Hi SwedeSpeed,
I'm totally new here. (Please let me know if I should post this somewhere else or modify my behavior; this is my first forum and first post!) I'm a huge Volvo fan, have been for most of my life. I'm considering buying my first car; I don't have a ton of cash but something under $10k will be manageable for me & my family. I'm prepared to drive one of the cars in my family, but I've still been bargain-hunting for fun, and keep stumbling across S60s that I like (I would love a V60 but S60s are easier to come by online). My friend has a 2013 T5 Platinum AWD with about 52k miles on it and I'm absolutely in love with that car (to be fair, I found it for her on Craigslist).
So naturally, if I were to buy a car, it would be a P3 S60 (I don't think I could find, let alone maintain, an NG 9-5). Safe, stylish, practical, fast, comfortable, durable (depending on your definition of the word). I'm still conflicted between T5 and T6 (I was in an XC60 3.2 the other day and the Si6 smoothness won me over), as I certainly don't need 300 hp and would appreciate the T5 fuel economy, but I hear the T6 is more reliable and I repeatedly hear it referenced as one of Volvo's best engines. I know early ones are a bit heavy on the sauce [oil] but I figured the 2013s would have had those issues more or less sorted out. I hear the Aisin transmissions are good if a bit hiccupy, but the Haldex would probably need a filter change if I were to buy it. The door-handle issues might need resolving but I think that would be free.
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Long story short: I found a 2013 S60 T6 Platinum AWD (non-P*, non-RD but LOADED) for $7995. It has everything I want - wood inlays, Sleipner rims, and a great color combo (grey over brown) with nav & all the Platinum accoutrements. It looks largely pristine inside and out. It's not the most babied example I've ever seen -- 142k miles and two front-end accidents early in life. (I would definitely be getting it inspected and thoroughly checked out if I were to buy it; two crunches does make me a little leery, but mileage is not the end of the world for me if it's been maintained). However, I am young, I certainly can't justify a super-high-end car, this is just the nicest S60 I've seen and it's aggressively priced. I know it will be safe and enjoyable and even if it only last 4-5 more years I wouldn't be pissed. The City Safety would also help a little with insurance costs.
Please let me know if this is a good idea, or, preferably, if I were to buy it (or a similar P3):
Any input is greatly appreciated. (Yes, I know it's an awfully nice car for a young person. No, I'm not going to drive a Corolla because it's more reliable or cheaper to maintain.) Thank you!
I'm totally new here. (Please let me know if I should post this somewhere else or modify my behavior; this is my first forum and first post!) I'm a huge Volvo fan, have been for most of my life. I'm considering buying my first car; I don't have a ton of cash but something under $10k will be manageable for me & my family. I'm prepared to drive one of the cars in my family, but I've still been bargain-hunting for fun, and keep stumbling across S60s that I like (I would love a V60 but S60s are easier to come by online). My friend has a 2013 T5 Platinum AWD with about 52k miles on it and I'm absolutely in love with that car (to be fair, I found it for her on Craigslist).
So naturally, if I were to buy a car, it would be a P3 S60 (I don't think I could find, let alone maintain, an NG 9-5). Safe, stylish, practical, fast, comfortable, durable (depending on your definition of the word). I'm still conflicted between T5 and T6 (I was in an XC60 3.2 the other day and the Si6 smoothness won me over), as I certainly don't need 300 hp and would appreciate the T5 fuel economy, but I hear the T6 is more reliable and I repeatedly hear it referenced as one of Volvo's best engines. I know early ones are a bit heavy on the sauce [oil] but I figured the 2013s would have had those issues more or less sorted out. I hear the Aisin transmissions are good if a bit hiccupy, but the Haldex would probably need a filter change if I were to buy it. The door-handle issues might need resolving but I think that would be free.
____
Long story short: I found a 2013 S60 T6 Platinum AWD (non-P*, non-RD but LOADED) for $7995. It has everything I want - wood inlays, Sleipner rims, and a great color combo (grey over brown) with nav & all the Platinum accoutrements. It looks largely pristine inside and out. It's not the most babied example I've ever seen -- 142k miles and two front-end accidents early in life. (I would definitely be getting it inspected and thoroughly checked out if I were to buy it; two crunches does make me a little leery, but mileage is not the end of the world for me if it's been maintained). However, I am young, I certainly can't justify a super-high-end car, this is just the nicest S60 I've seen and it's aggressively priced. I know it will be safe and enjoyable and even if it only last 4-5 more years I wouldn't be pissed. The City Safety would also help a little with insurance costs.
Please let me know if this is a good idea, or, preferably, if I were to buy it (or a similar P3):
- What to look out for
- What to do immediately upon purchasing (timing belt? Haldex filter? etc.)
- Is it too cheap (or overpriced)?
- Would an older, lower-mileage S60 or even S80 T6 make more sense?
- Should I, as my father suggested, look for a slightly fresher S60 and expand my budget an extra $1-$3k?
Any input is greatly appreciated. (Yes, I know it's an awfully nice car for a young person. No, I'm not going to drive a Corolla because it's more reliable or cheaper to maintain.) Thank you!