Seating comfort. Interior ergonomics. Passive safety equipment.

Rear quarter vision is quite poor, and the suspension is crude. Far and away the greatest deficiency is the design and build quality. The defect list is too long and far too depressing to mention. Unacceptable for a car of this class and price. I couldn''t recommend this car to anyone in good conscience.

The first real world-class effort from Volvo. It''s a pleasure to drive (when running), with distinctive styling and responsive performance.

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20 Volvos of every model year and description.

Comfort, incredible seats, interior space, engine performance (T-6 model), ergonomics, body design, brakes (a bit touchy, though), fuel economy, Dolby Pro-Logic stereo system (except AM reception), safety equipment, luxury amenities, trunk space, responsive geartronic.

Torque steer (T-6), tire noise with 17" wheels, steering too "vague", AM reception sucks, no Xenon option, small trunk opening, huge blind spot when maneuvering or passing, washed-out digital displays in sunlight.

I have put over 25,000 miles on my 2000 T-6, and still love to jump in and drive away in the morning, best seats in the industry! For all the talk about reliability issues, my experience has been wonderful, both with the car's total lack of major isues/problems and the dealer's expertise in taking care of minor ones (Volvo of Cerritos, ask for Wes).
The twin turbo engine is absolutely exilarating from a standstill, as long as you remember to grab that steering wheel real good (the torque steer can be a bit disconcerting at first, but you get used to it quickly). The car is a great ride (did I mention the obscenely comfortable seats?), firm but supple and very quiet, except for a bit of tire noise from the "upgraded" 17" Michelins. However, the larger rims really help in cornering, and the suspensions are not too bad for a large sedan like this. And the brakes are just amazingly strong, but you will have to get used to hem when parking in the garage, especially if you are used to the spongy feel of most American cars.
I experienced none of the transmission problems a lot of 1999's owners are complaining about. The shifts are smooth, and the geartronic feature is fun down Malibu Canyon or Mulholland Drive.
I have never heard a sound system sounding as good as the upgraded, Dolby Pro-Logic CD changer stereo in this car. The dual zone climate control is completely idiot-proof, I don't think I have touched it once since purchasing my car and hitting the "Auto" button. Some reviews talk abou the interior design being "stark", but I think it is extremely elegant and understated. Even the fake wood looks great.
Finally, I get excellent gas mileage (ranging betwen 20 to 22 city/hwy mix) and with a 21-gal + tank I don't have to stop to refuel very often. The trunk is huge, too bad that the opening is a bit to narrow. Also, I've driven a Lexus with Xenon headlight and don't understand why Volvo will not offer this eature, even as an option.
For the money, I cannot think of another car on the road that offers the kind of looks, roominess, performance and luxury of the S80, particularly the T-6 model. My car has also been completely trouble-free so far, far better than my wife's 1-year old C-Class Mercedes. This is a world-class automobile.

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Audi A6 2.7t. Similar engine and dimensions, plus Quattro (but in Southern California, who needs AWS, really?). However, the Volvo has virtually no turbo lag, the Audi a lot. I actually like the cool "Swedish" interior of the Volvo better. Plus, I could not get over the bulbous shape of the Audi, great car but still one of the uglest cars on the road to my eyes. Finally, the Volvo dealer was a lot more willing to deal.
BMW 528i. This car just doesn't move! Plus, with comparable equipment it costs at least 5/7K's more. If money was no object, I would have goten a 540i.

Style (head-turner), comfort ("easy chair" seating, quiet), performance (powerful, exciting--superior acceleration, from standing or from highway speeds), great audio system (optional upgrade), very well equipped/optioned (nice leather, heated seats, backup radar, navigation system, multi-adjustable seats, accurate trip computer, etc.), and so on...

BTW - the overseas delivery program is a great way to get this car at a discount and tour Sweden in it!

Personally, I don't find any significant weaknesses, not even the audio controls, about which have complained.

The car offers a tremendous value compared to other cars; in fact, for the money, you won't find another car comparable to it. It is solid, powerful, quiet and comfortable--the absolute best car for long road trips I've ever owned (I almost hate for a trip to end).

I've created a COMPREHENSIVE Internet club for S80 enthusiasts or those intereste in buying this car - Club S80 International. It offers hundreds of links to online information and products for the S80, plus general and technical information to help new owners get the most from this high-tech car. The website also offers space for owners to post photographs and to document, centrally, any problems, issues or questions they have with their S80, to compare notes with other owners. If their is something you are not sure about, post a question, and some other owner will be able to offer insights and advice.

