1998 Volvo S70 T5 review from North America
"Great vehicle, but potentially costly"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The timing belt came off at 90,000 miles though I had changed it per manufacturer criteria at 69,000 miles. Consequently spent $4000 getting top half of the engine rebuilt. There have also been some problems with the front shock/strut assembly and the emissions control unit (not costly, but the Check Engine light comes on.
General comments?
The turbo powered (approx) 240 horse power makes this a good maneuvering vehicle to pass and merge/weave in traffic (but not a sports car). I was also surprised at how well it handled (compared to my previous Sentra SER) for a larger car. Tight suspension so you do feel the bumps. If possible it is too comfortable... more so than my wife's 2003 Audi A6. I also like the "heavy car" feeling. Obviously it is more expensive to maintain and repair than the Nissan and the need to "chill" the turbo after highway driving is a pain sometimes. I look forward to driving it and the truth is it has been dependable except for when the replacement timing belt came off. That was a bad scene. Truth is, based on this car I would go out and buy another Volvo and wouldn't know what else to buy (can't afford BMW or Mercedes)...and I am not one of those Volvo fanatics. Oh yea... brakes also very good and have demanded no more attention than the previous Nissan, Chevy, Mercury etc that I have owned.
Recommended reviews
| This car is reliable, affordable, sporty and a great value |
|
| Regardless of the great handling and comfort, terrible engineering makes this my last Volvo ever |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.3 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 33000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 101000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Sentra |
| Date of Entry | 23rd September, 2004 |