Back in a barge - big swede S80
Discussion
Well, I've gone and done it...
I've been getting pretty fed up of driving a piece of french s
t, rattle tractor 2007 C4 Coupe. Sure it was "free" and yes its economical (55mpg on a full tank) and reasonably comfy. But everything rattles and squeeks, knocks and bangs. I've had it 18m and spent a small fortune on it. Belt, pump, tensioner, new tyres and new front springs. The bump steer is atrocious and its painfully slow (88bhp).
I cant complain too much though as its done me quite well.
For the past few months I've been struggling with what to buy. I'm usually only interested in three types of cars.
1- light, revvy, balanced sporty cars
2- sheds (cheap, st, just enough maintenance to keep it OTR)
3- big comfy motorway mile munchers
I'd looked at a few Z4s, but they were vitod for only having 2 seats. (Having 4 seats and a big boot is always handy). TTs are a bit blugh and blobby. I REALLY liked my Lexus GS300 I had. Big, comfy, quiet and a reasonable amount of shove from the NA 2JZ motor. Trouble was the 25mpg I was getting, tax and insurance.
I've never really been a fan of German Motors, so that ruled out big BMWs, Mercs, Audis and VWs. So what else could I get that was big, well built, refined, comfy and had a reasonable amount of power?
Your options are limited to Jag, Lexus ooooor VOLVO.
A quick search uncovered a few S80 and one such car was about half an hour from my parents house. My dad went along to look at the 2011 car and reported that the exterior was about an 8/10 but the cream interior was trashed. Stained and worn.
He did say there was another S80 there on a 14plate with a lot more miles on, but had a completely new and updated black interior. More searching showed that in 2012 the S80 got its final design facelift, with a completely remodelled dash (about 350% better looking).
Some more searching later and a phonecall to a small dealer about an hour away.
2012 Volvo S80 D5 SE LUX with black leather. Registered to one owner new, full main dealer history, 41k miles (not even run in yet), 4 nearly new continental premium contact tyres, and freshly refurbed wheels (apparently there were signs of corrosion).
It was too good to pass up and I ended up buying it.
The drive back home showed that at 75mph, its pulling 2k revs on the nose and is virtually silent. Seats are hilariously comfy. Sound system is really quite good (classic FM - obvs), phone connectivity is good, and the sat nav works well and not that annoying.
It starts to get a little choppy and lose some of its manners if you try to hustle it along at speed on a country lane (its no RenaultSport), but there is easily enough grunt to make a safe overtake.
I'm not sure why Volvo ever decided to make the S80 with smaller/less powerful engines, the D5 with its 215bhp seems adequate, but not overkill. I imagine the lower engines feel a bit asthmatic.
Images...
It even has a remote for the stereo/nav.. no idea why, its hardly like you have to get out of your seat to change the channel like an old tv
Will take some more decent pictures when theres better light and i have some time.
I've been getting pretty fed up of driving a piece of french s
t, rattle tractor 2007 C4 Coupe. Sure it was "free" and yes its economical (55mpg on a full tank) and reasonably comfy. But everything rattles and squeeks, knocks and bangs. I've had it 18m and spent a small fortune on it. Belt, pump, tensioner, new tyres and new front springs. The bump steer is atrocious and its painfully slow (88bhp).I cant complain too much though as its done me quite well.
For the past few months I've been struggling with what to buy. I'm usually only interested in three types of cars.
1- light, revvy, balanced sporty cars
2- sheds (cheap, s
t, just enough maintenance to keep it OTR)3- big comfy motorway mile munchers
I'd looked at a few Z4s, but they were vitod for only having 2 seats. (Having 4 seats and a big boot is always handy). TTs are a bit blugh and blobby. I REALLY liked my Lexus GS300 I had. Big, comfy, quiet and a reasonable amount of shove from the NA 2JZ motor. Trouble was the 25mpg I was getting, tax and insurance.
I've never really been a fan of German Motors, so that ruled out big BMWs, Mercs, Audis and VWs. So what else could I get that was big, well built, refined, comfy and had a reasonable amount of power?
Your options are limited to Jag, Lexus ooooor VOLVO.
