2003 Volvo S60 base, stick.

Hey gang.

I Posted a few weeks ago about looking for a nice Saab9-5 or Volvo S60. At the time, I was leaning heavily to the Saab side, but unable to find a nice one nearby, I'm swinging to the Volvo way.

Here's the one I've found, and am hoping to look at it Saturday.

My wife has a V70XC that used to be awd, and we like it.

What should I look for on the '03? I've heard clunking from the front suspension isn't uncommon.

Timing belt is another automatic thing to do. What else?

I can honestly say that I didn't know those existed. I thought only the R got the manual. Interesting.

In reply to Powar:

Yeah, the base non-turbo 2.4 could be had with a 5-speed stick; as could the FWD T5 (247 horsepowers). The T5 also got the wacky-cool metallic shift "boot" thingie, but just with five gears, not six.

Ennyhoo, anyone know about common S60 problems? I know the front suspensions on FWD Volvos get clunky; anything worse that's typical of the breed?

Sway bar links, ball joints and tie rod ends, just like every other car in the world. There is an upper spring seat that fails sometimes- NOT the turn plate. If you can twist the top of the strut around, the seat has failed.

Parking brake shoes fall apart, coils fail, rads break when you pull up to a sidewalk thats a bit too high. I don't like the stick cars. The pedals don't work with feet my size, and the shift linkage is flobbery.

There really isn't a lot goes wrong with them, but when it does, it can be pricey. Non turbo is a bit lazy, but easy to work on.

Some of the later non R cars are actually 6 speed manuals, though not very common. The parking brake shoe delaminating issue can be very expensive if the friction material lodges itself between the spindle and pad pivot(common), destroying the spindle itself. The radiator issue is in fact not contained to impact related failures, the end tanks quite commonly leak requiring replacement, coil packs are very common, swaybar endlinks, tie rods, control arm bushings, wheel bearings, upper torque mounts (top engine mount), evap issues, srs issues, abs control modules, strange can network failures. Driver information modules are very common and quite pricey. I'm of the opinion that these are terrible cars, that are insanely expensive to run. I have been in service management at a volvo specialist for 5 years and would never recommend one to anyone I liked.That's my 2 cents. Google search volvo problems if you don't believe me.

In Volvos, check anything that migh collapse in a collision (engine mounts transmission mounts, suspension arms) and on the S60 make sure to check out the drainage system. I can't leave mine for more than 2 weeks before it clogs up spewing water into the trunk when it rains.

In reply to carbon:

Holy bleep! I think Carbon is knocking me off the Volvo trail a bit, perhaps. Are the 2001+ mid-size Volvos worse than the 850/S70/V70 through 2000? We have a 1999 V70XC, and it's been okay, but it does seem any trip to my mechanic (who's excellent, honest and knows what repairs can and can't be put off) costs between 600 and 900 bucks.

How do the 2001+ Volvos compare with, say, a 2003 V6 Passat or contemporary Saab 9-5, cost-wise?

Maybe I should just forget the Swedish crap and look for something like this

Thr trouble is finding something locally. I really can't go too far away from home or the "deal" gets progressively worse.

I vote is300, mines been amazing. In 160k I've done a couple bulbs, a timing belt service with water pump, a o2 sensor at 140k, brakes and tires. That's it. Its comfy (alcantara interior) and pretty dynamic, its got a factory lsd and to my eye it's a pretty striking car. After 11 years of new england winters its 100% rust free. (same experience with my rx330 only 0 repairs in 130k.) Just sharing my experiences, hope you can benefit from them somehow.

I didn't see this mentioned in your previous thread, but why not E46?

(Having picked up a stellar example for $4k, I'm now a huge fan.)

Edit: Ha! Didn't even notice you linked to my thread at first. Yeah, do that.

Yeah, the Swedes seem like a good idea to us DIYers, but I think the relative simplicity of the E46 makes a lot more sense. Not to mention handle better.

I had a 5 speed 850 that I picked up for $1200. It was a nice buick that didn't let me down once in the 8 months I owned it. It was just not very inspiring, but at least unique with the 5 speed

I drove it Saturday, and for what it is, it's a really nice car, relatively clean and umnmolested, and a great color.

But I think I can cross a FWD Volvo off my list now; I really didn't care for it. I found the suspension too soft, the handling flubbery and the shifter one of the worst I've rowed in a long time.

That was the biggest disappointment: balky and ropey, the shifter resisted quick gearchanges, requiring more deliberation than the Passat does. The shift lever also seemed unnaturally tall. I wasn't used to reaching UP and forward to change gears.

The Volvo is a nice one, and is clean and in good shape. But the unsporty handling and crappy shifter decisively knock newer Volvos off my list.

Not that you should have to, but a shift kit, Konis, and IPD springs and Sways would fix your complaints. I have that and more on my 99 V70 and love it.

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

I suppose. But you add at least $1200 in parts to a car they've already overpriced by 25% just to make it handle well. Gee, I don't know that's justifiable to SWMBO, financially. For that reason, I'd prefer something that handles acceptably out of the box, so to speak.