Subaru Legacy vs Volvo S60

[D_Sp8s]

Here is my conundrum:

I am still driving my college car and I am desperately in need of a new car. I have basically narrowed it down to either a 2005+ Subaru Legacy or a Volvo S60 ( or S40).

AWD is a MUST! This is why I've narrowed it down to these two. I am not extremely interested in Audi or BMW due to the cost factor.

I have done quite a bit of research on these cars. I would love either the Legacy 2.5GT or the S60 2.5T AWD (S40 T5 AWD). However, I haven't decided how much I want to spend. Therefore the lower option would only really be the Legacy 2.5i because there are no lower end volvo's with AWD.

Are there any cars I haven't considered?

What would you do?

Do you own one of these cars? What do you like/dislike about it?

Should I look at private sellers or dealerships?

On your marks.....get set.....GO!

[TransNone13]

How much are you willing to spend?

[BC14]

V70R...done....

[Wrider]

Do you plan on modifying it? If so go with the Legacy 2.5GT. Same powertrain as the WRX from what I understand.
Otherwise, Volvo is a great car too, and you can say you have a "Svedissshhh" car.

[Vellos]

I thought only overprotective mothers were allowed to buy Volvos?

Subaru gets my vote!

[TransNone13]

The only reason I ask is because TD is the way to go and BMW has the 325X in diesel. Significantly longer operating life and better fuel consumption.

[aerofaze]

I considered the same two models a few years ago. Decided I'd do the Colorado thing and got my Subie WRX from a private seller via cars.com.

If you go the dealer route, consider heading down to Heuberger Motors in the Springs: they're the nation's largest volume Subaru dealer which may translate to better out-the-door prices.

[brennahm]

Go Subaru if you're going to buy a vehicle with less than 75k miles. Volvo's have a lot of reliability problems (Volvo lovers coming out of the woodwork...), but then you'll be doing head gaskets at some point soon after 125k on your Subaru...

[Ricky]

Subaru has the reliability!

[Wrider]

If you do decide to go Subaru send me a PM. There's a dealer/repair shop up in Denver that works exclusively on Subies, and every Subie they sell has had the head gasket replaced.

[D_Sp8s]

How much are you willing to spend?

I am in the wide range of $8k-$12k, the range is so large b/c I am furiously saving up for a down payment. Also I am quite indecisive, hence this thread.

I thought only overprotective mothers were allowed to buy Volvos?

Subaru gets my vote!

You wouldn't be saying that if you hit up the denver auto show and saw some of the newer volvos...

Go Subaru if you're going to buy a vehicle with less than 75k miles. Volvo's have a lot of reliability problems (Volvo lovers coming out of the woodwork...), but then you'll be doing head gaskets at some point soon after 125k on your Subaru...

Currently my 92 Subie wagon has 190k and I honestly haven't put more than $1000-1200 in repairs since I acquired it around 145k. However, now it needs quite a bit of TLC and $$$, which I am not willing to put into it.

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

my little bro had a 2005 S60 type R and man that thing was expensive to repair...if i remember correctly he dropped over $5k in repair/maintenance in the year he had it...sick car...disgustingly expensive.

[rybo]

The only reason I ask is because TD is the way to go and BMW has the 325X in diesel. Significantly longer operating life and better fuel consumption.

I really don't know that I agree with this.

Do some math and see how long it's going to take you to recover the 4K-5K premium you're going to pay for the diesel engine on the front end with the improved fuel economy, especially when Diesel fuel is outpacing gas prices significantly due the the price of crude oil rising. I think you're going to find that unless you drive A LOT you won't ever recover.

Also, the engine may experience a significant increase in operating life, but repairs when needed will be more expensive.

Furthermore, while the engine itself will last longer, the rest of the vehicle is the same as what's used in the gas version. I submit that you will experience ancillary systems failures long before you experience engine failure in a well maintained gasoline engine.

When is it a good choice to go diesel?

I say if you frequently (more than 3X a month) tow something over 7000 lbs then a diesel may be worth considering.

If you drive 40K - 50K miles a year, you MIGHT recover if you buy a smallish diesel vehicle like a golf over a subaru

If you LIKE diesels (just like bikes you have to get what makes you happy)

If you have a free supply of fuel. I know several people that run spent motor oil / transmission fluid / veggie oil in their diesels. That being said, most of them aren't running very modern diesels. The vehicles relegated to this duty are older for sure.

If you can get a screamin' deal on a good diesel vehicle and not suffer the massive increase in initial purchase price.


S

[Keyser Soze]

V70R...done....

This.

[Mother Goose]

Vulva if you want to spend money on repairs. Subaru if you want to spend money on mods.

[200sr20]

I love the Volvo Rmodels. I have been wanting one for a while, and if you know what your doing you can tune the crap out of them and keep them reliable. Subarus are good cars, but as pointed out earlier the have plenty of head gasket issues. We do at least one head job on a Subaru a month at my shop.

[Filo]

Subaru. Volvos are just too expensive any way you look at it. You can do your Subaru's head gaskets in your driveway - at least I did.

[Keyser Soze]

Vulva if you want to spend money on repairs. Subaru if you want to spend money on mods.

Whatever dude. Can't say I've ever seen a Subbie make it into the 300k range. Volvo actually made these badges for their customers.

[laspariahs]

I wouldn't buy a Subaru, but I wouldn't buy a mid 2000 volvo either, though that new s60 looks nice.

Can we have a different choice?

[Vellos]

Whatever dude. Can't say I've ever seen a Subbie make it into the 300k range. Volvo actually made these badges for their customers.

The old Volvos were great. After Ford bought them out they went bad, and even worse when they were passed along to China.

[Mother Goose]

^^^ That.

[Cap'n Crunch]

The old Volvos were great. After Ford bought them out they went bad, and even worse when they were passed along to China.

Yep - I agree 100%. The old 1800's, 240's and 740's were great cars, the new ones aren't as reliable.

Also, if AWD is important to you, then get the subaru. There is no compairison between the awd system in the volvo and the awd in the subaru. I have a family member with the XC70 and I've driven it in the snow - the volvo system is nothing like a real awd car. Check out some youtube videos regrading "volvo xc vs subaru" and you'll see what i mean.

[Ricky]

Psh, since when do Chinese products fall apart?

[Ricky]

Also, if AWD is important to you, then get the subaru. There is no compairison between the awd system in the volvo and the awd in the subaru. I have a family member with the XC70 and I've driven it in the snow - the volvo system is nothing like a real awd car. Check out some youtube videos regrading "volvo xc vs subaru" and you'll see what i mean.

Good example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyLgYskj-oc