Should I give it one more chance?

[Lukas]

Hello to the Island!

 

As you already know, because I´ve been posting this uninteresting s*it every given opportunity, the 1999 Volvo S80 2.4 was the most unreliable car (only electronic problems) I ever had. But it was cheap, old and not very well cared for. And it was the most comfortable and relaxing car I have ever owned.

 

So somehow I would like to own another one. But the successor this time. This one:

 

 

But as cars are a lot more expensive in Austria, I would like to know from you if it´s a good idea to spend at least 14.000 Euro on a used Volvo S80. Look at the list of available S80s in Austria:

 

http://www.gebrauchtwagen.at/ergebnis_suche.php?order=preis&aktseite=1&orderby=asc&limit=25&nostat=1

 

This one is a beauty, but sadly a bit to expensive for me:

 

http://www.gebrauchtwagen.at/detailansicht.php?id_fahrzeug=4504931

 

It would have to be a 2.0D or a 2.4D with automatic transmission. Would that be a good choice to spend a lot of hard earned money? The most important thing for me is reliability. I´d like to get where I want to go. And there might be a small Lukas coming, so I am not willing to get stranded on the hard shoulder of the Autobahn at night in the rain with a baby on board with a car that cost me 15.000 or more Euros. I own three old cars for experiencing this.

 

What can you tell me about the reliablility and built-quality of the second generation S80? Is there an engine to buy or to avoid? Do the auto-boxes work properly or are they troublesome? Any recommendations?

 

Thanks a lot, highly appreciated like always!

 

Lukas

[Parky]

They are lovely to travel in. I was occasionally shuttled about in executive cars for work and rated these as the most relaxing and comfortable places to be. Mercedes E classes were good too but I hated 7 series BMWs from a passenger perspective.

 

Quite a few of these in estate form in Stockholm and Helsinki being used by the taxi drivers. Most have at least 300,000 KMS on the clock and still feel fresh. I would go for it, they are on my list as a car I would like to have one day

 

Sadly I can't advise about reliability or engines to avoid but the Taxis generally had Diesel engines in Sweden and petrols in Helsinki and the drivers didn't complain about either. Petrol was only more popular in Helsinki as the diesels tended to stop working when the fuel turned to wax at minus 35 (it was a balmy minus 20 when I last went there).

 

So your passengers will be happy at least!

[NorfolkNWeigh]

My experience of a 2000 2.4 20v about 10 years was a lot more positive than yours, I used it for work for about 2 years and it covered just under 200,000 miles with few issues apart from some bushes and links rattling.

As for the latest ones, I think of them as the new Jaguar X Type; 'Just a Mondeo underneath'.

I'm also looking for a car at the moment and have looked at 08/09 S80's because they are such amazing value in this country and they seem to take the miles well, there's often cars with 250/300k miles for sale,that have been used for private hire,in fact 90% of S80's in this country will have been taxis as Tristar the company that does the chauffeur service for Emirates,Virgin and other big airlines are pretty much the only people that 'buy' S80s new. They have a deal with Volvo where they run them for 6 months then they're sold through dealerships as ex-management cars.

Sad to say,and whisper this in case the SVM are listening but they seem to have lost the prestige image of Volvo's of old, so I'm afraid I'll probably go with the unholy German Trinity unless I gamble on a Jag or another 300C. Wouldn't mind a go in a V8 though,although I've never actually seen one.

[John F]

Eek.

 

14,000 EUR is a LOT of money to spend on a car.

[skattrd]

I wouldn't spend that much on one, and as said aren't the new ones based on the Mondeo platform?

I'd be more tempted to go for a similar vintage to what you had previously or try an S60.

I sort of regret selling my tdi s80, I did 24k in it in 6 months and it was so comfy.

[Lacquer Peel]

I have a feeling that it's Volvo's own platform, and some Ford products were derived from it.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

If you're not scared of miles there's some bargains in th UK - if this was an e class or 5 series,even with those miles it would be £7.5/8k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201409107293744/sort/default/postcode/mk109au/radius/1500/usedcars/model/s80/page/1/make/volvo/maximum-age/up_to_6_years_old/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Although you do wonder how the driver managed to wear the leather like this, talk about big balls.

