A Great drive in the S80

I had a great drive on Sunday from Edinburgh to Thurso and back on Monday.
600 miles of Scottish Highland driving in a superb car - I'll have to buy
one (my own car is a V40 which I thought was pretty good anyway - but the
S80 2.4 was stunning).

 

after owning one foe a few years...i enjoy borowing one , now every
once and a while...they are a great car to rent or borow...for
spirited drives...ownership is another story...

 

is that advice against ownership?

 

i would be careful w/any s80 prior to 2002...lets
put it that way...i guess it would also depend on how
you drive...i drive my volvos hard and expect a lot
from them...the older 85's - 99's seem to hold up
better in my opinion.....it seems the newer s80's are
a bit better and more reliable....or, at least i hear less
complaints about them...

 

hi

i own a 97 850 20v volvo, just been out in a 2002 s80 d5, realy nice
to drive, handles well, and certainly goes as well as mine.and better
fuel economy than my 850, mind you my 850 takes some beating, just
about got everything fitted to mine, so who needs tracs?

thing is cannot afford one yet, and the d5 has only been out for a
couple of years i was told.

ps: in the uk

col

 

Beancounter, you have many Usenet posts about how reliable your S80 was
right up until the day you sold it. Then you bad-mouthed S80's every chance
you got. Your last post before you sold the car you bragged about how
reliable it had been. If I recall you replaced it with a much older Volvo
which probably left you with $10,000 extra in your pockets.

BTW, with the exception of a couple of ball joints that were replaced under
warrantee and a couple of software updates, the early S80's are virtually
identical to the newer S80's. And it's relatively inexpensive to have the
latest software loaded in the earlier models (if the previous owner didn't
already have it done). So it makes no sense to say be careful with pre-2002
S80's, that just shows you don't have a good grasp of the cars we are
discussing here. I drive my 2000 S80 T-6 really hard under pretty adverse
conditions, most would accuse me of "thrashing" it, and yet it's the most
reliable car I've ever owned. Bar none.

Spanky

 

no extra $ if you factor in the economic loss of owning a s80...paid
around $38k...put 50k miles on it...got aprox $20 selling as a used
car...$18k loss...
replaced it w/a 1993 940t off of ebay @ $1.8k...put in $3k of
upgrades...have driven aprox 30k miles so far...worth aprox $3k on the
used card market...do the math on how much $ per mile driven...its a
no brainer...

they are? on engineering improvements?..

when i asked my local dealer about software updates...i got the dear
in the headlights look...they were clueless..

really....maybe some others will chime in about the track records on
the early s80's...

good for you...i am glad you got a "good one"...how many total miles
do you have on it?

how much in ttl $ put out on maint so far? what is the price
paid...and used book value now?

 

---------------snip---------------------------------
am very encouraged by the news that a transmission control software
upgrade is now available and I am very thankful for the efforts made
by Trygve and others who have diligently worked behind the scenes to
get Volvo management to behave in a responsible manner.

This experience has pointed to the importance of Volvospy, as I have
been made aware that many Volvo employees from the assembly line to
senior management read our posts. I am hopeful that some of the
misguided and irresponsible supervisory management of PAG and its
Parent Company - The Ford Motor Company also read it. My message to
those members of FMC management, who have imposed cost and other
management controls in Goteborg is to wake up an allow Volvo to
maintain the high standards that we expect from Volvo Personvagnar AB.
We are the owners of Volvo cars built on Volvo premium car platforms.

The problem to which this thread refers commenced in September 2001
and I know that it is those cost and management controls imposed that
are at the core of this drawn out saga.

Not all Volvo owners will continue to support the Brand at the premium
end of the production spectrum if this cost induced behavour
continues.

I received contact today from the owner of a 2003 S80T6 in my market
of Sydney Australia. A third party had directed him to this Volvospy
Forum. He has owned his car for less than a year and had an intention
to sell it, given what he considered to be an unsafe hesitation
pattern in the transmission when in a power demand situation and for
the fact that nobody has been able to help him resolve it. After
purchasing it from the Alto organisation in Sydney his various
complaints have continued to be dismissed by his Dealer and Volvo
Australia. His experience with the Volvo Australia organisation has
been the same as mine. I am totally appalled by the organisation and
the performance of its new CEO who I understand comes from a finance
industry background. I note good people are commencing to leave that
organisation and sales have continued to decline in real terms. I was
pleased to be able to tell the owner that contacted me that new
software had been released today.

I will comment further on the transmission when I receive the upgrade
and have sufficient time to test it. It is my recommendation that we
should place, on record concerns with our dealers, that the harsh
transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd may have caused damage. I also
recommend that the engine output power and torque is tested for post
September 2001 produced cars with new block, VVT, turbos and throttle
body etc. I have owned both pre and post September 2001 produced cars
and I know there is a noticeable difference despite what is published
and I am not just refering to full torque arriving at lower revs.

Ian

posted Mar 12 14:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In terms of compensation it would be interesting to know Volvo's
interpretation for compensation, as basically we have bought cars and
have not been able to enjoy them in full in relation to the
expectations and price we paid for these cars.
As Steve mentions, if it were not to volvospy we would have been left
out in the cold and none the wiser as the dealer and the HQ have both
consistently denied that there is a problem!

