RE: Spotted: Volvo V70 R
Discussion
A lex said:
Mechanical sympathy a bit lacking??lightthefuse said:
I've been keeping an eye on these - can't they be a bit of a bork-fest at times too?
I don't quite know what bork-fest is, but Mazda 6 MPS handles like a dream. I had a 6 diesel and that handled really well. Went out to test drive an MPS and loved it. Didn't buy it as I was doing too many miles at the time. Not quite STI/EVO but not too far off either.It is, however, less comfortable than similar cars, so handling does have a trade-off I'm afraid.
A lex said:
As did I, up to a point. Always fancied 850R. I'm still thinking about making V8 powered 960...For me Volvo ended around 1998 when Ford came in and changed them. The new ones (like this V70 and S60) feel heavy and cumbersome and different from the old ones.
When I bought my first Volvo in 1997 - a fully loaded 850 T5 estate. Brilliant car. The dealer offered me an ex demo R but the suspension was so hard that it was very uncomfortable to drive. I traded the 850 in for a V70 T5 and love it too. The best car out there for smooth, fast, long distance touring. Very under-rated and much cooler than the German alternatives.
Bencolem said:
Hmmm, £6350 @ 92,000 miles. You could get an BMW 545i touring with a proper V8, more power, better ride/handling and half the miles for that price...
The V70 is an estate and has a massive boot. Which does make it a rather lot more practical, and therefore desirable than a saloon car. Well, for those of us that live in the real world, anyway.
dickyf said:
what about the lock on these cars??? its almost impossible to get in or out of a standard space in one manoeuvre....
;-) Ah, there is someone who has driven one! Yeah, it is a little embarrassing having to do a three point turn when trying to go all the way round a mini roundabout.
5 series is Not in the same league.gck303 said:
;-) Ah, there is someone who has driven one!
Yeah, it is a little embarrassing having to do a three point turn when trying to go all the way round a mini roundabout.
Oh yes, the turning circle of a supertanker!Yeah, it is a little embarrassing having to do a three point turn when trying to go all the way round a mini roundabout.
I've had both a auto and a manual, the later being much better.
With a bit of a remap and a replacement exhaust system it was putting out about 350bhp, went like stink and had a fabulous 5 cylinder warble when pressing on. It was highly amusing to watch the reaction of other people to being overtaken by a Volvo barge pulling a Caterham on a trailer
Much as I'd like another just for the silliness factor, not sure I would want one without a warranty....fortunately mine had Volvo extended cover which came in handy for the circa £10,000 bill for a new engine after it cracked a cylinder!
gck303 said:
Bencolem said:
Hmmm, £6350 @ 92,000 miles. You could get an BMW 545i touring with a proper V8, more power, better ride/handling and half the miles for that price...
The V70 is an estate and has a massive boot. Which does make it a rather lot more practical, and therefore desirable than a saloon car. Well, for those of us that live in the real world, anyway.
I love Volvo estates and seriously considered buying an R last year.
Another contender was the Legacy Spec B estate.
What put me off the Volvo, on paper at least, was a road test report lambasting the auto's relative lack of grunt and the soggy handling. At least in their view.
But similar money buys a very good naturally aspirated E55 estate, so that's what I bought instead.
Another contender was the Legacy Spec B estate.
What put me off the Volvo, on paper at least, was a road test report lambasting the auto's relative lack of grunt and the soggy handling. At least in their view.
But similar money buys a very good naturally aspirated E55 estate, so that's what I bought instead.
What is the turning circle on these in metres?
I'm currently dealing with 13m which is embarrasing at times, especially in multi-storeys, so I tend to avoid them.
I'm looking for a fast comfortable motor with a decent sized boot. These seem to fit the bill... this or a SAAB 93 Turbo.
What is the model of your car called? (I don't know much about them at the min)
I'm currently dealing with 13m which is embarrasing at times, especially in multi-storeys, so I tend to avoid them.
I'm looking for a fast comfortable motor with a decent sized boot. These seem to fit the bill... this or a SAAB 93 Turbo.
charltjr said:
Love the R look, but unless 4WD is an absolute must I'd go for a 2005-on 2.4 litre T5 without the 4C gubbins and 4WD (both of which are known for bork).
The engine in the 2.4 T5 is still the same block as the earlier 2.3 litre T5 so is tough as old boots, much stronger than the R's 2.5 engine which has been known to split the cylinder liners. The extra capacity over the 2.3 T5 comes from changes to the pistons so it's not to be confused with the 2.4T engine which is a very different beast. The 2.4 T5 has all the go-faster bits (turbo, manifolds, induction) from the R and it also has the bigger brakes from the XC90 fitted. It's also very, very receptive to a good remap - over 300bhp is no problem at all.
