Used car buy: 2006 Volvo V70 2.4L wagon/automatic (vehicle, brakes, AWD)
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Thinking of buying this used car with 76,850 mileage, one owner car. No outstanding recalls. Had regular maintenance. Any thoughts about its reliability and longevity as a "new" used car?
Volvo's are well designed and built automobiles. With the records of maintenance you should put it on a lift to check for rust of suspension damage. At 77,000 miles the shock absorbers may need changing as well as the rubber parts of the suspension. Check the brakes as well. new disks and pads are not that expensive. The exterior paint might be improved with a good buffing and wax.
Be aware that if you live in a salt free area you could be keeping this car for a very long time.
Crapshoot.
What's your tolerance for risk?
I wouldn't have a problem with buying such a car if the price is right (meaning cheap) but I'm not scared off as easily as most.
I would check to see if the timing belt service was done by age. The 2.5T engine is generally very reliable as it had been in use by Volvo for many years, so I would think that the wagon is well worth considering.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
It's a very well built car and capable of a lot more miles than that (if maintained). The engine and transmission are very durable and Volvo didn't screw around with the Platform 2 (P2) vehicles. The earlier models had some issues with transmissions, but a '06 is past that.
Your results with that vehicle could vary a lot, depending on who maintains it for you and how much they know about Volvos. Parts are generally more expensive for Volvos, but there are a lot of aftermarket sources for the P2 cars, and most wear items are available on the aftermarket for substantial discounts from OE (or even OE in some cases). They do need special software/hardware for more in-depth electronics.
if you want to have some fun have a custom car shop replace the 2.5 l engine with a LS-1 or similar Chevy small block. They fit like the car was designed for a bit more power.
My daughter has this car. She bought it last year or the year before. I think she paid $5,000 at a used car dealership. Not sure what the market is for them. Hers had right about 100,000 miles if i remember correctly.
She has had a lot of costly problems with the headlights. One kept going out and she got a ticket more than once. ended up having to replace quite a lot of parts cost about $600.
She had another costly problem with it. I cannot remember what it was. Brake calipers maybe. I will ask her.
Generally it is in very good shape inside and out except a dent she put in he side. If you have a temper, avoid kicking or throwing things at your car in a fit of rage. The panels are not that sturdy anymore.
Compared to our 1998:
Far less comfortable. I find the seats at an odd angle and difficult to get in and out for a large stiff person. Not as much leg room. Maybe more comfortable for a small person, definitely less comfortable for a large person.
Much more simple inside. Some higher quality some lower. Miss the "Drunk button monster vomited in the cockpit" look from the 1998. I think the 1998 was a lot more optioned up, so not an entirely fair comparison.
Surprisingly not much worse in the snow despite no AWD. It is not comparable to the unstuckable 1998, but it is very very good with snow.
Obviously fewer problems. Also 160,000 fewer miles.
I think the 06 gets better MPG.
They simplified many things on the 06 and it is easier to work on, although it has more of those stupid computer control modules.
Ride is better, but that may be a factor of 8 years and 160,000 miles.
Body panels are thinner, flimsier. Probably part of the reason MPG is better. Cannot be kicked or punched or thrown at. 1998 was much more tank like.
I've owned (2) V70's in the last 6 years. That's great mileage for the year of the car. If it doesn't have any leaks I say go for it. How much are they asking and why are they selling? You could potentially drive it for another 100K miles or more if you keep up the maintenance.
A very long time ago I owned, until it rusted out, a 1958 Volvo 544 sedan. That car was about the best dirt/gravel road car I have ever owned. We drove it to Alaska in 1968 before most of the roads were paved. I still remember the trip and the drive.
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