re: "...If so, how in the world do they keep selling them?..."

Well, I don't have an S80, but like you I'm tempted, despite their rep.

But to answer your question (unless it was simply rhetorical), realize that very few Volvo (pre-owned, or new) buyers (especially of the newer models) know anything about this board. Just looking at the utter lack of activity in any of the FWD forums compared to the RWD (and especially the 200's) forums, it's clear that far fewer of them are do-it-yourselfers.

And even with some criticism from sources like Consumer Reports, dealers can lower the price until they get sufficient buyer-acceptance to sell their inventory (mainly off-lease cars).

But I feel as you do -- they're so nice (especially compared to my 240s), I'd like to get one. Just too scared to bite the bullet right now.

And I certainly wouldn't buy one without a full disclosure of its service and repair records (to see if there's some repeating problem that hasn't been corrected), as well as a full "certified pre-owned" dealer warranty from Volvo, rather than from some third-party insurer.