In fact, I did go for one of those instead
Sorry for the questions, What does the road tax cost? What are 4C gubbins?The engine in the 2.4 T5 is still the same block as the earlier 2.3 litre T5 so is tough as old boots, much stronger than the R's 2.5 engine which has been known to split the cylinder liners. The extra capacity over the 2.3 T5 comes from changes to the pistons so it's not to be confused with the 2.4T engine which is a very different beast. The 2.4 T5 has all the go-faster bits (turbo, manifolds, induction) from the R and it also has the bigger brakes from the XC90 fitted. It's also very, very receptive to a good remap - over 300bhp is no problem at all.
In fact, I did go for one of those instead
What is the model of your car called? (I don't know much about them at the min)
I have the S60R. It is on a 53 plate and I bought it two and a half years ago it had 74,000 miles on the clock when I bought it and I paid £5,500 for it.
Things I wish I knew when I bought it:
1)Turning circle, it is terrible.
2)I should have bought the manual and not the automatic (although I have been told later automatics are better since they are six speed not five speed).
3)HID lights can be tempramental and are extremely costly to replace.
4)Very difficult to replace the standard stereo, budget for replacement wiring adapter if you want the steering volume and search controls to work, the amp does not work with anything other than the standard stereo and don't expect Halfords to do the installation.
5) All wheel drive could be better, my Audi A6 Quattro feels more sure footed in all conditions.
Things I love about it:
1)The colour, I went for the bright green exterior and orange leather interior.
2)Acceleration is good, although much improved in "Sport" mode.
3)300 BHP for £5,500 not at bad at all.
4)The most comfortable seats in any car I have ever sat in.
Nothing has gone wrong with it yet (touch wood) and I am at 89,000 miles now. I have just kept up with the servicing as required. I would recommend getting decent tyres though, I initally had Pirelli P6's on it and it did not handle well at all, I went on the Volvo Owners Forum and the consensus was to change to Michellin Pilot Sport 3's and handling has improved imeasurably.
Would I change it for another car? Not in that price range and I can see that the estate would be even better.
It still makes me smile when I drive it.
Things I wish I knew when I bought it:
1)Turning circle, it is terrible.
2)I should have bought the manual and not the automatic (although I have been told later automatics are better since they are six speed not five speed).
3)HID lights can be tempramental and are extremely costly to replace.
4)Very difficult to replace the standard stereo, budget for replacement wiring adapter if you want the steering volume and search controls to work, the amp does not work with anything other than the standard stereo and don't expect Halfords to do the installation.
5) All wheel drive could be better, my Audi A6 Quattro feels more sure footed in all conditions.
Things I love about it:
1)The colour, I went for the bright green exterior and orange leather interior.
2)Acceleration is good, although much improved in "Sport" mode.
3)300 BHP for £5,500 not at bad at all.
4)The most comfortable seats in any car I have ever sat in.
Nothing has gone wrong with it yet (touch wood) and I am at 89,000 miles now. I have just kept up with the servicing as required. I would recommend getting decent tyres though, I initally had Pirelli P6's on it and it did not handle well at all, I went on the Volvo Owners Forum and the consensus was to change to Michellin Pilot Sport 3's and handling has improved imeasurably.
Would I change it for another car? Not in that price range and I can see that the estate would be even better.
It still makes me smile when I drive it.
KIG1971 said:
<...>
Nothing has gone wrong with it yet (touch wood) and I am at 89,000 miles now. I have just kept up with the servicing as required. I would recommend getting decent tyres though, I initally had Pirelli P6's on it and it did not handle well at all, I went on the Volvo Owners Forum and the consensus was to change to Michellin Pilot Sport 3's and handling has improved imeasurably.
Would I change it for another car? Not in that price range and I can see that the estate would be even better.
It still makes me smile when I drive it.
This is a Volvo. The old ones would go to 200k and beyond just fine, so 90k shouldn't be a problem unless Ford really messed them up. My dad's 850 got sold in perfect working order with 160k on the clock and the biggest problem we had with it was washer fluid pump going.Nothing has gone wrong with it yet (touch wood) and I am at 89,000 miles now. I have just kept up with the servicing as required. I would recommend getting decent tyres though, I initally had Pirelli P6's on it and it did not handle well at all, I went on the Volvo Owners Forum and the consensus was to change to Michellin Pilot Sport 3's and handling has improved imeasurably.
Would I change it for another car? Not in that price range and I can see that the estate would be even better.
It still makes me smile when I drive it.
Another thing in this price range... Mazda 6 MPS I've mentioned before?
My previous car was a Volvo S80 2.0T which I had chipped to 215bhp. Plenty fast enough for me and a revelation in refinement compared to my previous 1994 C180. Currently have a Subaru Forester, but trading up in April/May and I am definitely going back to Volvo, either an S80 or a V70, auto, leather interior and the 2.0T (which I will again get chipped).
Summer can't come soon enough.
Summer can't come soon enough.
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