So I see about six or seven volvo threads have been made in the garage total, and I see a lot of them on craigslist going for about the same price as other sedans with similar mileage and fewer features. So my question is, are volvos worth it? Are they terrible in terms of reliability and maintenance costs, or are they fairly decent cars? Do the newer ones last a while? And are they big targets for thefts/breakins?

Just curious. I think some of them are pretty nice, S40, V40, V50, S60 included.

Any input would be appreciated.

10/13/2007 1:53:49 AM

i think they're pretty good cars. good cheaper alternative to bmw/mercedes, more reliable than vw. the newer the model, the less plagued they seem to be with any common issues. the most prevalent failures have always been electrical. i think they've taken car of that now though.

resale isn't stellar on them, but that can be good also. if you want a used one, really good deals can be had for what you're getting.

maintenance is going to be on par with other euro brands, maybe a little less.

definitely solid cars overall.

[Edited on October 13, 2007 at 2:11 AM. Reason : .]

10/13/2007 2:10:31 AM

Parts for them are $texas, as with any import.

10/13/2007 7:58:20 AM

all the new ones with that huge shoulder on the door dent like a motherfucker

and the turning radius on the s60 is about equivalent to a semi, so watch out for that

10/13/2007 1:36:25 PM

I don't have a ton of experience working on the newer ones but I can tell you older volvo's are a PAIN to work on. Talk about a mess of vaccuum lines falling apart and seals leaking.

10/13/2007 10:06:02 PM

ill work on a 240 anyday over any shitty FWD volvo. 850s have to be the worst, ever done a rear seal in one?

10/13/2007 10:17:09 PM

i'd be wary. volvo claims some of the fluids are lifetime. ha.

10/13/2007 10:28:42 PM

so does bmw but thats not a reason to avoid them

10/13/2007 10:30:33 PM

so you're telling me that if the OP finds a car that is in otherwise nice shape that has never had fluids changed and has over 100k, it's a good buy?

10/13/2007 10:34:31 PM

in my opinion there is no reason to buy a volvo.

10/13/2007 10:37:27 PM

goesn't gm claim dexcool is lifetime?

10/14/2007 1:26:40 AM

i know in 99 and up vw, the auto trans fluid is claimed lifetime and there is no way to check the level

how many of you kids have that?

10/14/2007 11:23:18 AM

^

there is a way.

[Edited on October 14, 2007 at 12:36 PM. Reason : volvo, vw, etc all have a method.]

10/14/2007 12:35:47 PM

^^^unless it's changed, it was 100k.

Quote :

"ill work on a 240 anyday over any shitty FWD volvo. 850s have to be the worst, ever done a rear seal in one?"

yeah, i don't know... it's kind of pick your poison there. 240, 740, etc. are electrical nightmares. i think i'd still rather work on one too though, they're pretty simple/easy from the mechanical side.

[Edited on October 14, 2007 at 2:06 PM. Reason : .]

10/14/2007 2:03:44 PM

Quote :

"ill work on a 240 anyday over any shitty FWD volvo. 850s have to be the worst, ever done a rear seal in one?"

put a front hub in my roommates 850 Turbo (with 185k miles). That was more of an asspain than I'd expected. i'll bet a rear seal was a life changing experience.


those old 240s seem like they've got some cockroach DNA, though...just won't die.

[Edited on October 14, 2007 at 2:40 PM. Reason : asdfasd]

10/14/2007 2:39:12 PM

definitely. FredNCSU has owned a 740 sedan, 740 turbo wagon, and a 240 wagon. i witnessed all three go through absolutely amazing amounts of torture before their eventual demise.

alot of guys run the 240 wagons in the demolition derby every year too, and they do well. i had one lay a HELL of a hit on me last year in my subaru. put the whole passenger side B pillar about halfway into the car, lol.

my cousin has an 850 turbo sedan that's been a good car, and has been used pretty hard. it's been totalled twice also.

[Edited on October 14, 2007 at 3:09 PM. Reason : .]

10/14/2007 3:08:35 PM

Quote :

"there is a way."

well it shouldnt involve draining all the fluid though a special tool/system to measure how much is in there

thats asinine

10/14/2007 6:39:47 PM