P80 AWD cars are a topic that always draws out some polarising views. Rob Eldridge built a really nice AWD C70T5 coupe, using a donor V70XC (P80 and the first year or two of P2 XC cars were actually a V70XC - in line with the name convention used with V70R etc - rather than being badged as an XC70) - Rob's car was very well done and was purchased by James Clancy and then Sam Hewitt afterwards. Not sure who owns it now.
A few folks in the UK and a couple in the US have done AWD conversions on 850Rs, 850T5Rs using parts from V70XC, V70R and 850 AWD/V70 AWD cars as donors.
They're definitely more sure-footed and there are claims of good ability to hold big power output.
Is it worth it? Kinda depends on where you stand on it. The efforts people go to in order to do it should be admired - there's always satisfaction in the 'project' side of it and the sense of achievement in completing a conversion like this.
For me though, the maintenance of AWD (note how many of the used ones when they come up note that they have the driveshaft removed and are FWD only at that point), replacing bevel gears, the limited options in decent AWD rear suspension options in the aftermarket, the additional weight and the AWD cars being 'lazier' on change of direction (they're heavier) are factors that mean that I am not interested in one personally.
They're not 'bad' cars - they're arguably more refined than their FWD counterparts but personally, I'd prefer a well sorted FWD car and believe that an FWD P80 is a better fit for me.
