V70 163 v's V70 185 - What should I look for when buying?

V70 163 v's V70 185 - What should I look for when buying?

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Discussion

Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th October 2012
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I'm pretty close to going to look at these two cars and wondered what in particular I should focus on, the car will pretty much be the back up to our XC90 as dads cab so I'm not that worried about the miles as it will only do about 5000 or so each year and the car will be run for a long time.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...



Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th October 2012
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A Lex - Just the man I hoped would answer - Thanks for your words, my wife likes the Maroon one and I to thought it was top dollar so as you say it would have to be pretty much close to perfect for good as dam it 6 grand. I have had a few idiots talk to me regarding my Impreza but I'm pretty close to it going now (I think). We use CR Volvo, an indi local to us who looks after our XC90 and he has VIDA and will do car inspections so I will be calling on him and his services when I find 'the one'.

I take your point regarding Auto's but I really want one this time, my boy racing days are coming to an end.


Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th October 2012
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I do understand what you mean, the 2.0T looks a cracking car, truth is I do think a Petrol offers better value for the 'purpose' we want currently want this car for, fact is I intend on keeping for a long while and whilst my current job is only a few miles from home should I change and maybe have to drive the 100 mile round trip days again thats why I think a diesel would be the better idea from the off.

That said you have planted the seed.......

Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Thursday 25th October 2012
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The Black car is in Maidenhead, just a few miles from me....

Slobberchops

3,619 posts

200 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
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Just got a D5 facelift 05 plate, having had a T5 a few years ago. This one is a 163 - nowhere near as quick but still comfortably wafty. Good value cars.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
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Fuel economy isn't terrible on the petrols. My geartronic T5 gets 35+ on the motorway with cruise set to 70. Averages 27mpg overall though whistle

Slobberchops

3,619 posts

200 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
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dme123 said:
Fuel economy isn't terrible on the petrols. My geartronic T5 gets 35+ on the motorway with cruise set to 70. Averages 27mpg overall though whistle
My manual one was about the same. Seen traffic cars averaging about 14mpg after a quick run :0

dhf

1,103 posts

193 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
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Check the rear screen wiper works !

mondayo

1,825 posts

262 months

Thursday 1st November 2012
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Roger Woods said:
I do understand what you mean, the 2.0T looks a cracking car, truth is I do think a Petrol offers better value for the 'purpose' we want currently want this car for, fact is I intend on keeping for a long while and whilst my current job is only a few miles from home should I change and maybe have to drive the 100 mile round trip days again thats why I think a diesel would be the better idea from the off.

That said you have planted the seed.......
I've owned a V50 2.4 (170) petrol and currently own a 57 plate V70 D5 (185) and both were auto/geartronic.

Personally I think you'll only get a real benefit from the diesel option (mpg wise) if you are doing the majority of your driving on A/M roads. Both are pretty juicy in stop start stuff but if you keep around 70mph and below, then the economy is obviously much better in the diesel.

I think I averaged about 26ish mpg in the petrol and am currently at around 38-39mpg in the diesel. I don't always drive in the most economical way though wink

Woody3

748 posts

203 months

Thursday 1st November 2012
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A lex said:
For such a low annual mileage are you absolutely sure you want a D5?

With the same budget you can have a newer/nicer car if you go petrol.....

A quick eg from AT:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

The 170 engine is completely unburstable and with your budget you are in to a newer 56 plate car - the one I linked is a 'facelift facelfit' - i.e. the indicators are moved up to the mirrors and they slightly changed the interior again.....

Or a 2.0T

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...



Just saying smile
What sort of mpg do the 2.4 and 2.0T achieve? I was initially looking a 163 E3 D5's, but have since widened my options to include 2.0D V50's. Maybe I could widen my options to include petrols too...

MEC

2,604 posts

272 months

Thursday 1st November 2012
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While on the subject, is the 163hp 2.4D model in say a 2007 car the old 163hp engine or is it the same as the 185hp engine with a different map?

Woody3

748 posts

203 months

Friday 2nd November 2012
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Thank A Lex.

Reckon I'll stick with the D5 Euro3 V70 and the 2.0D V50 then, with the former being the preference.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Monday 12th November 2012
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I've just had the head on a 2006 185 destroy itself. Not been to look at it yet, but there was a momentary very loud noise that might have come from the hydraulic tappets a few weeks ago. After that, all seemed well.

I've put 230,000 miles on it and it was running like a bird. Correct oil changed regularly. The only problem I'm aware of was the common disappearance of the small plastic rod that operates the swirl valve. As the dealer seemed to think it was of little consequence, and only an emissions thing, and cost £700 to replace, or £4700 if they had to get stuck injectors out first rolleyes, I decide to leave it.

