8 replies to this topic

[MikeG]

Greetings!

I'm looking at a 98 V70R tomorrow or the next day, and I'm wondering what problem areas to look for. I've got the typical 98 things covered (I own a 98 S70), but I'm just making sure I won't miss anything major.

The guy's offering a 90 day warranty, so I don't feel too much pressure to identify every little thing while on the lot.

Thanks in advance...

[Mesoam]

well you have been arround for a while but no location info in your sig...might want to take care of that...

second would be details on the car? milage e/t/c

98 is the good year because its pre- electronic throttle body

[MikeG]

...no location info in your sig...

Fixed... I thought it was already there... oh, well, it used to be.

Anyway, the car's got 85k miles, very clean, that's pretty much all I know until I can see it in person. I don't know if records are available, but I plan to ask about the SAS system and the ABS/TRACS controller.

Thanks again!

[Mesoam]

i figured you where somewhere on the northern east coast having the Red-Green avatar!

Any way, low miles thats good but as allways can be bad (short city trips e/t/c) records are allways a good bargaining tool

[MikeG]

Well, it was too good to be true... Someone did not know how to love a Volvo. The exterior had way too much paint damage for a 98 (I'm guessing it never got washed/waxed) and the interior looked like it had been used as a NYC cab for several years. What a waste of a good wagon...

It is probably alright for someone looking for a major project, but not for me. I don't feel like restoring the interior, repainting, and maybe going through the engine (if they never waxed it, i bet they never changed the oil). It's in North Jersey if anyone's interested... PM me for the guy's phone number.


Now I'm looking at a silver one in Berlin, CT (Mesoam, I think that's in your neck of the woods). I'm expecting some pics via email in the morning and then I'll see if it's worth a trip to see it in person.

Wish me luck... my wife's getting impatient and wants to start looking at SUVs...

[theunderlord]

the horor!

sorry to hear about the R... but you didn't want AWD anyway... just find a nice T5 V70!

[MikeG]

Sorry, Kev...

The arrangement with the wife is AWD and no Saffron cars in the driveway . Plus, I've driven both and I have to admit I like several things about the R over the T5. Namely, the lack of torque steer in the R and the suede seat inserts.

The catch-22 about the R (and to some extent the T5) is that they're relatively rare, which makes me want them more and more. But being rare makes them harder to find.

Seeing that mistreated R today made me want to hunt down the loser who did it and post their name/address/phone here on VS for all to harass. But I digress...

[jwmerrill]

Sorry, Kev...

The arrangement with the wife ...... no Saffron cars in the driveway . 

That's funny... my wife hates my saffron C70 and wants it gone!! So far I've only had one woman say that she likes the color, most guys love it though. Good thing I'm already married... it 's not a chick magnet!!

[gatlin]

The catch-22 about the R (and to some extent the T5) is that they're relatively rare, which makes me want them more and more.  But being rare makes them harder to find. 

Agreed. It took us 3 1/2 months to find a '98 V70 T5 in the right condition a few years ago. We looked at a lot of abused/poorly maintained T5's, and that was back when they were only 4 years old. We finally found one 200 miles from where we live. Shopping for a specific used car is such a pain...