Fear of AWD.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry Lindstrom
  • Start date Start date
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Larry Lindstrom

Hi Folks:

Bucks are tight right now, and I'm looking for a used Volvo.

100,000 miles are a lot, but this 1998 V70 GLT looks clean.

Kelly Blue book tells me this retails for $9,500 USD and the
dealer is willing to part with it for $9,000.

I asked about purchasing some protection and was informed
this car has AWD, and 2 years power train coverage would cost
$2500. 100,000 miles was a red light, AWD set that light
flashing, the fact that the dealer is wants $2500 for two
years adds to my concern.

So I've been looking at Google archives for this newsgroup
and it sounds like my concerns might be justified.

Any Volvo in my price range is going to have some miles, so
perhaps I should look for something else.

Is 100,000 miles too much for any Volvo? Is 100,000 miles
too much for an AWD Volvo?

Thanks
Larry
 
Larry Lindstrom said:
Hi Folks:

Bucks are tight right now, and I'm looking for a used Volvo.

100,000 miles are a lot, but this 1998 V70 GLT looks clean.

Kelly Blue book tells me this retails for $9,500 USD and the
dealer is willing to part with it for $9,000.

I asked about purchasing some protection and was informed
this car has AWD, and 2 years power train coverage would cost
$2500. 100,000 miles was a red light, AWD set that light
flashing, the fact that the dealer is wants $2500 for two
years adds to my concern.

So I've been looking at Google archives for this newsgroup
and it sounds like my concerns might be justified.

Any Volvo in my price range is going to have some miles, so
perhaps I should look for something else.

Is 100,000 miles too much for any Volvo? Is 100,000 miles
too much for an AWD Volvo?
Click to expand...

Yes, there are issues with the Viscous Coupling and transfer box-
specifically the bevel drive to the rear axle.

i would avoid the AWD model.

Tim..
 
Unless you have a need for AWD in the winter, I would avoid it. If you
really need AWD then look for an XC which will give more ground
clearance than the V70AWD. The frontwheel drive V70 performs very well
in snow in my experience clearance being the real limiting factor.
 
For ten grand, you can get a nice Subaru with well proven AWD.

Heck, they're just Japanese Volvos, anyway.
 
Larry said:
Hi Folks:

Bucks are tight right now, and I'm looking for a used Volvo.

100,000 miles are a lot, but this 1998 V70 GLT looks clean.

Kelly Blue book tells me this retails for $9,500 USD and the
dealer is willing to part with it for $9,000.

I asked about purchasing some protection and was informed
this car has AWD, and 2 years power train coverage would cost
$2500. 100,000 miles was a red light, AWD set that light
flashing, the fact that the dealer is wants $2500 for two
years adds to my concern.

So I've been looking at Google archives for this newsgroup
and it sounds like my concerns might be justified.

Any Volvo in my price range is going to have some miles, so
perhaps I should look for something else.

Is 100,000 miles too much for any Volvo? Is 100,000 miles
too much for an AWD Volvo?

Thanks
Larry
Click to expand...
Consumer Reports publish an annual report on used cars,
including their repair experience by make and model. You
can vew the info online for a fee
(http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/index.htm) or free
at most public libraries in the US.
 
Mr. V said:
For ten grand, you can get a nice Subaru with well proven AWD.

Heck, they're just Japanese Volvos, anyway.
Click to expand...

If AWD is needed then yes Subaru is an option. In my experience the
AWD is not needed on many cars that have it.
 
Larry said:
Hi Folks:

Bucks are tight right now, and I'm looking for a used Volvo.

100,000 miles are a lot, but this 1998 V70 GLT looks clean.

Kelly Blue book tells me this retails for $9,500 USD and the
dealer is willing to part with it for $9,000.

I asked about purchasing some protection and was informed
this car has AWD, and 2 years power train coverage would cost
$2500. 100,000 miles was a red light, AWD set that light
flashing, the fact that the dealer is wants $2500 for two
years adds to my concern.

So I've been looking at Google archives for this newsgroup
and it sounds like my concerns might be justified.

Any Volvo in my price range is going to have some miles, so
perhaps I should look for something else.

Is 100,000 miles too much for any Volvo? Is 100,000 miles
too much for an AWD Volvo?

Thanks
Larry
Click to expand...




100,000 miles is nothing, the car is not even to the halfway point in
its life yet. Just make sure it was well maintained.
 
James Sweet said:
100,000 miles is nothing, the car is not even to the halfway point in its
life yet. Just make sure it was well maintained.
Click to expand...

True in general, but there's always the anecdotal example like mine own,
where I've replaced the rear diff, one axle, and the viscous coupling on my
'98 XC70 which all packed it in suddenly after 175,000km of meticulously
dealer-maintained ownership.... $4500CDN thus far, and that was for *used*
parts.....

Great cars, safe, but when problems occur with the AWD.... they're
*expensive*........

Personally, if I *had* to have AWD (four months snow here...), I'm looking
at a recent Passat with 4-Motion, and the Subarus... not as refined as the
Volvos, but Suby's AWD system is truly bullet-proof.... having had three in
the family....

Best of Luck,

K.
 
Roadie said:
Unless you have a need for AWD in the winter, I would avoid it. If you
really need AWD then look for an XC which will give more ground
clearance than the V70AWD. The frontwheel drive V70 performs very well
in snow in my experience clearance being the real limiting factor.
Click to expand...

I find that the main use I have for AWD in my V70XC is in rainy slick
weather. When you have to pull out into traffic, it gives a great
feeling of security to know that your tires aren't going to spin.

It is also nice to know that if it snows, I don't have to wait for the
snow plow before I can go some where if I have to.

