Okay, super sad. Last week I was sitting at a stoplight when a kid rear-ended me in a car he had just stolen. He was flying (his airbags went off and he pushed me into the car ahead of me. Kid fled the scene on foot. The car did a great job protecting me, but sacrificed itself. I have a 2013 V Five+ATP with 80,000 miles and all the upgrades including Thule roof rack and hitch. I shopped long and hard for that car and actually had it shipped from FL to MN for me. I needed something to drive immediately. Body shop told me they'd need it for a month to figure out IF it can be "rebuilt". No Prius V Fives in town. So I went and bought what I thought would be a short-term runner: a 2004 Volvo XC70 wagon. Here's my dilemma. I LOVE this old Volvo with a thousand features, including a 3rd row jump seat. My kids love the new old car. It has an OPENING sunroof, and AWD, and so much clearance underneath, and a roof rack. And it is so much more comfortable than the Prius. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I am blown away by that old Volvo. Even if I hate the mileage. But at $4,000 purchase price, I can buy a lot of gas. Thoughts, experiences? I never imagined I'd have this "problem." Words of wisdom are welcome.
This unexpected event landed you in something that will do for now...so...just take your time to decide your next step.
How many miles on the Volvo? Do you do any long distance or rural driving where it would be a huge problem if you had a breakdown? If not, it sounds like a keeper for now.
THIS. Take the insurance money and start saving for a newer more family friendly vehicle......like a newer Volvo. The "socker mom mini-vans" were (and still are) popular for good reasons.
Volvo used to make terrific cars. Looks like you got one of them. I'd suggest you celebrate having stumbled onto a "short term" car that you enjoy while you look for the long term replacement. It takes the pressure off and you have time to be selective. And I'm glad you're OK.
sorry about your accident, but glad you're okay! if you like the volvo, keep the volvo. should clear a million miles no prolemo, all the best!
They did not. He fled on foot, but some of his friends picked him up and drove off. I think I was too stunned to get a license plate off the pickup car.
You can't save gas money with any Prius when your old beauty costed you only $4,000. Yeah, like everyone said, Keep your insurance money and keep driving the Volvo. No brainer.
We sure like our 7-passenger 2014 Sienna Limited - has ATP with PCS and DRCC like our 2012 Prius v Five but it can carry three adult couples in comfort. If the OP is looking for a used vehicle that is far more reliable than a Volvo (I've had three), an average miles (80,000) 2014 Sienna Limited with all packages including the ATP in very good condition like ours is currently going for around $20K. I didn't get AWD on the Sienna but it does great on snow and ice with Blzzak winter tires as does our Prius on Blizzaks ... except I can turn traction control off on the Sienna if necessary - there's no Off button for TRAC on the Prius and I never could get the "pedal dance" to work. FYI: A Sienna hybrid has been announced for 2021 per an article in Automotive News about Toyota supplying Sienna hybrids to Uber. Edit: I forgot the really "important" information. If the OP likes opening sunroofs, the Sienna Limited has two with rear one being YUGE.
My sister loved her 2005 Sienna, but she felt the 2015 was a significant downgrade (similar upper trimline with leather seats, etc). She's had it in for a number of things that went wrong before 50,000. And living 200 miles from a dealer, it has been a deal breaker for her.
I guess it will be. Insurance got back to me and I don't see myself buying another Prius V this spring.
I'm voting the party line on this one. Keep the Volvo and set out some drag lines out for a replacement, but wait for a REALLY good deal to come along before you switch. Besides.....paid-for cars are ALWAYS more comfy than bank-owned cars. All day. Every day. Good Luck! Oh yeah, the kid that TA'd your old car probably doesn't have much money in the bank....or a paycheck to garnish....or much of anything else. Let the LEOs and the insurance company worry about that. Enjoy the time with the kiddos and give thanks that you're not as banged up as the Prius!!
I gladly give the title to bank for them to give me free money at 0% or 0.9% while my dollars can be used to make 8% to 15% returns. That's a no brainer. Make your money work for you. The kid that stole one of my sportier junkers (1994 Prelude) many years ago just got out of jail is working now. I get $0.64 every month as wage garnishments. He stole/broke/destroyed a lot of stuff before he was locked up. I find it entertaining it is mailed to me as a physical cheque everymonth. If I didn't have mobile deposit on my phone, I'd probably just throw it away... An old-old-old Volvo is great. A teenager Volvo is OK but they're low in price for a reason. For the price and if everyone is happy, I'd keep it and plan for what comes next when it inevitably dies on the side of the road.
200 miles from a dealership would be a problem with any vehicle and, same as the Prius v, there were two recalls on the Sienna that had to be fixed by a Toyota dealer. A criticism of the 2011-up Sienna was the switch to more utilitarian, hard surface, damage resistant interior panels which I appreciated. The "refreshed" 2015 Sienna had some minor issues our 2014 didn't have with one of the irritating ones being a flickering cruise control stalk light. (Unlike the Prius v, the Sienna cruise control stalk is lighted.) I was mainly pointing out that quality on my last Volvo, purchased new, was hilariously poor and included paint runs on the exterior, switches that popped out of the dash if I hit a bump, a balky gear shift that frustrated my wife, and lots of squeaks from interior trim. My wife hated that Volvo and I dumped it after 18 months. Maybe Volvo's new Chinese Geely owners will straightened Volvo out. Volvo likely would have gone out of business like Saab did had Geely not rescued it. Our 2014 Sienna compares very favorable with the far more expensive Lexus LS sedans I drove for the previous 24 years. My wife sometimes likes being chauffeured while reading or watching a movie while sitting in one of the Sienna's second row recliner seats on long trips - like in the attached "slightly modified" photo. Not many vehicles have accommodations like that.
