2002 Volvo S80

Volvo has long been known for building safe, reliable cars. While they haven't ever been especially stylish, Volvos are an up-market car and their quality is evidence of that.

Their flagship luxury car, the S90 was redesigned and renamed the S80 for 1999. Rear-wheel drive gave way to front-drive and two new engines were used. A 201-hp, 2.9-liter 6 powered the regular S80, and the sporty T6 was powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter, making 268 horsepower. Both cars used a 4-speed automatic, but a Geartronic feature was used in the T6 to allow manual shifting.

Both cars drive well, but the T6 feels much more sporting than the underpowered S80. Safety equipment included side-curtain airbags, and Volvo's WHIPS system which moves the front seatbacks and headrests rearward to minimize whiplash during a rear-end collision. Standard equipment included dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, eight-way power front bucket seats (with driver memory), and a split folding rear seat. Heated power mirrors, power locks and windows, remote keyless entry, a cassette/CD player, and 16-inch alloy wheels also were standard. The T6 package added the bigger motor, added heated front seats and mirrors, along with wood interior trim. A novel rear beverage cooler and DVD player also came with the T6 package, and an Executive package added a rear center console with a built in fax/copier and a bunch of other luxury goodies. . YEAR TO YEAR CHANGES FOR THE VOLVO S80: 2000: A new option group called the Warm Weather package included sun-blocking rear curtains, and a windshield with infrared treatment to reflect the sun's heat. An antiskid system was now an option, along with 17-inch wheels and a navigation system. Horsepower from the base engine also dipped to 197 horsepower. 2001: The base S80 got more standard equipment like leather and memory for the outside mirrors, and the T6 Executive sedan debuted. Aimed at chauffer driven CEOs, the T6 Executive had 2 inches of extra rear leg room, thanks to the repositioned, and heated individual back seats (which were divided by a center console). The Executive had wider rear doors, a powered rear-window sunshade, wireless fax/copier, and a rear-seat DVD-based audio/video system. A new front-seat sensor system could trigger dashboard airbags with reduced force, depending on crash severity and whether the occupant was belted. 2002: Both engines were returned to deliver more power at lower rpm, but the base 2.9-liter engine dropped 194-hp. The T6 Executive sedan now had 17-inch wheels and all models got an in-trunk emergency release handle and new alloy wheels. A new Elite sedan was introduced and had the extra rear leg room and wider-opening doors of the Executive, but had a three-passenger rear bench and fewer amenities. 2003: Volvo's On-Call Plus assistance system debuted. This system was optional on the 2.9 and standard on other models. Rain-sensing wipers were also added to the option list. 2004: An all-wheel drive version of the S80, called the AWD S80 2.5T was introduced. It had a 208-hp, 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. Also new this year was an optional adjustable suspension, a revised steering system, and new front and rear fascias. 2005: Run-flat tires and real-wood trim were new for '05. The 2.5Ts came with 16-inch wheels and a new Sport option package included 17" wheels and sport seats. T6s now had optional 18 inchers and the T6 Premier's rear seat was no longer angled for 2 inches more legroom. Volvo's On-Call Plus assistance system was no longer available. 2006: All S80s got a 208-hp turbocharged 5-cyl engine. The T6 and Premier models were discontinued. . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE VOLVO S80: Throttle Body Control Module (1999-2001) - $620 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (1999-2001) - $230 Electric Throttle Module (ETM) (2002) - $150