# Any reason I should avoid buying a Volvo S60 for the same price as a Camry/Accord? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711 "2012-04-13T21:45:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blackzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Blackzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/1 "2012-04-13T21:45:20Z")
Man, I love Volvos, especially the recent S60/80 line. They’re gorgeous, and I still miss my 240 that I had way back in college. Looking at the prices in the classifieds and carmax, I was surprised to see that I can get one for around the same price/miles as a Camry or Accord. Is there any reason I shouldn’t - are the current Volvos more expensive to repair or maintain than they used to be? Are they more or less reliable? I really don’t want to do a ton of research on the subject, because I was just planning on getting a boring Camry or another Accord - but now I want a gorgeous S60! ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/2 "2012-04-13T21:47:56Z")
Hee hee, I grew up with a Volvo 240. Love 'em. When I met my husband he was driving an 850 identical to the one I had in college. It’s not the reason I fell in love with him, but it didn’t hurt. The drawback of a Volvo is that it can be hard to find parts for them and hard to find someone who will work on them. If you have a Volvo dealership in a convenient location you’re all set though. I do think the parts are somewhat more expensive than those for Japanese cars, but if you’re buying a new Volvo it oughta be quite a while before you need any… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/3 "2012-04-13T22:27:40Z")
In general, parts and service for European cars are more expensive and harder to find than for Asian and American cars. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/4 "2012-04-13T23:43:23Z")
No cite, but I’ve heard the Volvos are plagued with little electrical gremlins. The Toyota or Honda would be bullit-proof. _I’d_ buy the Volvo, however. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OldnCrinkly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OldnCrinkly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldnCrinkly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/5 "2012-04-13T23:50:06Z")
As others have said, parts are less common and more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/6 "2012-04-14T01:09:41Z")
I have an s40 that I love quite deeply and have had no problems - friend has an s60 that she has had no issues either - both are 07s - my mom has an 08 camery (hybrid) and hasn’t had many issues either. FWIW - we seem to pay about the same for maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-should-avoid-buying-a-volvo-s60-for-the-same-price-as-a-camry-accord/618711/7 "2012-04-14T06:53:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > No cite, but I’ve heard the Volvos are plagued with little electrical gremlins. The Toyota or Honda would be bullit-proof. > > _I’d_ buy the Volvo, however. 😉 At one time, they were. But no longer. Volvos are bullet proof. But yes, parts are not as cheap. I’d get the Volvo, too.