Volvo V70R Sonicama + some Olive 850 T5-R
Discussion
This thread is partially retrospective, given the amount of work and numerous memories with this car so far.
I’ll also chuck in some content of our concours 850 T5-R 33k mile car for good measure, as I appreciate that is the ‘original’ R and that there are more 850 fans here on pistonheads.
Back in 2006 we purchased a brand new V70R in Sonic blue pearl with Atacama Natural leather interior. This was a semi-aniline leather that was had a baseball glove texture, a tan/orange colour and expensive to spec from new. This one particular was a special showroom car in Volvo Paul Rigby Birmingham specced by Volvo UK and following a history of 30+ volvo’s over the past 20/30 years inc. 240’s, 740’s, 850’s, V70’s - this was the flagship to own for us. It was a 6 speed tiptronic, fully loaded with a pop-up Sat-nav/TV, upgraded dolby sound with sub, telephone etc.
We had a 2001 V70 T5 at the time, which we’d owned from new up to 218k miles. This car was super reliable and could do with a thread of its own!
Its worth pointing out two things at this point:
1) Even back in 2006, 300bhp which the R had was quick but couldn’t really hold a candle to the E46 M3 which some used to compare it against. Two entirely different cars, with the M3 being the real drivers car.
The Volvo of course has great all weather capability (which I’ll be coming onto!), practicality of 4 doors and a big boot. There is a reason you never see many low mileage estate volvo R’s. They weren’t parked in garages but just used!
2) The colour combo is too loud for many peoples tastes especially on a volvo. But I do love how its abit nuts and a touch of no f
ks given, it looks no where near as in-your-face in person and just works for a special Volvo like the V70R and so for us, it was like owning an exotic estate from a brand we’d been loyal to. We had never owned anything else bar the odd BMW.
Within the volvo community this colour combination is known as ‘Sonicama’ and dare I use the term given how over-used these days - a unicorn.
This was the last full-fat R before Volvo just began using it as a trim level R-design (similar to S-line etc). Volvo now have polestar as its performance brand.
Back to the car.
The car felt blinking rapid to us post-1000 miles, was only used to Volvo’s back then so had never experienced anything exotic.
Good memories with this car which involved a europe blast and high speed race/cruise against a Audi S8 (D2). I recall even back then, the R would run into its 155mph limiter quite effortlessly.
It felt like a very special car to us throughout ownership but unfortunately was written off in 2007 after 13k miles!
The search begun for another V70R, even after viewing a few other colour combinations, we realised it just had to be another sonicama - nothing else would do! Those who have seen my E39 M5 thread will know I like my wacky colours.
After 3 years, October 2010 finally a 37,000 mile example came up for sale and was purchased!
Here are some links to some sonic blue V70R’s for some appreciation and the cool R brochure.
http://www.myvolvolibrary.info/S60V60XC60_ficheiro...
http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/vol...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-volvo-v70r-...
I’ll also chuck in some content of our concours 850 T5-R 33k mile car for good measure, as I appreciate that is the ‘original’ R and that there are more 850 fans here on pistonheads.
Back in 2006 we purchased a brand new V70R in Sonic blue pearl with Atacama Natural leather interior. This was a semi-aniline leather that was had a baseball glove texture, a tan/orange colour and expensive to spec from new. This one particular was a special showroom car in Volvo Paul Rigby Birmingham specced by Volvo UK and following a history of 30+ volvo’s over the past 20/30 years inc. 240’s, 740’s, 850’s, V70’s - this was the flagship to own for us. It was a 6 speed tiptronic, fully loaded with a pop-up Sat-nav/TV, upgraded dolby sound with sub, telephone etc.
We had a 2001 V70 T5 at the time, which we’d owned from new up to 218k miles. This car was super reliable and could do with a thread of its own!
Its worth pointing out two things at this point:
1) Even back in 2006, 300bhp which the R had was quick but couldn’t really hold a candle to the E46 M3 which some used to compare it against. Two entirely different cars, with the M3 being the real drivers car.
The Volvo of course has great all weather capability (which I’ll be coming onto!), practicality of 4 doors and a big boot. There is a reason you never see many low mileage estate volvo R’s. They weren’t parked in garages but just used!
