Hi, My wife has found a 2004 C70 HT convert. that she wants to buy. Its mileage is around 40K. Are there any areas that I should be aware of that might be a problem with this particular model? The carfax shows that the radio was replaced and some other normal wear items. It seems to be a pretty nice car. Will be inspecting and driving tomorrow. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Neal

Be careful -- buying the wife a C70 may make her think you hung the moon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

hello friend, please do yourself a favor and STAWY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. whatever you do, do not buy a c70. it is a terrible car and makes volvo look very bad. i just bought a 1999 c70 convert. and it has been a nightmare. it takes bumps like a dump truck, squeeks and rattles, all kinds of things went wrong. i wouldnt recommend this car to my worst enemy. i will try to sell it and never buy a volvo again.

AVOID BUYING A C70 AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ THE OTHER THREADS, NIGHTMARE NIGHTMARE NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I appreciate the scary words,but cant help but notice that the two "stay away" reports are from owners of the same year car. Is there a theme here? I've looked thru the other poats and yes there are alot of things being discussed as far as trouble, but I belong to a few other auto "forums" and you almost always see these horror stories. Was there anything in particular about a 2004 that I should look for?
My choice of motorcycle also had a "bad" year in 1999, luckily I purchaced mine in 2000 and most of the issues had been resolved during the preceeding year. I'm truly hoping that this is the case here as well. I'm going to test drive the car tomorrow, if there are suspension issues I will walk away or negotiate for them. Maybe someone can fill in the gap between 99 and 04. Thanks, Neal

Agreed. 2004 models I believe are surplus 03's that Volvo did not sell with some small changes. The year you are looking at does not have the ETM issue like mine could for 99. Front suspension components that seem to need replaced are sway bar endlinks and spring seats which would be the same for all years. Interior dash may rattle do to loosening/and or breaking of the dash mounting tabs, but this is also for any year. Pluses that come to mind for the 03/04 are additional interior color choices, Homelink visor, upgraded jewel headlights and eggcrate grill to name a few. I like my coupe, but most people seem to be equally happy with the convertible version, good luck.

You see .. I have a 2008 C70 and I can't agree with anything you say. I have had the exact opposite experience. Everything is tight & quiet. I've had nothing go wrong, it's been so good, I would recommend it to all my friends (and enemies) and I may even buy a Volvo again in the future!

There seems to be some rash generalizations floating around here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

Your view of the newer C70 hard top convertible is completely understandable. The vast majority of posts I read are very positive, but understand the 1st Gen soft top convertible is a completely different vehicle that does in some years have the possibility for some major flaws. Only time will tell if the newer version exhibits similar flaws.

you have been warned!!!

u misunderstood, i was talking about 1998-2004 which are built preety much the same. JUNK

i was talking about 98-04 friend

I have a 1998 C70. I usually budget about $1,000 in repairs and maint. Owned it for 8 years and the current mileage is 300,000. Love the car.

Some expensive repairs to watch out for:

90,000K - ABS MODULE
100k - Timing Belt
120k - WINDOW REGULATOR
200K - seats need to be fixed. (if you use the back seat that is)
200K - timing belt
210K - ball joints, brake lines, etc.
210K - Changed all the lighting (Headlights,Grill, taillights to match 2005 model year)
280K - Alternator

I purchased an s60 2.5T for my wife, but I still love driving the C70.

http://img256.echo.cx/img256/8795/img35910zb.jpg

check out the www.swedespeed.com c70 forum for more info.

Good luck.




http://img256.echo.cx/img256/8795/img35910zb.jpg

this is to marcus, for a person who hates their volvo so much, you have a nice looking avatar. also, did you think that a convertible, which has had its roof-a major structure for stability and solidness-removed would drive like a cream puff? what planet do you live on? no convertible, and i don't care how expensive, unless there has been additional structural supports added, including weight which kills any sportiness, will rattle over bumps and ride rough. now, we, as a forum, appreciate your honesty about your bad experinces with your volvo, but there is always a flip side to everything. let the other side speak. like mkc70 posted, it just might be that model year. also, lazypine pointed out that the two posts that warn of problems are the same year c70. so please, if you don't like your car, list, in order all the problems and what you had done to remedy the situation. to just call out that it is crap isn't helping any. you want crap, my 99 M5 bmw, my 01 audi S6, my 94 'vette, the mrs e500 mercedes, my recent purchase of a s60R. and still, i purchased another 850 and an s60, just because i heard so many good things about it. so, unless you are going to be constructive in your criticism, don't say anything.

