S60 2.0 Turbo Introductory

[csufur]

Hi guys, my name is Nick I am 27, and Im new to the site... this is an introductory post but also I have a question straight off the bat.

I am looking for my first Volvo, had an obsession with Volvo ever since the days of Rydell in the touring car championship.

I am looking at the 2.0 20v Turbo S60 2001 - 2004ish model. Can anyone advise me on a few basic things?

How reliable are these engines?
What sort of mileage should I be avoiding?
What are the main problems to look for, which components have a tendency to break?

In an ideal world Id be looking at a T5, but it is proving somewhat difficult to find a nice example near to where I live for my budget.

Any help you guys can provide me Id really appreciate

[indigolemon]

Hi Nick!

I just bought an S60 in the last few months, and had a good dig around to see what the pitfalls are. Admittedly, as with any secondhand car purchase, there are always going to be things you don't spot at the time, but hopefully you find a good one!

To answer the questions:

1. Very, if looked after. Check for service stamps and a good bunch of receipts and history.
2. This is a personal choice, but I tend to ignore the mileage if the service history is there and the car appears to have been cared for. I'd much rather have a well loved high miler than a neglected low miler.
3. I read early on about the issues that often affect the earlier cars, and I may be wrong, but it seems that by late 2004/early 2005 they had pretty much nailed most of them, so I went for a 2005 model. Earlier cars can potentially have CEM and DIM issues, as well as other minor niggles like door rubbers etc causing problems. Saying that, I'm sure many people have been running them for years without any problems at all. Again, the state of the vehicle and service history with it say a lot here.

This thread should be helpful too: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=22637

Hope you find what you're looking for!

Cheers,

Graham

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by csufur

Hi guys, my name is Nick I am 27, and Im new to the site... this is an introductory post but also I have a question straight off the bat.

I am looking for my first Volvo, had an obsession with Volvo ever since the days of Rydell in the touring car championship.

I am looking at the 2.0 20v Turbo S60 2001 - 2004ish model. Can anyone advise me on a few basic things?

How reliable are these engines?
What sort of mileage should I be avoiding?
What are the main problems to look for, which components have a tendency to break?

In an ideal world Id be looking at a T5, but it is proving somewhat difficult to find a nice example near to where I live for my budget.

Any help you guys can provide me Id really appreciate

Driveshafts, DIM, TCM, timing belt. To be fair, the 2ltr is a good unit. If you buy an auto, make sure there no clunks and it changes ok. I sold mine to a dealer recently, it wasn't a bad motor but I needed an estate. At the age your looking at, there will be issues but a lot of the fixes you can do yourself. I'd recommend one.

TT

[dme123]

The 2.0 is nice enough but it's no ball of fire. You really ought to consider waiting or travelling further and getting a T5, otherwise all you're buying is a not very fast, not very interesting but very comfortable mile muncher.

This is strong money but the late 2.4 is rare as is a manual gearbox. A £400 remap to 300bhp and this would be a wicked sleeper.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1500?logcode=p

The 2.3 T5 is also a very good car and still quick even with the geartronic automatic, but if you're anything like me every time you drive your 2.0 you'll think "oh I wish I'd waited or tried a bit harder and got a T5". At the very least consider the straight LPT 200bhp odd cars - a really engine too.

This isn't far from you either

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S60-...item19f0efafc3

I am more clued up on the V70 than the S60, but for those it's best to go for 2004MY onwards cars as there was a series of modifications to the electrical systems that squashed a lot of bugs.

[gramsey438]

I would suggest the 2.0L Turbo is more than quick enough. Yes there is some turbo lag initially but once it starts winding up my car really shifts. I have towed heavy trailers and had full complement of adults on board and she has not struggled in the slightest.

My only criticism so far with my car is the ride quality which on small roads is too stiff for my liking however I do have the 17" low profiles fitted and a number of threads have stated dropping to 16" rims will help this.

[csufur]

Originally Posted by dme123

The 2.0 is nice enough but it's no ball of fire. You really ought to consider waiting or travelling further and getting a T5, otherwise all you're buying is a not very fast, not very interesting but very comfortable mile muncher.

This is strong money but the late 2.4 is rare as is a manual gearbox. A £400 remap to 300bhp and this would be a wicked sleeper.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1500?logcode=p

The 2.3 T5 is also a very good car and still quick even with the geartronic automatic, but if you're anything like me every time you drive your 2.0 you'll think "oh I wish I'd waited or tried a bit harder and got a T5". At the very least consider the straight LPT 200bhp odd cars - a really engine too.

This isn't far from you either

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S60-...item19f0efafc3

I am more clued up on the V70 than the S60, but for those it's best to go for 2004MY onwards cars as there was a series of modifications to the electrical systems that squashed a lot of bugs.

Thanks for the help from everyone. Ended up buying a 2000 v70 2.4n/a with 144k and 6 previous owners. I've not found a single piece of electronic equipment that doesn't work. The engine pulls like a train and underneath is rust free without leaks or dirt even the heated seats still work. I'm quite impressed if this is the general quality from volvo. Also had to slam the anchors past night in that god awful rain my face almost parted from my skull. Long story short I won't be going back to Vauxhall any time soon.