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I'm soliciting comments on the reliability of the latest model (particularly most recent years) S60.
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Preface: We've been a Volvo owning family since the 1970's, but my first-hand ownership experience is totally with 240s (and an earlier 164) -- the newest we have is an '84 and two '93s right now -- so I have no idea of reliability issues with the new models.
As for driving experience, I've been loaned S40s (which I don't like) from my dealer; and I've asked them to loan me S60's whenever they can (I like them much more) -- the main dislike/like issue being rearward and side visibility for me.
Now, my daughter has graduated and her new job enables to afford a new car. But because she'll be far from home, too far (3,000 miles) for me to help her with repairs, we agree that it's best buying a new car so that a dealer will be responsible for its maintenance.
I want her to buy a Volvo, and she's willing (having literally grown up in 240s) and likes the new S models' looks a lot more than the old 240s; but I'm concerned whether the car will be as trustworthy (reliable) as the old Volvos we've owned.
I've already shown her that the S40 is too small and has poor visibility, and she likes the S60 (she also liked the new C70 [NYC Auto Show], but the trunk space disappointed her).
So I want to first solicit opinions and experiences from you folks.
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I know the S60 can't be as reliable as the old 240s, but I hope it isn't as bad as some other cars (modern M-Bs, LandRover Discoveries, etc.).
All comments are welcome. Thanks.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Peter
on
Thu Jul 27 18:44 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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After 8 years and 80,000 miles on a 99 V70T5, my advice is that you should not own a Volvo that is out of warranty. Not that they are terribly unreliable, but there are too many things about them that make it difficult for an independent mechanic or owner to service. Too many computer codes that can only be accessed with the specialized dealer equipment... It needs a special tool just to remove the engine computer from it's housing... A wrecking yard just told me that, on 99 and newer Volvos, it is impossible to install a used computer from another car & reprogram it - you have to buy a new one...I don't think most other brands have this kind of proprietary attitude. If the car is under warranty, it is going to the dealer anyway, but after warranty, the dealer is just too expensive. And they are not bulletproof, by any means. I would rank European reliability well below Japanese reliabilty.
I hope to get a few more years out of my car, but the next one won't be a Volvo, and I will definitely not send my daughter off to college with this one.
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My wife's S60 is 5 yrs old, as is my V70T5. This is second Volvo wagon (850 first) had it 6 yrs. Had an Accord before that. The Accord wagon was too small, needed room to run away from storms..(and fast)
The S60 is not nearly as well built or as nice as V70. Even my wife comments on wishing visibility was better. If your daughter insists on S60: DO NOT get the non-turbo engine. My wife for the first time ever said "car is too slow". (Never thought I'd hear that)
Volvo reliability is fair to average at best. Dealers: so-so service.
Volvo's are fine. I personally get them because turbo/wagon combo are a blast to drive. I think other makes have (almost) caught up safety-wise.
My wife is unlikely to get another Volvo.
I would recommend:
1) you have her lease, as we've been treated best with leases for some reason. 2) Get a Honda or Toyota (or Lexus/Acura if cost not an issue).
3) Being closer to the dealer could be an issue for her when dropping off for service and with new job. Make sure loaners READILY available whatever she ends up with.
4) If buy Volvo: ALWAYS get the extended warranty. All 3 of ours have paid for themselves. (Buy the best one the dealer sells).
Good luck.
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posted by
someone claiming to be wondertrev
on
Wed Jul 26 13:11 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Am no expert, but aside from brake rotors, our 2002 has been fine. Just did the 75000-80000 mi. service, and had to replace some relatively inexpensive front strut pieces (45$ a pop plus labor).
Have had to replace front and rear rotors.
Only hiccup was a thermostat problem that the dealer couldn't fix after three visits, but the local Volvo dude fixed w/o a problem.
In short, it ain't a Honda, but my wife loves it.
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West coast, eh? A lot drier and warmer than NJ.
