Volvo XC70

Looking for a daily for Dear Daughter #2. She wants something a little larger and a little taller than DD#1's Impreza wagon.

Stumbled across a Volvo XC70 AWD tonight a few blocks from our house. Didn't really get a chance to look at it, but it says:

$850 needs transmission work

...on it. Took a glance through this thread , but didn't it go into much detail. I knew already that the AWD models had fragile transmissions. But how expensive would it be to get fixed, or replaced?

Again, I am shy on details, but the Volvo looks to be maybe 10 years old. I will contact the owner and get details on the car.

Or should I not bother, and just proceed directly to running away screaming?

I came across one on CL recently, then searched for reviews. I ran...I ran so far away...

I would be tempted to get a regular V70, add all the cladding and springs, and just run it as a FWD lookalike

The transmissions are not that fragile, nor is the all wheel drive, if you maintain the berkeleying thing, and run all the same size tires. I service dozens of them, and I can pick the ones that are going to die from a mile away.

However, once you have berkeleyed it up, its expensive to fix.

The early Cross Countries -were- Fragile. The System did not even like tyres that had different wear levels and would quickly wear out and break the AWD system

OK, well, since it's local, I will probably go see it and scope the years and mileage. But if it wouldn't be worth $3500 in running condition, I'm not paying $850 for it.

Thanks, all!

Duke wrote: ...needs transmission work

I see them around here for less that $1K all the time. Now I know why!

Check to see if the ac works too.
Mine just needed a can of 134a each spring but the real big fix is real expensive.

On paper, one of these would be the perfect car for the wife. It's a shame everything I have ever read says to avoid.

I bought my first Volvo when I still had a learner's permit, and had Volvos up until about 2 years ago. Somehow the newer stuff just doesn't appeal.

My sister bought one of these a few years back as a certified pre-owned. The transmission gave up the ghost 2 weeks into ownership. Though, didn't scare them enough since they stayed aboard the Volvo ship and leased an XC90 after that.

I drive a Discovery, and I would not buy an XC70

mad_machine wrote: I drive a Discovery, and I would not buy an XC70

OK, that says it all.

Duke wrote: something a little larger and a little taller

taller? por que mi amigo por favor?

truedelta hates them. That's all I know.

Maybe a Forester?

Got 3 AWD Volvos in the family right now - no tranny issues. Combined 450K miles.

There are two reasons for the bad tranny myth: The earliest P2 cars had a neutral stop feature - this was a software addition that decoupled the TC at a stoplight. This was not a good idea because it beat up the tranny when you re-engaged the throttle. This was fixed with a software patch, but the damage had been done - stay away from the '02-'03 models.

From '04 on, the only issue was a manufacturer saying 'lifetime fluid' in the transmission. Don't believe it. Change the fluid every 50K miles or so. And use the proper 3309/Toyota fluid, because conventional Dexron or Mercron will kill it.

I'm getting a nice '04-'07 XC70 for the wife in the next few months.

GameboyRMH wrote: Maybe a Forester?

That's actually my first choice for her, but they are at ridiculous asking prices around here. She wants something taller with a large greenhouse so she can see well, but I am trying to avoid SUVs or cute utes if at all possible.

Brother in law had an early cross country 4 out of 8 months of ownership it was in the shop. The volvo was quickly traded in on a toyota minivan.

Needs transmission work can mean all kinds of things. You need to ask what the problem with it is. Could be as simple as realigning the switch on the linkage.

I've also got one of the fragile units, with something like 160k miles on it. It will break if ignored and neglected, but taken care of, they can last.