[DS20]

When I moved up here, I considered a V70 / S80 of this sort of age for the long work / family related trips between here and the south coast. Research indicated that the 2-litre diesel has more DPF-related issues than the 2.4. The 2-litre is a Ford-derived unit that needs periodic refills of EOLYS fluid, and the service schedule on this engine recommends DPF replacement every 75,000 miles. The 2.4 is a Volvo-designed unit with a DPF that lasts the 'lifetime' of the car (supposedly), with no additional fluid required. If I were going for an S80, I'd have the 2.4, no question. In the end, I went cheapo cheapo and bought a 2002 Golf TDI, with no DPF, so it just chucks clouds o'soot out of the exhaust.

 

EDIT:

In the last couple of years, Volvo implemented its own 2-litre unit. This does not require EOLYS fluid, and has no more DPF issues than the 2.4. It's supposed to be a nice drive, but it was firmly out of my price range.

 

More info here.

[Asimo]

Volvo have peaked I reckon, everything has been downhill since the 760 / 960 / S90.

 

I suppose an S80 would be worth a look if you wanted a transverse straight six but not for any other reason.

 

A big Honda / Subaru / Lexus / Toyota is what you need.

[Spiny Norman]

Volvo have peaked I reckon, everything has been downhill since the 760 / 960 / S90.

 

This.

 

Modern FWD Volvos have nowhere near the quality of the old RWD bricks. They're just average consumer goods these days, I'd have a Jag, BMW, Merc, Lexus etc long before I'd pay serious money for a modern Volvo..

 

 

[Lukas]

 

They're just average consumer goods these days, I'd have a Jag, BMW, Merc, Lexus etc long before I'd pay serious money for a modern Volvo..

 

 

As a daily driver, I want just an average consumer good I think. A car you buy with warranty, drive one or two years and sell/trade in for the next one. Ideally with warranty and a breakdown-mobility-service included. That compared with the Volvo-seats, great comfort and being different than the Audi-***** would be perfect for now I guess.

 

There are no Jag-dealers or -garages around here, I don´t like the Merc E-Class, the Audi A6 and the BMW 5-Series because everyone here drives one of them and almost all drivers seem to be german-car-snobs and a compareable Lexus has too much power. In Austria, the cost in taxes and insurance depend on the horsepower your car has. So a Lexus GS450h is sadly not an option.

 

If I were going for an S80, I'd have the 2.4, no question.

 

That´s the engine of choice, yes. Has someone something to say about the "Geartronic"-autobox?

 

L

[Sigmund Fraud]

[Autoshite stereotypical answer]

 

Just buy one of them new Dacia family things for 8K euros, and invest* the rest in more shite !

 

[/Autoshite stereotypical answer]

[DS20]

The Geartronic is a nice thing to use (and I generally don't like automatics, so that is saying something!). It's made by Aisin Warner, who also supply a number of the Japanese car manufacturers. Two caveats: first, Volvo say that the transmission is sealed for life, and that the fluid does not need to be changed, which I don't agree with; and, second, the automatic transmission is 5mpg or so thirstier than the manual alternative. If you like automatic transmissions, don't be put off, but do change the trans. fluid every so often!

[Junkman]

I am not willing to get stranded on the hard shoulder of the Autobahn at night in the rain with a baby on board

 

Sounds to me like you need a 240 Ovlov then.

[Sloth in a bowl]

 

 

 if it´s a good idea to spend at least 14.000 Euro on a used Volvo S80. 

 

 

 

 

By UK standards, no but if you are looking at S80s also consider the S60 and diesel S -Type Jags

[Shep Shepherd]

If I had 14,000 Euros to spend on a Volvo, I'd have both The Volvo and The Wentworth restored from the ground up.

[hairnet]

logan mcv diesel

 

second hand v70 estate d5

 

avensis diesel

[Minimad5]

I agree with a lot that has been said on here, for instance i love the sheer 'wafting' my V70 gives when it is working properly.
But boy has it been a massive headache ! (more down to incompetent garage than anything else) , yet i still know no matter what it will get me anywhere.

I know Jim and i'm sure others have had absolute no bother from there cars - So i don't suggest you let us put you off.

