Volvo S80 vs BMW 740i

So the search continues for a new vehicle for my father. Have look at some real crapcan E38 BMW 7's, but have located two nice ones. However I also recently stumbled across a very nice one-owner Volvo S80 T6, with every maintenance receipt from the day the car was new including a full timing belt/water pump service done at the dealer one month ago. The S80 is priced VERY competitively considering the service, though the mileage is a bit higher than the BMWs I have looked at (210k). Now half the reason I was steering dad towards a 7-series, or even the right E39 5er, is because I know BMW's pretty damn well and already have all the special tools and everything. The thought of working on the Volvo scares me a bit and I'm not sure if I trust an FWD auto with that kind of mileage. Thoughts? How do the interiors/level of comfort compare? I'm not familiar with FWD Volvos, but my experience with the RWD bricks tells me that the S80 MIGHT be worth pursuing - Volvo is one of the few companies that seems to be able to hold a candle to BMW.

I had a S80 as a service loaner for the Wife's XC90 once. Hated it. Numb, numb, numb. Sure, it was big and comfy enough with typically good Volvo seats but it was a sofa on wheels, and the interior hadn't aged well with typical used car use. Also, at 210k miles on a T6 Volvo anything unless the transmission's been replaced recently you're likely going to do it soon. One other thing to worry about is 210k miles on the original turbo (unless its been changed). But I have no actual experience other than a day of hating one. Check brickboard.com for real world feedback.

My friend who has an S80 has had a number of problems with it.

Pigeon- I can't imagine liking an XC90 better than a...well, anything.

The GM automatic is iffy at those miles, the turbos usually are okish. Personally, I'd prefer the non turbo 6 in an S80. It is not a sports car, the na motor is nice, and they are way easier to work on without the blowers.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Pigeon- I can't imagine liking an XC90 better than a...well, anything.

It's the Wife's car and it was her choice, but I do love it. The seats are absolutely fantastic, it's quiet, rides well, drives very nicely (especially since I replaced the tie rods recently) the Yamaha-sourced V8 rocks, it holds a decent amount of stuff and it should be Volvo safe. And, it fits in the garage, which a Tahoe/Yukon (which I tried to steer her towards) won't do.

Good lord, this is a choice for a masochist.

My wife and I both hate driving my parents S80 for a host of reasons, from the Buick-like driving experience to fall-apart interior bits to the maintenance-hog transmi$$ion. When it comes to BMW's, I'd pick an E39 to DD over an E39 every single time.

Not trying to thread jack but I am selling a cheap 2001 740il. It needs the valve under the front timing cover replaced. It sticks open once out of every 5 times I start it and it smokes a bit. It has a 123k on it and it could be yours for the bargin price of $4950.00

I have driven the S80 T6's before. They are pretty fast in a straight line but as mentioned before they are pretty boring the rest of the time. If it was me I would get a e39 with one of the 6 cylinder engines as a DD. Comfortable decent mileage for a car of its size, fun to drive.

In the Volvo inter webs world the T-6 s80 is very very poorly regarded for the reasons pigeon mentioned, transmission and the two teeny wieeny turbos die and everything is stuffed in there real tight. I have spent time in BMW's and Volvos of that era and I personally prefer the Volvo seats and ergonomics for long drives. The Volvo cant hold a candle to the BMW in terms of driving dynamics.

My dad has an S80 T6, it's got a couple million miles on it. I handled the purchasing and delivery for him (he found it on craig's list and I went and got it). I wouldn't own one, but he's put a ton of miles on it, and it had boat load on it when he got it. I don't know if it's the original trans or not, I doubt it. It's comfy, goes like stink, and rides smooth, which can be a bad thing. Like, "man why am I passing everyone, speed limit is 55," only to look down and see you're doing 80 without realizing it.

Trans is the big issue, that and just about everything but the floor mats are computer controlled. Also electronic throttle module issues, ignition coil issues, and if you change your own oil it's a bitch.

Check out a pre '11 S60R much much better piece of automotive machinery. Or even the S60 T5 if you don't want all the bells, whistles, and power of the R.

• Lee

All of the cars everybody is talking about are well out of our target price range. We are shooting for $3k, so a S60R is out of the question - if we had that much I'd have got him the world's nicest E39 and we would be done.

