine 6 disk and was not too hard to install (the stickers and instructions have Alpine logos). The factory radio has all the inputs that the cd player plugs into. It was pretty straight forward. I bought my ad player last month at the dealer while they were having a special on the DC player with the glove box mounting brackets for around $250. You may want to check a few dealers in your area to see if they are running the special as that would be the easiest to install it. At that price, it's worth getting as it comes with everything you need including all plugs, cables, brackets and mounting instructions for only a few $as more than after market. It's worth it in installation ease alone. If not, then I would think that as long as you get the equivalent Alpine 6 disc unit, it should be fine. As the other poster suggested, I'd check some knowledgeable after market retailers.
So far, the engine has provided all the oomph I've asked of it with plenty to spare. It does have a noticable groan when accelerating, but I like to think that of it as a reminder that your burning more fuel. The car accelerates proportionally to the depression of the gas pedal. I prefer this the to the light resistance, time-delayed acceleration you get in the Toyotas and the Acuras. I thought that I felt at least the delayed portion component of the acceleration with the Volvo 2.4T engine. I could see adding the extra 29 HP to the base to help remove some of this slight noise but don't know if the 2.4T engine answers all the questions. Ask anyone if they would like more horsepower and they most likely will say "sure". In the comparison between the 2.4T and the base, I don't think your getting much more.
After driving 200 miles from the dealership, the gasoline's still above the half tank mark. Very nice to have a 21.1 gallon tank. So far 24.3 mpg at an average speed of 25mph (combo highway and town).
Did a little more looking into the S60, but at that price I think I might prefer to drive the latest version of the baby Benz.
On Saturday my wife and I spent a few hours test-driving the base V70 against the 2.4T. Like SINGLETHREADED, we found little acceleration difference between the two and just a little more of a noisy growl during accleration with the base model (which I kind of like). Right now we're leaning toward the base model; however, with both the base and the 2.4T we noticed a pretty pronounced resonance or hum at idle. Our salesperson describes it as simply a signature of this motor. Does anyone else notice this sound with their V70 and, if so, do you have any tricks for reducing it (salesman said pulling the cargo cover helps cut it some).
Thanks in advance!
Steve
We too looked at the MDX but we all ready have a Durango which I do not like!! I miss the Gr. Caravan's space but that's all. I can't wait to drive my V70!!
Good luck with your new V70! Happy driving!!!
We agree the 3rd row seats are ok for around town & when you need the extra seat for the 6th person/child.
We too had a minivan & the space was so convenient. How did you adjust w/ regards to the 'cargo space'? The V70 is so gorgeous it was probably no problem. Curious to know if you felt a difference. Thanks.
FWIW, Im very happy with the car. There are a few nitpicks I think other V70 owners can sympathize with, like the funky center console box that isnt really a box at all, the lack of any place to put change, tic tacs, etc...and the useless pencil clip where such a storage space MIGHT have gone had Volvo thought about it for 2 seconds.
Plus, I dont know if anyone elses car does this, but often when I get in the car, after having been the last person to drive it, the seats automatically revert to the saved position for my wife, who drives the car most of the time. This is extremely annoying...I still havent figured out why it seems to sporadically default back to that position.
As for the seat adjustment issue, I was wondering if you were by chance using your wife's keys when this happens. If you are not, I would say that your T5 needs to go back to the dealer for a check up. Using your wife's key remote to unlock the car should set the seat and mirrors back to her settings, but if it is happening using your key remote, then there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
We only have 1400 miles on our T5, so it may be a bit early for the odd problems to arise. I must admit the one arena that scares me about this car is the electrical problem potential. Let's hope the problems with the S80 roll out have been dealt with prior to us buying our V70's.
Steve
My only ongoing irritation, so far, is that the turning circle has been increased over my previous '98 V70. This has made it harder to "square up" the car in tight parking spaces
The other issue, discussed in earlier posts, deals with the Pirelli P6 tires on the optional 17" wheels. The tires have been fine, so far, but neither Pirelli nor Volvo will provide any info on them beyond what is in the sales brochure. It appears they were produced just for this Volvo application and replacements can only be purchased from Volvo. Several inquiries to each referred me to the other for more info.
alwaysed, I'm very surprised your dealership wasn't aware of this and I even think it's in the manual if memory serves me right. Take a look when you get a spare moment - if you find it there you might want to consider finding a more knowledgeable dealership in the future if possible.
Good luck to you both (from a man who has learned to pay attention before I hop in either the S80 or V70 after my wife has had it lest I end up with broken legs because she sometimes uses my remote instead of hers!)
-rdo
rdollie@worldnet.att.net
With arrival of 2002 models, will there be further discount?