I've posted a few vehicles we've been looking at getting....and the winner may be a 2003 Volvo XC90 AWD. What are your thoughts, opinions, and experiences with this. We'd be getting it for cost from a dealer my cousin works for. It's got 30,000 miles, and is in really good condition. Your thoughts?

P.S. It's for my girlfriend, it'll be her first nice car. She's 22 and graduating college this spring. She likes it, and picked it out, so you think it'll work for her?

 

I've only done some research on Volvo... and that research let me to conclude that outside of the S60, stay away. I was looking at the S60R which seemed to be pretty good. But the other models all had tons of problems. On top of that, the XC90 was one of the most problematic (along with the S80). My wife wanted one and I squashed it. She ended up with an A4 instead. So that right there should tell you something about the XC90...

Personally, I'd stay away. That said, feel free to snoop around some Volvo forums online and do your own research before committing.

 

 

I think I remember reading an article that said that the XC-90 was one of the top 10 cars to not make it past 100K or something like that.

With that said....my boss has one and he really likes it.

 

I previously owned a V70, but that was the pre-Ford days. We had a few issues with small items (a thermostat, a power window, etc...) but they were handled under warranty.

My guess is, being a 22 y.o. woman, the whole "SUV" thing is what floats her boat. OK. As long as the dealer who can get it "at cost" is willing to be a good repair shop "at cost", then so be it. One positive is they tend to make the safest cars (along with Saab). If the price is right, do it.

 

Friend of mine had an XC90 that he bought used - it was great for 2 years, then it went down the tubes fast:
- engine fried itself (some electrical issue) - Engine replaced
- transmission went, replaced
- transmission went again, replaced
- immediately traded it in on e used BMW X5.

It was a great drive, very comfortable, lots of amenities, but the issues with the engine and transmission look slike big no-no's.

 

Be prepared to spend some bucks.....XC90s have reliability issues and a maintenance nightmare. My friends XC90 he bought it while stationed overseas, he said it will be the last time he'll owned a Volvo!!!