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Why would the 5-cylinder wear pattern be much different from the 6-cylinder? The block is the same alloy poured by the same people in the same foundary only 1 cylinder shorter, the pistons, rings, valves, etc. are all the same. It wasn't the head crash that I found disturbing with Tom's -they've since redesigned the timing belt and tensioner - it was that the bottom end of these motors is claimed to blow out if you tighten up the top end!
The question was "Would you recommed a used S70?" and since I came close to buying another one myself, that's my opinion. BTW I'm willing to put up with the "low mileage" common electrical gremlins evaporators torque arm bushings return line o ring rattles squeaks suspension wear brakes lightbulbs more lightbulbs bulb sockets etc.
I've not heard of too many of the 5s having many similar problems to Tom's 6, but there aren't too many of them around with 200,000 or 300,000 miles. Do you know of any? I'm nowhere near the "critical value" of Tom Irwin's 140,000 miles, so we'll see. I doubt it will make it to 296,000 miles like Dave S's 940SE. In any case when 140,000 miles rolls around, my car will be pretty well amortized, so it won't bother me too much if the motor grenades before it gets flatbedded off to whatever charity wants it. If it does grenade I just won't ever buy another Volvo.
If you know someone who has 300,000 miles on a 5-cyl. white motor with the original engine block, please post details about it! Seriously!
I quote the Consumer Reports data because I have a sample size of 1 Volvo myself vs. the 500,000 people who return the CR questionaires. Is Tom's car an anomaly or typical? Who knows? There aren't too many 850s with 200,000 miles on them yet.
-Phil Punxsutawney
'98 V70T5M 88k mi. Mobil 1 Sunoco Ultra and Volvo Blue coolant always
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