I would specifically recommend that you not buy any AWD Volvo.

Even if you go for a more recent vintage than the troublesome '98-'00 ones, there's still two of almost everything to break.

Would I recommend a 2WD Volvo, after living for 9 years and 169,000 miles with mine? Ummmmm.... Consumer Reports even recommended the V70 as a NEW car this year. There are some really good deals to be had on year-end 2WD V70s at this time of year, the V70 will probably be replaced after next year, meaning thet you'll be able to expect 2-3 years of teething problems until they get the hang of building 'em. So if you really want a Volvo wagon, I'd look for a leftover '06 V70 or a new '07 in 2WD.

If you MUST buy a Volvo by all means go for a NEW 2WD V70 but if you're just looking for a box on wheels, Toyota and Honda make fine boxes on wheels that are cheaper and much more reliable.

My $0.02, worth what you paid for it.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 169k 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. Goal: "Moonshot" (227,063 miles at it's perigee)

"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)