It’s been quite a while since we’ve found ourselves yearning for a Volvo Shed of the Week, but this T5 Estate is too good to resist.
The prospect of jumping into a dark blue T5 and bolting down the motorway as though you’re Plod on a mission has undeniable appeal, and the fact that ten years ago cars like this one would have been the bane of every motorway user’s life still strikes a chord with us here.
The merest glimpse of that square grille and boxy rear would summon a bead of sweat on many a forehead and provoke anxious checks of the speedo from even the most law abiding motorist for fear of igniting a blaze of blue light from the mouth of a traffic cop’s T5.
That said, there's not much in the way of evidence to warrant a full paper check on this little number. It might have notched up a hefty double tonne, but 200k of predominantly motorway miles will barely have cracked the spine of the 2.3-litre engine. If that’s not enough to convince you to take a £1000 punt on one of Sweden’s finest barges then the car’s full Volvo service history will go some way to allay any fears, and ensure everything is present, correct and above board, officer.
Both the pictures and the description show the car’s tidy looking interior, which shows no signs of having played home to a K9 unit. The bodywork looks similarly fresh, but we’d take a closer look at the tyres, as all that power had a notorious reputation for shredding rubber. It’s also worth checking over the brake pads and discs, as they endure a bit of a hammering when trying to haul this hefty brick on wheels down from those motorway patrol car speeds.
Pistonheads ad reads: T5 CD Estate Manual (1997) 203k
2.3 Turbo (not modified), FVSH (all paperwok), Dark metallic blue, Full dark grey leather spotless interior, Exterior very good condition for year and miles (80% motorway), 2 previous owners (last owner ex-mechanic), Electric roof/mirrors/seats (heated), Climate, RC-locking/alarm/immob, PAS, Cruise, CD player, ABS, SIPS/Airbags , Tax and MOT. £1000