Visit the club at
http://clubs.lycos.com/live/Directory/CommunityHome.asp?CG=68aali2dfna1380n004cf293tg
and if you like what you see, click "join this club" to get the full benefits of membership (including special discounts from online sellers of parts, accessories and maintenance/care products).

Note: the club is strictly non-commercial, run by and for S80 enthusiasts. Personal privacy of the members is assured.

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Lexus, BMW 528, MB E320 - no comparison, dollar for dollar

Comfort, looks, quiet interior, Volvo customer service, Safety/Wife acceptance factor, Cheap to insure/maintain, good mileage

Could be peppier, but I can comfortably cruise at 90. Lousy car stereo, with expensive aftermarket installation (too new?).

Not a 'no compromise' vehicle, but a great compromise. I will keep for several years.

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Audi A6, Cadillac STS, BMW 540

Large rear seating area, Strong engine, Great seats. Very comfortable on long trips

Reliability - Local dealer is a joke. I have to take it another 75 miles to the next dealer who is great but I'm tired of constantly taking the car in for failures.

I thankfully got rid of my S80 t6. I simply loved the car when I got it but it turned into a total piece of crap. Replaced it with a 2001 Lexus LS430. A simply amazing car.

This car has been was trailered three times in 30k miles. It has had four software updates in attempts to fix problems. One update was a recall by the factory.

History:
6Kmi- CD changer broke, 12kmi- Tranmission started slipping. Had to have it replaced. 14kmi- Trim over the roof that forms the rain gutters started to fade and crack, Fuel door hinge broke off, 24kmi- Drive by wire throttle assembly went nuts and had to be replaced. 29kmi- Ignition lock in steering column fell apart. 30kmi- started to have a bad clunking sound. Bushings in front suspension went bad. One of the engine mounts had broken. This was found during the inspection by the Lexus dealer. Fortunatly, they still took the car.

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Bought based on past experiences of last three Volvos I owned

Safety. Curtains, air bags all around. Seating is very comfortable.Good visibility out the front. Big trunk. Roomy back seat, 3 point seat belts all around. Dash controls are excellent and easy to understand, especially the air conditioner/heater.

IN THE SHOP WAY TOO MUCH. Engine mount broken. Oil leaks from turbo tubes. Not supported yet at quick change oil shops, must buy the filters at the dealer as well as the oil drain washer. door locks stick. Computer software has been "fixed" three times. Emissions Light is faulty, fixed twice. Brakes pedal is soft, too "mushy" for a luxury car like this. Local dealer support is awful (Corley Lincoln Mercury Volvo. This is the only dealer in town. Rear visibility is limited. Ball joint recall. Windshield leaed and had to be replaced. Driver's dorr rattles, cannot find the cause/cannot fix. Cup holder is WEAK, very poor for this style of car. rear cup holder had to be placed, would not open.

We bought this car used at the dealer, paid only $32,000 and it was les than a year old. I wish we would have bought the Acura TL, new at around the same price. Too many problems. Nothing major, but my wife depends on this car to take the kids to school, runs errands...too often it has to go into the dealer for fixing annoying problems.
If you HAVE to own a Volvo, this is a great looking car. If you have the time to be at the dealer, then this is probably the car for you.
I am going this weekend to trade the car in and buy a new Acura TL-I cannot take the fixing any longer and my 50,000 warranty is almost up. When this car is working, it is a fantastic vehicle. It was a bargain at $32,000 compared to the other cars in the same class-but we got what we paid for unfortunately. The oly worse than having the car in the shop for repairs, is having to pay for the quality problems that should not exist in the first place. Get an extended warrantly, or trade it in before the warranty expires.

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Previously had a Volvo 940 wagon. The T6 is a much faster car, much nicer.

comfort
speed when working...

