beauty, comfort

reputation, connection to ford. too bad volvo let their customers down.

THANK GOD for this website!!! I put a deposit on a 2002 today, thought it was a tremendous deal, 5,000 under book value. I did love the car and the looks, the ride was great, but i noticed a slight pulsing whenever i used the brakes. i was told the car had been "serviced and all was fine". put a deposit down and called my mechanic to do a once over. honest guy that he is, he said right off the bat "if they're telling you the car is fine and the brakes are doing that, don't buy the car, it's a sleazy dealership". I scheduled an appt for a once over anyway, but drove home in my 95 maxima with 99,000 miles on it, and it occurred to me that this car had never had major problems and that i might be better off keeping it for a couple of years. after all, i felt the maxima had it all over the volvo, and it was a much older car! i shook off the feeling of doom and was looking forward to getting the volvo until i pulled up this website. boy, what an eye opener. Needless to say, the dealership did everything they could to talk me into buying this car when i told them i changed my mind and wanted my deposit returned. i felt like i was asking for a divorce, the way they were whining like babies and telling me how silly i was for reading and believing user reviews. i've had great luck with subaru, nissan, and mazda. there's a previous post comparing this car to a ford tempo in regard to reliability. well, i've owned a ford tempo, and it was the absolute worst car i've ever driven. so i will keep my maxima another year or two and look forward to buying an acura tsx, which is the car i really want.

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87 ford tempo, 91 mazda protege, 96 subaru legacy l, 95 nissan maxima gle

Service Dept. front staff- they kept at the problems tillthe mechanics caugh up and fixed them, stereo and seats.

They've gone too far from the Volvo streamlined, utilitarian design into Ford planned oplesence design...

"Buyers remorse" is an understatement... After being a Volvo owner for 14 years (1987 240 GL - 140,000 miles when i sold it, which is still on the road), I bought the S80 expecting to have the same experience. Instead the motor mounts were replaced before the car had 25,000 miles- then went a few sensors, lots of brake pads, the suspension system- front & back- was replaced to varying degrees 3 times before being completely replaced front & back, the springs between the suspension system, frame & engine (more infor than I can put here) and shocks. Then the steering rack went- actually WENT while I was making a right turn, steering wheel just kept turning like a pinwheel!!! Had to have it towed in, again. They pulled the steering cloumn and said it was OK!!! Same guys who couldn't get the suspension problem right the 1 or 2nd time. I insisted they drive it to diagnose it and after a test drive the mechanic said: "it acted like it had a mind of it's own" when he tried to turn the corner. Throw in 16 mpg to the gallon when it's cold outside (compared to 22 mpg in the summer), lurching RPM's when the air-conditioner is on and countless light bulbs - least of which cost $16.00 and I'm a pretty unhappy camper. Actually had to get a Lemon Law laywer and file under the Federal Warranty Statutes to try to get some restution for the diminished value of the vehicle because of all these problems. The General Sales manager suggested it after I suggested (again) they buy me out and put me into a safe car... something still in negotiations. I was told that "Volvo just went in another direction, more high tech and overextended themselves, it has nothing to do with Ford being involved." I had an F150 (another bad review for another time)- so I'm not reassured at all... If it isn't a FORD and it certainly isn't a Volvo... not sure what it is... I was told after the car has 60,000 miles it becomes a repair sponge. That I believe....

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Volvo 240GL ran great for 14 and is still on the road...

Comfortable seats (while sitting/waiting on a tow truck)

I wouldnt be able to list them all. I am only allowed 2000 characters for this portion of the review

Worst car I have ever owned! I had it for 14 months. In that time, it broke down 7 times and had to be towed 5 times. I missed Thanksgiving (missed my flight stranded on the side of the road), and my best friends bachelor party. Fuel pumps, cooling fans, Mass air flow units, throttle body (2X),and error codes to name a few. Oh, and the A/C never worked properly. I live in Florida! I spent between 20 and 25 hours on the side of roads waiting on tow trucks and spent approx. $2000 on non-warranty repairs and rental cars. My S80 was an abject engineering failure!

The strength in this case was the response from the dealership. We had a sit down meeting with sales manager, repair manager salesman and customer. We were treated with respect, given a loaner and the next day had a new 2004 V70 AWD, free mats and even a small refund. Top notch dealer and that counts a lot. This is my second V70AWD...love the car. Going to stick with it and check in on the sedan in about three years. Safety-safety-safety. That is a real big strength with Volvo.

Side mirrors a bit small. Can't see radio display in daylight. I hate all cup holders. Not much of a negative list when you get down to it.

Traded in my V70AWD 2001 for a 2004 S80Took it back after 53 miles because of a transmission whistle. Dealer was upfront and said they whistle sometimes at various speeds. Liked the car, nice ride, perfect workmanship. Small side mirrors. Great looking quality car. But I went back to a 2004 V70 AWD Wagon.

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Had Saabs and Volvos since 1975. If Saab had a AWD sedan I would check it out.

Looks, and that's about it.

Everything but looks.

I'm ready to make a sign and picket Volvo (or Ford). What a piece of garbage. I thought I was buying luxury - but it turned out I was just buying problems. New transmission at 20K, numerous electical problems, everything wears out way before it should; stut mounts, sway bar links (twice in 30,000 mi); bushings; engine chugs, chugs, chugs before it starts every fall and winter; shocks; I can go on and on... Wish I new about this web site before I bought it. DON'T BUY A VOLVO!

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BMW,Mercedes

Well it looks good.