A quick search uncovered a few S80 and one such car was about half an hour from my parents house. My dad went along to look at the 2011 car and reported that the exterior was about an 8/10 but the cream interior was trashed. Stained and worn.
He did say there was another S80 there on a 14plate with a lot more miles on, but had a completely new and updated black interior. More searching showed that in 2012 the S80 got its final design facelift, with a completely remodelled dash (about 350% better looking).
Some more searching later and a phonecall to a small dealer about an hour away.
2012 Volvo S80 D5 SE LUX with black leather. Registered to one owner new, full main dealer history, 41k miles (not even run in yet), 4 nearly new continental premium contact tyres, and freshly refurbed wheels (apparently there were signs of corrosion).
It was too good to pass up and I ended up buying it.
The drive back home showed that at 75mph, its pulling 2k revs on the nose and is virtually silent. Seats are hilariously comfy. Sound system is really quite good (classic FM - obvs), phone connectivity is good, and the sat nav works well and not that annoying.
It starts to get a little choppy and lose some of its manners if you try to hustle it along at speed on a country lane (its no RenaultSport), but there is easily enough grunt to make a safe overtake.
I'm not sure why Volvo ever decided to make the S80 with smaller/less powerful engines, the D5 with its 215bhp seems adequate, but not overkill. I imagine the lower engines feel a bit asthmatic.
Images...
It even has a remote for the stereo/nav.. no idea why, its hardly like you have to get out of your seat to change the channel like an old tv
Will take some more decent pictures when theres better light and i have some time.
It is a big handsome cruiser. I'll be leaving it as it is for the moment. Another 6months and I might rethink, but coming from an 88 bhp stroen, it feels like it makes enough progress at the moment. I wouldn't call it "fast", but if you mash your foot into the carpet it gathers speed at a decent enough pace (once its found a gear).
Its more understated than the german equivalents and less brutish, but still a very capable mile muncher.
It makes my old lexus feel cheap. Its built like an absolute tank and road noise is well controlled. I can envisage a drive up to Scotland or down to Cornwall would go in the blink of an eye and would arrive fresh as a daisy.
troen, it feels like it makes enough progress at the moment. I wouldn't call it "fast", but if you mash your foot into the carpet it gathers speed at a decent enough pace (once its found a gear).Its more understated than the german equivalents and less brutish, but still a very capable mile muncher.
It makes my old lexus feel cheap. Its built like an absolute tank and road noise is well controlled. I can envisage a drive up to Scotland or down to Cornwall would go in the blink of an eye and would arrive fresh as a daisy.
Very nice, got a lot of time for those. As usual they are almost totally overlooked because they don't handle like a "sports saloon" but they are very, very good at what they're good at.
Just check the auto gearbox can cope with the tuning - they were always the weak point on the previous gen cars, especially when mapped. Not sure how they hold up in the newer cars.
Just check the auto gearbox can cope with the tuning - they were always the weak point on the previous gen cars, especially when mapped. Not sure how they hold up in the newer cars.
Rewind!!
After speaking to my insurance company I've decided to abort the remap idea... it's not like it desperately calls out for it anyway!
ESure declined to offer insurance, and when I spoke to flux, the price was double the "without map" price I have from ESure.
Having a friend that works in insurance - and him telling me the tales of people who haven't declared mods and been caught out, I'm rather risk averse to "insurance fraud" - so it'll be staying standard.
After speaking to my insurance company I've decided to abort the remap idea... it's not like it desperately calls out for it anyway!
ESure declined to offer insurance, and when I spoke to flux, the price was double the "without map" price I have from ESure.
Having a friend that works in insurance - and him telling me the tales of people who haven't declared mods and been caught out, I'm rather risk averse to "insurance fraud" - so it'll be staying standard.
charltjr said:
Very nice, got a lot of time for those. As usual they are almost totally overlooked because they don't handle like a "sports saloon" but they are very, very good at what they're good at.
You're right, its a remarkable big cruiser - feels like a tank. I didn't think i'd find something that was better cruiser than my old GS (which was better than the current GS btw) within budget, but my god it's smooth. It has about the same amount of shove, but the sound on hard acceleration certainly isn't what the petrol 2jz Lexus was.Well, I've done the first decent amount of driving in the big swede and can say I'm VERY pleased with it.
