This would be my first vehicle. I am checking out a Volvo XC70 2005 with 150,000 Miles on it, clean title, in two weeks for the price of $5900, from a private individual (not a dealer). Multiple things have been done on it (timing belt job, new breaks, spark plugs, ignition coil, oil filters and engine oil, and new air conditioning compressor). They say car drives great, no issues with transmission that they know of. They are saying they are sure that the proper oil has been used based on regular maintenance (They do not know which exact oils have been used and I do not know where they have taken it). My budget is 10k for a great condition vehicle that doesn't need anything done for at least a few years. (So hoping no more than 4k in repair expenses).
Any other particular recommendations for what to check (besides basic stuff) on this model before buying it?
second question, which scan tool do I use? Your mid-grade scan tool (Autel Maxidiag) that you recommend, I contacted the company and they advised against using it for this particular vehicle model, saying "Really sorry to tell you that MD806 can read/erase engine, transmission, abs, and srs codes for your car". Confused about their communication, and they won't email back. Which mid-grade scan tool do you recommend I use on this vehicle? I'm torn between spending a lot of money for a good honest mechanic in the area that specializes in these types of vehicles to do a full inspection, or just paying for a mid-grade scan tool that I can then use for several decades.
How much would a new transmission be on this vehicle? I have read that they can be quite expensive, but a google search shows that these transmissions are around 1200 dollars.
Thank you so much!!! Love watching your videos, have learned a lot thus far.
@dan loves his Volvos.
I would look for another car. At that mileage, you expect to spend a fortune to keep the car in the road.
For your first car, unless you know how to use a scan tool, I recommend having it thoroughly inspected by a professional mechanic.
Do you have any other options?
My other options were to find a Honda CRV or a Toyota Corolla, possibly Toyota Matrix. Needing something I can live out of if I need to which is why I like hatchbacks and stationwagons. Whatever car I buy i'm driving it up to north dakota come winter. I want a car thats good for all weather conditions. I can spend the money to get it thoroughly inspected but its a gamble if I don't buy it because thats expensive for me i'm not poor but I don't make lots of money.
Find a good RAV4 or CR-V or Forester, with AWD (if you need it).
are you talking about a subaru forester? How come scotty says they aren't all they're hyped up to be?
Yup. Subaru arguably makes the best AWD systems. But unless you’re talking about severe weather, you should be fine with a Toyota or Honda.
XC70s are pretty good cars, but they are asking too much money especially at that mileage.
Here’s Scotty’s review of a somewhat similar Volvo XC70
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwa0Qc2qlNA&feature=youtu.be
It might be a good deal. The millage is quite high and I’m not sure on the price. But generally, I think this might be a good vehicle as long as you don’t plan on putting too much millage on it.
The Volvo T5 engines usually last forever and are generally well built engines.
the 5 automatic speed transmissions on these are generally quite troublesome. On earlier model years they would fail constantly, but by 2005 they have sorted out some of it’s issues.
here’s a super detailed video on this gearbox (use English (non auto-generated) subtitles)
If you change the ATF fluid on a very regular basis I think you can avoid having these issues. But as you mentioned, swapping in a used tranny is usually only about $1k-$1.5k so it’s not such a big deal anyway.
So yeah, personally I think it might be worth the risk.
Well the thing is that, I plan on putting a a lot of mileage on it driving it across the United States and potentially making it my as wellhome. I would put less mileage on it than a full time uber driver. But yeah, driving this thing across states once or twice within the next two years (Socal to North Dakota pretty soon and then possibly North Dakota to florida a year later).