I'm looking to buy a V90 or a GLT wagon, 97-99. My wife thinks the 90 is the ticket, and can live without the turbo. Will I wish I had bought the low pressure turbo, or will the tight turning radius, rear wheel drive and lower maintenance costs on the V90 (I think?) make me a happy owner? Reccommedations appreciated. Thanks

I've driven many types of automobiles in the last 40 years with my preference leaning toward sports cars. (My favorite was my Porsche 914-6.) I absolutely love my '96 965 which is the same as the V90 that I got the summer before this. It handles as well as a sports car and yet has ride and luxury.

The only "problem" that was unusual and what I would consider a design deficiency was the intake manifold gasket which needed replacement at about 65K miles. (The new replacement from Volvo was a much improved design and may already be in the later cars.) I consider a new battery and regulator right after I got the car at 58K "normal". A brake vibration was fixed by cleaning the wheel mounting surfaces and torquing the lug nuts properly. The only $, other than routine maintenance, I have put in the car, was to replace things the previous owner neglected/broke or to make improvements. (Replaced cup holder & repaired consol cover, added CD changer, added set of 6.5X16" wheels, installed trailor hitch and wires.)

I bought a set of Volvo manuals, some tools, and have done all the work myself. It's a beautiful machine!

'98 S90 - brake and front end problems, electrical failures. The worst car I've ever owned. Volvos since 1968. No more. Just my personal experience but I'm not alone. Choose carefully because Volvos in general are heading downhill rapidly.

This guy is just bitter because he doesn't know how to operate Volvo's top of the line car. He abused it and as a consequence, spend the last year looking for any S/V 90 post to degrade these cars. I bought an S90, it has 35k miles now, trouble free and a pleasure to own. At the 30K service the dealer loaned me a 99 V70. The V70 is much harsher (as a japanese car) and louder. Test drive them both and see for yourself. Good luck and let us know which one you pick. The 2001 V70's are much more improved though.

Not only have you assumed that I have abused my car but you've also formed the erroneous opinion that I don't know how to drive it. Arrogance or ignorance, you choose. I merely stated MY opinion of MY vehicle and MY decision not to purchase another Volvo. The purpose of this forum and others like it is to share knowledge and experiences with the hope that we will make rational and well thought out decisions when it comes to our next automotive purchase.

I seriously doubt that Roy 'abused' his S90. Having owned both a V90 and an S90, I've suffered many of the same problems, and several others. My S90 is on it's 3rd evaporator. I've had recurring brake problems, and a number of other minor and major problems.

You're not really honest about your experience, are you? You report 'trouble free.' You've reported in the past that you've had the transmission replaced. You've also reported in the past that you've had to add refrigerant to your a/c. I can tell you from experience that you likely have a leak in your evaporator (which is a very pervasive Volvo problem)and would recommend that you have it replaced while your car is under warranty.

To try and help the original poster, I'd suggest that the V90 feels a little bigger and more solid, and the V70 has more of a sporting feel, and handles much better, and if turbo equipped will seem much quicker than the V90. Both are comfortable. At least over the past few years, the 70 series has retained value better than the 90 series. Both have some level of reliability risk according to Consumer Reports, and both will cost about the same to maintain.

If I were to make the choice between only these two vehicles, I'd look for a V70 GLT, but my preference is for handling and acceleration.

Mark

> I'd suggest that the V90 feels a

> little bigger and more solid, and the V70 has more of a sporting

> feel, and handles much better

Thats a bunch of crap. The V70 does not handle better espically around a sharp turn with a harsh exceleration. Its stupid to buy a FWD car unless you really want to get a fuel efficent car. As for sporty feel, I had a S70 t-5 as a loaner when the dealership took my car for the 55,000 check up. The S70 suffers from massive torque steer as does my S80 T-6. I only drive the S80 on the highway. The 960 is way more fun to drive in hilly and very tight cornering conditions. When I go up to the mountains with friends you can bet I'll take the 964. Who wants the Front wheels loosing traction and who wants to be very carful about the way they take a turn, as not to loose the front end even with traction control.

Roy and Mark sorry that you guys got crap cars but, the people who actually enjoy their S90 or V90 car are actually driving it and not posting B.S. The S90 did get a 90% satisfactin rate.

Brandon

Sure pal, and you towed a horse and a boat with your V90, so what is your point? It seems that for the thousands of S and V 90s sold there are just these two yahoos who keep bashing this particular line. The rest of the people who has not towed a horse or a boat with their "luxury" cars are not complaining. In that sense I guess I'm in the majority and should not bother wasting my time with posts like these. And another thing...Mark, get a life. I really don't give a rats ass how many evaporator you have gone through, or how many cans of freons or how many rear brake discs you have ruined with your boat in the back, or what is YOUR definition of "abuse". But it seems like you know more about my car than I do. My S90 is trouble free, thats my opinion as an owner and someone who "expects" what I can get in return for my money. What has or has not gone wrong, troubled me or not is "my opinion" GET IT? Geeze, get some friends or some thing. Find out where that Olson guy lives and "hook up" with him, you are begining to give me the creeps.

As for FWD vs RWD, Volvo switched to FWD to save money to compete with the Japanese. They figured that the luxury RWD market like BMW or Mercedes comprised of a small percentage of total car sales. But then again, I didn't expect you to know anything about engineering, otherwise you wouldn't have towed your horse with your V90. Your "vision" of the true automobile is that great American piece of trash Suburban. I was smiling when gas prices took off this last summer, and when I read the article in MSN about unleaded approaching $3/gallon in 2003 when MTBE is banned. I'll think about your infinite wisdom and your 15 mpg Suburban....sure, whatever. Here's a hint: Get lost fool, you don't even own a Volvo anymore.

I'm not sure that it's honest and honorable to tell others that your car is troublefree when it really hasn't been, because it's your opinion that a replaced transmission and a bum evaporator are not really problems. But if you can live with this deception, so be it. Maybe you have a future in public office.

Also, for the record, I never towed any of my horses with the Volvo, only a light sailboat that on the trailer is about 600 pounds, well within the allowable specs for the car. My American trash Suburban now has 26K of honest trouble free miles (my definition: nothing but scheduled maintenance) and my American trash Corvette has 1500 trouble free miles. I won't bore you with the problems that my superbly engineered Swedish Volvo has had during the same period (which I DO still own, so I'm still around).

But anyway, thanks for the recommendation to get together with Roy. If I ever end up in his town, I'll look him up and buy him a beer. At least he's honest...

Mark

Thanks, Mark. I'll take you up on that beer.

Bruce,

I own a 96 960 with all the options, same as the S90 and I love it. I would not trade this car in for a different one. I have driven an 850 and an S70. I think the logic of the RWD is better because you keep it simple. Rear wheels pushing the car and front wheels turning. I also have an S80 T-6 and when going into turn and giving the car gas i often lose traction and my tires really spin thus affecting my steering capabilities. It has recently rained here and I have taken my S80 out only to turn around after two blocks as it was loosing traction really bad. I have the same tires on both. The 90 Series has high maintenence where as the 8 series has lower maintenece. With he 9 series There is no torque steer during harsh excelerations.

I know that on this board you will find people who complain about the problems with the 9 series cars but if you post in the FWD forum you will also find complaints witht that model car. When you buy a volvo be prepaired to pay for the maintainence for the lovely car as it is not cheap. I think that you should test drive them both. The 5 cyl engine in the GLT will be harshs sounding and the 6 cyl engine will be smoother. The turbo is not that much better becuase after about 5 years of abuse it will need to be replaced. Make sure that the car you buy has the alingment on center. If you have any other questions please post back.

Brandon