Volvo: 2001 V70 Volvo Wagon (non Turbo), v70 volvo, volvo wagon

Question
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Followup To
Question - I am looking at a wagon...850...1996.  I am wondering what you think about this car? Thanks.
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I have pretty much nixed the 2001 V70 because I can't get the chemical smell out.  This tells me that I need to go to an older Volvo.

I looked at a Xcountry yesterday...a 1998...from a Volvo auto mechanic.  He bought it from a dealer in PA.  and is selling it at his auto mechanic lot in New York State.  When I asked him about anything wrong with the car..he said.."it is what it is."  I asked if he minded my own mechanic going through it and he said he didn't mind because anything he had to fix would raise the price.  Is this the right attitude?  The car is very nice and seem to drive well but his attitude has me nervous. What are your thoughts on this car? It has a sun roof, leather interior, 90 thousand miles and he is asking close to $14,000.  Please advise.
Answer -
It doesn't sound like a bad deal, and the Xcountry would give you the all wheel drive for rough weather.  The seller doesn't sound desperate to sell, so the price will only be ok, nothing special.  The cost of ownership on a car like this will be the same as with the V70, a little higher than most cars.

Answer
My first inclination would be to stay away from an 850 this old.  It was the first car Volvo used a 5-cylinder transverse mounted drive train, and I think it had quite a few bugs in the first few years of production.  You would be better off with one a bit newer, or finding a post 2000 V series, when more of the issues were worked out.