The S80 I'm looking at has done 210k, and it has brand new ignition coils, new timing belt/tensioner/water pump service done 5k ago, new TCC solenoid, new trans output (or was it input?) shaft seal, as well as other goodies. See the listing here: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/2811478321.html

Also note that this is for my dad, who could give a rats ass about handling and would rather have the most comfortable ~20mi freeway commute possible. Right now it is between this, a 240k E38 740il, and a 200k E39 528i. All three, despite the high miles, have all maintenance receipts and are 1-2 owner cars. People talk about BMW autos like they run on voodoo magic, in reality they are closely related to the autoboxes that turbo Volvo guys beat the piss out of, and are actually pretty durable if the "lifetime fluid" is changed. I'm a lot more scared of a TTV6 FWD GM autobox than a ZF RWD one, that's for sure!

I guess I was supposed to infer the price point.

Records or not, I'd still shy away from the S80 T6, it'd have to be cheap to free, and then I'd only purchase it to harvest the B6294T and put it in something worthy of it's potential.

If he wants the big comfy cruiser of the S80 look for a non turbo model, or like I said earlier I'd pick a pre '11 S60, '01-'03 is pre '11 the 2.4l and even the occasional T5 can be found at your price point.

• Lee

When I think of getting down the road in comfort and style but still trying to do it cheap, I go right to Infiniti.
A Q45 for the ultimate but a well equipped i30/i35 is very nice as well.
Nothing depreciates like an Infiniti.

Check out this Q45 at a dealership.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309751847&dealer_id=70315&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=44&rdm=1327460322399&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=MILWAUKEE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=53201&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=7000&make=INFIN&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=8&standard=false
The link they provide for the carfax shows that the car was dealer serviced but also shows the car has been at this dealership since early Nov. I would say they are ready to deal and $3k would easily be the number.
If you visit the servicing dealership listed in the carfax you can likely get a full rundown of the maint history from the VIN. I also bet you could gather from that some info as to who the previous owner was. I would want to speak with them to find out why they sold it.

jrw1621 wrote: When I think of getting down the road in comfort and style but still trying to do it cheap, I go right to Infiniti. A Q45 for the ultimate but a well equipped i30/i35 is very nice as well. Nothing depreciates like an Infiniti. Check out this Q45 at a dealership. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309751847&dealer_id=70315&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=44&rdm=1327460322399&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=MILWAUKEE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=53201&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=7000&make=INFIN&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=8&standard=false The link they provide for the carfax shows that the car was dealer serviced but also shows the car has been at this dealership since early Nov. I would say they are ready to deal and $3k would easily be the number. If you visit the servicing dealership listed in the carfax you can likely get a full rundown of the maint history from the VIN. I also bet you could gather from that some info as to who the previous owner was. I would want to speak with them to find out why they sold it.

Good tip. I have heard mixed things on Infinitis - is the V8 (VQ series, right?) a timing belt motor? What about auto trans issues? On that note, he might consider an LS400 too, but there's just something so "ho-hum" about the LS.

Also, that dealer is probably willing to move on the price, but I doubt they're willing to slash $2k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309150788&dealer_id=64107301&car_year=2001&pager.offset=25&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=44&rdm=1327460322399&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&dma=MILWAUKEE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&first_record=26&isFlashPlugin=true&default_sort=priceDESC&address=53201&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=7000&make=INFIN&num_records=25&seller_type=b&cardist=69&standard=false
This dealership has had this i30 for nearly 3 months. They will be wholesaling this one off soon as well. They take a big hit when they wholesale off a car, enough of a hit that a different dealer can buy it and remark it up.

On the Q45 listed I would bet they did not give the poor sap who traded it in more that $2k. Sure, they would sell it to you for $3k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=305068218&dealer_id=1359182&car_year=1998&pager.offset=25&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=44&rdm=1327460322399&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&dma=MILWAUKEE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&first_record=26&isFlashPlugin=true&default_sort=priceDESC&address=53201&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=7000&make=INFIN&num_records=25&seller_type=b&cardist=62&standard=false
96k miles on Q45 and at same dealership for 6 months! Asking $4,500

Keep in mind that tax season is almost upon us. Dealers have a hard time getting inexpensive cars this time of year. In fact it is quite common for them to horde them up in anticipation. I would be suprised if the budge much on the price or wholesale it.

Buy a car soon because as soon as the masses get their check from uncle Sam the cheap cars will dry up.

I have an S80 and love it; however, mine has the turbo-five and AWD rather than the six.

The others have covered the major issues - the TT six taxes the GM 4spd tranny, the earlier cars had some cheaper interior trim (upgraded in '04), and it's not a sports car. If you do buy the T6, budget for a transmission replacement because it's probably going to happen.

I heartily endorse the later cars, especially with the 2.5T and AWD. The turbo five outguns the NA six, has plenty of torque, it gets a reliable AW 5-spd auto, the AWD eliminates torque steer and makes the car much more civilized, and the later interior feels more like a car of that class should. They cost more than a comparable T6, but not by much, so they're still a deal.