We owned a 2000 V70 XC. I now own a 2001 V70 T5.

The bevel gear went out when my wife had to go 50 miles on the space saver. Friday nite away from home and away from a tire shops. I NEVER had a tire that could be fixed on this car. I always had to replace the set. For some reason I had more flats with that car than any other car I owned. At least it seemed that way. I liked the seats better in the 98-00 than the seats in the 01. The rake of the windshield has more slope on the 01 than the 98-00. Doesn't sound like much but I have hit my head on the roof rail trying to get in the car. I had a choice between the R model and the XC when I bought the XC. What I was worried about was more tickets for both me and the wife with the R as opposed to the XC. In some ways I wish I had bought the R model. I liked the interior and controls better in the XC than the T5 as well. In short, I liked the 00 XC more than the 01 T5 except for the gas mileage. T5 gets 27 to 30. I was lucky to get 24 on the road with the XC.