Drove this yesterday...

A 2006 Volvo V70R. I'm hoping to upgrade sometime in the future. My dilemina is this: Do I go with someting newer and reliable like this, or do I go for an older classic, like that Buick Caballero I was talking about? I'm no expert mechanic - not very handy. By the way, the V70R is awesome.

 

This one has the automatic. The 6-speed manual is not really practical for me, as my wife would drive it occasionally, and she can't drive a manual. Except for having no nav, this car is equipped exactly how I would want it - blue color, light beige interior. Price ($27,995) is high, though.

 

I'd go newer for a daily driver, than the Buick. But that Volvo would still be costly just for the warranty checkups. Nice looking machine.

 

I looked at getting a Volvo S70 a couple of years ago. Nice car but I found it a bit tight on space, it was slightly smaller then my current wagon.
Of course my wife later discovered a Saab 9-5 wagon which we both liked, except for the price.

 

Don't buy something old unless you can do basic stuff. Sorry to sound harsh but old classics aren't cheap to fix the right way.

As for any new car buying one that is brand new can be a bit costly, better to buy one that is a few years old. I have a 97 Volvo V90 (last year of the large rwd Volvo Wagon), and I liked it a lot (not driving it anymore, since it has the wheel on the wrong side). You also have the 850/V70 especially the T5 models that are really nice sports wagons but fwd.

As long as the cam belt has been changed regularly, and it had it's periodic checkups and they have been done to a high standard then Volvos are pretty reliable cars, and I would say that repairs wold not be more costly than any other foreign car in the mid luxury segment.

Cheers Dyna

PS: Attached a pic of the V90 from when we bought it -- that was last year so it looks the very same now..

 

Yes, Good advice, Dyna.
This particular example is a 2006 V70R - the high performance (300hp), all-wheel drive model. It's only got around 16,000 miles on the odometer. Still a bit pricey for me, though ($27,995)

 

Buy something old I say. They look better than any new car out there. Plus you get the cool factor of having an old car. I myself don't look twice at any new car out there Wagon or not (except the new Challenger).

 

thats my thoughts too...(cept for the Challenger part)..and for the record..(i lust for those Voovoowagons)

but then ...i'd rather be under the hood on the freeway...
..than inside..waiting for the towtruck
but then i'm dorky that way

 

You've answered all those questions yourself!

Don't get an old car if you can't do anything yourself, it will cost you a small fortune just to keep it running!

The Volvo is nice but that is way too much money for a 2006 (didn't look at kbb or VADA used car values) Volvo wagon, depending how many miles you drive and how long your going to keep it. Volvo's will nickel and dime you to death!

But if you got the money, go for it, somebody has to keep this economy going!

As always, just my humble opinion and everybody has one!

Clark

 

Why would an old car cost a fortune to keep running ? Newer cars don't break down ? All that computer crap costs more to fix than an old car, plus old cars are easier to fix on your own. It is basically just part swapping on an older car where on new cars you need all the equipment just to diagnose the stupid computer crap. Lets see how many "new" wagons are on the road in 50 years like there are 50's & 60's cars now. The classics will still be around when the new stuff will be in the bone yard.

 

And you'd need a Tupperware repair kit to patch the plastic!

I think the trick for maintaining a restored wagon is having a stock of spare parts that break down and a quality toolkit of wrenches in the car.

I stopped yesterday at a part's store that had all the testers onsite and they checked my Alternator, Regulator and Battery for free. The regulator was the DUD. If I had needed an Alternator, I would have paid $179 plus core charge and waited 3 days. Bulbs, fuses are pretty common, but the weird stuff like the connectors to the regulator, coil, distributor, etc. (dealer parts).

The Russian carmakers used to include a roadside repair kit for all but engine rebuilding and even Mercedes had a decent toolkit with their late 50's vehicles. You're right though, the new cars are too wired to fix.

 

This is great, guys. This is exactly where I hoped this thread would go - old vs. newer. I've been following Dr. B Smith's resto (and others) here, and I get VERY apprehensive about getting involved into a project like that.

Everybody has to decide for themselves what they are capable of, based on what combination of time / money / talent they have.

The choices (for me) are down to two:
1) Buy a late-model vehicle (like the Volvo), or
2) Buy an older vehicle that has already been restored, needing little in the way of work.

I don't have to make the decision yet, but whatever I get, you guys will help me make it, for sure.

 

Go with the older. You'll be happier because it will be a car that you will be proud of plus the fact that people will making a million comments about it will keep you stoked. If I see a new Volvo wagon somewhere I don't pay any attention to it, but if I see a classic, I ALWAYS look at it and talk to the owner if he is around. Plus, old cars are fun to detail, work on, etc.......Plus with every little thing you do to it, you make it that much better and that keeps you interested in it !!!

Remember, if it ain't a classic..............Its' CRAP !!!!