FIRST OF ALL, I DID NOT INSULT ANYONE ON THIS FORUM AND THEREFORE YOUR INSULTS ARE NOT NECCESSARY. SIMPLY STATING AN OPINION ABOUT A CAR WHICH IS A PIECE OF JUNK IS ALL. WARNING SOMEONE NOT TO BUY A CAR IS IN NO WAY CRITICIZING ANYONE.IF YOU WANT TO SPEND HALF YOUR LIFE UNDER A CAR INSTEAD OF DRIVING IT THATS YOUR BUISNESS. OH AND LAST TIME I CHECKED, FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS STILL AN AMENDMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN IN PLENTY OF CONVERTABLES AND NOT ONE OF THEM DROVE AS POORLY AS THE VOLVO AND EVEN AFTER A COMPLETE SUSPENSION OVERHALL AS WELL AS OTHER ADDITIONS. SO SHORTLY, MY OPINION STILL STANDS ABOUT THE C70 AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE EVER!!!

It is one thing to share your personal experiences with someone that has asked and a completely different story when you start shouting "RUN AWAY! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!" You seem to think yours is the only opinion that matters, well good for you. By stating what you feel is the only option, you imply that anyone who drives a 1st gen C70 is either stupid or wrong to do so. Get over it, it is just a car. There will be more in the future. Either sell the car or drive it, but do so in silence. Otherwise everyone is just going to ignore you if the attitude does not change. Have a nice day.

I WILL NOT WASTE ANY MORE ENERGY ON SMALL MINDED PEOPLE WHO INSULT OTHERS WHO VOICE THERE OPINION. ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN BUYING A 1998-2004 VOLVO C70 WOULD BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. THESE CARS ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TROUBLE WHETHER IT BE BIG OR SMALL BUT IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING. READ OTHER THREADS ON THIS FORUM AS WELL AS OTHERS. IT IS PROBABLY THE WORST CAR VOLVO HAS EVER MADE. MY MISTAKE WAS THAT I DIDNT DO ENOUGH RESEARCH BEFORE I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE VOLVO HAS SUCH A GOOD NAME,(WOW WAS I WRONG)IF YOU HAVE ALOT OF MONEY OR TIME ON YOUR HANDS THEN MAYBE IT IS A CAR FOR YOU. BUT WORKING ON A CAR EVERY WEEKEND IS NOT MY IDEA OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP AND I LOVE TO WORK ON CARS BUT THIS VEHICLE CAN EVEN MAKE A MECHANIC SHAKE THERE HEADS. GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

dude, ease off on the caps. your point comes across loud and clear with you saying stay away. and if you think that i am insulting you, you have never been insulted. my point is, if you did not like your car, don't go and post your avatar showing it off. and again, i repeat, list your problems and what you had done to remedy them. as you can see, as you said you had read all the posts, we, as a forum, try and help each other out. and you are correct, you might want to spend your time driving, we all do, but as mkc posted, if you don't like your car anymore, dump it. get a toyota and bask in your driving it. and as an aside, what convertible, same age, did you drive that did not rattle? i have been in several high end convertibles, as a lot of the members here have, and like i said, with all the structural additions to make it stiffer, you will have rattles. and i am not talking about suspension, i am talking the body structure. i, and the forum, appreciate your views, but people will listen more if you don't cop an attitude. later-

I love my 1999 C70 Convertable yep it has problems with the top and I was aware when i purchased it used. But it has the same rocksolid motor that my 850 has and it just keeps running. Best of all it is one of the best looking convertables on the road today and you do not see another one very five miles.

I've just bought a 2005 Volvo C70 T5 Convertible and my advice would be to do plenty of test drives. I tried the Audi A4, Saab 900, BMW 3-series, Merc CLK, and then 3 different C70s. I think the C70 has the worst scuttle shake of all the cars, but I still bought it. Why? Because the overall package felt nice. The interior was very neat (Saab was dated), the buying price was good (Audi was expensive), the servicing costs are good (the Merc would be expensive) and the rear legroom was the best (far better than the BMW).

Have I regretted my decision? No. The seats are first class, the heater is great to keep you warm when the roof is down, and so far its doing 32mpg (not bad for a 2.3 T5...) I am delighted with it. Yes, the scuttle shake is annoying, but then every car has something that is annoying. I had a Jag XJR before the Volvo - perfect in every way except two - first, the roof didn't come down and second, it only did 19mpg. Annoying...

My advice would be to buy it. If you don't like it, then sell it.

Hope that helps.