Country A/B roads are dealt with better at a gentle pace. Which is odd because just dropping the speed 3 or 4mph makes it handle and ride SO much better, this encourages you not to take liberties and even though you are going slightly slower, you don't mind because the ride is SO GOOD and SO SMOOTH.
Next up is the MPG. Its averaged an indicated 46.2mpg so far. If it's to be believed, this is incredible. In fact, its better than the average mpg my wife gets from her smart 453 900cc Turbo! (And around 20mpg better than the old lexus)
This included 2 trips into the town centre, then an hour drive into birmingham city centre, out and off to rural west shropshire, and doing taxi duties for my wife and her mates, then back home to Northampton (250ish miles) For a 2.4 D5 twin turbo shifting a land yacht is incredible. It cruises happily and silently at 75.
Things I REALLY LIKE
1 - the headlights
The headlights are really really good. Not only are the HIDs about a thousand times better than boggo bulbs, even with nightbreaker unlimited (first car I've had with HID), but they turn with the steering.
On motorways and built up areas you dont really feel the effects, but where you really notice them is on country A/B roads. No light polution, no street lights in the pitch black. Because the lights turn with the steering you dont get a shadow cast across the road in the turns by the shrubbery, and the verges are constantly well lit, meaning any wildlife would be easier to spot. Its hard to describe, but it makes driving at night in rural areas so much nicer.
2- the engine.
As with all diesels its most noticeable when you first fire it up and its still cold. But almost as soon as you're rolling the engine entirely disappears into the road/tyre noise. If you accelerate harder then sure it cuts above, but generally its very very good.
It has enough urge to make progress if you need to make an overtake or when you're joining a dual carriageway with a shorter than normal slip road, but its not going to set the world alight.
3- the interior
The seats are ridiculously comfy and the dash, screen, gearknob and steering wheel all excellent to the touch and beautifully designed. The sound system is good too, and I find myself having it much quieter than before because general refinement is better. You can have a conversation with your passengers almost whispering if you desired.
Things I'm not a massive fan of.
1- The gearbox
It's a 6 speed auto. Its not a bad gearbox by any stretch of the imagination. Gear changes are "quite" smooth, but shifting is no better than the 5speed auto I had in my (now 21year old) Lexus. You feel a slight notch on both up and down shifts, especially when slowing for a roundabout or junction and sometimes it hold gears for maybe a fraction longer than I would have expected.
2- voice controls
They kind if work, but you need to use very specific phrases to get it to do what you want. I've gone through the voice training program and it seems better, but its one f those things that 75% of the time, its quicker to go through the normal UI.
I've yet to come across a system that works really really well, google assistant seems to be the vest yet.
How I would describe the car?
I'd describe it as a big basic cruiser. Its got everything you want. But unlike the big german limos, doesn't give you everything you dont want. Its not overly complex, but everything it does and was was designed to do, it does absolutely brilliantly and is comfortable beyond belief and built like a tank. The potential bork of the massively complex systems of its competitors is a big downfall, and something that volvo has avoided without compromising the rest of the car.
If you really want a 7 series or an A8 or an S class then the S80 isnt for you. If you want the size, levels of refinement and comfort that they offer without their bullish nature or potential for stting themselves and leaving you penniless, then I don't see that there's a better option....
Country A/B roads are dealt with better at a gentle pace. Which is odd because just dropping the speed 3 or 4mph makes it handle and ride SO much better, this encourages you not to take liberties and even though you are going slightly slower, you don't mind because the ride is SO GOOD and SO SMOOTH.
Next up is the MPG. Its averaged an indicated 46.2mpg so far. If it's to be believed, this is incredible. In fact, its better than the average mpg my wife gets from her smart 453 900cc Turbo! (And around 20mpg better than the old lexus)
This included 2 trips into the town centre, then an hour drive into birmingham city centre, out and off to rural west shropshire, and doing taxi duties for my wife and her mates, then back home to Northampton (250ish miles) For a 2.4 D5 twin turbo shifting a land yacht is incredible. It cruises happily and silently at 75.
Things I REALLY LIKE
1 - the headlights
The headlights are really really good. Not only are the HIDs about a thousand times better than boggo bulbs, even with nightbreaker unlimited (first car I've had with HID), but they turn with the steering.
