Volvo S60 T5/D5, am I mad?
Discussion
Bored of my S40's (I've had two now), Looking around at cars I can afford, 3-5k, had a look at everything from Audi TT's, Merk CLK's, BMW's, Clio's, MX-5's etc etc etc.
Keep going back to Volvo S60/V70's, either D5 or T5, looking at a few around 4k mark with 60-80k on, well looked after, geartronic boxes etc..
Am I missing something?
Are there any nasty surprises at 80k, 100k etc that I need to know about?
Do you think at 24 I'm possibly a bit crazy for liking these "granddad cars", or are they actually quite a nice little Q-car, especially for a "young lad"??
opinions please?
Keep going back to Volvo S60/V70's, either D5 or T5, looking at a few around 4k mark with 60-80k on, well looked after, geartronic boxes etc..
Am I missing something?
Are there any nasty surprises at 80k, 100k etc that I need to know about?
Do you think at 24 I'm possibly a bit crazy for liking these "granddad cars", or are they actually quite a nice little Q-car, especially for a "young lad"??
opinions please?
Aar0sc said:
Good 'Q' car for a young lad, yes. Especially the S60 D5 - get it chipped - but even standard it's a brilliant sounding engine when you floor it, loads of torque and lots of power too!
I know, I've been drooling over them since I was about 18, test driven a few at 19/20 but couldn't get insurance, watch this space me thinks!!!I had a D5 163BHP manual.
Infinitely better put together than an S40. 40mpg average, loads of torque (ignore the paper figures) and dead comforatble / cheap. You can get them chipped but try it w/out for a while and see if you really need it (and bump yr insurance costs to boot). Oh and they do sound good at full chat (a bit V8-y) and I think they look quite good too.
Things to look out for - cambelt changes at the right intervals (8yrs or 96k IIRC) and injector problems in the earliest D5s (should mostly be sorted now) but basically bombproof if serviced correctly.
Infinitely better put together than an S40. 40mpg average, loads of torque (ignore the paper figures) and dead comforatble / cheap. You can get them chipped but try it w/out for a while and see if you really need it (and bump yr insurance costs to boot). Oh and they do sound good at full chat (a bit V8-y) and I think they look quite good too.
Things to look out for - cambelt changes at the right intervals (8yrs or 96k IIRC) and injector problems in the earliest D5s (should mostly be sorted now) but basically bombproof if serviced correctly.
I'm 26 and I have a D5. My previous 2 cars were Saabs so I'm long over the digs from my brother and mates calling me grandad, just keep some werthers in the glovebox for effect. 
They are very nice cars though, very comfy and with the ability to munch miles easily, the D5 also has a phenomenal range especially if you go for the pre 2004 Euro III cars without the DPF, you can easily manage 600 miles to tank but more like 700+ on a run, my gets a constant 44-45mpg with each tank.
They are a little bit boring to drive though! But I think they look very nice, they have a mean muscular stance to them and when I see another one on the road It always suprises me how good they look!
They are very nice cars though, very comfy and with the ability to munch miles easily, the D5 also has a phenomenal range especially if you go for the pre 2004 Euro III cars without the DPF, you can easily manage 600 miles to tank but more like 700+ on a run, my gets a constant 44-45mpg with each tank.
They are a little bit boring to drive though! But I think they look very nice, they have a mean muscular stance to them and when I see another one on the road It always suprises me how good they look!
I have just bought a T5 and have done about a thousand miles in it. They're very well put together, extremely comfortable and do long distances superbly. They are not, by an stretch of the imagination, a drivers car. The T5 uses a fair bit of fuel too.
Unless you need the space, distance ability and comfort I'd get something smaller and more fun.
Unless you need the space, distance ability and comfort I'd get something smaller and more fun.
dern said:
I have just bought a T5 and have done about a thousand miles in it. They're very well put together, extremely comfortable and do long distances superbly. They are not, by an stretch of the imagination, a drivers car. The T5 uses a fair bit of fuel too.
Unless you need the space, distance ability and comfort I'd get something smaller and more fun.
Smaller doesn't really work, I barely fit in the S40 due to ridiculously long legs, I do a fair bit of motorway bashing, sometimes carry lots of crap, and want to be comfortable!Unless you need the space, distance ability and comfort I'd get something smaller and more fun.
Only other options that tick the boxes are old 5 series BMW's, VX Omega's (already had one), VX Vectra's (Had one, never, ever, ever again!), or big merc's, but I don't like the square dashboards!
Other suggestions welcome, hmm another "What car?" thread, just what we need!!!
Petrolhead_Rich said:
Seeker UK said:
Just noticed.
Avoid the geartronics, they're not very good. A manual really suits the D5 more.
Also go for SE spec: leather, dolby surround, cruise, aircon etc etc.
Not very good to drive with, or reliability-wise?Avoid the geartronics, they're not very good. A manual really suits the D5 more.
Also go for SE spec: leather, dolby surround, cruise, aircon etc etc.
