Hi,
I'm currently looking for a V70 wagon and need a 3rd row seat. I'm having trouble finding one that meets all my needs, if the price is right should I consider having a 3rd installed on a standard v70? Any idea what this costs or if I can get one used and the difficulty of DYI'ing it!

Thanks all,
Mike

I have a 98 V70 and added the third seat. The cost varies dramatically by the year. The 98 and 99 will take the same seat as the older 850. This is significant as you can buy the seat and all hardware new for about $300 US; otherwise, you are looking at close tp $1000 for the seat.

The seat installation is not exactly straightforward. I had it done at a local body shop. It took them four hours. If you are very handy you may be able to tackle it yourself, but beware it is a very tight fit and involves cutting with patterns.

Once installed the seat itself works well, but it is only suitable to kids betweenn 55 and 90 lbs. It fits my seven year old great now, but my 12 year old daughter is too big to sit back there now.

All things being equal, it is worh an extra $1000 with the saet already in. So if you are getting a deal on a car without just factor in the extra grand for coparison to determine whether it is still a good deal.

>>>>>> Once installed the seat itself works well, but it is only suitable to kids betweenn 55 and 90 lbs. >>>>>

Assuming it's the same rating as on my '93 945T, it's also rated for passengers no taller than 4'11" (that is, under 5' tall). If you want the exact ratings, call Volvo of North America, that's how I found out for my seats about 6 months ago.

Thanks for the advice- I never realized the limits of the seat itself. I'm trying like hell to avoid buying a minivan to replace my old 740. I might be kidding myself about the practicality of a V70 for a family of 5.

BTW Any thoughts on what to look for in a used V70? I.e,. problem areas etc.

Thanks
Mike

I have a 98 NA V70 and 3 kids. Before you put down the bucks and time for the 3rd seat, have your kids try one out at a used car lot. I did, and quickly decided it was only good for very short trips, and put the kids too close to the rear bumper. It just doesn't seem safe to me. Note that none of the newer Volvos have rear facing 3rd seats.

I still have the V70, but added a Honda Odyssey to the family fleet. The Ody is very nice to drive, safe, and is a wonderful way to travel with kids (gives them there own space and me back my sanity). After we got the Odyssey, the wife told me I could have exclusive use of the V70. It's not a rocket, but it's the closes thing I've had to a sports car in 15 years. If you do give in (as I did) and decide to look at minivans, check out the Toyota and Honda models. I think you'd be surprised at what they have to offer for family transportation.

Good luck

Obviously it is easier to buy one with the 3rd seat already installed. The seat itself probably isn't too difficult, my concern would be getting the seat belts and associated plastic bits to fit properly.
When haggling over the price, do a 'ho hum' about the third seat!

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