Discussion
Time is fast approaching when we should replace Mrs BFB's 9-5 Aero Estate (LPG'd) and we're pretty much down to a couple of cars - the XC70 and the Outback.
Given that she (again, for a third time) trashed a tyre on the tracks that serve as roads around here, I'm increasingly drawn to the XC70 as something with a sensible tyre profile.
Thing is, what model to get?
There are one or two givens:
We won't be spending more than £7K in total (incl c2K LPG conversion, if applicable)
She must have an auto, non-negotiable. I know, I know...
I refuse to stump up more than £285 pa RFL.
...and of course we want sensible running costs, reliability, moon on a stick yada yada.
Running the Saab on LPG, we get an equivalent of high 30s mpg petrol, which is good for a car of that size and performance. We have a local LPG garage, and there are people locally who can service the system, and install, too. Helpfully, we also have a local Volvo specialist, who seems very good and who knows all about the AW box and its foibles (same box in the Saab, I think). So I'm quite pro LPG, overall.
Some thoughts, welcome any/all comments on the below:
Get the 2.5T and convert it. Thin on the ground, but nice to have if LPG'd. Don't know much about reliability, but I'm thinking basically OK as the engine's been around for donkeys in various forms.
The 2.4 petrol's even thinner on the ground, is a slug, and best avoided.
Get a D5 and have done with it, after all everyone else does. Plenty around, clearly. Trouble is, wife does primarily shortish journeys, school runs etc so I'm nervous about reliability and mpg, too (I'm thinking low 30s, perhaps, so equivalent to maybe high 20s petrol, which seems high).
Really welcome feedback and thoughts.
Given that she (again, for a third time) trashed a tyre on the tracks that serve as roads around here, I'm increasingly drawn to the XC70 as something with a sensible tyre profile.
Thing is, what model to get?
There are one or two givens:
We won't be spending more than £7K in total (incl c2K LPG conversion, if applicable)
She must have an auto, non-negotiable. I know, I know...
I refuse to stump up more than £285 pa RFL.
...and of course we want sensible running costs, reliability, moon on a stick yada yada.
Running the Saab on LPG, we get an equivalent of high 30s mpg petrol, which is good for a car of that size and performance. We have a local LPG garage, and there are people locally who can service the system, and install, too. Helpfully, we also have a local Volvo specialist, who seems very good and who knows all about the AW box and its foibles (same box in the Saab, I think). So I'm quite pro LPG, overall.
Some thoughts, welcome any/all comments on the below:
Get the 2.5T and convert it. Thin on the ground, but nice to have if LPG'd. Don't know much about reliability, but I'm thinking basically OK as the engine's been around for donkeys in various forms.
The 2.4 petrol's even thinner on the ground, is a slug, and best avoided.
Get a D5 and have done with it, after all everyone else does. Plenty around, clearly. Trouble is, wife does primarily shortish journeys, school runs etc so I'm nervous about reliability and mpg, too (I'm thinking low 30s, perhaps, so equivalent to maybe high 20s petrol, which seems high).
Really welcome feedback and thoughts.
Yep, agree there's a lot of tosh talked about it/them, but trouble is Mrs BFB often goes a month without doing anything other than low-level pootling (and has previous with causing her Audis to go into limp-home) so it's probably an issue we should look at and take into account.
She has, you see, the mechanical sympathy of someone who is rather unsympathetic, to say the least, and I'm not much use because all I do 5 days a week is the 4 mile station commute - in a petrol, mind
She has, you see, the mechanical sympathy of someone who is rather unsympathetic, to say the least, and I'm not much use because all I do 5 days a week is the 4 mile station commute - in a petrol, mind
Plot thickens...but the mist clears.
Just spoken to the local specialist who I've spoken to a number of times.
He says get a 163 D5, no question, in our circumstances. Rates the 2.5T as occasionally troublesome with low oil pressure and just sheer scarcity.
I do like speaking to people who have an opinion
Just spoken to the local specialist who I've spoken to a number of times.
He says get a 163 D5, no question, in our circumstances. Rates the 2.5T as occasionally troublesome with low oil pressure and just sheer scarcity.
I do like speaking to people who have an opinion
Well, I got one (D5 163) bought and early signs are very encouraging indeed.
