My Version of SOTW - Volvo C70
Discussion
They used to say the Ford Capri was "The car you always promised yourself". Well, I've never promised myself to buy a capri, but I did vow to own a C70 one day after watching Top Gear back in the late 90's and Quentin Wilson raving about Volvo's new coupe. I am a big Volvo fan and have owned and worked on many over the years but never managed to get my hands on a C70. I came close about 7 years ago. I went to look at a 1998 silver T5 with the view of trading in my Volvo 850 against it. The "dealer" operating out his garden wanted £7000 for it and after a quick drive up the road, I had determined it needed a total brake overhaul. I went back and bid him £6500 saying that I needed to buy around £500 worth of parts to sort brakes. He accused me of "dogging" his car - and left confused and slightly scared at the prospect of dogging. I eventually traded my 850 against a 190 cosworth merc that I still have to this day as a summer toy.
Anyway, flash forward to 2012 and a good friend rang me to say that a pal of his was looking to sell his C70 as he was getting a new car. The dealer had offered him a slightly insulting £700 trade in for it and was I interested at £1000? I've seen C70's at this money before and none of them were too pretty so naturally I was a bit reluctant, then I found out more about the car being offered to me. A 1999 S plate C70 T5 auto with the optional GT pack, FSH, MOT/Tax and 91k on the clock.
It sounded too good to be true so I went to look at it and within minutes of the test drive we'd shaken hands, and I had handed over 20 crisp £50 notes.
So here it is, my C70 for a grand:
Getting a wax and polish - better pics on the way!
In the title I refer to the car as a SOTW but it is far from being a shed. I'm only the third owner and the previous two have loved and cosseted the car and as a result it drives superbly. It has had the cambelt done in the last 6 months and was recently serviced and it is even running on 4 nearly new Kuhmo tyres.
Mint interior - GT pack makes it a lovely place to be
The interior is fabulous, with the optional two tone ivory leather and redwood dash it really is just like new save for some minor wear on the driver's seat bolster and a door card that is loose (the previous owner has even chucked in the required replacement clips to fix this!). everything works and the car comes well equipped with electric memory seats, climate control, in dash CD changer, ipod connectivity and trip computer.
Some wear on drivers seat
The optional Dolby prologic sound system is one the best i've heard in a car and the novel 3disc in dash CD changer is clever even if it doesn't play MP3 discs. This doesn't bother me so much as the previous owner had Ipod connectivity fitted so I tend to just use that.
Dolby Prologic system - 11 speakers, superb sound and a £500 option when new
So, what's it like? Amazingly good to be honest, I was worried about practicality coming from a V70 but the C70 has proven very practical with 4 big seats, with the rear easily compatible with our daughter's child seat, a huge boot (by coupe standards anyway) that swallows up everything we have thrown in there and effortless driving both around town (although rearward visibility could be better) and on the open road where the 5pot T5 is an absolute belter. The 4speed auto is slick and changes smoothly. MPG has been an average of around 20 which is comparable to my V70 T5 and to be honest I have been "enjoying" the car somewhat.
So what next? Well, there are several little jobs to do, one of the front fogs has a bulb out which could do with replacing but seeing as they hardly ever get used it can wait. The rear window tint is coming away from the glass and it is making seeing out the back especially difficult so will need removing - a job I'm not hugely keen on as it could damage the heat rear screen elements. The wheels need a refurb and the engine bay a good clean up. The steering is groaning/creaking on full lock so the steering stops will need lubing up, then there is that gammy door card to sort too, so watch this space! Hope you've enjoyed reading this - I'll post some more pics up ASAP
I'm also going to plan a coupe road trip out along the Norfolk coast road and already have signed up another C70 and CLK - so should be a good laugh and we'll get some good pics too!
A few more pics:
Lots of little niceties, the original and comprehensive tool kit and first aid kit
Boot surprisingly cavernous
Baby seat fitted no problem
Wheels - Need a refurb
Heart of the matter -The 2.3 5cylinder 20v Turbo
Auto box - A smooth operator
Anyway, flash forward to 2012 and a good friend rang me to say that a pal of his was looking to sell his C70 as he was getting a new car. The dealer had offered him a slightly insulting £700 trade in for it and was I interested at £1000? I've seen C70's at this money before and none of them were too pretty so naturally I was a bit reluctant, then I found out more about the car being offered to me. A 1999 S plate C70 T5 auto with the optional GT pack, FSH, MOT/Tax and 91k on the clock.
It sounded too good to be true so I went to look at it and within minutes of the test drive we'd shaken hands, and I had handed over 20 crisp £50 notes.
So here it is, my C70 for a grand:
Getting a wax and polish - better pics on the way!
In the title I refer to the car as a SOTW but it is far from being a shed. I'm only the third owner and the previous two have loved and cosseted the car and as a result it drives superbly. It has had the cambelt done in the last 6 months and was recently serviced and it is even running on 4 nearly new Kuhmo tyres.
Mint interior - GT pack makes it a lovely place to be
The interior is fabulous, with the optional two tone ivory leather and redwood dash it really is just like new save for some minor wear on the driver's seat bolster and a door card that is loose (the previous owner has even chucked in the required replacement clips to fix this!). everything works and the car comes well equipped with electric memory seats, climate control, in dash CD changer, ipod connectivity and trip computer.
Some wear on drivers seat
The optional Dolby prologic sound system is one the best i've heard in a car and the novel 3disc in dash CD changer is clever even if it doesn't play MP3 discs. This doesn't bother me so much as the previous owner had Ipod connectivity fitted so I tend to just use that.
Dolby Prologic system - 11 speakers, superb sound and a £500 option when new
So, what's it like? Amazingly good to be honest, I was worried about practicality coming from a V70 but the C70 has proven very practical with 4 big seats, with the rear easily compatible with our daughter's child seat, a huge boot (by coupe standards anyway) that swallows up everything we have thrown in there and effortless driving both around town (although rearward visibility could be better) and on the open road where the 5pot T5 is an absolute belter. The 4speed auto is slick and changes smoothly. MPG has been an average of around 20 which is comparable to my V70 T5 and to be honest I have been "enjoying" the car somewhat.
So what next? Well, there are several little jobs to do, one of the front fogs has a bulb out which could do with replacing but seeing as they hardly ever get used it can wait. The rear window tint is coming away from the glass and it is making seeing out the back especially difficult so will need removing - a job I'm not hugely keen on as it could damage the heat rear screen elements. The wheels need a refurb and the engine bay a good clean up. The steering is groaning/creaking on full lock so the steering stops will need lubing up, then there is that gammy door card to sort too, so watch this space! Hope you've enjoyed reading this - I'll post some more pics up ASAP
I'm also going to plan a coupe road trip out along the Norfolk coast road and already have signed up another C70 and CLK - so should be a good laugh and we'll get some good pics too!
A few more pics:
Lots of little niceties, the original and comprehensive tool kit and first aid kit
Boot surprisingly cavernous
Baby seat fitted no problem
Wheels - Need a refurb
Heart of the matter -The 2.3 5cylinder 20v Turbo
Auto box - A smooth operator
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