I would appreciate some feedback....

I had originally posted under a "thinking of buying this car" a few weeks ago. I read all of the feedback, and have also been reading all the forums I can find about Volvos, as I am very interested in the V70 series.

The reason I may have changed my mind is basically the service and customer service (dealer) information I have read.

Please correct me if I have misinterpreted the forums, but it seems that when you buy a volvo (or even before), you should go find a reputable mechanic (not the dealer) who is going to work on the car. The dealers seem to be hit or miss on service; some people are talking about squeaks and leaks on a brand-new car - and have trouble getting a dealer to cooperate.

Second (and I might get flamed for this), I have read that if I want to drive a highly engineered car then I must be willing to have it in the shop to take care of the parts.

So here's my issue. The XC seems to be awfully unstable as a new AWD platform. I've read about reliability problems, the troubles with towing, and that there's not a full-size spare on this car.

To me, safety is a combination of factors - an accident, certainly, but also that when I get in the car it starts, that if I have a flat tire in the middle of nowhere I can change it, etc.

I guess with all I've read that I'm gunshy. I have certainly backed off of the XC and am looking at the T5 now.

Your comments are appreciated!

Anne