We're contemplating purchasing a used but not-very-old S80, perhaps a 2003 or 2004. I've read a lot of negative stuff about S80s, particularly regarding reliability, and am increasingly scared off of the model. But it looks like the greatest contempt is reserved for the early S80s. I'm wondering if there's any reason to believe later S80s are better, or if they're just not old enough yet for trouble to have surfaced.

I'm interested in a sedan of roughly the size of the S80, preferably something just a few years old, something someone turned in at the end of a lease. I've been loyal to Volvo for a long time, though I recognize that a lot has changed in the last few years. Are there other makes/models people who appreciate Volvos -- particularly the safety features -- should contemplate in this size category? I'm loyal to Volvo, but not blindly so.