S80 - buyers guide - things to look out for?
Discussion
What with my bad back (driving today was agony), I'm looking to get a used S80 as they seem cheapish, nice inside and well engineered. More importantly, they have good comfy seats and ride well.
Current thinking is the 170bhp 2.4, the 2.9 or the T6. I feel the 2.4 140bhp will be too slow, I want something with a bit of effortless *go*.
What do I need to look for? Any common problems, cambelt expensive?
Budget around £2k, so looking at late 90's early 2000s.
Current thinking is the 170bhp 2.4, the 2.9 or the T6. I feel the 2.4 140bhp will be too slow, I want something with a bit of effortless *go*.
What do I need to look for? Any common problems, cambelt expensive?
Budget around £2k, so looking at late 90's early 2000s.
google up ETM issue for Volvos
any VOlvo except D5, made between 1999-2002 is going to have ETM issues. (electronic throttle module)
apparetnely these can fail at anytime, and if you are like overtaking cars the car will suddenly go in limp mode at 30mph- disasteros if you are on outside lane of motorway, you can get replacements, but you wont know when the etm is going to fail,
i have been looking at c70s and as i have read so much about this dreaded EtM i am going to get a 1997 or 1998 model with a normal cable throttle,
any volvo with fly by wire throttle made before 2003 is going to give you concerns!
regards
K
any VOlvo except D5, made between 1999-2002 is going to have ETM issues. (electronic throttle module)
apparetnely these can fail at anytime, and if you are like overtaking cars the car will suddenly go in limp mode at 30mph- disasteros if you are on outside lane of motorway, you can get replacements, but you wont know when the etm is going to fail,
i have been looking at c70s and as i have read so much about this dreaded EtM i am going to get a 1997 or 1998 model with a normal cable throttle,
any volvo with fly by wire throttle made before 2003 is going to give you concerns!
regards
K
They sometimes have minor electrical issues - some of the earlier models had minor gearbox glitches that required a software update (most will have been done by now) and things like Headlamp control units can fail but for a large part they are pretty good. The 170bhp 2.4's are a better engine than the N-A 2.9 IMHO, The T6 is a twin turbo charged beast, can be a bit frantic at the front wheel (280bhp) but its all part of the fun!
Edited by morgrp on Thursday 12th February 13:52
Don't bother with a 2.9, but you should consider a 140hp if you factor in cash to get it remapped (to 180hp with RICA and a few others) - The engine is identical to the 170, but with the power knocked back above 4,000rpm.
T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
JimexPL said:
Don't bother with a 2.9, but you should consider a 140hp if you factor in cash to get it remapped (to 180hp with RICA and a few others) - The engine is identical to the 170, but with the power knocked back above 4,000rpm.
T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
I thought the 140bhp was a B5252 10valve engine not the B5254 20valve lump??T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
Mine seems to be a particuarly bad apple - a 1999 T6. Agree with the fly by wire throttle, it took them about 4 years to properly sort it - in which time they replaced pretty much all the possible electronic controllers, without an improvement. It would never fail fully, what would happen is that under ufll aceleration it would lose power momentarily in quick bursts.
And now at just over 100k miles the gearbox died. It's also dynamically one of the weakspots of the car but the replacement cost is just mouthwatering. Some suspension components also have a very limited life, i.e. if it creaks when turning the steering wheel, there's play and you will likely need to replace it soon. It's not very expensive but just very annoying.
Also check how well the plastic engine undertray is afixed - had one break off at 130mph in Germany once and it really was no fun. They fitted a new one and now three years later discovered this one is about to fall off as well, in spite of the car never seeing any damage.
The seats are supercomfy but do try and find one with the sportsseats (not sure if all T-6s have them), as those are a lot better.
The cars definitely are cheap but there is more than one reason they lose value so fast. If you can live with the option that something really expensive can go at any time, it's probably worth it - they are comfortable, the T-6 is reasonably brisk as a motorway cruiser, they are one of the most relaxing motoring experiences available, and the first gen S-80s have probably one of th best seats ever fitted to a car.
And now at just over 100k miles the gearbox died. It's also dynamically one of the weakspots of the car but the replacement cost is just mouthwatering. Some suspension components also have a very limited life, i.e. if it creaks when turning the steering wheel, there's play and you will likely need to replace it soon. It's not very expensive but just very annoying.
Also check how well the plastic engine undertray is afixed - had one break off at 130mph in Germany once and it really was no fun. They fitted a new one and now three years later discovered this one is about to fall off as well, in spite of the car never seeing any damage.
The seats are supercomfy but do try and find one with the sportsseats (not sure if all T-6s have them), as those are a lot better.
The cars definitely are cheap but there is more than one reason they lose value so fast. If you can live with the option that something really expensive can go at any time, it's probably worth it - they are comfortable, the T-6 is reasonably brisk as a motorway cruiser, they are one of the most relaxing motoring experiences available, and the first gen S-80s have probably one of th best seats ever fitted to a car.
morgrp said:
JimexPL said:
Don't bother with a 2.9, but you should consider a 140hp if you factor in cash to get it remapped (to 180hp with RICA and a few others) - The engine is identical to the 170, but with the power knocked back above 4,000rpm.
T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
I thought the 140bhp was a B5252 10valve engine not the B5254 20valve lump??T6 is great fun, but early ones (pre about 2003) can have quite a few gremlins and gearbox trouble.
2.4t/2.5t are the pick of the range, but very few were sold.
Post 03 model year facelift has nicer steering.
Another common failure is with the ABS/Traction control module. Dry solder can cause this to fail. There are companies that will fix it for £100 rather than a garage charging you £600+.
The car can be driven with the module deactivated - just no STC or ABS and the display is a bit christmassy (all lit up).
I've found the external bulb fittings to be rubbish - constantly either changing bulbs or reseating them.
When it works - the car is fantastic. Two AA callouts in 7 months ownership and 20,000 miles. Not what I expected from a Volvo.
Its a 2001 S80
The car can be driven with the module deactivated - just no STC or ABS and the display is a bit christmassy (all lit up).
I've found the external bulb fittings to be rubbish - constantly either changing bulbs or reseating them.
When it works - the car is fantastic. Two AA callouts in 7 months ownership and 20,000 miles. Not what I expected from a Volvo.
Its a 2001 S80
Look out for the front suspension. This area is a known weakness with S80's. Top strut mounts, wishbone bushes and balljoints. If you're handy then not too difficult to fix. Mine is a year 2000 with 57k on. I had a knock from the front nearside when running over rough tarmac road surfaces. Spent £300 on parts. Still have the knock. Think its the shock absorber....... we shall see.
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