All,


I've recently been provided with the opportunity to purchase a 2000 base naturally-aspirated V70. The owner, who bought it new, is a friend of a friend of mine and got a hold of me not too long ago because he knows I'm a Volvo enthusiast, with somewhat of a focus on the P80 models.

I found out that this particular V70 is kinda rare, a unicorn of sorts - it's a 5-speed manual (M56). I've only seen one or two 2000 NA V70s with manuals - however, I do know of a few '99s that have them.

The reason the owner is planning to get rid of the '00 V70 is that he feels it's time to get a newer vehicle. He told me that he's already replaced the timing belt, heater core, blower motor, and the slave and master cylinders in the clutch. Essentially, he informed me that he has replaced "just about every moving part in the car." It only has 108k miles on it, and looks to be in better-than-average condition. He said he has never had a problem with the ETM (build date 8/99).

Any advice for me before I go for this car? And how rare are the '00 NA V70s with 5-speeds? Was the manual a special-order only option for MY 2000?