Thinking of buying a v70

[RM955I]

I'm also thinking of buying a used V70, likely to be 2003/2004 with 100-120k on the clock.

I know that all older cars will have their problems but I'm starting to get cold feet about the idea of a V70 as there seems to be a lot of disgruntled owners and a short but rather expensive list of possible faults mainly centred around ECM issues (I should be OK with that on a 2003/2004); Auto transmission failure perhaps to the supposed lack of required maintenance, (which gets portrayed as terminal for the vehicle due to the cost of replacement transmissions and the inability of anyone other than Volvo to repair/replace the unit making it economically unviable); Air Con problems - compressor clutch, evaporators, leaks; worn valve guides. Then there's the minor stiff like engine mounts, track rod ends, etc.

The other car I'm considering is a Subaru legacy - maybe it's the lower volume of these cars on the road but the only issue I can seem to find is that some suffered leaking head gaskets but more of an external weep than a full blown internal leak.

So, is what I read really reflective of the vehicles?

I really, really, want to like the V70 and a friend has an 04 2.4t SE with 100k that he only wants 2.5k for which seems cheap to me.....possibly too cheap although it has history and receipts: maybe I'm just naturally cautious.

I know that no 8 year old car will be without risk and problems but I just want to be prepared and know what I'm buying

[Rossi-fan]

You cant go wrong for £2.5k for an 04 V70. You will never suffer the mis-fortune to have all them listed faults hit you at once. Yes they can have their faults at that age, but you do get a lot of car for your money. Make sure cambelt has been done though.

[RM955I]

The belt has been done, the track rod ends were done recently, FSH @ main dealer......all sounds too good to be true at 2.5k so I'll be checking it very thoroughly as you know what they say about deals that are too good to be true!

Thanks

[RM955I]

Well the 04 for 2.5k fell through as they decided not to sell it......I'm hardly surprised at that price LOL.

Instead I acquired on 04 plate car (actually registered in 05) which is very clean inside and out, 1 owner from new (a doctor!) and drives very well.

I probably paid over the odds for it from an independent dealer but I needed to buy something quickly (never an ideal situation but I have just returned from working abroad and we needed transport or I'd be into car rental charges)

I'll be starting with a purely precautionary change of the auto fluid and will be doing my own servicing other than major stuff so look forward to benefiting from the collective knowledge here

[outnumbered]

if you are doing the gearbox fluid when you fill up go via the dipstick tube and not the bolt ontop of the gearbox that bolt holds gear 3.
mike