poor dealer service
bad sound system
**see summary below**

Dangerous 2000 Volvo S80
I purchased my 2000 S80 less than a year ago. It has been in the shop for warranty-related problems 14 times. I feel like a Volvo hypochondriac but my latest problem truly threatens my safety. Read my story and you'll agree I "picked the short stick" when buying my Volvo. We'll start from the beginning. The first 8 visits were due to a persistent low frequency "buzz" in the speakers. The problem never got fixed, so I now just live with it. Next, the front passenger carpet, which receives absolutely no wear, started coming "unglued" and shedding from the meshed backing. It got replaced. To follow was right front suspension noise. But since my serial # did not match the recall lot, I was sent home without any explanation for the noise. I still occasionally hear it going over small bumps. Finally, I have taken the car in 4 times over the last month because it has acceleration problems. I live on a very busy street and when I pull onto it, my S80 lurches and loses power. At first, the dealer performed a "software upgrade". He assured me that this fixed the problem. It only got worse. I returned even more concerned about my safety and driving my car on busy streets. The O2 regulator??? was then changed. I was told that my service advisor had driven the car home and that it was running perfect. In fact, I was told it was the smoothest running turbo they had driven. Well, over the next few days, the problem only worsened (maybe my car is allergic to me). At this point, I lost my normally controlled temper and insisted that the problem be fixed. I was truly worried about my safety. Well, after having the car for a week and changing the "throttle control module", the dealer told me the car was running perfectly. Though I was skeptical , I drove to the dealer to get my S80. As I pulled off the dealer's lot onto a very busy highway, the car lurched, backfired, and stalled. The on-coming traffic had to quickly stop and I was almost broad-sided on my passenger side. I quickly got out of my car and pushed it off to the shoulder of the highway. No more! It is ironic that my experience as a trauma surgeon prompted me to buy the Volvo for its safety, now I am afraid to drive it. I now have two lawyers helping me get a safe car. Stay tuned...

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None

Volvo's history of safety, luxurious amenities, comfortable for five adults, sound system rocks, seat warmers (!), aceleration after 35 mph, and truck space

It's a bit noisy without the stereo cranked, transmission keeps slipping, weird service lights keep appearing, low gas milage, poor acceleration from 0-35 mph, and handling in curves

I bought this car used from a Volvo dealer. After 8 months of ownership I am rethinking my purchase and may get rid of it. I am unhappy with the performance of the vehicle I own. If I had known (i.e. done a bit of research before buying the car) about the reliability problems in the '99s I would have made a different decision.

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Compared to my 97 Maxima SE, the Volvo is more luxurious but not as reliable or peppy. Plus the remote sensitivity in the Volvo is pathetic.

Where to start..... I love my T6! The seats must be the best I have ever sat in, the stereo system is phenominal, the styling really turns heads, the 260hp+ turbo engine has dissapointed a couple of mustangs...;), the trunk is huge(as big as a towncar), and the car feels more like a sports car rather than a 3000 pound luxury sedan... the heated seats work great, and the car is simply fun to drive.

some road noise at speeds over 75mph, more than a LS400 but about the same as a 540i, but its not overwheming... you can still carry on a conversation normally and be heard.

This car is simply amazing, I sat down in it for the first time and knew I wanted the S80, then I drove it. Wow! That says it all. That was a year ago and I still feel the same way, I bought the car becuase of its looks, comfort and performance. But I got so much more, It is hands down THE safest car on the road. Volvo has a name for reliability... It has the best sound system I have ever heard and it drives and performs great. If you are looking to buy or lease the S80, LS430, E430, or 540... the S80 would be my pick. Hell, its a lot better than my '96 BMW 740il... :)

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Lexus LS400/430, BMW 540i, Mercedes E320/430.... no real comparison here...S80 wins by far.

Roomy interior, great legroom in the back. Comfortable seats. Nice audio system. Styling is head-turning. Got a lot of comments for it's looks. Handles well in slow, torque steer is managable.
Rides smoothly and handles well for it's size but is not in 740's league.

Build quality is poor. Rough shifting transmission. Had front-end problems that were fixed under warranty. Recurrent alignment problems. There is a lot of Brake dust but it is expected with high-end brake pads. Cheap plastic headlamp covers kept on getting cracked by stone chips. Interior is rather bland. Fake wood looks cheap. Ride is choppy... but a lot of it is owing to the terrible roads in Boston. Paintwork is not as good as in a Mercedes.

If you are looking for a luxury car but are on a tight budget this can be a reasonable choice. But beware of reliability problems. Try to buy an extended warranty if possible. Car is less refined than Lexus or the Bavarian front-runners. It shows it's Ford heritage a lot. Many parts that I replaced my self ( bulbs, relays, wipers etc. ) are from the Ford parts bin. A lot of dealers are nowadays offering huge discounts on S-80's. I don't know if it's going to hold it's resale value like the other Volvo models, I got rid of mine ( It was my company car ) but sometimes miss it.

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Volvo S-70. While my S-80 was in the shop ( got rear-ended ) I had the pleasure to drive a S-70 for about 10 days. Though the S-70 is underpowered but the chasis is much refined and it handles and rides much better than the S-80.
Acura Legend, Infiniti I-30 & Q-45.
Has the roomiest interior of them all. Build quality is inferior to all but the Q-45. Lexus LS-400 / 430 is a much better car but very expensive.