Volvo XC70/XC90

There was an article posted here recently stating that (V40) and XC70 had the lowest cost of ownership. Perhaps the original poster can repost. COO includes depreciation.

There's nothing Ford in either one of them... In fact Ford is using the P2 chassis, Haldex AWD system, design of the curtain airbags, and the roll over protection systems in their cars.

The S40 is the only Ford related product (as well as the sibling the V50 wagon)... and it's supposedly great. The chassis was a collaborative effort between Volvo, Mazda and Ford to get the S40, Mazda 3 and Ford Focus (European Gen-2)... The S40 uses a Volvo crash system (using different types of steel engineered to crash the Volvo way) and Volvo engines, and pretty much every other component that makes a Volvo a Volvo - the electro hydraulic steering system is the same, as well as the suspension designs - but the Focus was one of the best handling FWD cars on the market, so who cares?

Ford buying Volvo has only, in my opinion increased Fords profits, safety, and quality...

We're looking at the new XC70's as well, I went over one with a "fine toothed comb" with my father at the dealership, and there was nothing to tell us that the XC70 wasn't as good a car as our 960 was, in fact some areas it was better, some areas is was just different or newer ways of doing the same job.

Actually the XC70 has a lot more in common with the V70 than the XC90. The XC90 is more of a Volvo-Ford hybrid, especially the one with the V8.

My '01 XC70 has been a very good vehicle. The '01 was a major redesign year. The '02 & '03 have an even better reliability record. My XC70 came with Pirelli Scorpion S/T tires which proved to be a fantastic tire.

The cars you see here are usually the ones that have the most problems. News groups are similar to news papers, they usually concentrate on the bad news or the unknown.

Volvo XC70 & V40 have lowest cost of ownership in their class

Netscape and Edmunds published a list of the most economical cars to own in a number of different classes. Their assumptions were that the car would be driven 75,000 miles in 5 years and then sold. It would be bought at the best dealer new price and sold at the Edmunds private party used sale price. Insurance, dealer maintenance costs and fuel costs are included. So the following are the true costs of vehicle ownership.

The report is at:

Wagons Wagon Under $15,000: Scion xB $0.35 per mile Wagon Under $25,000: Toyota Matrix $0.34 per mile Wagon Under $35,000: Volvo V40 $0.48 per mile Wagon Under $45,000: Volvo XC70 $0.57 per mile Wagon Over $45,000: Audi S4 $0.78 per mile

Sedans Sedan Under $15,000: Toyota Scion xA $0.32 per mile Sedan Under $25,000: Honda Civic $0.29 per mile Sedan Under $35,000: Acura TSX $0.47 per mile Sedan Under $45,000: BMW 3 Series $0.65 per mile Sedan Over $45,000: Audi S4 $0.78 per mile

Convertibles Convertible Under $25,000: Volkswagen New Beetle $0.41 per mile Convertible Under $35,000: Toyota MR2 Spyder $0.45 per mile Convertible Under $45,000: Nissan 350Z $0.59 per mile Convertible Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class $0.59 per mile

SUVs SUV Under $25,000: Honda CR-V $0.36 per mile SUV Under $35,000: Toyota Highlander $0.42 per mile SUV Under $45,000: Infiniti FX35 $0.59 per mile SUV Over $45,000: Volkswagen Touareg $0.60 per mile

Trucks Compact Truck: Toyota Tacoma $0.35 per mile Large Truck: Ford F-150 Heritage $0.49 per mile

Vans Minivan: Honda Odyssey $0.40 per mile Van: Ford Econoline Cargo $0.50 per mile

Coupes Coupe Under $15,000: Toyota ECHO $0.31 per mile Coupes Under $25,000: Honda Civic $0.31 per mile Coupe Under $35,000: Mazda RX-8 $0.48 per mile Coupe Under $45,000: Audi TT $0.54 per mile Coupe Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class $0.67 per mile

Note that most under $15,000 vehicles are no bargain.

Yes, if the money spent is for a car with low maintenance expenses and a good resale value.

Some more expensive cars are more expensive like the Audi S4.

"Rob Guenther" wrote:

In July we purchased a 2004 XC70 - it's been great in every way.

We are first-time Volvo owners and very happy with the car. We purchased the XC70 to replace my wife's Saab. It too was a good car and we in fact expected to purchase another Saab. We first test-drove the XC70 and afterward were very impressed by it. We then went to the Saab dealer and drove the 9-5 wagon. We purchased the XC70.

We appreciate the somewhat higher seating position, the AWD, and of course the peace of mind knowing Volvo's reputation for safety. The car cruises nicely on the freeway, is relatively economical (combined city/highway of about 22.5 mpg over 7000 miles), the AWD works well (we're in Montana...), and there is adequate power.

As for the Ford factor, I have not noticed anything "Ford" about the vehicle.

I am considering, in one or two years, purchasing the XC90 for myself based on our experience with the XC70. One of the only drawbacks to the XC90 as compared to the XC70 I find is only one available built-in booster seat -- the XC70 has two, which is convenient since we have two children.

Personally, I would highly recommend the XC70.

Thanx for the input. I have yet to figure out (I haven't been to the dealer yet to look) what the difference is between the XC70 and the XC90 (other than the seating you mentioned --- was that 3rd bank of seatuing you were talking about?). You mention you may get a 90 later --- I notice that there is a price difference, but for what?

The XC90 is a midsized, luxury SUV. It comes with bigger engines (well you can get the 5 cylinder now, but I would think it would be underpowered). It comes with 7 passenger seating, and more safety features (basically to stop it from rolling over using electronic means and a boron-steel roof if it does, the XC70 doesn't really need these). The XC70 is a midsized station wagon, 5 passenger seats, roomy tho, jacked up suspension height, plastic body cladding added, AWD system.... Personally i'd save the ~$5000 and get the V70 AWD, but you might like the higher seating position (I don't care for it - I'm used to scrapping the pavement in low ride height vehicles). The XC70's come nicely equiped as standard, tho there are some necessary add-ons, when the dealers order the XC70s and other V70's they seem to order them pretty much fully equiped, so you only really have to do a specific order if you don't want things like moonroof, leather, passenger power seats etc.

Good summary, I want to jump in and say something here.

I laughed the first time I heard the boron steel roof advertised a year or two ago. Who else has seen the picture of the stack of seven

140s? The one on the bottom is supporting the six others because the roof pillars are strong enough. The 140 came out in 1966 (before I was born!)

A super strong roof and using it as a marketing ploy is nothing new for Volvo.