Volvos are no longer the "safe" cars that they used to be. In it's hayday, the 240 was the safest car on the market. Today, most new cars have 3 position seatbelts, airbags, air curtains, abs, traction control, head restraints, you name it.
What she needs is a car that won't put her on a first name basis at the local dealer. The S60 is the best model Volvo has, but the electronics and computers will assure that she makes multiple trips to the dealer in the first year. It will be covered by warrantee, but she needs to be there. The drive train will easily go 100,000 miles, the other parts shouuld last 5 years.
Alternatives to look at:
Little Lexus
Acura
Any American car, realizing that at 80,000 it will be time to dump it.
Toyota Camry is just too hohum.
The only reason I would look American for my daughter is for the AC. Toyota and Honda also have good ones AND they are reliable cars.
Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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No doubt that Volvos are among the safest cars on the road. Why they are much better these days, they are not Toyotas or Hondas in terms of reliability. If your daughter gets a new Volvo, it'll have the 5 yr, 50k warranty. That should alleviate any worries about reliability, since the dealer will be fixing the problems. If you can swing it, I'd say negotiate for the Volvo Increased Protection Plan for extended warranty for 100,000 miles for extra piece of mind past 50k. If not new (below 30,000 miles) try to go Volvo Certified Pre-Owned to 100k miles.
Just my .02
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Thanks.
re: "...I'd say negotiate for the Volvo Increased Protection Plan for extended warranty for 100,000 miles for extra piece of mind past 50k...."
She's going to be leasing (I can't see advising her to own a car without having me around* that will eventually go off warranty) so she doesn't have to worry about the Extended Warranty. I like to hope that maybe she'll move back here after a few years, and (right or wrong, I don't know for sure as it applies to newer Volvos) I wouldn't want her to take a California car back here where dealers won't know what to do with the CARB-mandated extra emission devices, etc. She can then buy another new car locally.
[ * unfortunately, the guys she dates don't know a wrench from a plier, so they're no help in fixing cars or even talking to a service writer.]
I'm mainly interested in feedback about the risks of breakdown or other annoyances while it's still a new car and under lease. I'm hoping that the S60 is better than the things I've heard about the S40 and XC70/XC90 models. Optimistically, a recent (last week, I think) article in the NY Times reported that new-car problems in Volvos improved (i.e., diminished) 10% over the past year, compared to a 20% worsening in M-B (my other potential suggestion) in the same period.
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We bought a 2000 V40 off lease in 2003. We had a few repairs under the Certified Pre-Owned Warranty. Maybe 5 trips to the dealer over the past 2.5 years. And the car was always operating fine, just had to schedule repairs ar a convenient time. Indeed the XC70/XC90 have more complexity with the all wheel drive systems, so not really worth the expense or worry unless you need it...
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A Lease! That is a different animal. You want the car that will depreciate the least and that is a BMW.
Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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I just bought a Honda Accord Coupe for my daughter as a graduation present.
(I offered her a new S60T5 but she turned up her nose at it. Too many doors and nothing appealing on the color palette. She completely blew my socks off by making Phi Beta Kappa, general honors and departmental honors at graduation so I woulda bought her a Ferrari if she wanted one. But she wanted an Accord.)
I traded my 2 1/2 year old Acura (no need for it, I telecommute now) and I was AMAZED by the low depreciation of the Acura. I was even more amazed by the value of a 2 1/2 year old Accord on kbb.com. This extremely low rate of depreciation on the Japanese marques throws my prior lifetime strategy of driving cars "forever" into question. I believe Toyota-Lexus is at least as good.
Of course Honda plays the lease residual value game straight and Ford massages the numbers to bring the payments down. Pick up one of the Consumer Reports automobile issues on the newsstand. Consumer Reports rates the Accord at the top of their sedan list and the S60 near the bottom. They don't recommend any Merecedes products. They still do recommend the S60, though.
-BTC
'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 169k mi, velour cloth seats, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, V-1, Mobil-1 since new. Goal: "Moonshot" (*227,063 miles at it's perigee*)
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)
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