Jap imported Volvo V70's?

[danlightbulb]

Guys there is a company not too far from me which sells fresh jap imports. On AT there are a couple of Volvo V70's. Eg this T5:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

I am assuming that all legal avenues, v5 certs etc will be covered by the seller, does anyone have any experience of this please? Three things jump to mind from me:

1. Insurance costs or difficulty finding an insurer any issue?

2. Uk speedo, radio etc?

3. rust proofing for uk roads?


Anything else to be thinking about? How does that price look to you guys?

[Saudade]

Any reason you want an imported one? I'd just get a UK one to avoid all the hassle.

They sold those here and I doubt rust will be an issue, my 2011 looks brand new underneath.

[danlightbulb]

Uk ones seem to all have moon miles and be no cheaper for it. There are a few 300bhp AWD 'R' models on AT as well, imports again.

Eg:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

or:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 7th September 17:55

[Davie]

Are you looking for a V70R in particular or just asking about imported V70's in general?

[danlightbulb]

Davie said:

Are you looking for a V70R in particular or just asking about imported V70's in general?

I need a large estate (bikes and regular camping) and i want something fast, and only have a few grand to do it with. Clutching at straws really i suppose.

[Lollypops]

Couldn't comment on the price as I don't know my Volvo pricing, but I have imported from Japan, so in regards to the other points:

Insurance can sometimes be higher for Japanese imports in comparison to their UK counterparts. Worth getting a quote beforehand so you don't have any nasty surprises later down the line.

If they are doing things properly, the speedo should be converted to read in MPH and the car delimited. I also prefer to have the odometer reading converted to miles; none of this xxx was in km and yyy was in miles, so total mileage = whatever.

A Japanese import will need undersealing if you want to protect the underside.

[BugLebowski]

V70's tend to wear their mileage well, and they don't really rust so they're a strange car to go to the bother of importing. I don't think you'll have much problems with it if you did however.

I'd struggle to spend £8k on a 11 year old V70 though!

[Pericoloso]

Would the insurance company even know it's been imported from Japan ?
Unless they do their own data checks on it.
I'm sure I didn't get asked if my FIAT was imported later,it's LHD anyway so might be obvious and probably most of my model are imported too.

[carreauchompeur]

8 grand? fk me, that’s nearly 8 times the price I paid for my 07 D5.

Not worth the premium for an import IMO

[danlightbulb]

carreauchompeur said:

8 grand? fk me, that’s nearly 8 times the price I paid for my 07 D5.

Not worth the premium for an import IMO

I dont know that it is a premium price though. On AT right now there is:

An 05 reg with 151k miles, £4k
An 05 reg with 99k miles, £7.5k - import
An 04 reg, 108k miles, £6k - import
An 05 reg, 68k miles, £8k - import
An 04 reg, 98k miles, £6.5k
An 05 reg, 45k miles, £10k - import

And thats it for the 'R' model. 6 cars of which 4 are imports. I dont know that i want an 'R', its mpg is a bit low at 24. But running out of options for large and powerful estates that look sporty.

[carreauchompeur]

Fair enough, just not convinced the t5 is worth the premium over d5 or indeed other models.

[GreatGranny]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-58-VOLVO-V70-3-0-T...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Volvo-V70-T6-AWD-3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V70-3-0-T6-AWD-28...

This is where my money would go and most probably cheaper to run than an R.

[SonicShadow]

Pericoloso said:

Would the insurance company even know it's been imported from Japan ?
Unless they do their own data checks on it.
I'm sure I didn't get asked if my FIAT was imported later,it's LHD anyway so might be obvious and probably most of my model are imported too.

Most insurers ask, it's certainly something the comparison websites like Confused.com ask:



The main reason they ask is because cars sold in other markets may have specification differences, different body panels etc which can affect parts availability and repair times if those parts are not readily available in the UK/European market.

Not sure how it works with a car that was exported to Japan and then imported back to the UK (quite common for older European cars), I assume DVLA records would show an import marker but it's a UK spec vehicle.

[carreauchompeur]

GreatGranny said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-58-VOLVO-V70-3-0-T...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Volvo-V70-T6-AWD-3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V70-3-0-T6-AWD-28...

This is where my money would go and most probably cheaper to run than an R.

Didn’t realise they were 285bhp, that’s quite perky!

[Davie]

danlightbulb said:

I dont know that it is a premium price though. On AT right now there is:

An 05 reg with 151k miles, £4k
An 05 reg with 99k miles, £7.5k - import
An 04 reg, 108k miles, £6k - import
An 05 reg, 68k miles, £8k - import
An 04 reg, 98k miles, £6.5k
An 05 reg, 45k miles, £10k - import

And thats it for the 'R' model. 6 cars of which 4 are imports. I dont know that i want an 'R', its mpg is a bit low at 24. But running out of options for large and powerful estates that look sporty.

I have one.

Mine is a UK car, 05 face-lift with a manual box and has had all the usual R based issues address including new 4C shocks, Haldex ECU, angle gear sleeve, rear bushes, ride height sensors, front bushes and top mounts and has had the cambelt, water pump and VVT set properly. All of which was quite dear, even doing some of the work myself but I bought a good, honest car knowing it had issues and was prepared to spend to make it right... rather than spend more on one of these alleged "mint" ones that will guaranteed have issues, very few of which are cheap to put right. Should mine be for sale (and it could be!) then I'd be looking at the top end of the market but then again, I know it's right.

