We just purchased a 2005 5 cyl 2.5 single turbo FWD, so likely the AWD has the same powerplant. I too am spooked a bit about the quantum leap in electro-technology between our 90 740 and this S80. I've already replaced one tail light bulb and that in itself was an adventure. I see the car takes special wiper blades and so-on. Instead of buying the old fashion spin-on kind of oil filter for $3.50, you buy just a cartridge for $7.00. Go figure! I must admit though, it has been fun trying to figure out how all the bells and whistles work. It definitely has a mind of it's own, but hey, as long as everything keeps working right it's a really nice car with a good solid feel. Not quite as roomy inside as the 740, but not bad compared to everything else out there.

BTW - for price point - We bought ours with 72,000 miles off of a Volvo dealer's lot for $13,500 base which became close to $15,000 by the time we contributed to the Wall street bail-out (I mean sales tax) and the dealers bogus documentation fee. I'd still like to know what they do to earn that one. In the Michigan economy you may do a bit better.

BTW #2 - I don't know about the AWD. If you don't really need it, it may be just another problem area somewhere down the road. But then again, maybe not. One of the car lots we visited had an AWD for sale. The manager said he was probably going to ship the car up north as there wasn't any interest in it in the Atlanta area.

Good luck.