After having it in the shop time after time, pick a part and I'll tell you about it. Transmission- problems that could be the same but the side step the lemon law by blaming it on multiple parts. I could puke. Seats- developed a mind of there own and nearly killed me against the steering wheel. Front end- Adjust the stops or bumpers or something but after awhile I started babying it over every little bump and hole. Motor mounts- Volvo doesn't install some sort of bushing at the factory so that after a number of miles (probably calculated to be after the warrenty)you have to pay to have it installed. Light bulbs, alarms, washer fluid.... try changing the oil yourself, Jiffy Lube wouldn't do it. The filter cost 4 to 5 times that of a normal filter and its only the paper insert. Don't damage the cover it sits in or you have to buy a new one. The oil drain bolt is cheap and rounded off even though I use the proper wrench. Thank God for Vise Grips. I could go on and on but it is making me sick to my stomach. Just thought I would save you the pain of owning this slug.

Whoa what a piece of crap. I will never buy another Volvo ever and this thing chased me off of buying any sort of luxury vehicle. Help yourself out and don't look towards Volvo for a vehicle. I have been a million times happier not owning it.

Looks. Comfort. Safety.

Front end. Steering. Electrics. Suspension. Radio. (Others report transmission problems too - but I haven't yet experienced those!)

Beware the S80! Bought a 1999 T6 and have nothing but problems - mainly front-end related: 27,000 mi: Replaced battery. 37,000 mi: Replaced two front link rods, ABS module. 41,000 mi: Replaced power steering pump. 49,000 mi: Replaced two front shock absorbers. 52,000 mi: Replaced link rod, inner tie rod end, engine mounts. 57,000 mi: Replaced lower right front ball joint, steering fluid reservoir. That was less than 500 mi ago and the car is again making the sorts of groaning noises that tell me it's time to take it back in! Oh, to be able to go back to my Acura (previous car), or to any of the four Toyota products that preceded it! The S80 looks great, feels safe, is comfortable - but you basically need to buy two (one for the road and one for the shop). Oh, and did I mention that the AM radio rarely works in built-up areas?

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Acura. Camry, etc.

The car looks good and I do like the complimentary car washes I get at my (almost) monthly service visits!

See above. The car looks good, but it's not the luxury car Volvo would have you believe.

This car disappoints due to the number of "little" problems over the past 2 years. I bought it brand new (right out the showroom doors with 4 miles on it) and have only put 22,000 miles on it. Some of the annoying problems: The driver's side window/mirror/door area developed severe wind noise, audible even under 50 mph and very loud on the highway. After 3 attempts, it's better but not fixed, and I'm told that it's up to "Volvo standards." I don't ever want another car that has these kinds of standards. The weather stripping along the bottom of the doors is not adhered so that it comes loose and hangs out of the car with the slightest touch of a foot. With 2 small children and me in and out of the car several times a day, this means the strip is often hanging out of the car door while driving. Volvo says this is a "design feature" to ensure that the weather stripping doesn't tear! The driver's side one has been replaced twice. Today I had to go to Volvo for a recall on the car's computer and waited two hours for my car. Other problems include a computer that frequently gives ominous false service warnings, which then disappear as mysteriously as they appeared. Volvo shrugs these "glitches" off, but to me they are unnerving and annoying, especially since the dealer is 30 minutes away. When I called Volvo North America to express my frustration with the car, I was told that I need to be patient and allow them multiple chances to fix these problems; the analogy used by the "customer-no-service" person was that, if I had a medical condition which was not treated the first time, I would have to make multiple visits to my doctor, no matter how inconvenient. I told them that I don't have a medical condition, I have a Volvo! I'm selling the car and don't plan to buy another Volvo.

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BMW 325i, Mercedes ML320

Great brakes, nice appointments.

Inadequate accelaeration - needs to be pushed. Too many small annoying problems that should not be in a car at the level it is being touted.

I bought this car used based on Volvo's reputation - without reading reviews. This turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes I made. Bought the car the in April with 54K miles on it. Upon acceleration, there is a thump on the driver's seat & steering. Very rough idling with AC on. Emissions service required light came on after 3 weeks of driving. Dealer replaced module for $800 and light came back after a day. Called dealer and was told to open gas cap and close tightly and light should go off in a couple of days which it did. Could have told me that the first time instead of costing me an unnecessay $800 since the idling is still rough. Headlight bulbs burn out evry 2-3 months. While parked at work, the battery got discharged. Reason not clear but it appears that the alarm was triggered which caused the battery drain! I now have to park the vehicle at low guard. There is a loud humming sound which appear to becoming from the wheels that come and go! Do not lock the steering wheel if you do not want to spend the next 30 minutes trying to start the car! I've had far reliable cars than this one for half the price. I feel cheated and I bought used - imagine if I had to pay new for it. I just hope I can get rid of it and not get hosed down completely.

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Lexus, Honda

nice to look at

too many to list in my opinion

Worst car I have ever owned. Volvo says this is a premium luxury sedan....my a** Car vibrates horibbly at idle, and Volvos response is.." computer says it's within normal limits". Like sitting in a seat with a vibrator. Car has a terrible right hand pull. Have had car aligned twice. Ok for about 1000 miles, then the pull slowly comes back to what it was. Wind noise in drivers side window...fixed twice..but still there. The drivers seat cluncks when you excellerate, also fixed..so says Volvo...still cluncks. I would NEVER buy a Vlovo again..When they could not fix it their suggestion was I trade it in on a new one...of course they are only willing to pay half of what it cos new two years ago...20,000 in depreciation in two years.. Jeeze, what a joke.

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98 5 series bmw 2000 5series bmw even my wifes 98 buick regal rides and idles better then this car 24,ooo miles and I can't stand to put another one ont it it is going bye bye!