Before I bought the V70XC I had a Subaru Legacy and it is NO Volvo. The
tail gate rotted away and had to be replaced. The final thing that did
the car in was that the brake system was so badly rusted out that it had
to be replaced. That is a safety item. If they can't make that right,
I don't want to deal with them anymore. Also, the windshield visor
failed in the down position, the drivers door failed in the locked
position, and other numerous problems happened. It would go but it
wouldn't stop and you couldn't see where you were going. Not a good
situation. And all these problems on the Subaru were at 120,000 miles
when a point where a Volvo is just getting broken in.
 
I find that the main use I have for AWD in my V70XC is in rainy slick
weather. When you have to pull out into traffic, it gives a great
feeling of security to know that your tires aren't going to spin.

It is also nice to know that if it snows, I don't have to wait for the
snow plow before I can go some where if I have to.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't mind having AWD once in a while, mostly slick wet boat ramps,
yeah, some would say I should get a truck but a 240 Turbo actually makes
a darn good tow vehicle for the most part. Limited slip rear end is on
the wish list, need to do some more homework on those first though.
 
Larry said:
Hi Folks:

Bucks are tight right now, and I'm looking for a used Volvo.

100,000 miles are a lot, but this 1998 V70 GLT looks clean.
Click to expand...

I asked about purchasing some protection and was informed
this car has AWD, and 2 years power train coverage would cost
$2500. 100,000 miles was a red light, AWD set that light
flashing, the fact that the dealer is wants $2500 for two
years adds to my concern.
Click to expand...

Is 100,000 miles too much for any Volvo? Is 100,000 miles
too much for an AWD Volvo?
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone.

Portland Oregon has very mild weather. We may see a modest
accumulation of slow every 3 or 4 years, and that usually only
lasts a couple of days.

So I have no interest in AWD for a car I use for daily
transportation.

Yes, it does rain a lot, but I'm a native, and a competent
rainy day driver.

I called someone at the dealership, who is holding the car
for me, and told him to put it back on the block, because I
have no interest in AWD. I was talking to a different person
that the one who told me it had AWD, and this person assured
me the car was front wheel drive.

So I went to the lot and got down on my knees to see for
myself.

The rear axle consists of two long beams, each with a wheel
hub on one end and connected to the opposite side of the car.

There is no drive shaft to the rear wheels visible under
the car, and no rear differential with half shafts I'd expect
to see for a car that drives the rear wheels.

Carfax is clean.

So, 100,000 miles on a clean and straight 98 V70 GLT front
wheel drive. Does $9000 sound OK?

I appreciate the advice you people have offered.

Thanks
Larry
 
Larry said:
Thanks everyone.

Portland Oregon has very mild weather. We may see a modest
accumulation of slow every 3 or 4 years, and that usually only
lasts a couple of days.

So I have no interest in AWD for a car I use for daily
transportation.

Yes, it does rain a lot, but I'm a native, and a competent
rainy day driver.

I called someone at the dealership, who is holding the car
for me, and told him to put it back on the block, because I
have no interest in AWD. I was talking to a different person
that the one who told me it had AWD, and this person assured
me the car was front wheel drive.

So I went to the lot and got down on my knees to see for
myself.

The rear axle consists of two long beams, each with a wheel
hub on one end and connected to the opposite side of the car.

There is no drive shaft to the rear wheels visible under
the car, and no rear differential with half shafts I'd expect
to see for a car that drives the rear wheels.

Carfax is clean.

So, 100,000 miles on a clean and straight 98 V70 GLT front
wheel drive. Does $9000 sound OK?
Click to expand...

Best idea is to run the car through Edmunds.com for an estimate on
value. Be honest about your appraisal on condition though.

I agree that AWD would have very little value in your locale. For most
people it would be a feature you would pay a premium for, use more gas
and be just something else to break at some point.
 
James said:
I wouldn't mind having AWD once in a while, mostly slick wet boat ramps,
yeah, some would say I should get a truck but a 240 Turbo actually makes
a darn good tow vehicle for the most part. Limited slip rear end is on
the wish list, need to do some more homework on those first though.
Click to expand...

For what it is worth my 960 had the limited slip differential, and it
was really of little help getting the car moving in snow. It would not
be a feature I would look for.
 
For what it is worth my 960 had the limited slip differential, and it
was really of little help getting the car moving in snow. It would not
be a feature I would look for.
Click to expand...

In some instances they can be beneficial though, especially with the
turbo, I regularly find myself with one wheel slipping and spinning
hard, if the road is even a little wet this is easy to do.
 
Larry:

Go with it. I live in an area where AWD is desireable, so I have the
V70 XC AWD. I have had excellent reliability with it: absolutely no
problems that weren't my fault (I hit a rather large pothole recently
and bent the wheel, but that's been it.) Mine's a '98 that I bought in
August 2005 for $9000...it's a darned good car.
 
Larry:

Go with it. I live in an area where AWD is desireable, so I have the
V70 XC AWD. I have had excellent reliability with it: absolutely no
problems that weren't my fault (I hit a rather large pothole recently
and bent the wheel, but that's been it.) Mine's a '98 that I bought in
August 2005 for $9000...it's a darned good car.
 
James said:
In some instances they can be beneficial though, especially with the
turbo, I regularly find myself with one wheel slipping and spinning
hard, if the road is even a little wet this is easy to do.
Click to expand...

My experience with the RWD 960 with the limited slip diff was that both
wheels would spin very easily in snow. I'm sure there was a marginal
improvement in traction, but for me at least it was not of much help.
And of course the low ride meant it would bottom out quite quickly.
 
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