I've owned a 2000 S80 and had no problems with the car-except for the front subframe bushings that was repaired under warranty- and bought a 2005 S80. There were big changes on the '04 S80 even it doesn't appear so. The resale on S80's isn't very good which should make buying one used a good value for you. I would look for a used '04 over a '03 b/c of all the changes although I wouldn't pass up a good '03 if one came along. The '99 to '00 models seem to have a fair share of problems but later ones seem fine. A good dealer to service your car is the key here. A dealer can make your experience either enjoyable or horrible when it comes time for service.
Bottom line-an S80 is a safe and comfortable car with no more problems than a typical european car and that includes BMW, Merc and Audi.

"The BMW 7 Series, for example, has more than 120 electric motors, including 38 just for the front seats"-from a Wall Street Journal article attempting to explain the dismal reliability of European cars in general.

Consumer Reports has the 1999-2003 S80 on it's "Used Cars to Avoid" list.

Have you considering leasing one?

Reason I ask is I do like the V70R, although I'm terified by the idea of owning one of these puppies without a factory waranty, and that's what I'm considering doing.

We have 2 Honda trucks and an Acura car, and the reliability has been pretty close to spotless. Nevertheless, the Volvo seats fit my Nordic backside much better than the Honda/Acura seats, which make my back hurt. If not a Volvo, then a Bimmer or a Benz. Seems there are two basic choices for me, either be annoyed all the time by the Japanese seats, or to be annoyed by the European demonstrations of poor reliability.

If you want reliable in the same price/size class as the S80, look at the Acura RL which is technologically remarkable, and the Lexus GS.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 160k 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

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)