Trygve

posted Mar 12 16:25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2002 model year R6 engines with automatic transmission, and other
non turbo cars have to wait a couple of week more before their
software update will be released. I tried today to get my S80T6
updated, but the VADIS told us that it had the most current software.
I know another release is in progress.... have patience!

Trygve

doublel

posted Mar 12 17:31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another BIG BIG Thank You to both Steve & Trygve for all there efforts
on this. I must say Steve I agree that the harsh transmission shifts
from 1st to 2nd may have caused damage. I felt that way all along and
I have little doubt that I will not keep this vehicle beyond the
warranty period to be on the safe side.

I will report my findings/satisfaction over on Swedespeed after I get
to drive with the upgrade this weekend. (It's being applied today at
my dealership). Best Regards to all !

 

I don't know all the background to your problems, but I had the
'hesitating' transmission problem on my V70. I mentioned it to the
dealer, who applied the software patch same day. That was about a
month ago, and the problem is sorted. The gearbox seems 'tighter' and
shifts much more positively - almost like it's in a 'sport mode'.
It's a much better drive because of it.

My car is a 2003 BTW...


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

 

Beancounter, I never said the S80 was a car for those on a budget! I said it
was a reliable well-built car. But since you asked, the window sticker was
$45,925 for my 2000 S80 T-6 and I was over $47,000 when I finally wrote them
the check and drove it away. I was fully aware that as soon as I drove it
off the lot it would cost me at least $5-10,000 but it sounds like you were
not prepared for the rapid depreciation of an expensive high end car. But
it's superior road holding, 268 hp on tap, excellent styling and comfortable
seats made it all worthwhile (for me). How much per mile? That thought never
entered my mind. I didn't buy it for economy transportation. I can tell you
that after over 60,000 miles of driving, much of it on very bad rural roads,
ski area roads and most at higher speeds I didn't have to spent a single
penny on it except for gas, oil, 4 light bulbs, tires and the 7500 mile oil
changes/scheduled maintenance. Thrashed most would say. Now I could probably
sell it for $17,000 but why would I? I couldn't get half the car for that
price that this car still is! I'm talking the best seats I've ever ridden,
the awsome Dolby Pro-logic stereo CD player, the Dynamic Stability and
Traction Control that can perform amazing feats when driving at the edge,
the superb brakes, power and smoothness to spare, etc, etc. and all the
little comfort and convenience features that make living with this car such
a pleasure.

Instead of selling it, I'm going to install new Bilstein struts front,
Bilstein shocks rear and a couple of bushings that are starting to clunk and
it will drive better than new for another 4 years of hooliganisms! There is
no doubt when I do start spending money on it to keep the brakes and
suspension components up to par it will cost more than a Chevy or Ford but
how can you compare the two? I doubt the Volvo is any more expensive to work
on than most BMW's or Jaguars.

Best of all, where can I get a big, fast comfortable touring sedan with all
the nicities and 268 hp on tap that will return 25 mpg when driving hard and
fast (75-85 mph)? Yeah, it's not the economy that pushes my buttons so much
as the all-day range. I can go 500 miles before I'm looking for fuel!

What? The early models are built on exactly the same chassis as the later
models with the same CAN electrical system, same transmissions, same brakes,
same steering, same seats, same body, etc. I do believe the newest models
have a steel boot and bonnet instead of the more expensive but lighter
aluminum. Chalk one up for the older models!

What's that have to do with the early models? It sounds like you went to the
wrong dealer!

You think? I'm sure there is SOMEONE that has had more than their share of
problems, happens with every model car. I'm just saying the S80's are solid
reliable cars, the early models as well although they did have a couple of
recalls that required the owners to take them into the dealer for repair.
Once that's done they are the equal of the newer models (better in some
respects). Generally they have received a bad rap because of the "sour
grapes" syndrome.

Spanky

 

Wow, heating up in here!

I would have loved to find a turbo S80, but didn't see any in my
market here. And have to admit, as soon as I drove the S80 2.9 that I
bought, I just.... fell in love with it.

If this problem I'm hearing about (with the tranny shift points or
whatever) can be taken care of by a simple software upgrade, it would
seem that it's not a huge problem now, and that the dealers are aware
of it. It's when a company can't find a fix for a nagging problem,
that I would worry myself.

The depreciation is hard to swallow for ANY high dollar vehicle, but
also consider that most Volvo's from what I've seen/heard do not get
traded for quite some time, so unless you change cars every 2 or 3
years, you'll not have a problem.

Like the other poster mentions, not everyone is concerned with the
resale, if it's a long term relationship, as you find with Volvo's.

Look at, for example an older Lincoln Town Car, which for instance may
sell for 40,000 new.

Ten years later, you'll never get 25% of that price, and the prices
level off once it reaches a certain age.


True for any car, unless it's a collector or very unique. (5 speed
turbo, designer model, etc.) Then you just don't see them in the
resale market at all.

Look at any Volvo dealer (at least around here) for pre-owned Volvo's-
not very many available. People tend to hang on to them, pass them on
top their kids, etc. So depreciation isn't even a factor most of the
time.


I know with me it never has been as I have never bought a brand new
vehicke, preferring to have someone else "lose" that couple/several
thousand dollars almost immediately after driving off the lot.

I'd rather keep on driving the vehicle unless I just get tired of it
or it's age leads to costly repairs.

My three cents worth.

Which will only be worth two cents by tomorrow.....