The AWD cars do have a few more gremlins, but...AWD can be an attribute when it is needed, so if you live anywhere that resembles a tundra for a portion of the year, it may well be worth it. The 98 is the first year of the AWD; 99 is the first year of the electronic throttle body; this makes the 98 AWD a ONE YEAR ONLY model. Not TOO big of a deal until you need some of the more expensive transmission and drive train parts. On this car you WILL be paying the big bucks for your CV axles unless you can find somebody to rebuild 'em.

Personal preference...stay far away from the 99's...they are becoming a better buy now since, most likely, previous owners have dealt with the numerous gremlins that appear. I think Volvo should have sold them with a vial of holy water and a voodoo doll, thus covering both bases...the 2000 models a bit better...the 2001 models I have decided are the first of the new ones that I'll recommend. However, on anything newer than 98, get an extended warranty...

What you will be replacing on any of them...the evaporator, and the ABS controller...it's just a given.

Oh, and don't listen to Volvo on your oil changes...7500 miles between oil changes is just too much.

Just my overly opinionated thoughts...

Chris

We have a 1998 V70 GTA - 83K, ABS light is recently on quoted $550 to fix. Irritating little things breaking, and I overpaid by buying new 6 1/2 yrs ago, but WOULD BUY a 98 in a HEARTBEAT for the $10-$12K they are selling for in my area right now!

My Volvo tech says that Volvo has continued to improve the car and that the new ones should prove to be the most reliable over time. When we bought, we paid $27,500 for a a car with a factory sticker of $34,500, and we were offered very low rate financing. It was very competitive with anything we could find in a used car. The only thing that we could see that has continued to be "decontented" is the sound system. Ours, a 2004, does not compare with the standard '94 sound system. The "05 is even worse. Food for thought.

Sez to avoid the V70/Cross Country '98-'01.

But Consumer Reports also RECOMMENDED my '98 V70 when I bought it!

So maybe they don't know everything.

At various times my '98 has been the worst car I've ever owned, and at other times it's been the best car I've ever owned. It still uses no oil between changes, the original clutch is only now beginning to slip, and the 5-speed manual transmission shifts like new. But I've lost count of all the electric and electronic gizmos I've replaced. The '98s have a throttle cable and are NOT D-B-W ("drive-by-wire") like the '99-on cars so at least that's one less thing to break.

Eurocars are not an inexpensive taste, but at least they're much, much cheaper than an affair with a woman half my age would be!

I'd prefer to have a potential V70 candidate checked out by my mechanic. I'd also look for one with lots of service records and stamps in the logbook. A private seller who can look you in the eye might be a good idea, too.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 154k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new, Michelin Arctic Alpins

I like mine. Awd is great on ice and snow. Just get one with a service record. Realize that at 85K miles, the ABS module will have to be replaced and 99 and 00 were the first year for drive by wire - problems.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)