Was on my last list of candidates but I bought a 9-3 Aero instead, mate had the T5 and it was pretty nice, we had the 850 T5 and enjoyed that but the common thing with High Powered Swedish barges is that they tend to be powerful and relatively cheap, but and I think I am not the only one here is that they attract on a performance/pound relationship having depreciated wildly from new and though they are a nice drive they are never that much fun, my current Saab corners well, goes pretty well as its been remapped but I dont get in it just to drive it for the hell of it.
So, my suggestion is to perhaps go for a Swedish barge if you value straight line performance, comfy seats, good brakes, practicality and a nice tame, inoffensive image but if you want loads of fun, look elsewhere.
So, my suggestion is to perhaps go for a Swedish barge if you value straight line performance, comfy seats, good brakes, practicality and a nice tame, inoffensive image but if you want loads of fun, look elsewhere.
I've had my V70D5 for 7 years now. I got a lift in a friends 2YO BMW a couple of weeks back and although it looked much more up to date inside, the ride & noise were hardly any different.
Had a few problems around the 100-120K mark (1 injector, intercooler, ignition switch failed) but overall it's been very good and none of the bills have been bad enough to consider ditching the car - IIRC the intercooler was of the order of £700 which was by far the worst.
Excellent drive, silly economy for the size of car, very comfortable, and very good load-lugger. I haven't actually found anything I would want to replace it with.
Had a few problems around the 100-120K mark (1 injector, intercooler, ignition switch failed) but overall it's been very good and none of the bills have been bad enough to consider ditching the car - IIRC the intercooler was of the order of £700 which was by far the worst.
Excellent drive, silly economy for the size of car, very comfortable, and very good load-lugger. I haven't actually found anything I would want to replace it with.
20 yrs old, S60T5, above 100k, no problems at all...
I am 20, bought an 01 S60 T5 last year,,,
Things to look for. Make sure the idle on the S60 is rock steady (last thing you want is an ETM issue), any knocking noises coming from the suspension at low speed are not a major issue and no reason to put you off; but anything more major than that be weary. Check the service history for any work, mine had had the bouncing central locking and the ETM addressed, as well as a recent cambelt change not so long ago so I managed to pick up a good one.
Worn clutches on high milers if it has been driven by a tit (worth taking it up some hills and giving it some throttle on the hill to check for slip) as a clutch change is at least 500 quid (have to drop the engine out).
As for the S60 T5. Don't compare it in the corners to a Beemer, it's not going to compete with a 3 series but anybody who tells you the handling is bad is lying or has never driven one. The steering is numb but is by no means bad and if you go booting the throttle mid corner what do you think is going to happen when 250bhp and 1600kgs are going through the fronts? The grip is certainly there, just maybe not the feel. I know I have kept up with things I shouldn't have round roundabouts it just didn't feel like I could. If if you are in to modding having the rear or both Anti roll bar's makes a big difference to the handling, and some uprated dampers, especicially on a high miler can actually make the car handle rather well...
Also, best sound system for less than £100k. Probably going for the best seats too...
It depends what you consider important. If performance is your thing don't try the T5, because the D5 (even contrary to what they will say a "mapped" one) will never go as well as the T5... Not a bad car by any means though. If you don't like being robbed at the pumps on a weekly basis, go with the D5. As for remaps, a remap will take the 2.3 (pre 2004) T5 up to 280bhp with no other mods and the 2.4 T5s can go even higher....
I am 20, bought an 01 S60 T5 last year,,,
Things to look for. Make sure the idle on the S60 is rock steady (last thing you want is an ETM issue), any knocking noises coming from the suspension at low speed are not a major issue and no reason to put you off; but anything more major than that be weary. Check the service history for any work, mine had had the bouncing central locking and the ETM addressed, as well as a recent cambelt change not so long ago so I managed to pick up a good one.
Worn clutches on high milers if it has been driven by a tit (worth taking it up some hills and giving it some throttle on the hill to check for slip) as a clutch change is at least 500 quid (have to drop the engine out).
As for the S60 T5. Don't compare it in the corners to a Beemer, it's not going to compete with a 3 series but anybody who tells you the handling is bad is lying or has never driven one. The steering is numb but is by no means bad and if you go booting the throttle mid corner what do you think is going to happen when 250bhp and 1600kgs are going through the fronts? The grip is certainly there, just maybe not the feel. I know I have kept up with things I shouldn't have round roundabouts it just didn't feel like I could. If if you are in to modding having the rear or both Anti roll bar's makes a big difference to the handling, and some uprated dampers, especicially on a high miler can actually make the car handle rather well...
Also, best sound system for less than £100k. Probably going for the best seats too...
It depends what you consider important. If performance is your thing don't try the T5, because the D5 (even contrary to what they will say a "mapped" one) will never go as well as the T5... Not a bad car by any means though. If you don't like being robbed at the pumps on a weekly basis, go with the D5. As for remaps, a remap will take the 2.3 (pre 2004) T5 up to 280bhp with no other mods and the 2.4 T5s can go even higher....
DXB said:
Petrolhead_Rich said:
Seeker UK said:
Just noticed.
Avoid the geartronics, they're not very good. A manual really suits the D5 more.
Also go for SE spec: leather, dolby surround, cruise, aircon etc etc.
