2008 Volvo C30 T5 2.0 reliability?

[97prizm]

Hi All,

I'm getting to the point of looking for a replacement for my neon, and possibly cavalier. I saw a low mileage Chevy Malibu with 103k miles for $4950 at pull n pays "dealership " or sales area along with a 2008 Volvo C30 T5 2.0 with 150k miles for $5k. I've owned neither, never had a Volvo but am reading mixed reviews for the Volvo. Alot say it's more reliable than most but a few mentioned it was a transition year for their anti theft and occasionally a headache to get fixed. One person mentioned that they had 189k miles on theirs but spent 6k In repairs over several years. I'm also considering my parents 2018 Subaru impreza manual for 10k or so but worry about the clutch replacement cost. It has 89k miles currently.

 

[Speedbird001]

I remember being overseas reading about the C30 and thinking I really wanted one. IIRC they were really designed to be ordered to your spec with tons of options. My Dad went to a dealer for me, they had 2 on display, that was exactly it, they were for display and test drives, not for sale. Did not end up buying one No idea how they held up, sorry. But there were kind of cool

as for the Subaru... Clutch can last a Looooong time. I got over 300k out of one on my Tacoma. What matters is how it is used or abused I think... Is your Dad good/easy on the clutch? What is stop-go versus highway mileage. FWIW: Risk of a possible clutch replacement would not deter me from a car. Probably no more risk or cost than any other automatic transmission used car out there in your vintage / price range.

 

[97prizm]

I remember being overseas reading about the C30 and thinking I really wanted one. IIRC they were really designed to be ordered to your spec with tons of options. My Dad went to a dealer for me, they had 2 on display, that was exactly it, they were for display and test drives, not for sale. Did not end up buying one No idea how they held up, sorry. But there were kind of cool

as for the Subaru... Clutch can last a Looooong time. I got over 300k out of one on my Tacoma. What matters is how it is used or abused I think... Is your Dad good/easy on the clutch? What is stop-go versus highway mileage. FWIW: Risk of a possible clutch replacement would not deter me from a car. Probably no more risk or cost than any other automatic transmission used car out there in your vintage / price range.

My parents tend to get fairly good life out of clutches once my mom started not riding the clutch pedal.

 

[YZJB]

Take the Subaru. I love Volvos but they require a lot of care and attention. Good for an enthusiast but a headache if it’s your only car.

 

[Kira]

Your parents car is indeed, "the devil you know". That means an extra lot in cases of higher mileage vehicles.

 

[dfarr67]

I remember being overseas reading about the C30 and thinking I really wanted one. IIRC they were really designed to be ordered to your spec with tons of options. My Dad went to a dealer for me, they had 2 on display, that was exactly it, they were for display and test drives, not for sale. Did not end up buying one No idea how they held up, sorry. But there were kind of cool

as for the Subaru... Clutch can last a Looooong time. I got over 300k out of one on my Tacoma. What matters is how it is used or abused I think... Is your Dad good/easy on the clutch? What is stop-go versus highway mileage. FWIW: Risk of a possible clutch replacement would not deter me from a car. Probably no more risk or cost than any other automatic transmission used car out there in your vintage / price range.

Going through this with my accord- doesn't need a clutch but wanted one on the shelf ready to go- wifey's pretty hard on it. Honda pricing was out of the question- no idea whether the flywheel is dual mass, probably tho.....so have a steel LUK flywheel, a Exedy replacement kit and a Honda oem throw-out on the shelf. $300 in parts vs ?