The Specialist i've been talking to sourced it for me and I think he bought well. Drives perfectly, wife and child like it. It laughs in the face of the roads around here, driving over potholes that caused the Saab to shudder.
All in all the right choice I think.
The Specialist i've been talking to sourced it for me and I think he bought well. Drives perfectly, wife and child like it. It laughs in the face of the roads around here, driving over potholes that caused the Saab to shudder.
All in all the right choice I think.
S10GTA said:
Good news. Pics?
Will do, but I'll likely detail it first - it's very straight indeed with one single tiny crease on a door, but it hasn't been washed with any skill (in fact it looks like the work of a carwash to me) but it will polish up nicely given a little effort.Mrs BFB is laughing at potholes now, she tells me
Just wait 'til she punches an upper mount through the bonnet...Quick bump for the below, no luck as yet with a thread on a Volvo Forum:
In our 9-5 Aero Estate (which Mrs BFB hasn't given a backward glance to, incidentally "Why didn't we get one of these before?" I was asked today ) we had an OE boot liner in rubber with a c50mm lip around it.
I've been looking for something similar for the Volvo without success. I can find rubber mats without a lip, plastic liners with a lip, nylon complete liners and much else besides, none of which I really particularly want.
Question is, does what I want exist, and if so, has anyone got one for sale or knows where I can obtain one?
Appreciate the help, thanks.
In our 9-5 Aero Estate (which Mrs BFB hasn't given a backward glance to, incidentally "Why didn't we get one of these before?" I was asked today ) we had an OE boot liner in rubber with a c50mm lip around it.
I've been looking for something similar for the Volvo without success. I can find rubber mats without a lip, plastic liners with a lip, nylon complete liners and much else besides, none of which I really particularly want.
Question is, does what I want exist, and if so, has anyone got one for sale or knows where I can obtain one?
Appreciate the help, thanks.
Thanks for the reply - it's one of the type I'd seen and discounted because things slide on it.
Maybe a combination of that plus one of these might be the best option for us: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370926751360?_trksid=p20...
Seems odd that Volvo didn't have an equivalent of the Saab item, but hey ho!
Thanks
Maybe a combination of that plus one of these might be the best option for us: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370926751360?_trksid=p20...
Seems odd that Volvo didn't have an equivalent of the Saab item, but hey ho!
Thanks
Just an update as I was browsing and saw my old thread.
Car still much loved by Mrs BFB, which is good. Minor and major problems sorted:
Almost as soon as we got it, it started to feel not quite right, as if it was fwd only. So it proved, with the classic worn spines issue diagnosed and fixed under warranty. Also fixed (at my expense) was the alignment, completely sorting the slight tip-toe feel to the car. Also fixed under warranty was headlight wash, which has meant, along with my polishing the clouded lenses, we can see where we're going more often than not. Full atf change sorted the autobox too, again warranty.
Sounds like we bought a lemon, but actually not, I think - what we did do is buy from someone I trusted, and who has stood behind the car (in stark contrast this a dealer I spoke to today about an S80 who stated that as Volvo washed their hands at 3years you were on your own the moment you drove away - unbelievable!).
Overall a very positive experience. Horton Cars in case anyone's interested.
Oh, and I bought one of the boot trays and the poor little dog slides around like a ballbearing on ice Carpet offcut incoming methinks.
Car still much loved by Mrs BFB, which is good. Minor and major problems sorted:
Almost as soon as we got it, it started to feel not quite right, as if it was fwd only. So it proved, with the classic worn spines issue diagnosed and fixed under warranty. Also fixed (at my expense) was the alignment, completely sorting the slight tip-toe feel to the car. Also fixed under warranty was headlight wash, which has meant, along with my polishing the clouded lenses, we can see where we're going more often than not. Full atf change sorted the autobox too, again warranty.
Sounds like we bought a lemon, but actually not, I think - what we did do is buy from someone I trusted, and who has stood behind the car (in stark contrast this a dealer I spoke to today about an S80 who stated that as Volvo washed their hands at 3years you were on your own the moment you drove away - unbelievable!).
Overall a very positive experience. Horton Cars in case anyone's interested.
Oh, and I bought one of the boot trays and the poor little dog slides around like a ballbearing on ice
Carpet offcut incoming methinks.Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff