Should I buy a X-country or v70?............................Opinions, please.

Discussion in 'Volvo V70' started by Boll Weevil, Feb 11, 2005.

  1. Boll Weevil

    Boll Weevil Guest

    I am thinking about guy an cross country but I've seen very few people complain
    about the 4 wheel drive going out. Is this a reoccuring event?

    I am considering that or a regular v70 turbo. I live in Minnesota so having 4WD
    is a good thing here but I don't want to repair the 4WD after 70K miles. Thanx.
     
    Boll Weevil, Feb 11, 2005
    #1
  2. This reminds me of my Dad's old mantra - "just more to go wrong!!" He was
    among the last to give up on straight six engines with three-speed manual
    transmissions and vacuum wipers. If one followed that logic, you would buy
    the most basic Volvo available and bemoan not being able to get wind-up
    windows.

    If I lived in Minnesota, I'd get the all-wheel drive.
     
    Dave Danielson, Feb 11, 2005
    #2
  3. Have a '01 XC70 and love it. No problems.
     
    Stephen Henning, Feb 11, 2005
    #3
  4. Boll Weevil

    Rob Guenther Guest

    I think there was a potential problem with the old style viscous coupling
    breaking or wearing out some sort of gear in the middle of the system... The
    Haldex is suppose to be far better anyways... and it's on all the newer
    Volvo's, VW uses Haldex as well if I am not mistaken, as do some other
    companies.
     
    Rob Guenther, Feb 11, 2005
    #4
  5. Boll Weevil

    Boll Weevil Guest

    In what model year did they start using Haldex?
     
    Boll Weevil, Feb 11, 2005
    #5
  6. 2002 S60 AWD - 4 Dr 2.4T Turbo AWD Sedan

    2002 V70 AWD - 4 Dr Turbo AWD Wagon

    2002 XC70 - 4 Dr Turbo AWD Wagon

    2003 XC90 AWD* - 4 Dr Turbo SUV

    2004 S80 AWD - 4 Dr Turbo AWD Sedan

    2004 V50 AWD - 4 Dr T5 Turbo AWD Wagon (called a 2005 model)

    The electronically controlled AWD system was developed in cooperation
    with Haldex. Power is distributed automatically to the wheels via a wet
    multiplate clutch. As a result, Volvo promises rapid engagement and
    disengagement times. The migration from viscous coupling to electronic
    coupling was driven by compatibility with Volvo's Dynamic Stability
    Traction Control (DSTC) system which was standard in S60 AWD T5, V70 AWD
    T5 and V50 AWD T5 models in 2002 and optional on the other AWD models.

    *In my research I was shocked to find they make a FWD XC90 4dr 2.5T A.
    It saves about US$ 2,000 from the equivalent AWD model. I don't know if
    I have ever seen one, but it is in the books. The XC70 has always been
    an AWD model.
     
    Stephen Henning, Feb 12, 2005
    #6
  7. Boll Weevil

    Rob Guenther Guest

    I remember reading about the FWD 5-cylinder XC90 when they came out
    originally, the magazine article suspected very few people would cheap out
    and go for the FWD only model - I mean you're buying a car that retails for
    over 50 grand (CND$).... why cheap out over a couple grand more...
    considering the dealer might not even stock a non AWD model and might make
    you pay full sticker anyways if they ordered one in.
     
    Rob Guenther, Feb 12, 2005
    #7
  8. Boll Weevil

    sandyon66XYZ Guest

    I think that you'll find that Volvo first started using Haldex in the XC70
    Turbo AWD Wagon in the 2003 models. In Sept. 2002, I was going to buy a
    2002 AWD XC70, then I found out that the 2003 models would use Haldex
    (instead of viscous coupling). After posting in this NG and getting
    opinions, I waited and bought the 2003 XC70 AWD Turbo Wagon.

    Sandy
     
    sandyon66XYZ, Feb 12, 2005
    #8
  9. Boll Weevil

    sandyon66XYZ Guest

    P.S. It's a great vehicle. Considered the V70, but decided on the XC70 and
    am very happy. I recommend it.
    Sandy
     
    sandyon66XYZ, Feb 13, 2005
    #9
  10. Boll Weevil

    v70xc_1174 Guest

    I have a 98 v70xc in usa and a 97 ford escort 1.8 wagon in sweden.
    opposites expected, huh?
    Everytime I drtive the ford in Sweden in the winter I wish I had the
    volvo awd and ABS there.
    That is, except when I must buy gasoline at $1.55USD per liter (at
    todays exchange rate)!

    My has 76,000 US miles and has done quite well. (I am careful to
    differentiate because Sweden has miles also but there one swedish mile
    is 10 kilometers.)

