Wednesday 7th August 2013

Volvo S80 V8: Spotted

The V40 T5 left us a little cold - can a V8 Volvo redress the balance?

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Supercars with saloon engines are nothing new; see the BMW-powered Morgans and Wiesmanns of this world or the KTM models with Audi engines. In most cases, the swaps have been from one performance model to another. But what about the most bizarre engine transplant (and donor car) of them all? The Noble M600 and its 4.4-litre V8, from a Volvo S80.

Take the badge off and noone will know...

It's not exactly the same, what with the two turbos and being mounted differently, but both M600 and S80 share the basic B84444S design developed by Yamaha. It's been discontinued in the Volvo range but lives on in both the Noble and the dark depths of our classifieds.

Typing 'V8' into the keywords section under Volvo and getting a result creates a huge grin; such an incongruous combination couldn't fail to. It's very seldom that they do come up for sale and so it had to feature. There's an XC90 in currently too if a family SUV is required...

Unlike the V40 T5 we've just driven, the V8 S80 epitomises old-school Volvo style, with the overly large V8 badges the only giveaway to what lies under the bonnet. Debadged, this innocuous four-door must surely rival the BMW 550i as one of the ultimate covert swift saloons.

Although the S80 can't quite match the 550 on numbers (315hp plays 367 and 325lb ft loses out to 361lb ft) it arguably bests the BMW on Q-car appeal thanks to the Volvo image. And a six-second dash to 60mph would still look (and sound!) pretty hilarious in something so dour.

Normal (and appealing) Volvo cabin too

The rest of the dynamic ingredients appear far less appealing. The transversely-mounted V8 sits ahead of the front axle, the 4WD system is by Haldex and the transmission is a conventional six-speed auto. However, according to a contemporary Autocar drive, the S80 V8 wasn't 'a nose-heavy nightmare'. Predictably, it couldn't match the 5 Series or even the Jaguar S-Type but had 'a pleasingly coherent feel'. So there we go.

But that would be missing the point. As ever, motorways would be this Volvo's natural environment, passengers sat in great comfort and a V8 providing all the overtaking power required (nobody mention the diesel here).

And now this intriguing combination of Yamaha V8 power and Swedish luxury can be bought for £11,000 having covered just 32,000 miles in seven years. We're struggling for rational justification with a Volvo S80 V8 (and 23mpg definitely counts against it) but that doesn't prevent it from being a fascinating oddball nonetheless.

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VOLVO S80 V8 SE SPORT
Engine: 4,412cc V8
Power (hp): 315@5,950rpm
Torque (lb ft): 325@3,950rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 293g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Price new: £38,975
Yours for: £11,000

See the original advert here

 

 

[Garlick]

I'll take it.


...when it reaches this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Andy ap]

What on earth enticed them to fit it transversely? cabin space?

[9mm]

Interesting car but fantasy island price.

[300bhp/ton]

I think these are pretty cool and should make a wonderful bargain buy.

[anonymous-user]

Andy ap said:

What on earth enticed them to fit it transversely? cabin space?

Cost of changing it from transverse when all the other engines in the range are mounted that way I'd guess. The V8 was never what you'd call a volume seller

[pSyCoSiS]

£11k for that?!

No thanks.

Many other / better cars out there for that sort of money.

But, if you wanted something totally different, then fair play....

[300bhp/ton]

A lex said:

The V8 makes no sense at all in the UK, im surprised they even bothered with it in the UK market.

Oh I don't know, I'm sure there are a few of us that think a V8 makes perfect sense in the UK and that the mass populace are just mistaken

[Vocal Minority]

Morgan...supercar....huh...

Anyway, Like the idea as a barge very much, but as someone else said rarity and novelty dust not an £11k second hand barge make

[Krikkit]

I reckon that would make a very comfy cruising machine indeed. A woofly V8 soundtrack to go with immensely comfy seats, just need a suitably-funded fuel card!

[philmots]

I like it but no way for 11k!!

I'd think about it for 6-7k..

[Spuffington]

Doesn't sound like particularly good value to me......for a few grand more I bought my '08 550i with tickle more miles on the clock. Know which I'd rather drive!

[V88Dicky]

Nice, put not at that price. Good winter transport if suitably shod with all season / M+S tyres, for us up here in't North.

[alock]

Makes this guys LS460 seem like good value:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=131...

[gforceg]

Hmmm, a barge too far, I'd say.

[hondansx]

Try this article again in 5 years when its 2 grand, then it will be followed with serious want.

[ivantate]

good competition for a rover 75 v8, not the 550.

[Dr G]

I'm pretty good at useless motoring trivia but genuinely did not know the ever sold that car with that engine.

[tbc]

£11k for a 7 year old barge with nothing special

[norchi]

The vendor is a tad optimistic with his price, I have been following this as a potential purchaser of one as a tow car both here and on ebay just recently, previously these V8s have sold nearer £7000 as the market will just not support a higher price....and as has been stated Volvo sold only a few dozen here in the UK, whereas the XC90 V8 found many more homes and do hold much higher residuals.

To my knowledge there are no 'off the shelf' modifications other than heftier ARBs and lowering springs available, but special d'pipes with cats and cat-backs have been discussed in adding maybe 40 bhp plus easily with some ECU work.

Polestar are using these engines (made by Yamaha and similar to one of their engines used by Ford in the US) in their 2014 OZ V8 Supercar team cars. All a bit odd in marketing terms when Volvo have dropped this engine and are saying all their future petrol cars will be powered by their innovative new, soon to be announced, 4 pot.

As has been mentioned the very similar and still current V70 T6 is a proposition, but no manual box......you can get around 375bhp with full exhaust, IC and software though.

Regards, Don.

Edited by norchi on Wednesday 7th August 18:27

Edited by norchi on Wednesday 7th August 18:29

[paralla]

I'm an expat in Angola and these are ten a penny in Luanda. They are the official ministerial cars. Your typical African Government runs Merc's but there is a bit of backlash against them, bit wasteful and all that when you are surrounded by crippling poverty. Volvo's are a bit less flashy see.

They are unanimously hated.

Luanda traffic moves at a crawl at the best of times but if a minister is on the move in one of these, complete with outriders and flags on the front wings you can kiss goodbye to another hour or two. It's not unknown for the police to close huge sections of the city roads hours in advance of a fleet of these sweeping through.

Visiting foreign leaders can cause severe disruption on the roads for weeks at a time. Think 4 - 5 hour commute from downtown to where the expats live 12 miles away. Walking would be quicker (but not safer).