I have a 1998 V70-T5A that I bought new and have driven 38,000 miles in 27 months. The front seats are the most comfortable seats in the world. The engine senses my moods and responds. If I feel easy going, so it is with my car, but if I wish to leave the crowd behind, this too is granted (after pushing the throttle the first time for the day). The Volvo tracks the road like it's on rails (unless the road surface is really rough) and it stops when I should have thought of it. My wife is shopping for a new car and asked what I think she should get. My response is that she should get what she wants. I've got mine. We might end up with two. I like this car.

Note: the T5 is the high pressure turbo The low pressure turbo (GLE) may be more comfortable for family driving around town as it has a little softer ride and a little more low-end engine boost.

I hope that this is helpful.

Yup, the good news is that you can say "performance" and "wagon" in the same sentence:

V70 T5.

Done.

- Darell

A wagon? A Volvo? Sure. I don't know how anyone with a family, dogs, or both gets around without a wagon or a minivan or a wagon and a minivan. We have 2 wagons and 1 minivan at the moment. One is a Volvo. The thing Volvo does well is wagons.

Should you steer clear of Turbos? I wouldn't, in fact I didn't. Turbos aren't really that troublesome at this point. The only real problem I've had - besides the oil return line "o" ring - is that the performance is nothing short of phenomenal. You just can't believe how the wagon moves! The problem with that is that no one else can believe how the wagon moves, either. Consequently, other drivers will often try to occupy the same space as you at exactly the same time.

You have no need for AWD? OK. The AWD versions made the Consumer Reports "used cars to avoid" list. If you don't want to believe CR, there is the logic that there are two of everything to break in the drivetrain. Instead, I'd buy a set of snow tires if in the snow belt.

You may also want to consider an 850 Turbo, it's very similar, the '97 model year seems to have been the most bulletproof of all.

Depending on who is doing the driving, you also might want to take a look at the older -pre 1999- Honda Odyssey or it's twin the Isuzu Oasis. Statistically this is just about the safest vehicle around.

I would suggest you research all this, a good place to start is the April "New Car Issue" of Consumer Reports, either last years, from the library or this year's on newsstands soon.

-Uncle Olaf

Being that you know VW as well as Volvo, have you looked at the Passat wagon? I'm an Audi & Volvo fan. Just checking whether you done the comparison.