Good to see someone in the same situation as myself. My wife an I have an 87 740 and are thinking of updating to an S70. I also live in Australia (wollongong) and I have spoken to my Volvo mechanic (whom I regard as the best volvo mechanic I have ever dealt with). Anyway digressing a bit, I can get my hands on a S70 2000 SE N/A at a reasonable price with 98K kilometres on the clock.

Redbook.com.au prices this car at about $24,000 AUD. So already I consider this to be an absolute bargain as I can get it for about $19-20,000, I am then considering to put it through a volvo check to become an approved volvo used car. This costs about $1,200 if it passes (if it does not then $200), this then covers it for 2 years with a fully factory backed bumper to bumper warranty complete with roadside assist. Considering that the E.T.U. costs $1,000 to replace and according to many on brickboard.com it goes at about the 100,000 K mark than I consider it money well spent.

Did you buy your car!! would be interested of the outcome.

Cheers Jason Ball.

P.S. good to see fellow aussies using the brickboard website..