2000 Volvo V70 from North America

Summary:

A solid, comfortable car

Faults:

Had a P0442 OBDII code for small leak in EVAP system. I am working on this. May have been a loose gas cap or a small leak in a hose. I'm thinking it's in the J hose on the vapor canister. No big deal.

General Comments:

We bought this car used. However, it looks and drives like new. The car came with new tires, a new timing belt and a complete service.

Our car has leather seats that are very comfortable. The stereo is awesome.

Overall, we are really liking this car and believe it to be the most comfortable car we have ever owned. Although our car is a non-turbo, it has plenty of power for our needs, and feels stronger than all of our previous Volvos.

This is our fourth Volvo. The first three were pre-Ford cars. We were a little hesitant to buy a Ford-Volvo, but so far have really been impressed by this car.

We tend to keep Volvos till they have about 200,000 miles on them. We are counting on this car to do the same.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2010

27th Mar 2010, 10:03

The V70 you have there is a good car. Look after it properly and I can't see any reason to why it won't do 200,000 miles. Especially as yours in the non-turbo model. Good luck and enjoy your new car (I love mine!)

28th Mar 2010, 21:04

Update, I found the leak on a small vacuum line connected to the Vapor Canister. I had some vacuum line in my tool box and fixed this issue for free. Nothing else wrong. I would reiterate that this is the most comfortable car that I have ever owned. My work car is a brand new Chevy Impala. The Volvo is way more comfortable even with 100,000 miles on it.

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2000 Volvo V70 XC SE AWD 2.4LPT from North America

Summary:

Run... run fast... don't look back. KEEP RUNNING!!!

Faults:

Fuel pumps (both in tank), antenna at ignition switch, AWD, ETS.

General Comments:

I had 2 Volvos before owning this car... the V70 XC. At first it was very nice... still is really. Nice looking, clean lines, very very comfortable especially on long drives. Upholstery is great... lasts and does not wear easily.

There are a few things that make this car very undependable:

1) ETS: Electronic Throttle Sensor. This part made by Magnetti Marelli is just not quality. They can malfunction at any time sending the car into limp mode... so you can limp to a dealer to have it repaired. limp gives you 25 mph... awesome! now, fortunately after all the petitions, VOLVO repairs the ETS free of charge.

2) AWD: overly sensity AWD is great in the snow... it really is... no question. If you get a flat tire while driving, call AAA. If you use the donut it blows the viscous clutch, the bevel gear overheats, blows the fluid seals and all of a sudden you hear a whining noise: you have just blown your bevel gear... prepare for $3000 check to the mechanic. Rotate tires every 5000 miles (oil change) to keep the tires as evenly worn as possible.

3) Fuel pumps... there are 2... in the tank. To remove tank the entire suspension subframe has to come out. Seriously...

Nice car, badly designed AWD. Pray you don't blow it, which you will by 120,000... guaranteed! :)

Volvos before 1998 are all excellent, durable, top notch cars. Then Ford came along and destroyed the company's name.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th November, 2009

10th Nov 2009, 13:55

While the AWD system on early (your) Volvo was a terrible system, I am not convinced that Ford destroyed this company.

I seriously know it was Volvo themselves who were the cause of their own misfortune.

Sure Ford owns Volvo, but they are still responsible for their own designs and R&D as they always have. The only thing Ford does is provide them with more funding and in turns borrows some of Volvos technology for their other products.

Sure Volvo was a great car company many years ago, but that was because they were simply mass producing outdated, primitive RWD designs that everyone else (BMW, MB etc) had already perfected. Then the automotive world left Volvo in the dust and sales slumped.

This is where it gets interesting. Considering many in the target market for Volvo was getting to old to enjoy the simplicity of Volvo's (too old to drive, or just died from old age) they decided that the best thing to do was to totally change everything Volvo stood for in an attempt to remain competitive.

As a result you get the horrible electronics, and unreliable cars such as the XC, the early S80's etc.

12th Nov 2009, 04:53

The above comment is unfair... yes, Volvo have changed their image... but their cars are definitely no worse than anyone else's! I've had old style Volvo's (my first car was a 340!!!), which were fantastic - but so are newer ones too!

My current 2005 S60 R is a AWD and is almost perfect... my fiancees car is a 2007 V50, which also does an excellent job.

None of my Volvo's have caused me any headaches, which is just a bonus considering nothing comes close when it comes to reliability, comfort and safety FOR THE MONEY! I'm proud to be driving Volvo's... and I'm 28!