In terms of fast estates at that money, there are countless options but sticking with the V70's for now... yes I'd avoid a import, they just don't seem to be as good as the sellers claim (have seen several, none were nice / without fault) and as far as a usable car goes, an R can be driven day in, day out but they are a tad highly strung for that - they ride quite hard, the wheels are ruinously dear to replace and they are dearer to keep going when things go wrong and therefore many argue that a 2.4 T5 with a map is as quick and is much less complex and thus cheaper to run. However, the two are poles apart in terms of how they drive and how they use their power - I've had countless fast T5's and none can even begin to touch the V70R as an all round package. Yes the R is complex what with active suspension, Haldex AWD, YAW sensors and such like but it works and it's ability to cover ground is at times, staggering. I took mine hill climbing, standard car... it was 2 seconds off the pace of a proper track prepped Impreza Turbo. It also does this with no drama or fuss, granted 300bhp and 1800kg dulls the sensation of speed but it's certainly not slow.

Economy isn't a huge issue, granted if you drive it like you stole it then low 20's is as good as it gets but high 20's are easily attainable and mid to high 30's are also possible on a steady motorway cruise. Mention economy and the usual suspects will suggest you buy a D5 instead and remap it... they do 50mpg without breaking sweat and are also quick enough in the real world but they're really not very exciting. I have one of those too and the R makes it look like a glorified tractor and just as refined but then again it can fall in to vast craters in the road, do tip runs, resident car park dents and survive trial by wife and child all of which the R struggles with, not because it can't but because I'd rather it didn't which is why as a daily driver, I'm not sure I could.

I think if you're serious about one, you need to make sure you get a good one and ignore the "must have service history" crap because 90% of the R issues / bespoke parts are ignored during routine servicing... how many FSH cars have had the Haldex filter changed or the angle gear fluid? Lubricating ride height sensors? Calibrating the suspension? None of this will have been done rest assured so an enthusiast owned car would be my recommendation and even then, it's worth investing in VIDA (Volvos diagnostic system) and be prepared to roll your sleeves up to offset some of the running costs. Nothing on them is difficult, granted some parts are dearer then normal V70's and harder to get but they're not as fragile as some like to think.

Anyways, stacks of information online though you do have to wade through the "R's are bad news" brigade and dig deep to get the good stuff but there's a strong presence out there and I've found (most) owners to be very approachable and helpful but... I'd get a drive in one first, you'll either love it... or hate it. I switch between the two on a regular basis, hence have a D5 for the day in, day out stuff and the R tends to be a bit of a garage tart these days.

Cheers

[Mezzanine]

Pericoloso said:

Would the insurance company even know it's been imported from Japan ?
Unless they do their own data checks on it.
I'm sure I didn't get asked if my FIAT was imported later,it's LHD anyway so might be obvious and probably most of my model are imported too.

Assuming you have gone through the correct channels to buy the car, surely they will know it's an import as soon as you give them the vehicle registration?

[danlightbulb]

Davie said:

...stuff...

Thanks for that info. I didnt realise they had the potential for all those issues as i thought Volvo = reliable and never dies. Sounds like I shouldnt get one, too much risk.

Ill have a look at the T5 instead.

[Davie]

danlightbulb said:

Thanks for that info. I didnt realise they had the potential for all those issues as i thought Volvo = reliable and never dies. Sounds like I shouldnt get one, too much risk.

Ill have a look at the T5 instead.

That logic could be applied to any car... none are 100% reliable and all have their inherent flaws. A T5 isn't without it's issues too however does offer almost as much power but is much more accessible and easier to run. I think to run an R daily, you have to be brave / clued up / a die hard enthusiast as they can throw up curved balls from time to time. A T5 would make more sense for day in, day out abuse but than again a D5 will do the same and when mapped, offer comparable performance but with the added extra bonus of doing 800 miles to a tank of crude oil. Difficult one.

[Lazermilk]

danlightbulb said:

carreauchompeur said:

8 grand? fk me, that’s nearly 8 times the price I paid for my 07 D5.

Not worth the premium for an import IMO

I dont know that it is a premium price though. On AT right now there is:

An 05 reg with 151k miles, £4k
An 05 reg with 99k miles, £7.5k - import
An 04 reg, 108k miles, £6k - import
An 05 reg, 68k miles, £8k - import
An 04 reg, 98k miles, £6.5k
An 05 reg, 45k miles, £10k - import

And thats it for the 'R' model. 6 cars of which 4 are imports. I dont know that i want an 'R', its mpg is a bit low at 24. But running out of options for large and powerful estates that look sporty.

Cant comment on the Volvos, but how about a Legacy GT-B or Mitsubishi Legnum VR-4 for sporty looking estates? Always fancied one of these but then moved to Austria where any fun/powerful car is silly money to buy and even sillier money to tax/insure!

I had a Starlet GT Turbo when younger which was a jap import, it had speedo and odometer converted to miles by the dealer and undersealed, it was a fun little car!

[CALICO]

I think the main reason people have to look for imports is because there are no decent ones available from the UK but the imported ones need work. I went to look at one last week and it was very nice 54,000 miles but the dash was in kilometres and info was in Japanese and it will cost over 300 for the dash and to have it programmed you then need to make sure any info is genuinely not a problem before purchasing the car. The chance of getting a manual one now is very very slim