Overview & Reviews

Volvo's 850 wagon gets a new name, new nose, body-color trim, stronger side-impact protection, more powerful turbo engines, redesigned interior and revised suspension. All-wheel-drive versions arrive to battle luxury SUVs.

• Front and side airbags. Excellent side-impact protection. Superb seats. Solid construction. More cargo volume than many sport-utilities. Available all-wheel drive.

• Oddly placed controls. No all-speed traction control system available.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 111.00

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  Why so inconsistant?????? - 1998 Volvo V70
  By golfnuttb - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Im just about to sell my V70 GLT. I have loved this car. But as the car approaches 100K I look else where. I use a car hard. I put on about 35- 40K/year and Im leary of driving it past 100K because of the inconsistancy in the reviews that I read. I would love to think I could drive it to 200K.

• 

  good all-around AWD vehicle - 1998 Volvo V70
  By diane99 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  if you can only have one car, this makes the most sense to me. spacious as SUV, safe in snow, handles well

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  Great car for first 120k, but now......? - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Dutchman - May 22 - 2:20 am

  Getting some anxieties about upcoming costs. Volvo shops are VERY expensive. Are they better than local guy? I dont know. So far we had to do only the normal maintenance, but we now also have the loose sway bars, rusting brakes, the tailgate interior loose and the "check engine" light on of which the first repair did not fix it..... Is it falling apart? Selling makes no sense. Trade-in values are horribly low. So from feeling like we were driving the best car of the world, we now are in sticker shock looking at rising repair costs and no good alternative.... A lube job to a squeaking skylight would require its removal @ several hundreds....

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  1998 Volvo V70 Wagon - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Pablo - May 20 - 7:43 am

  Its an expensive car with cheap hardware. Its fun to drive, somewhat economical on gas, fairly comfortable, very expensive to maintain compared to other cars I have owned. I would not buy another Volvo, as much I have always liked and admired them.

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  $Love it But Leave It - 1998 Volvo V70
  By ilovemyvolvo - January 27 - 7:46 pm

  I love this car. Comfortable, safe, reliable and can get me anywhere. My $5000 purchase of a used car has probably now cost me upwards of $10,000 including repairs. Ive owned it for 5 years. Not what i was looking for in purchasing a used vehicle. Its been one thing after another- engine mounts, locks, windows, power steering leak, rear drive shaft now the air pump system. This is not a used vehicle you want to buy if you are not willing to put a lot of $$$ into it. Going back I probably would have settled for something cheaper to repair.

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  tiny pieces of plastic killed the car! - 1998 Volvo V70
  By beth55423 - September 16 - 3:25 pm

  Overall, we put 80,000 miles on a used 1998 Volvo, driving about 100 miles away. There was a lot that was good and reliable about the car. But, you know those tiny plastic clips that hold all the interior trim pieces together? In six months we seemed to lose at least one a week. Inside of the back hatch fell off....trim piece above the drivers knees.... the plastic covering the switch for the power windows.... Then the gasket around the door, and the rubber strips on the roof rack... UGH.

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  Good car, but some parts are non durable - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Michael L - April 17 - 4:13 am

  This wagon has been very useful and never let me down on the road. I have driven this wagon to different long distance journey and it treated me well. However for a 12 year car with 142,000 miles, I do expect some wear and tear, but for some reason the most critical part of this wagon went out which was the passenger door lock where I couldnt get it to lock and could not get the rear cargo door to lock in its place and I had to get it repaired otherwise there is possible internal theft. Both front driver and passenger door hinges had to be replaced because they broke of old age which was costly. There are a few more minor wear and tear items that went out.

• 

  V70 T5 - 1998 Volvo V70
  By 70rsz28 - February 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is a sleeper.. very fast and handles very well. I just accumulates milage too fast!

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  I love driving my wagon - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Pastsportscardriver - September 25 - 10:00 am

  I usually buy new car every 4-5 years, but I cant this time. I love my Volvo, and it is a wagon! The seats are comfortable to sit in (mine are leather, the car responds to my every command. All the controls are in the right place. The seat belt adjusts to fit my female 54" body (most dont). The cargo space is unbelievable large. I bought a new 35" TV, TV stand and VCR and all fit comfortably, still in their boxes in the cargo area without removing my child seat. The back seat folds down to offer even more room. This car is a keeper.

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  Be careful where and how you get repairs done - 1998 Volvo V70
  By coldjensens - July 15 - 7:15 pm

  We just bought a 1998 V70 XC awd with 238,000 miles on it. WE quickly learned something it may be helpful to pass on. Volvo delaership work and Volvo parts will break you. Example: Heater core replacmeent - from Volvo $800. It is a two hour job and you cna do it for less than $200. Or you cna find a good independant mechanic who does not blindly charge book rates and get it done for $400. Front Struts - this needs to be done by a professional unless you have special tools or knowledge, but you cna pay over $1000 at Volvo or about $600 at a decent indy shop. There are quite a few other items that are relatively easy to do yourself and if you find after market parts -