Well, thanks to so many great opinions, I looked at a used Lexus RX300 this morning. '01, 59,000 km $35,900 Seems like a very nice vehicle. Any comments on this?

Just to reply to Masher, I wd agree with you that most cars are ok 2-3 year makr with warranties etc. But this one has been in alot and some of the stuff wasn't covered. Also, time, hassle, energy, no loaner for the day. Pain in the neck and caused me to lose confidence in the vehicle esp at the 6 yr mark and 127,000 km.

So, it's getting better. Have given up on the other European models ie BMW etc thanks to helpful feedback.

So, still very open to comments. This has been so great and helpful.

Any views on used???

If you want good reliable transportation yet get bored of a car after 2/3 years then lease most whatever you like. Many car companies have warranties and included maintanence in the first 3 yrs/50K miles. If you are looking for a long term keeper (5-7 years, 150K plus miles), I would say a Acura and just go back to sleep! Volvos/BMW's/Merecedes turn out to be "enthusiast" cars if you keep them for the long haul cause they need a lot of attention......if you can do it yourself...great! Otherwise I would follow the philosphy above. Just my 2 cents!

maitenance bill of $1500~2000/year??? WOW!...that is pretty steep...even at the dealers....


bmw 3 series (current e46 model) vs volvo xc70 (current p2)...my brother notes the bmw get stuck all the time while the xc never gets stuck in upstate new york... not even when the xc is using the stock all-terrain suv scorpion tires... with the bmw...def needed the snow tires...even then, it'd still get stuck...


as for mb...the e-class is certainly nice...u'd want sometime within the last 4 years for that...the e320 if u are gas conscious..e430 if u need something a little more powerful... and if u look for a 2000 model..it should be under 40k canadian dollars... the m-class and c-class w203 has not been up to par as of quality issues...i'd skip these... and yes, mb is even more expensive than volvo to maintain...


audi is nice...but the a4 seriously lacks rear seat room... the a6 would be nicer if u plan to carry people in the back...


none of the 3 german makes have been easy on the pockets to maintain...


what specifically are u looking in a car? if it's low maintenance...more likely the japanese cars... acura if u need something a little more sporty, lexus (sans is300) if u need something quiet and comfortable. infinity i'm not sure, they have had quite a few changes these last few year...for the better in most cases...but it's too soon to tell about their reliability issues....

deborah, we have a 1999 v70 FWD only with 70mon-100k miles Volvo warranty. Ok
$50 bucks each time, but so far after getting this wagon at 47k miles its been fine. Understand where we are coming from two 1967 122s's, (yes-red block-bullet proof). We have had these cars since 1967, main drives for 500K miles total. Just sold the sedan, sad day, but went to a good home. This V70 is the first time for a "new" machine. Inherited my late Mothers 1995 Chevy Lumina
sedan(loaded, big Olds DOHC V-6, 2500 miles) thought it would give us time at least to 100K.
Cost us over 4000 bucks to get it ready to trade it in. I after 36 years having an
auto that can be understood by this guy it has been a big shake up for me. I can tell you horror stories from ANY make out there. BMW's that drop their
trannies at 20-30K, Dont even go to Chryslers, its a zoo. Keep looking at all these sites, people who own, cuss, love their cars can give you more insight.
take your time, now as for Mercedes--good grief. Subaru not that much better
either. They ALL have problems, even Toyotas, every one does. BTW still have the 1967 wagon that still is our main drive.
best of luck, know what your going thru

I have a '03V70T5 and it has been the most reliable vehicle I have owned. I also have a '00 BMWZ3 and it has not been near as reliable..... The Z has the hood up most weekends (or up on stands) to check, replace, clean or adjust something. I do all my own maintenace on the Z since the warranty ran out and I didn't feel like paying the BMW Stealer prices or putting up with their 'tude. BMW parts are VERY EXPENSIVE, and so is the Stealer service. If I were you I would find a good used '01-'03 V70T or T5 with low miles and maintenance records, or a new '04 V70. My V70T5 with stability control handles great in the snow and other nasty weather, I don't think you would want or need AWD (just more thing to go wrong IMHO).

p.s. My old Mercedes wagon was traded in for the V70 after it emptied my walet once too many.

I have sets of 4 snow tires on steel wheels on my Volvo (Michelin Arctic Alpins) and on my Acura (Dunlop Winter Sports). I can run circles around most SUVs on 4-season tires in the snow. I would suggest avoiding AWD systems in European cars. Not just Volvo's this is a prejudice going back to the Audi Quattros, there is two of just about everything to break.

BMWs tend to slide in the snow particularly when they're equipped with the sports package which is essentially larger wheels with 3-season tires. Then they REALLY need the snow tires! (On smaller wheels.) But on snow tires .. well, Sweden and the rest of Scandanavia got along without AWD but with at least 4 snow tire manufacturers until about 1997.

BMW offers several AWD models, the 3-series including the small 325iT wagon, the 330i, the X3 and the X5.

I'd avoid Saab and this is from someone who's owned TWO. Same for Audi. In both cases the reliability isn't likely to be better than Volvo and for the Audi it's likely to be worse.

I know this is going around in circles, the Volvo is a great car except for the reliability. For reliability you pretty much need to go to a Japanese brand, and then you don't have the handling and cold-weather suitability of one of the Euros. So we again look at one of the Euros except we know they often turn into mainenance nightmares as they age. So....

Subaru is an AWD model that's reliable and the 6-cylinder models are nicely equipped. Less pricey than the Acura MD-X.



FWIW, I've been a European car fan for years and years, and my wife was "always" an American car buyer and we both seem to be driving Japanese cars now (the Volvo is my "winter beater" for now and a wonderful "winter beater" it is!)

-Punx

'98 V70T5M, 136k mi., iPd stabilizer bars, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, Bilstein HD struts and shocks, Valentine-1, Mobil-1 always, e-code headlight lenses, Michelin Arctic Alpins

You probably do not need the AWD Volvo. Our 99 V70 with stability/traction control works great in the snow when we go to Denver. Unless you live in an area with a lot of snow, and are on a lot of unplowed roads, the FWD should be fine.

BMWs are great, but if you felt you needed AWD, their RWD may not be to your liking in snow. Best get an AWD one then since they do not have a FWD.

Another car almost on par with a Volvo is the VW Passat. I have had two in the past, one recently. Great high quality car, though the seats are not like a Volvo's (but are any others?). They both had some reliability problems electrically.

If you want the SUV route, consider the Volvo XC-90. By far the best as far as resistance to roll-over goes.