The car went to the dealer a short time ago for a free software update to overcome a possible spurious low oil warning and it had new belts six months ago. The alternator belt had started to shred just as the head went, but it seems unlikely this was connected with the head failure.

I'll update if I find out what went wrong. The head is cracked in several places and my tame, very good, garage is baffled at the moment. Looks like I'm going to have to scrap it with the mileage and second hand engine costing £2000 unfitted. Changing the head also wouldn't be cheap, I guess.

DJFish

5,917 posts

262 months

Wednesday 28th November 2012
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Morning chaps,
This is a superb thread for me as we're currently looking at replacing our two everyday cars with a V70, we have nipper no.2 on the way and the wife wants rear facing kiddy seats for as long as possible so a bigger car is required if we're all going to fit.
I'm looking at 2.4 diesels as I like a bit of oomph and the 2.0 seems a bit weeedy but I'm not sure we really need a D5, the 2.4 seems like a good compromise.
And it has to be a manual, neither of us like autos.
The lux models seem particularly good value, are there any optional extras that are particularly desirable on these cars?
And are DPF cars really that troublesome? The car will be used for short runs but we'll throw in the occasional road trip, the plan is to keep the car for a long time so it needs to be reasonably efficient, hence the diesel.
A quick search revealed this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Seems nice, it's just a shame it's the other side of the country.


mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Wednesday 28th November 2012
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DJFish said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Seems nice, it's just a shame it's the other side of the country.
That's a bit expensive for a 2007.

Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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A lex said:
Hi Roger,

Glad to see that you are finally getting around to it smile

For me the thing that sticks out in your post is the mileage - 5k pa is not a lot.

The 185 engines with all the extra emissions gubbins and the DPF really like long runs and continual use to keep them in top form. For shorter journeys and infrequent use id always go for a 163.

The 163 engines in the facelift cars were pretty rare - so make sure that you are actually buying a 163 - 54 and 05 plates were the only times that these were available, so the red car you linked to should be a 163 smile

Also with the limited mileage you are doing are you absolutely sure that you want a D5?

General things to check include the DMF and clutch and slave cylinder. Check to see when the belts and tensioners were last done and try to find a receipt for a rear h/brake shoe change. If there is any doubt as to either of these two items budget for them ASAP and knock the seller down on price. Electrics should not be a problem on the facelift cars, but as ever do a thorough check - also make sure that the CD player accepts and ejects all the CDs correctly. These cars eat suspension components and front tyres, so make sure everything is OK and check the front tyres are wearing evenly.

If it all possible try somehow to get the car hooked up to a Volvo VIDA machine, either at an indy/dealer or maybe someone from the Volvo forums could help you out. The Volvo computer will be able to pull hundreds of DTCs and parameters from the car that other generic code readers will not be able to.......

Apart from that both cars look to be very nice - the red one is quite strong money for an 05 - I paid less than 1/2 that price for my 54 plater. Make sure that everything is perfect!

Good luck smile
Alex - Subaru has gone now so the 'proper' search starts, I did think to look at a Saab but the Boss does not like them so back to the Volvo idea, prefer V70 diesel but will start looking at S60/S80 as well as its for the second/third car and to get me to and from work which is only a total of about 13 miles each day, happy to go up to around 5500 pounds but want to stick with getting an auto, if you happen to see any decent cars that sound alright give me a nudge, the good thing is there is not pressure as I have started using my wifes CLK for a bit

Rog

Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
Thanks Alex, I know you would be on the case, nice BUT.... I have a real thing against black, I had a new Dodge Durango in Saudi Arabia in 2006 and never, ever managed to keep it nice, I wish it was silver but thats the kind of thing I would like....

Roger Woods

Original Poster:

643 posts

210 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
Cheers Alex, after I posted I thought I sounded really negative and I dont mean to, its just I expect to have the next car 5+ years and I would like it to be just right when I get it.

Our XC90 is gold and not really my first choice, it just happened to be the one that was for sale when our old Mercedes ML broke down one last time on us!

Looking around there really does not seem to be that many decent cars up for sale at the moment and Volvo being Volvo the owners keep them forever!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
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If you find one, make sure the little plastic swirl valve operating rod has not fallen off/broken. The dealer told me it would cost £700 to replace a £2.50 part, and add £4000 to that if they couldn't get the injectors out.

I think he was taking the piss, but it's not a quick job to access the back end of the rod.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th December 2012
quotequote all
A lex said:
mybrainhurts said:
If you find one, make sure the little plastic swirl valve operating rod has not fallen off/broken. The dealer told me it would cost £700 to replace a £2.50 part, and add £4000 to that if they couldn't get the injectors out.

I think he was taking the piss, but it's not a quick job to access the back end of the rod.
Only for the 185s. 163 variants are not blessed with this excellent piece of technology hehe
I have both. I can see the rod on the 163 as well. It's a 2008 model. Does that make a difference?