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I want to buy a used Volvo XC V70 wagon with a THIRD ROW Seat. The only one I have found in decent shape has 90K -- but it is "turbo" - 2002 Volvo V70 XC AWD A SR 5dr Wgn AWD Turbo. Is the turbo engine as reliable as the non-turbo? Would I expect problems. Can you tell me what the best volvo wagon is for between 8k-15K. I also found a 2002 V XC70 with 55K - perfectly mantained with all service records for 13,500...but no third row seat. Would you buy that or the turbo for 8500K and 90K miles?
Country: United StatesMake: VolvoModel: V70 XCYear: 2002Engine: 2002 Volvo V70 XC AWD A SR 5dr Wgn AWD Turbo Already Tried: I want to know if this is a good engine (see the paragraph I just wrote!)
Hello, My name is XXXXX XXXXX X am a Volvo dealership technician. I am going to try to help you with your question. Are you looking for only an XC70 or are you okay with a V70?
I need the clearance the XC provides...I do a bit of off-pavement
you there? this is my first time using this service...
Okay, well all XC70s are turbocharged. The engine is the same 5 cylinder, just with a turbo. It isn't any less reliable than the non-turbo engine. However, with the turbo (and AWD), there is more that could go wrong. Its common for the angle gear and rear differential to leak fluid. They don't need replacement, but rebuilding them is costly. I just finished rebuilding the angle gear and rear differential on an 05 XC70, the cost was about $2300 for parts, labor and tax. So I would certainly have those items checked for leakage before buying an XC70.
Experience: One of only a handful of ACTUAL Volvo dealership technicians on JA, ASE Master Certified with L1
I can either buy a 2002 V70XC with 55K miles and all service records - looks like it rolled off the showroom today for 13,500$ (and install a third row seat aftermarket for about 2k); or
I can buy a well maintained, but not mint car,,,again no accident, clean carfax, 2 owner, 2002 V70XC with 90K miles for 8900$ with the third row seat.
So I save about 6000$ by buying the higher mileage, less mint car.... Which one would you recommend I buy?
Susan
First of all, I don't think Volvo sells the third row seat kit anymore. I had a customer about a year ago who wanted one and the color he needed was no longer available. He ordered a different color and didn't mind that it didn't match. I don't know if any other companies make kits for it, so I wouuld check availability first. Next, I don't put too much stock in Carfax. I've seen a car a customer just bought from a used car lot that had a clean Carfax but it was obviously in an accident and had some very shady body work done to it. Just this week I did a pre-purchase inspection for a customer thinking about buying an AWD V70. 80,000 miles, clean Carfax showing all factory recommended services performed. The car needed almost $6000 in work (leaking angle gear and rear differential, torn upper strut mount, rattling sway bar links, two torn cotrol arm bushings, etc.). That being said, if you have them both inspected and they don't need any work, I'd probably go with the higher mileage option since it has the third row. Keep in mind the timing belt is due at 105,000 miles, so that will be an upcoming expense. But even if that car needs some work, you'll save money overall.