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Comments
If you're considering dumping your S80 after one problem in 10K, then it doesn't sound like you're willing to tolerate even one more.
Toyota-thon ends January 3.
After 10 years of "problem free" experiences, the
possible problems scare me. Are some of these things preventable or is just a matter of time?
You are right on Camrys. Point A to Point B problem free and uninspiring. The S80 is more of a driving experience.
BTW - I looked at the Toyota Avalon in 2000 when I was shopping for a new car; it just wasn't very interesting to drive which is why I opted for the S80 T6. I'm happy with my decision.
Have you updated your maps? If so, how? Thanks, Eric S.
http://www.navteq.com/
Personally, I've not driven out of one CD into another, so I don't have any experience with the message you are talking about.
Can anyone quantify an average year of maintenance starting around $50,000 miles? I don't think I qualify for an extended warranty. My car was actually part of the early runs('98) Is $1,000/year a good estimate?
I have purchased an extended warranty at 49950 for $2200 - 4 years or 48K miles.
Now, 3 years later @87K miles I did not break even yet.
The cost of EW can give you a good estimate of your maintenance cost.
The insurance company basically say that they will fix an average car for about $550 per year and still make money on it.
The statement that you need to exhaust you bank account to maintain a Volvo is one of the modern urban legends.
Insurance companies know better...
$1000 per year on average should be plenty...
And out of curiosity, I have quoted an EW for my current situation - 5 years old, 87K miles - the quote was $800 for 1y/12000 miles or $1300 for 24 mo/24000 miles
Do you seriously think that the insurance company, that has issued an EW policy to you is in charity arena?
Explain me, if I am a three years old, if I can get an EW policy for about $500 a year, why my repair costs should be more than that?
Repair costs can very well exceed the cost of the policy. Keep in mind, the insurance companies that offer EW's do so for many different manufacturers. It's a game of actuarial science. Also, any new model (like the S80 was in '99) takes a few years to establish a repair record. In the meantime, the price for the EW may be on the cheap side. But every EW sold to an early S80 owner is balanced by the virtually total profit realized from selling an EW to an overly cautious Honda owner.
And I wouldn't be too quick to pooh-pooh my doubling suggestion. I just picked up my S80 from the dealer service department today. Here's a summary of the bill for transmission service, coolant flush, oil change, power seat repair, replacement of faulty horn, and replacement of leaky flame trap seal:
$351.45 Labor
125.34 Parts
50.20 Fluids (trannny, oil, coolant)
22.71 Tax
$549.70 TOTAL (And it's ONLY JANUARY!!!)
$202.67 of this was covered by VIP warranty. Balance due out-out-pocket of $347.03 was $100 deductible, plus oil/tranny/coolant changes.
Sure, I could have saved a few $$$ and had the routine maintenance done elsewhere. But my dealer gives free loaner, and time is money.
Point is, even routine maintenance on this car is expensive. If I didn't have VIP, I'd be GRATEFUL for annual average repairs of $1,000.
Also, even if insurance companies issues their policies for the different brands of the cars, they factor car's reliability to the cost of policy, and they try not loosing money on any brands, i.e. policies for Volvo are more expensive than policies for Honda, the risks are calculated for each market segment, manufacturer and model, the payout/revenue ratios are constantly monitored, and rates are constantly adjusted. So, unfortunately, the Volvo owners do not benefit from the high reliability of Honda or Toyota.
And lastly, the $347 is a lot of money, but I hope you do not drive so much that you need a transmission service done every year (Volvo recommends to change a transmission fluid every 52,500 miles), and I do not think that you power seat will need a repair every year. We were talking about the average yearly cost, but not the incidental cost that someone may acquire sometimes.
And if you do drive over 50,000 miles per year, you have to live with the very high maintenance cost.
The bottom line seems to be there's definitely a difference in the driving experience and there's a related cost for those advantages.
Since the delivery in May 2000, I have spent just under $5400, which includes $2265 for the extended warranty, which will expire in October 2006 or at 95K, whichever comes first.
It includes all the scheduled maintenance done at the dealership, set of new tires at 54K miles (they still should last for 10 - 15K), all the light bulbs and incidentals (windshield wipers, snow chains, etc.).
So my previous estimate of ~ $1000 per calendar year holds water.
I consider that I had average amount of problems (gauging the postings on this board).
But I love this car. Also, it's cheaper to insure (and more discreet) than a BMW or Benz, and the repair record of those cars isn't much better. And I intend to keep this car until it dies, so re-sale isn't an issue for me.
In general, the maintenance and repair costs we're talking about here would give the average Camry or Accord owner a stroke. But the comfort, safety, and performance of the S80 is worth it, IMO.
I have the 99 T6, the Volvo dealer used a
company called Universal:
Comprehensive(bumper to bumper)$2,000 for 24,000 miles.
Preferred: $2,235 for 36,000 miles
Drive Train: $1,400 for 36,000 miles
Do you have a better recommendation to contact?
I'd love to get a 48,000 mile quote
The real "bogey" out there for us T6'ers is the
transmission.
Issued by Western General at Calabasas Volvo.
3 years/48K miles, VIP Gold plus package (basically everything, covered by the original warranty minus software upgrades)
Disappearing deductible - $0 at the issuing dealer/$50 elsewhere.
$2165.00
Purchased at 49,550 miles.
I am not sure if it still available.
My dealer does not carry it anymore.
I had to buy Volvo VIP 7 years/100K extended warranty for my new XC90 for $2080 with $0 deductible.
And do not worry much about your transmission. If it did not break yet, it most likely will not. The problem with transmission, as I have heard, was that some mounting holes were not drilled correctly on a limited number of transmissions for the early production cars, and that has caused some additional stress to the transmission and eventually - mechanical failure. But if it holds after significant mileage, the good chance is that yours was not part of that batch.
Is it true, Volvomax?
I'll do some web searches for Western General.
I hope you are right about the Transmission, others seem to have had trouble between 50-80,000 miles and I'm only at 48,000 and I was in the earlier runs(late '98)
This is a handy site: www.alldata.com
It shows all the recalls, bulletins,etc. on different vehicles. There's quite a list on the 99.
I actually liked my 1999 S70 better than my 2002 S80. I did like the exterior styling of the S80 better, but that's about it. The S80 just didn't feel as solid to me, and the interior of the S70 just seemed to be of higher quality. In addition, I found that the S80 had blind spots which were annoying when backing up or changing lanes.
I just leased a 2005 Mercedes E320 for about the same price as I could have leased another S80. I would have leased another S80 if the styling had changed, although the more I drive the Mercedes, the more I am realizing that it is a far better car in terms of features, handling, solidity and overall smoothness. But I think the ergonomics in the S80 were better, and nothing can beat the seats or stereo systems in any Volvo. I look forward to the new S80 redesign......but there doesn't seem to be a firm date on when that will arrive. If Volvo wants to remain competitive, they have to redesign the S80 or previous Volvo customers like myself will be looking elsewhere.
Tony
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And that is exactly opposite to my reasoning. I found a quality of the ride very appealing and have chosen the S80 over the S70 back in late 1999 despite of the 6-7K price difference.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
my mistake.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Jay
Hope it works out for you - let us know!
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=8127
It looks that the roof line is more rounded, like the new S40.
In regards to any spy photo when the car is so heavily desguised, how the heck does the photographer know what it is anyway?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I do think it's a Volvo. It has a very typical back panel, and all the cars usually very heavily disguised either with the aprons or plastic applications, some times even with the plywood extensions.
More likely a new S60.
It is nice to hear from a soul mate. I love my 2000 2.9 too.