Any Volvo drivers out there?
 

I know this is a Benz forum, but a friend of mine just bought a Volvo. I constantly rave about what a great resource mercedesshop.com is and he was wondering if anything like this exists for Volvo. Does anyone know?

Thanks,

Jonathan

www.brickboard.com is a great Volvo board...

several years ago I was a member of the brickboard, it's a very knowledgeable site with what seemed like VERY opinionated people. They don't hold back so don't be thinned skinned!!

I hope your friend has better luck with his Volvo than I did, the 98 T-5 sedan that I bought new spent more time at the dealer than in my driveway. With what amounted to serious turbo lag and too much horsepower for the front wheels in corners, it just wasn't what I was hoping for from Volvo. My 98 didn't have traction control so every time you would try to squeeze the throttle coming out of an apex, it would go from no boost to "damn, where's that burning rubber smell coming from" Which of course is one of the reasons I became a devoted Benz owner......

Good Luck

Thanks Duck, thanks Dale!

I'll have him check the site out. He didn't go for the big turbo, just the 208 (?) hp model. I think its a V70? I dunno, I don't know my Volvos all that well.

Thanks again for your responses,

Jonathan

Volvo
 

I also used to own a 1994 Volvo 960. These cars were rear wheel drive versus the front wheel drive of the current models and therefore I enjoyed the handling better than the FWD. However, all Volvos drive like Volvos and not like a Mercedes.

I also had my share of issues with this make and I really got tired of visiting my mechanic. Hope you have better luck with yours but I do not plan on buying another one even if the Mercedes is more expensive.

I bought a 95' 850 GLT for my now wife back in 96'....haven't had one problem with it yet and it's at 100K miles...solid car...I am now searching for an R wagon to replace it.

That Volvo forum is good but like the man said....don't wear a skirt when you go there!!;) :)

I have had several 850 including turbos, they are really nice cars, my wife own a S40 now 2002 (40K miles trouble free):cool:

OH man you guys are in such big trouble and don't even know it. My fiance bought a used 1999 T-5 last Nov and she loves it. She will hurt those that dissagree (that's why I love it too).

I drive it all the time. There does not seem to be too much lag and hers has the traction control so that probably helps out of the corners. I like the fact that it has tons of room (much more then my 16v) but it is too floaty for me. I was never a big Volvo fan but I must admit, for what it is designed to do, it seems to do it quite well. It looks nice (not great but nice) and it is a great cruiser. So far it has only been in the shop once (mass air flow sensor).

Anyway, been nice knowing you guys. I'm giving you a head start before I tell my fiance on you. She should be here in about 2 hours. Good luck

Run silent, run deep.

David,

Next time your driving her car, without her knowing of course, put it in park, turn the steering wheel all the way left and right with the window down. I bet you hear the upper strut bearings popping, BIG problem on the S70's. Of course don't tell her what your doing if she's with you, or my name either.........

Has she changed any tail light bulbs or front parking light bulbs yet? This is yet another BIG S70 problem, when you wash the car or it gets wet, water will seep inside the tail light lens clusters and fry the bulbs prematurely.

Oh yeah, and if your SRS light turns on watch out, they had a bad batch of crash sensors that could give you a face full of airbag without any warning.

But of course your not going to tell her my name, RIGHT???

Who said Volvo?
 

Go retro, my friend. That's why I drive 123 dieserl M/b cars only, except for a 126 which is mechanically akin to the 123.
My last Volvo was a diesel 245 wagon. Only got 220,000 miles on it before it lost compression and went to Volvo heaven. My youngest M/b has 266,000 and is more reliable than any Volvo I have ever owned.
Still, some people swear by them, especially the 240 series. I know of one wagon with 300,000 miles going strong,

Jet,

I have not had any problems with the light bulbs yet. I wash it on a regular basis and have not seen any mosture anywhere. I may open up one of the tail lights and take a peek. As far as the ball joints are concerned.... I wonder if it is covered under the certified warranty? If it is I may have to do that just before it runes out.

This S70 can't be anymore of a problem than my 16v. I have damn near replaced the whole car so far. Trans, tensioner, timing chain and rails, condenser, shock and sls bags, tie rods, drag link, steering arm, cruise actuator and amp, steering box rebuilt .... you ge the picture.

Oh by the way jet... she was reading over my shoulder. You may wont to run like hell. She is on google now searching for your name. Once she finds it, well, let me put it to this way. She is a nurse and reads true murder books. She swears she can kill me and not leave a mark. I sleep with one eye open.

funny post........by the way it's not the balljoints that have problems, it's the upper strut bearings and yes they should replace them if the car is still under warranty. An easier way to check them is have killer nurse turn the wheel and you stay near the wheels. Before doing this give 1 dozen roses because this is her chance to leave a mark on you and claim it was an accident.......if they're bad you can hear them pop as the wheel turns. One of the volvo techs stuck his hand on the strut coil while I turned the wheel to verify my complaint. If your going to do it this way please be nice to her and don't get your hand jammed in there. Definitely another way she can leave an "unintentional" mark........

www.swedishbricks.com is also good, they even have advice on Diesels. (might be.org, I forget).

My '85 740 GLE TD is sick -- cannot get it to start. I suspect a blown head gasket since it was rather sudden -- didn't start this winter on a cold day, shouldn't have bothered trying since it gets cranky, and it hasn't gone since.

Had a coolant leak, too, so I may have fried the head.

220,000 something on the odometer.

Peter

A couple of my uncles have Volvos and have had others in the past. One uncle that lives locally had a 1987 Volvo 240 wagon, with 250K+ miles and it still ran very well, until it was in an accident. He also had a 1981 Volvo GL, that was rather unreliable, but the automatic transmissions are about the smoothest I have seen on a 1980s imported car. He also has a 1984 GL and another 1986 240 wagon, which is a parts car. Also others in his fleet such as a 94 Camry (wifes car) 1989 Ranger, and two classic Pontiacs- a 1957 and 1963. My other aunt and uncle in Richmond had a 1984 Volvo GL and it was a excellent car- they sold it to the uncle listed above. He may have sold it, as well as the other Volvo wagons he had. My uncle in Richmond bought a late 80s Volvo 740GLE and it has been a excellent car. The only problems I have seen my uncle that lives locally have with any them is fuel injection system problems- especially on the 1981 model. One of my best friends parents has a 1997 Volvo 850, a 1987 Volvo 740, both which are excellent cars. Overall- I think the 1980s and 1990s Volvos are really good cars. Just remember to check for fuel and electrical system problems, as well as rust in the floors and trunk. I live in the south- where rust is not a problem, but have seen many northern Volvos with some rust issues- especially in areas you cannot see- like the underbody. Good luck.

Volvo
 

Hear, hear on the fuel and electrical problems. My diesel gave me no fuel or electrical problems but turned into a rust bucket. Same problem with my 84 and 85 123 Mercedes, especially the wagons.
I went to buy a 1987 240 Volvo with 50,000 original miles on it for my wife (with about 45,000 original miles on her) and it wouldn't start. She starts fine.
Flakey electrical problems that I hadn't encountered on a Volvo before. These expanded into flakey fuel problems. Then again, the 240s used that same god-awful fuse panel that Mercedes used, with those bullet fuses, except Volvo puts them in the left front kick panel safe from weather, rather than in the engine compartment.
I am still angry about that low mileage Volvo; it was original in every respect, including a Volvo battery, but we could not get it going for love or money.