I've been driving for 2 years, and I finally have a car that I can call my own. It has around 220,000 miles on it, it's been in two accidents, the check engine light has been on for over a year, there's a oil leak in the turbo and god knows what else wrong with it. I'm not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to cars, I understand the basics of how an engine works but I probably couldn't identify what does what if you opened up the hood and asked me. I'd like to change that, and I figure the best way to is to actually work on a car.

So, in your opinion, would it be worthwhile for me to spend a little money and "soup up" my car? Apparently there's a decent selection of aftermarket parts for the V70, but I'm not really sure where to start assuming it's not going to be a complete waste of money. I'm not planning on really doing much racing, I just want a car that performs better than average, and to learn a thing or two in the process.

Buy a "For dummies" book and learn how to do basic car mantinance and what everything does with that.

Also, do not "Soup up" your. Ever. Unless it's old and you want to drop a bigger engine in (IE an old Camaro/Charger/Firebird)

It's not worth doing anything to new engines, they're too computerized. Do anything and it'll have a fucking heart attack. Also, do not get a "Body kit" or any such thing. You will look like an idiot who thinks he's cool rolling around in his Volvo V70 with huge spoilers and side skirts.

Other than that, good luck with your car and future cars.

why don't you just try to fix whatever's wrong with it to keep it running, as opposed to "souping it up?" unless that's what you meant. see if you can get that check engine light to go out.

Let me start by saying yes, put some money into that Volvo. AWD + Turbo + Massive trunk? Hell to the yes!

But, for starters I think you have the wrong idea about "souping up". Do not, under any circumstances, "soup it up". I don't mean modify your Volvo to make it faster, I mean fix the car up first. What you should do is try to mechanically and aesthetically restore it to factory condition. Start by fixing everything that's wrong with it, at least if you can.

You should know that if you do attempt to do the work yourself, then be prepared to not have your Volvo on the road for a while. Also prepare to make some mistakes, you'll probably have to take it to a mechanic with your tail between your legs once or twice. Getting someone to fix your mistakes isn't great, but it happens to the best of us.

I am interested in knowing the details of its crash damage; where, how bad, and how well was it repaired?

Generally, Volvos are pretty good cars and are worth taking care of. It is true that you can turn them into real fire-breathing monsters as well. Which engine is it exactly? I understand the S/V70s had straight-5s. I've seen videos on youtube where these fairly normal looking Volvos cruise down the highway with engines that sound similar to the legendary turbo 5-cyls of Audi fame. It didn't go quite as fast, but then that's like saying your Porsche 911 can't go as fast as that Mclaren F1...

LIES.

Modern engines have ten times the potential to be modified as some old flathead or farty V8 does. I've seen volvos with insane engines in them before, and they are fine cars to begin with. First, repair everything that is important to you, and then you can star modifications if you still wish to do so.

I know a guy with a Volvo who dropped an LT1 in and makes over 450hp...

Try and make your Volvo sound like this.

/me wants an excuse to post a vid of sheer audio pornography.

It would be a better idea to spend that money fixing the problems the car already has, not inviting new ones.

I think I overstated the issues the car has in my original post. I know it has a pretty bad leak in the turbo, to the point where I carry around a couple quarts of oil because it leaks out so fast. I don't know of any other serious mechanical problems. I think I remember being told the check engine light is on because of the oxygen sensor, and it's nothing to worry about. The trunk latch broke last year, and it swings open when I go up a hill or accelerate hard.

As for accident damage, it was in a minor fender bender when my dad first bought it and it was rear ended pretty badly by a dumb cunt in her husband's Expedition a few years later. I was too young at the time to remember the details of what work went into fixing it, but I remember it being fucked up pretty bad. I was in the backseat when it got hit and it seemed like the whole trunk area was pretty much done. The front got banged up too because it rolled into a second SUV that was stopped in front of it. You won't know it by looking at it though, the outside of the car is in very good condition. Don't worry, I have no intention of wasting time and money with body kits and other "The Fast and the Furious" bullshit (I haven't even seen the movie).

I'm still really not sure where to start though, besides basic maintenance. I know the turbo needs to be replaced, so I was thinking I'd put in one from a V70R instead of replacing the one that's in there now, but I don't think that's something I can even dream of doing myself at this point. It also seems like the most logical first performance upgrade would be a new ECU, is that correct? It currently has a single exhaust, but there's a space for a second pipe on the back bumper. I don't know if there would be any real performance difference but if nothing else it would look and sound cooler. Is it difficult to install an aftermarket exhaust? Or should I not even bother with any of this shit and just replace the turbo?

Also, I've been putting regular fuel in it but a coworker who claims to be knowledgeable told me that turbocharged cars usually require higher octane ratings because of the higher compression, and if the timing wasn't adjusting itself the engine would blow itself to pieces. I'm fairly certain it's never had so much as a drop of premium fuel in it's tank, but it's running fine even after all those miles. Would I notice a difference if I started using higher octane fuel? It already costs $75 to fill up.

Lol yes, that's why you can make 800 rear wheel HP from a 3.0 liter turbo inline 6, right? Too computerized? hah!