On motorways and built up areas you dont really feel the effects, but where you really notice them is on country A/B roads. No light polution, no street lights in the pitch black. Because the lights turn with the steering you dont get a shadow cast across the road in the turns by the shrubbery, and the verges are constantly well lit, meaning any wildlife would be easier to spot. Its hard to describe, but it makes driving at night in rural areas so much nicer.
2- the engine.
As with all diesels its most noticeable when you first fire it up and its still cold. But almost as soon as you're rolling the engine entirely disappears into the road/tyre noise. If you accelerate harder then sure it cuts above, but generally its very very good.
It has enough urge to make progress if you need to make an overtake or when you're joining a dual carriageway with a shorter than normal slip road, but its not going to set the world alight.
3- the interior
The seats are ridiculously comfy and the dash, screen, gearknob and steering wheel all excellent to the touch and beautifully designed. The sound system is good too, and I find myself having it much quieter than before because general refinement is better. You can have a conversation with your passengers almost whispering if you desired.
Things I'm not a massive fan of.
1- The gearbox
It's a 6 speed auto. Its not a bad gearbox by any stretch of the imagination. Gear changes are "quite" smooth, but shifting is no better than the 5speed auto I had in my (now 21year old) Lexus. You feel a slight notch on both up and down shifts, especially when slowing for a roundabout or junction and sometimes it hold gears for maybe a fraction longer than I would have expected.
2- voice controls
They kind if work, but you need to use very specific phrases to get it to do what you want. I've gone through the voice training program and it seems better, but its one f those things that 75% of the time, its quicker to go through the normal UI.
I've yet to come across a system that works really really well, google assistant seems to be the vest yet.
How I would describe the car?
I'd describe it as a big basic cruiser. Its got everything you want. But unlike the big german limos, doesn't give you everything you dont want. Its not overly complex, but everything it does and was was designed to do, it does absolutely brilliantly and is comfortable beyond belief and built like a tank. The potential bork of the massively complex systems of its competitors is a big downfall, and something that volvo has avoided without compromising the rest of the car.
If you really want a 7 series or an A8 or an S class then the S80 isnt for you. If you want the size, levels of refinement and comfort that they offer without their bullish nature or potential for s
tting themselves and leaving you penniless, then I don't see that there's a better option....How do you rate the quality, fit and finish compared you your previous Lexus?
We recently bought a 2013 XC90 (last of the old shape) and compared to its stablemate (Lexus LS430) It doesn't half rattle inside. Need to spend a weekend removing a few bits of trip and installing anti vibration tape.
S80 looks great. I had no idea they existed until a trip to stockholm a few years back where I noticed a government S80 limo and did some googling.
You can get these with the Yamaha V8 too which is appealling.
We recently bought a 2013 XC90 (last of the old shape) and compared to its stablemate (Lexus LS430) It doesn't half rattle inside. Need to spend a weekend removing a few bits of trip and installing anti vibration tape.
S80 looks great. I had no idea they existed until a trip to stockholm a few years back where I noticed a government S80 limo and did some googling.
You can get these with the Yamaha V8 too which is appealling.
CDB1983 said:
How do you rate the quality, fit and finish compared you your previous Lexus?
We recently bought a 2013 XC90 (last of the old shape) and compared to its stablemate (Lexus LS430) It doesn't half rattle inside. Need to spend a weekend removing a few bits of trip and installing anti vibration tape.
That does surprise me, but the xc90 was probably built to a tighter budget and on a much larger scale. I don't want to say they were thrown together, but I imagine the production line was more time constrained. I also imagine that because they are a big suv, maybe more body flex and movement?We recently bought a 2013 XC90 (last of the old shape) and compared to its stablemate (Lexus LS430) It doesn't half rattle inside. Need to spend a weekend removing a few bits of trip and installing anti vibration tape.
At the moment, the volvo feels like a brick s
t house. And no rattles/squeaks are evident. Anywhere. It does feel more solid than the lexus in terms of weights of doors, clunks etc.There was one squeek in my lexus coming from the sunglasses holder at the top by the courtesy light area that annoyed me, but for a car built in 1998, held up remarkably well. We'll see how the volvo holds up over time, but presently it feels great.
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