On the market to buy used Volvo, the worst and best years?

Well I can only comment on my experience with my truck. In 2010 I purchased a 2006 ex Swift VNL 670 465HP Volvo VD12 , 9 spd 3.55 with around 500,000 miles on it, and for the first two years I spent a lot in repairs , water pump went $2,000, EGR twice, injectors, turbo, king pins, few electrical issues etc. All work done at the dealer with dealer prices, I was not too happy but I keep it and started to take good care of it.

Then I converted to 13 spd and all of the sudden it settled done, at 900.000 miles started to use a bit of oil so I added lucas on every oil change and stop it, and now I have 1.1 million and still pull like champ and for the past two years I didn't spend much on it. I will do an inframe when need it and I will keep it for a while.

cons: part prices, dealers repair cost, mechanics don't like to work on them.

pros: very comfortable cabin, good fuel mileage, motor has good power.

overall I'm happy with the truck now.

 

99-03 are the best years(IMO) After that, they went to lighter materials to save weight and just don't seem as sturdy as the earlier models. If you can find one with a Cummins N-14, you are golden!!

Like the poster above, I also put alot of money into my truck the first year, '09, but now it is very reliable with 1.6 mm without an inframe.

Keep looking, you will find your truck.

 

The big fleets know when to get rid of their trucks

 

I am in the same boat researching this question and here is what I found so far. Pre 2003 engines are good, but everything else is falling apart, simply just to trucks being old. If you get one, plan to invest a good amount of money to put it in a tip top shape. 2004-2007 EGR only trucks are good if EGR problems are taken care of. Again, they are getting old too and its hard to find one in good shape. 2008-2010 are the worst, because they got both EGR and DPF. So the best ones are 2011 and up DEF ONLY.They get better MPG and so far are not known to have any major problems. Again, this is not my personal experience, but info I gathered since I started to research this topic.

 

The worst years:
1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

The best years:
Freightliner

 

they all suck

 

I have a 2006 d12 and I like that little bugger of a truck. Few wiring gremlins but the motor just keeps on chugging away with gross weight at 100,000 she ain't winning no races but they were a good reliable engine.

If you can handle driving old trucks then the n14 comments is a good choice. Work horse of a engine, not gonna break any fuel mileage records but it's less likely to nickle and dime you to death.

I don't know what you haul but my personal favorite o/o spec would be the volvo 880 with a big Ole d16 in it. If you read online there are so many complaints about that engine it'll make your head spin, but pay attention to the fact they are all pre 09 because all issues were rectified and people only go online to complain. For a light weight otr guy some will say bad fuel mileage but to that I say.... no worse than the n14, you will shift half the gears and you can always de tune it a bit and still benifits because there is absolutely no substite for cubic inches.

That being said, in your world I don't know ####. All my loads are 100000 to 140000 pounds so I'm screwed for fuel no matter.

 

The big fleets know when to get rid of their trucks Most are fleet leased on a 3 1/2 to 4 year term with a 500,000 mile cap on mileage

 

Or a Series 60 or a 3406e. Any of those pre-emissions motors are good. (I've heard the Volvo motor in the 1st gen VNL's aren't bad either but I'd rather have a "big 3" motor for the parts and service availability).

I'd like a 1st Gen VNL for my first truck but they are pretty hard to find these days in decent shape. The 2nd gens are alright too but they all came with emissions motors and really want to stay away from that.