    I think the XC is a good choice if you need to go through snow or bad
    ground.
    khamilton
     
    v70xc_1174, Feb 13, 2005
    #10
  11. Thanks for the correction. The same goes for the V70. The Haldex
    system was introduced to both the V70 AWD and the XC70 in 2003 models.
    However, it was first tested in the 2001 XC in the US. In 2001 Haldex
    reported, "For demonstration purposes, a Volvo V70 XC was rebuilt with a
    Haldex Limited Slip Coupling. This car has traveled all around the US,
    from the desert in Arizona to the cold winter in northern Michigan"
     
    Stephen Henning, Feb 13, 2005
    #11
  12. Boll Weevil

    Boll Weevil Guest

    Thanx for the great info you guys. I would have never known about the 2003
    Haldex system. I'll make sure I narrow my search to 2003 and newer models. I
    might just go buy a brand new one.
     
    Boll Weevil, Feb 14, 2005
    #12
  13. Boll Weevil

    K Bourke Guest

    Curious.... I don't think I'd *ever* have cause to use that last
    sentence...especially when speaking of cars....
     
    K Bourke, Feb 16, 2005
    #13
  14. Boll Weevil

    Boll Weevil Guest

    Are you saying that because you don't buy new cars or that you always buy new
    cars? I say it because a car a year or two old can save me thousands of
    dollars.
     
    Boll Weevil, Feb 16, 2005
    #14
  15. uh...yea...like at least 10% - 20%
    of any sticker price.....
     
    ~^ beancounter ~^, Feb 16, 2005
    #15
  16. and someone else thousands of headaches. Everyone has a reason for
    selling a car. Mine is that it has 175,000 miles on it and someone else
    deserves to own it. On newer cars, it is usually because the owner was
    disappointed. I doubt if many Volvo owners say, I have so much money
    that I want sell this car that I love so I can waste money on first year
    depreciation every year. With that kind of outlook they may as well buy
    a Jaguar and have a car they want to dump every year.
     
    Stephen Henning, Feb 16, 2005
    #16
  17. You can save that much by getting a free trip to Europe from Volvo and
    buying through European Delivery. Then you get the trip and a new car
    and still save all that money.
     
    Stephen Henning, Feb 16, 2005
    #17

  18. My preference is to buy cars with a minimum of 80K miles on the odometer,
    better yet 100K or more. At 50K it is hard to tell what kind of treatment
    the car has had and how it is holdong up. At 100K it is hard to hide. By the
    time a car is that old, any design defects are well known.

    Of course, DIY labor is the key to making that work. Good cars with 100K
    miles are plentiful in wrecking yards throughout my ownership, drastically
    reducing the cost if I have to replace major components. The previous owner
    will often sell a car just before it is due (or when it is slightly overdue)
    for a timing belt change, or when it needs drive axles or some other
    trigger. As long as the trigger was major for them and minor for me, I make
    out like a bandit.

    Two rules I have regretted when I let my emotions get in the way: never buy
    a car with any trace of rust in the radiator or varnish on the cam when you
    keep in the oil filler cap. Either is a very bad sign.

    Mike

    Have in the family: '85 Volvo 765T (233K miles), '93 Honda Accord (215K
    miles), '94 Acura Integra (130K miles - my son just bought it) and 2002
    Toyota Prius (40K miles - we bought it new)
     
    Michael Pardee, Feb 16, 2005
    #18
  19. When I read that I had no idea what I was trying to say! I meant, "when I
    find a good car, *similar donor* cars are plentiful in wrecking yards..."

    Sheesh. Maybe I'm getting too old to make sense.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Feb 16, 2005
    #19
  20. Boll Weevil

    Rob Guenther Guest

    Other persons headache

    This is really true, especially for Volvo's, normal line Benz, BMW, Audi etc
    cars... these aren't "hot" item cars that their rich owners get rid of after
    a year (Nissan 350Z, Ford Tbird, VW NewBeetle)... you get rid of a car after
    a year if you hate it - case in point, my dad dislikes his 2003 Golf CL, and
    would rather a Mazda 3, the $3000+ he'd lose is stopping him from switching
    over, as the Golf has now been repaired under warranty for its numerous
    small problems. But it was in the dealer a lot this past year.

    If someone got rid of something I could potentially afford soon, like a
    2004.5/2005 Volvo S40i with only a few options (climate package, 16" alloys,
    and stereo upgrade) I would really question WHY... it'd be tempting for me
    to buy one (as then I would not have to save up as hard to get my car) but
    with a car like that I would expect to want it for at least 4-8 years
    myself, so I would wonder why someone had to get rid of it after 1-2 years.
     
    Rob Guenther, Feb 16, 2005
    #20
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