I think the Chinese ownership (which I understand still leaves Volvo 'in charge') won't necessarily be a bad thing. I just want them to go back to what made them a success.


BTW, tell him that the dealer was taking him for all he's worth, and that isn't normal of a volvo. Those repair costs are insane. 1500 on an alternator? Perhaps I'm missing something but even at the $500 dealer price, 1000 in labor for an hour job? WHAT???
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I HOPE the Chinese let Volvo do its thing, but if I owned Volvo, it would be hard not to stir the pot a bit.

I talked myself hoarse for the 8 years he owned the S60 (which is why I did some of the work on it for him) about price gouging, but they just felt more comfortable at the dealer. The $1600 timing belt and $1000 driver's window were the last straws, I think.

They had an Independent Volvo Shop for a while who was almost as bad as the dealer (why not-he had the field to himself), but had a real attitude. He is Swedish and acted like he's a Volvo God (reminded me of the "Soup Nazi" if you ever watched "Seinfeld" on TV). He accepted or turned away work depending upon his mood, and if the customer winced at the price.

The new-alternator-only price from the dealer was just under $900 (it's the one w/ the free-wheeling clutch on it) plus $600 labor, from the Independent would have been about $1100 installed (but he said he wasn't interested in doing it then), and from a non-foreign specialty shop I suggested about $600 or so installed (Bosch reman alternator) as I remember w/ out looking up the receipt.

I LOVED my 240s, my 740, and my 965 especially. Maybe the S60 will grow on me if it behaves itself, though I'd have prefered a RWD, or at least a "brick" 850/S or V70 for the interior spaciousness.

I figured $3000 for a near-mint car with all those replaced parts and a family history was worth a shot, though. I know the 2001 model had transmission problems, but hopefully when it was remanufactured two years ago the shop did whatever mods would enable it to last like the newer ones.

Bob