Is the '98 V70 a decent car mechanically, and is the plain V70 more reliable than the GT model?

The plainer cars have fewer gizmos to break. If you don't have a sunroof it can't leak.

If you're looking at a '98 V70, it's an 8-9 year old car at this point -- the '98 model year started early. Mine still doesn't use any oil but some "white motor" Volvos pump oil like Venezuela. It's a function of luck and how well the previous owner(s) took care of the car.

Some can be dreams, others nightmares and the "dream" white motor Volvo will look, feel, smell, drive and sound just about like the "nightmare". Look for lots of service records.

A pre-purchase inspection by a shop that knows Volvos is essential. Caveat emptor!

BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 167k mi, velour cloth seats, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, 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 Noel Adams (1952-2001)