S60 vs S80 Diesel

[mikeday1991]

Hello everyone,
New to these forums, so please bear with me!

I'm looking to part ex my old car and jump into the big Volvo team. Usual requirements, big car with comfy leathers, good diesel for all the miles and an auto/geartronic box!

I've narrowed it down to either an S60 or an S80.
I've read up more on the S60, so feel more confident on choosing one (2004-2005, Euro III, hopefully avoiding gearbox issues) but what about the S80?
Is the auto/geartronic box more sorted after a certain year? Anything else that makes the S80 worse than the S60? Do they change to Euro IV after 2005?

I'm swinging towards an S60, but want to keep my options open!

I'm looking to spend no more than £3k, but want to avoid as many nasty surprises as I can.
Do aftermarket warranties benefit these cars?

Thanks guys

[George111]

Of that era the S60 is probably the better car, certainly more advanced. Can't help much more but if you can stretch to the new model 2006/7 onwards S80 it's way better than both the previous S80 and S60, faster, better handling and more economical and more comfortable. They are all good cars and way above anything from Ford/Vauxhall etc

[TVaRt]

I went for a 2007 s60 after looking at both. The s80 is nice and you can get more advanced toys. But they do seem to have more problems and the parts are more expensive. S60 BTW is a great car, so comfortable, ecenomical enough in euro 4 manual, feels quality and has a kick as stereo! I'll have another Volvo for sure. Mine is a second car for commuting but it does actually have a decent turn of pace and can be chucked about a bit, whilst feeling totally planted.

[morgrp]

S60 all the way. Better car, better residuals, more choice

[b16a2_VTi]

Hi there,

Firstly excellent thread, im in the same boat looking for a S60 D5 with a similar budget.
What year did the final revised is S60 released?

Also are there any special optional extra's to look out for?
(i like my toys)

Kind Regards.

[anonymous-user]

I just steered a friend in the direction of a new model S80 when he had £4k to spend. Much more modern car than the S60 and you can get an awful lot for your money. For £3k you'd be looking at the older model S80 I guess, which is a very dated looking thing now and I think from those two I'd get an S60.

[b16a2_VTi]

I test drove a S80 yesterday, 56 plate had over 140k on it, lots of toys very very smooth.

Only downside it felt very very heavy and a bit of a boat around corners, then again i suppose for this class of car its expected.

Really loved the seats and interior with Volvo's floating dash and elegant dials.

[Super Slo Mo]

b16a2_VTi said:

I test drove a S80 yesterday, 56 plate had over 140k on it, lots of toys very very smooth.

Only downside it felt very very heavy and a bit of a boat around corners, then again i suppose for this class of car its expected.

Really loved the seats and interior with Volvo's floating dash and elegant dials.

You need to really push it on the corners, they feel soft and wallowy if you only go in at 5/10ths. At 9 or 10/10ths, they seem to tighten up quite a bit. Or at least, my tired old V70 did, so I'm assuming the S80 will be similar.

[anonymous-user]

Super Slo Mo said:

b16a2_VTi said:

I test drove a S80 yesterday, 56 plate had over 140k on it, lots of toys very very smooth.

Only downside it felt very very heavy and a bit of a boat around corners, then again i suppose for this class of car its expected.

Really loved the seats and interior with Volvo's floating dash and elegant dials.

You need to really push it on the corners, they feel soft and wallowy if you only go in at 5/10ths. At 9 or 10/10ths, they seem to tighten up quite a bit. Or at least, my tired old V70 did, so I'm assuming the S80 will be similar.

My V70 T5 is very much like this - at first you are inclined to back off as it rolls into the corner but if you press on you can get away with murder. The current S80 is a physically large car and noticeably wider than the old P2 based V70 so that does rather put you off giving it what for on all but the widest roads

[chammyman]

The S60 is extremely small inside so if you do actually want a 'big car' go for the S80.

I was in a V70 yesterday and it felt massive to my S60.

The S60 I bought sort of blind, well I went saw it and thought I need to be at the airport in less than an hour so haggled, paid for it and left the mrs etc to deal with getting it back.

But the boot is a letter box and you struggle to fit a pram in. The rear has no headroom and zero legroom. The fronts pretty cramped as well. The handbrake is into your thigh and on the other leg the door handle rubs on your kneecap.

The 70 is a lot bigger inside as is the 80.

The stereo is awesome though.

[b16a2_VTi]

thanks for the feedback guys.

what trim levels? Sport, Lux?

Anyone have any old brochures knocking around or know of any scanned copies online?
Would be good to see what optional equipment was on offer.

Regards,

[Super Slo Mo]

chammyman said:

The S60 is extremely small inside so if you do actually want a 'big car' go for the S80.

I was in a V70 yesterday and it felt massive to my S60.

The S60 I bought sort of blind, well I went saw it and thought I need to be at the airport in less than an hour so haggled, paid for it and left the mrs etc to deal with getting it back.

But the boot is a letter box and you struggle to fit a pram in. The rear has no headroom and zero legroom. The fronts pretty cramped as well. The handbrake is into your thigh and on the other leg the door handle rubs on your kneecap.

The 70 is a lot bigger inside as is the 80.

The stereo is awesome though.

Are you talking about the new S60 though? The old one was more or less a saloon version of the V70 and was pretty big. The new one has a comically small/inadequate boot.

[chammyman]

Super Slo Mo said:

Are you talking about the new S60 though? The old one was more or less a saloon version of the V70 and was pretty big. The new one has a comically small/inadequate boot.

The original S60. The V70 is a lot bigger, its bigge rin that my slightly smaller than me mate at 6 foot 5 (I'm a tiny 6"6' after my back injury lol) can fit behind me in the 70 but my 4 and 5 year old daughters can't in my 60.

The S60 boot is relatively decent sized but the fact you post it through a letterbox makes it awkward. The wives laguna can take a lot more a lot easier. The pram fits on her laguna in 1 piece, the wheels need to come off in the S60.

My RX8 actually has more room inside than the S60.

[Hoofy]

b16a2_VTi said:

thanks for the feedback guys.

what trim levels? Sport, Lux?

Anyone have any old brochures knocking around or know of any scanned copies online?
Would be good to see what optional equipment was on offer.

Regards,

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2001/volvo/s60/24t_sedan/59/packages_options/

US spec but gives you an idea of how much the original purchaser was a nutjob.

Mine has CD changer, sun roof, DSTC, 17" wheels, full leather to name a few.

Edit: just found this - http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/brochures.shtml

Edited by Hoofy on Sunday 8th February 09:52

[Super Slo Mo]

chammyman said:

Super Slo Mo said:

Are you talking about the new S60 though? The old one was more or less a saloon version of the V70 and was pretty big. The new one has a comically small/inadequate boot.

The original S60. The V70 is a lot bigger, its bigge rin that my slightly smaller than me mate at 6 foot 5 (I'm a tiny 6"6' after my back injury lol) can fit behind me in the 70 but my 4 and 5 year old daughters can't in my 60.

The S60 boot is relatively decent sized but the fact you post it through a letterbox makes it awkward. The wives laguna can take a lot more a lot easier. The pram fits on her laguna in 1 piece, the wheels need to come off in the S60.

My RX8 actually has more room inside than the S60.

Ok, interesting. I was under the impression they were virtually the same size. The new one is even more useless from a practicality point of view.

[chammyman]

Super Slo Mo said:

Ok, interesting. I was under the impression they were virtually the same size. The new one is even more useless from a practicality point of view.

So was I. When i finally sat in it its closer to S80 than the S60.