Do some research, look on the forums and find out any recalls or common problems.
And most of all Good Luck

Edit:
Agree with DS20, get the gearbox service BUT make sure they use the right fluid.
Not sure on these, but mine needs JWS3309, as anything else can kill it.

[garethj]

I had problems with our family S80, thanks to garages that couldn't diagnose the problems correctly.  When working it was a lovely thing to waft around, but at the same time I had an older Volvo 740 which had 160,000 miles (the S80 had 100,000) and the 740 was more reliable, better on fuel and was much better quality.

[Lukas]

Thanks a lot for your advice!

 

One more of it needed, I guess...

 

Would it be a better bet to get one of the last first-generation-S80 2.4D instead? Same drivetrain as the successor, if I am right. And cheaper, and IMHO better looking.

 

For example:

 

http://www.gebrauchtwagen.at/detailansicht.php?id_fahrzeug=4387875

 

What do the Volvo-freaks think? Except "get a 240/740/940"?

 

Lukas

[Junkman]

What do the Volvo-freaks think? Except "get a 240/740/940"?

 

 

Get an Amazon, then. Or a PV544.

[Lukas]

Good choice, but I´d like the big PV800 better. Almost unknown, sadly.

 

[Lukas]

Another take on this topic, it´s not over yet. 

 

I´ve discovered this:

 

http://www.willhaben.at/iad/gebrauchtwagen/auto/volvo-s80-2-0-d-kinetic-84535496/?adId=84535496&

 

 

It´s the Volvo S80 with the 2.0D PSA-engine. 

 

Now I need your help again. I know modern diesel-engines are full of hightech-parts that may go wrong and cost a fortune. But is the 2.0D PSA-diesel worse than average or is it a good, reliable engine you can buy with ~ 135.000km on the clock without having to fear it will leave you stranded on the hard shoulder and suck your money out of your pocket?

 

Any experiences with this engine? The rest (S80 Mk II, manual gearbox) is quite good and dependable from what I have heared and read. Now I need you to tell me more about htis engine. 

 

The package sounds just too good to be true. Very comfortable car, very high standard of safety, cheap to run (low tax + cheap insurance because "only" 136 hp), fast enough and quite frugal (6 litres/100km) on the Autobahn, very good rustprotection and the best seats ever. Have I forgoten something? 

 

Tell me what you think please.

 

Lukas

 

P.S.: No Volvo 240/740/940-talk please. 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The PSA engine is what we,in the UK , refer to as the Mondeo 2.0 engine. It's a joint Ford/PSA effort and used in all EUCD platform cars- Mondeo,Galaxy/S-Max,S80/V70 as well as Gaylander/Ewok and various French shite.

It doesn't have a stellar reputation ,but I can only speak as I find and Mrs N's got the 2.2 version in her plastic LR and it's great- no problems ,powerful( for a 4 banger dizzle) economical and relatively refined.

[trigger]

Isn't it the Focus 2.0 TDCi rather than the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi? If it is the Focus I can't recommend it, mines be a nightmare for problems but I believe Albert Ross has the Volvo version and raves about his.

[Pillock]

 

 

But is the 2.0D PSA-diesel worse than average

Yes.

 

Volvo seemed to have waved a magic wand over theirs, Albert isn't ready to take his own life yet but Ford and Peugeot variants seem to have the same expected lifespan as a butterfly.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I think the Focus got this engine when the mk2 came out but the Mondeo waited until 2007 when the fat mk4 was announced,as the S80 is basically a Mondeo with a different body this would point to it having the same engine as your Fucus. I think.

I'm pretty sure our Gaylander is the same as Mondeo,407,C5 so with those illustrious paragons of reliability as stablemates,I've got every confidence * that I'll not have any expensive problems in the near future.

[trigger]

I'd be impressed with 211k! Mines only done 76k and it's rough as fuck!

[Lacquer Peel]

Lukas, what's the fuel/car tax system in Austria like? Would you be a lot worse off buying a petrol car?

[chaseracer]

...but Ford and Peugeot variants seem to have the same expected lifespan as a butterfly.

 

And yet...

 

 

But this is the understressed, non-intercooled 90PS version - and that does seem to make a difference...