Anyone care to comment on the build quality of current model Volvo?
 

Are they as hard to kill and all that as the older ones? I'm looking at 2001-current. Thanks!

Based in part on a fabulous and happy experience with a 1991 740 sedan, went all out and got a brand new 2001 C70 turbo coupe. (MSRP about $42k)

Fast, but OMG, welcome to Torque Steer!!! It was a horror, the problems with it were so intractable that an attorney had to be hired, and the car was ultimately repurchased under the California Lemon Law. It was too bad really, I wanted to believe in that car, and really did pamper it carefully, but it was no use, it seemed like it was in the shop all the time.

They really do have the best seats in the business, even better than Mercedes, and many good safety systems.

But problems have been many, especially from the late 90s, when Ford took them over. The flagship S80 is a wonderful car to drive, but their reliablity has been far less than stellar.

Right about the time they got into Frnot Wheel drive, things went into decline.

The old 740, 940, and the eternal 240 were really Volvo's best. I almost bought a new '97 960, but I am glad I didn't. The 960 and S90 were the last of the rear wheel drive sedans/wagons, but even these were troubled.

I really hope things get better at Volvo. There is a LOT to like about them.

The newest body style is beautiful, and the price seems to be a bit more affordable than newish benzo's (which I'm wary of anyways because on reliability concerns).

My Dad has a 2001(?) S40. It's been a great car for him. Zero issues as of yet. Just regular maintenance. I think he's closing on 100,000 Kms. I like the interior, and as Jim said, the seats are great! Only issue my Dad has is with cleaning the rims - they're a nightmare (10 spoke alloys). ;)

After cleaning bundts every other day, I snicker at that, Zeus.;)

Had a C70
 

In 1999 I purchased a 1998 Volvo C70 with around 6,000 miles. Then the problems started. It was in the shop all the time, everytime i left the shop I would have to come back for another problem let me see if i can begin to remember a few of them ( remember this is just a few ).
The Tires (Pirelli) were worn down at 10,000 miles. ( Typical I suppose )
The 3 disc indash CD Player got jammed and had to be replaced ( when it was working it sounded good )
In order to get in the backseat you had to pull a lever which powered forward the front seats , that broke on both sides more than once and needed to be replaced.
The blower motor for the A/C went out.
One day I rolled the driver window down and it went off the track and fell into the door ( Scratching the tint I might add).
The lights had a short in the connection and sometimes would refuse to come on.
The sunroof rattled constantly over bumps , I always complained and even at one point paid them ( even when the car was under warranty ) to take the sunroof off and regrease the tracks and parts . It never worked it continued to rattle.
The rear windows leaked water ino the back seat and had to be replaced under recall ( Volvo then refused to re tint the windows to match the front).

That is what I remember. I have a friend who had an S80 and the tranny went out after 60K miles. I would stear clear. I would rather drive my 1985 Mercedes 300D across the country than a new Volvo.

The big issue with Volvo cars in the first portion of your model year range is the electronic throttle control. They used a drive-by-wire system for the throttle and it failed a lot. When it fails, it becomes a tow-in situation. It was something I definitely took into account when comparing the V70 against the E320 Wagon we ended up buying.

Now to be fair to Volvo, they do have an open recall on affected vehicles, and I believe the warranty on the part has been extended to 10 years and 250,000 kms. And they went to a different system for the 2003 model year, if I remember correctly. But I didn't want to take that kind of chance, especially when I drove the Volvo and it just didn't feel as solid as the Benz.

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Ha! Indeed. I remember those well from my 280E. :D

My wife drives a 2000 S70 with about 85,000 miles on the clock, and it has been flawless.

I love, love, love the seats. They make my E430 seats uncomfortable in comparison. The Swedish interior design is also beautiful.

I'd buy another one, maybe a used S80.

Quite true. Just last week I received in the mail "settlement of class action"

"PLEASE AFFIX THIS STICKER TO YOUR VOLVO OWNER'S MANUAL

The Emissions Warranty on the Electronic Throttle Module has been extended to 19 years from the date of initial purchase, or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first. For more information call 1-800-283-0117 or visit www.acbpromotions.com/volvoetmwarranty"

Class members included in the class action: People who currently own or lease one of the vehicles listed in the chart below, or who previously owned or leased one of the following class vehicles:

MODEL YEAR ............... MODEL

1999-2001 ............... All Volvo vehicles except S40 and V40 models.

2002 ............... S60 and S70 models with naturally aspirated,, ie, non-turbo, engines

2002 ............... All C70 models

Benefits include ETM extended warranty, and reimbursement of ETM-related expenses.....

NOTE: PAUL, I would be happpy to mail you the flyer/decal if you like, as your car seems to be affected, and I don't own my '01 C70 anymore.

My mother in law has a Volvo s80 '02. It has been flawless. The battery is in the trunk like a 500E and I agree the seats are on another level of comfort, every luxury car should have seats half this good :) The wheels remind me of the stock 300e/190e wheels with all the holes and the caked black dust.

Enterprise has some S40's and S60's in their rental fleet, and I have rented both. I prefer the S40, it's a nice sporty little sedan, with pebble-grained leather that just looks and feels wonderful. The S60 has tons of torque-steer and the back seat is ridiculously small for a mid-size car.

I can't comment about reliability, except it seems that the remote-unlock function on the key fobs doesn't work on most of the rentals...they lock OK but don't unlock reliably.

My daughter had one of those volvo tall crossover thingies.

It reminded me a lot of a Ford.

That is my thought about the level of quality in the new ones too. I might be unfair in that since I really have very little to base it on except visual cues in the detailing of the car and its rather trucky handling and ride.

Tom W