Not very good to drive with, or reliability-wise?Avoid the geartronics, they're not very good. A manual really suits the D5 more.
Also go for SE spec: leather, dolby surround, cruise, aircon etc etc.
I think the earlier S80s had auto gearbox problems too, that may or may not apply to the S60.
I had a D5 with remap.
They are excellent all rounders and I would say they are the best value second-hand saloon car on the market.
I was doing 30k miles a year when I bought the car so the D5 was the only sensible choice of engine.
The only reliability issues I had in 4 years and 70k miles was the turbo hose popping off the week after the remap, just needed a new jubilee clip to make sure it stayed put, it also seemed to need a new engine mount every service which must be the price the pay for all that lovely torque. The only failure was a surprisingly pricey problem with the handbrake. The design means there is a spring that holds the handbrake pads off the disc, this failed and caused the handbrake to jam on at 30mph, this caused it to rip off and sheer its mounting brackets off the large alloy casting that the wheels/brakes/etc hang off. It cost £700-800 in parts to fix it all.
They are excellent all rounders and I would say they are the best value second-hand saloon car on the market.
I was doing 30k miles a year when I bought the car so the D5 was the only sensible choice of engine.
The only reliability issues I had in 4 years and 70k miles was the turbo hose popping off the week after the remap, just needed a new jubilee clip to make sure it stayed put, it also seemed to need a new engine mount every service which must be the price the pay for all that lovely torque. The only failure was a surprisingly pricey problem with the handbrake. The design means there is a spring that holds the handbrake pads off the disc, this failed and caused the handbrake to jam on at 30mph, this caused it to rip off and sheer its mounting brackets off the large alloy casting that the wheels/brakes/etc hang off. It cost £700-800 in parts to fix it all.
I'm 27 and have an S60 D5 (in burgundy with a cream leather interior and some walnut trim!). It's great, I like the way it looks, goes and feels. I'm under no illusions that it is in anyway sporty, but for what it is it drives nicely. It is stable and turns in well to corners, but as others have said the steering is quite numb. Still good fun to give it a bit of hustle though.
Like others have said, get an SE so you get all the electronics and the Dolby Pro Logic stereo which sounds amazing.
Get the D5 if you're tight like me and want to do lots and lots of MPGs - get the T5 if you want the nicest and fastest engine!
Check out this thread for quite a bit of discussion on the S60 D5: http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Like others have said, get an SE so you get all the electronics and the Dolby Pro Logic stereo which sounds amazing.
Get the D5 if you're tight like me and want to do lots and lots of MPGs - get the T5 if you want the nicest and fastest engine!
Check out this thread for quite a bit of discussion on the S60 D5: http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
I`ve had an S60 D5 as a sensible load lugger/kid wagon for 60,000 miles (now on nearly 120,000)/5 years. Has been cheap to keep, gets 43mpg on rural 30/40s and 55 at 70+ on the motorway. Dull, with a capital D, but stacks of space, nice interior, quiet, great stereo, still has virtually no rattles or squeaks inside.
Go and drive one.
I have a V70 T5. Plenty of grunt, good seats, good sound system, sounds good when pressing on. Will really do monsterous milages. Mine is on 212k now and the interior is fine, engine fine. Gearbox problematic. Mine has started flaring 2-3 shifts and clunking 3-4 shifts again. Fresh box oil helped for a while. Also, now is developing ETM fault, so will be replacing car in a month or two. Will be glad to see the back of it.
Once the novelty has worn off, they are bloody tedious to drive. I have had two Volvos now and I can honestly say they have danm near put me off driving altogether.
If you need a decent practical car, then yes go for it. If you like driving and want a car you'll enjoy driving, then no. Buy something else.
If you must have one, avoid autos, they go wrong. Avoid ETM plagued cars (up to 2003 IIRC) they go wrong repeatedly.
Although mine has done 212k (which would mean that gearbox, ETM failure is to be expected) it has had a new gearbox 60k ago and at least one new ETM. (New ETM's have a yellow sticker rather than a white one if I am not mistaken!)
ETA: Turning circle is very poor too.
I have a V70 T5. Plenty of grunt, good seats, good sound system, sounds good when pressing on. Will really do monsterous milages. Mine is on 212k now and the interior is fine, engine fine. Gearbox problematic. Mine has started flaring 2-3 shifts and clunking 3-4 shifts again. Fresh box oil helped for a while. Also, now is developing ETM fault, so will be replacing car in a month or two. Will be glad to see the back of it.
Once the novelty has worn off, they are bloody tedious to drive. I have had two Volvos now and I can honestly say they have danm near put me off driving altogether.
If you need a decent practical car, then yes go for it. If you like driving and want a car you'll enjoy driving, then no. Buy something else.
If you must have one, avoid autos, they go wrong. Avoid ETM plagued cars (up to 2003 IIRC) they go wrong repeatedly.
Although mine has done 212k (which would mean that gearbox, ETM failure is to be expected) it has had a new gearbox 60k ago and at least one new ETM. (New ETM's have a yellow sticker rather than a white one if I am not mistaken!)
ETA: Turning circle is very poor too.
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