Volvo V70R: PH Carpool
Think you like fast Volvos? Not as much as this PHer!
Car: Volvo V70R P2.5
Owned since: March 2014
Previously owned: 27 other Volvo R models and various Renault 5 Turbos (including a Gordini), Citroen BX 16vs and a Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v
Still making good power after 155,000 miles!
"Many reasons! Mainly though watching the 850 estates banging around the touring car circuits in the 1990s with great success; somehow it seemed wrong but they looked so right!
"I think Murray Walker summed it up well: "They all laughed when Volvo said they'd be entering an estate, but they don't think it's funny anymore."
What I wish I'd known:
"Not a lot really as this is my seventh (!) P2R. The automatic is a bit leggy - 110mph in third is possible - but I have a manual (and another two Rs!) so I can always use that instead."
Things I love:
"It is a very understated Q car, produced in very low numbers (for some models, only 80 were imported) so rarity comes as standard. The performance is good but it's easy to tune as well and the V70 also has an almost Germanic build quality and feel to it. All this with a certain Swedish flair and the safety of a Volvo - it ticks all the boxes for me!
Out and about with like-minded Volvo folk
"I can't forget the sound either, it's just heavenly! With the three-inch downpipe and cat back exhaust, at full chat it's a five-cylinder orchestra under the bonnet.
"Recently on the dyno after 155,000 miles it made exactly the original claimed power figure - 295hp - which I thought was pretty good for a standard tune car!"
Things I hate:
"The Ohlins active chassis is not the best; I'll be fitting KW coilovers to my other P2R for the track. The cost of maintaining one of these can be high if you buy a dog.
Costs:
"I saved this car as it had a split liner, but I had to go through the car as the main dealer service history did leave a lot to be desired. It was more time consuming than mega money, but if you're not going to tackle the work yourself I can see how labour would add up. Fortunately I've learnt a few things along the way!"
Start them young, right Stephen?
"This year I've been to the Ace Cafe twice, Incarnation at Brighton, two dyno days and a VolvoSportUK show at Beaulieu.
"I was in Gothenburg in October but I didn't drive, it was a factory tour and visit to the Volvo test track."
What next?
"Maybe a Polestar or a T6 XC60 - I'm still a Volvo man at heart!"
I bought one around 2 years ago from a guy I know, it had just over 200k on the clock and a service file / maintenance history several inches thick, which added up to £thousands (including rear driveshaft replacements iirc, and also the haldex unit was rebuilt)
Mine was an auto, and to be fair, despite a rolling road session which suggested all the Swediah elks were still all present and correct under the bonnet, it never felt that quick; in fact ive had several T5 manuals in the past that felt not far off as quick. Nice to see the OPs car also retained all of its galloping elk too.
Build quality of mine was good, and it was impossible to tell it had done over 200k, such was the high standard of the paintwork, interior trim etc.
I subsequently sold it for double what I paid for it some time later, and have often thought of buying another, but trying to find one with a comprehensive maintenance schedule to match mine would probably be impossible...
I describe them as they do everything thing very good but nothing briliantly.
Not sure if this will work I'm hopeless with posting pics, here's a better pics of it side on.
It came with dark anthracite, but I prefer the black but what can't be seen is the flake when the light hits the wheels. I changed the lights from silver to black and added the wind deflectors
I describe them as they do everything thing very good but nothing briliantly.
ked off. I then eased up and let him pass to a laugh and a thumbs up. My Mrs wasn't too happy tho 
Your last line sums it up well, but this is why it works for me. They are an excellent compromise car for those of us who cannot justify two cars.
ked off. I then eased up and let him pass to a laugh and a thumbs up. My Mrs wasn't too happy tho Your last line sums it up well, but this is why it works for me. They do everything well, but nothing brilliantly. They are an excellent compromise car for those of us who cannot justify two cars.
They're good whilst working ok and servicing the box is crucial, I've seen some with high miles but I've seen too many 5sp's fail and early in there life, volvo only used the 5sp auto for 2 years on the R's, where as the 6sp is still in production and used in the polestars.
5sp auto is also has strangled torque in 1st and 2nd, the 6sp isn't limited (although I still feel it hold back a bit), makes about 1.5 secs to 60 difference, which is handy. A couple other differences the 6sp has the pretty much bullet proof angle gear, mines on original collar at 155k, plus the haldex is uprated and give less trouble, but that's cheap and easy to fix these days.
ked off. I then eased up and let him pass to a laugh and a thumbs up. My Mrs wasn't too happy tho Your last line sums it up well, but this is why it works for me. They do everything well, but nothing brilliantly. They are an excellent compromise car for those of us who cannot justify two cars.
They're good whilst working ok and servicing the box is crucial, I've seen some with high miles but I've seen too many 5sp's fail and early in there life, volvo only used the 5sp auto for 2 years on the R's, where as the 6sp is still in production and used in the polestars.
5sp auto is also has strangled torque in 1st and 2nd, the 6sp isn't limited (although I still feel it hold back a bit), makes about 1.5 secs to 60 difference, which is handy. A couple other differences the 6sp has the pretty much bullet proof angle gear, mines on original collar at 155k, plus the haldex is uprated and give less trouble, but that's cheap and easy to fix these days.
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