MY PARENTS BOUGHT A 2004 VOLVO XC70 because, to them, that brand meant longevity. Part of that perception comes from a well-publicized 1966 P1800S that its sole owner, Irv Gordon, drove more than 3 million miles before he died in 2018.
But that 1800—same as other record-high-mileage Lexuses, Chevy trucks, and diesel Mercedes-Benzes—is comparatively analog. It runs on simple, usually interchangeable parts. A skilled mechanic could remove its engine in an hour. Now, the newest Volvos have digital dashboards, radars, and super- and turbocharged small-displacement engines. Like most modern cars, they are complicated miracles of safety and convenience that will last into six-figure mileage without major repairs. But there’s no way that XC70, or any modern Volvo, could last a million miles. Right?
I asked Volvo Master Mechanic Nino Gambino…
