I am considering buying a 2000 S80 T6 with 35000km. My son keeps telling me Lexus, but he never listened to me when he was a teenager so why should I take his advice now? I have read about many people having bad experiences with 1999's, and some with 2000's. Yet is seems like every model made has a few lemons. The problem is the 1999 S80 seem to have a treefull. I have already wondered why a person would trade a $63000 Canadian car at a loss after only a short period of ownership, but every manufacturer has cars available used at this age, with this milage. The car I currently own, a 1996 Audi A6, needed a new transmission at 5000km, then preformed very well for the next 190000km. I don't usually sweat the small stuff when it comes to gliches. ie. If a bulb is burnt out I won't panic. I owned a 1953 Triumph TR-3, a 1971?? Rover 2000 with the air suspension (that sagged) and a 1983 Jaguar Vanden-Plas with a Lucas Electrical system, so trust me when I say I've seem some electrical nightmares! Yet I still liked them all, problems give cars character. Maybe I'm just a sucker for punishment but I still love the S80 and I am well aware that I will most likely be unable to fix any problem that arises. I unfortunatly do not own a Volvo diagonsitic machine. I haven't owned a Volvo since the 1960's but that one lasted 330 000km, it wasn't perfect, but I loved it. Besides my wife has a new reliable (but no character) Japanese car I can drive when mines on vacation. I think I've just convinced myself to buy the car anyways. It seems that past experience dictates that I'll make the wrong decision so this is just for piece of mind, Has anyone had a positive relationship with their S80?

I have a '99 S80 (2.9) and have put just over 39K on it. I've had no major problems with the car. I did have a short spell where I replaced three headlight bulbs in two weeks (covered under warrenty). I like the car, and after 3 year, haven't grown tired of it. I've not experienced any of the problems (knock on wood) that some of the posters have had with the car.

Volvo's have been in my family since I was born. They have never left us stranded, and have never had any major problems. I just bought a 2001 S40, and have already put 13,000 KM on it with absolutely no problems. I would recommend the Volvo over any car because it looks nicer, it's safer, and because Lexus is a generic car that tries to copy other manufacturers.
Buy the S80, but make sure any recalls have been taken car of, and that ALL maintainence has been done at the right time.
Now that I have owned and driven Volvo's, I would never drive anything else.

P.S. If you have a 'friendly' relationship with your dealer, you will always get excellent service. (I am great friends with my dealer, and they give me free stuff!)

This is no A6 and it's also no $63,000 (CDN) car. And it certainly ain't no 1960s type Volvo. Listen to your son. This is not a case of father knowing best. At 35,000 miles there might be some warranty left but be prepared to spend some dough when you run into a problem... any problem. And don't expect much help from Volvo.

Listen to your son, Lexus was #1 on JD Power used car list (saw it in Reader's Digest). See my post on "Had it with my S80". I can't imagine the 2000 model is much better than 1999. I'm trying to sell my 99 now, haven't had many calls, hmm, wonder why!?

We bought our first Volvo, a 2001 S80 2.9 with 22K miles on it, last Sept. Have only put on about 7K miles since then but so far so good -- no problems as yet. And we love the car, even if it doesn't have the power of a T6. It seems to be well engineered and I'm hoping some of the mechanical issues pertaining to the earlier S80's that are discussed on this website will not apply to my 2001. Good luck with your decision.