2) The colour combo is too loud for many peoples tastes especially on a volvo. But I do love how its abit nuts and a touch of no f
ks given, it looks no where near as in-your-face in person and just works for a special Volvo like the V70R and so for us, it was like owning an exotic estate from a brand we’d been loyal to. We had never owned anything else bar the odd BMW. Within the volvo community this colour combination is known as ‘Sonicama’ and dare I use the term given how over-used these days - a unicorn.
This was the last full-fat R before Volvo just began using it as a trim level R-design (similar to S-line etc). Volvo now have polestar as its performance brand.
Back to the car.
The car felt blinking rapid to us post-1000 miles, was only used to Volvo’s back then so had never experienced anything exotic.
Good memories with this car which involved a europe blast and high speed race/cruise against a Audi S8 (D2). I recall even back then, the R would run into its 155mph limiter quite effortlessly.
It felt like a very special car to us throughout ownership but unfortunately was written off in 2007 after 13k miles!
The search begun for another V70R, even after viewing a few other colour combinations, we realised it just had to be another sonicama - nothing else would do! Those who have seen my E39 M5 thread will know I like my wacky colours.
After 3 years, October 2010 finally a 37,000 mile example came up for sale and was purchased!
Here are some links to some sonic blue V70R’s for some appreciation and the cool R brochure.
http://www.myvolvolibrary.info/S60V60XC60_ficheiro...
http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/vol...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-volvo-v70r-...
Just to add, I’m a big believer in having a large variance of driving experiences within my collection (ideally 3-12 cyl, f/r/awd, auto/manual, light weight etc) , so hopefully I can convey why I have a soft spot for this car amongst the old M cars, hot hatches and the fast modern stuff that I own.
I think stats on paper often tell half the story and its the feel/character/usability of the car that determines the rest.
Teaser of whats to come..
I think stats on paper often tell half the story and its the feel/character/usability of the car that determines the rest.
Teaser of whats to come..
It certainly is, the smooth off-beat thrum of a 5-cyl is great. Coupled with some decent boost and turbo lag makes for a combination you never get bored of. At this stage back in 2010, 300bhp felt like plenty aswell and is still more than ample today.
Bumped into this gul yellow 850 T5-R at Tollbar Warwick when it was in for a service back in 2014. Super cool to see 2 of Volvo’s loud flagship colours together. Just missing a flash green early V70R and a rebel blue V60 polestar!
At the end of 2014, we took it on a ski road trip to Switzerland, winter tyres on and thule roof box fitted, boot loaded up and 4 up.
Car performed effortlessly in the alps, albeit returning about 21mpg. Due to the roofbox this kept our speeds sensible, like many others, I have a tendency of the right getting considerably heavier the moment we hit mainland europe. The roofbox harnesses this temptation back
We went to Adelboden in Switzerland, via Calais, through the bottom of Belgium and Luxembourg to avoid french tolls and across to Strasbourg then down past Mulhouse,Basel and Bern. Then the more signficant incline from there on into Adelboden. We went Zurich too with plenty of snowy alpine roads in which the car performed perfectly.
My pictures for this trip are on a broken laptop so I will have to fish them out and upload them. I’ll upload a picture of some nice views and get these pictures off this laptop somehow.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Dj6taF36[/url]
Plenty more to come
Bumped into this gul yellow 850 T5-R at Tollbar Warwick when it was in for a service back in 2014. Super cool to see 2 of Volvo’s loud flagship colours together. Just missing a flash green early V70R and a rebel blue V60 polestar!
At the end of 2014, we took it on a ski road trip to Switzerland, winter tyres on and thule roof box fitted, boot loaded up and 4 up.
Car performed effortlessly in the alps, albeit returning about 21mpg. Due to the roofbox this kept our speeds sensible, like many others, I have a tendency of the right getting considerably heavier the moment we hit mainland europe. The roofbox harnesses this temptation back
We went to Adelboden in Switzerland, via Calais, through the bottom of Belgium and Luxembourg to avoid french tolls and across to Strasbourg then down past Mulhouse,Basel and Bern. Then the more signficant incline from there on into Adelboden. We went Zurich too with plenty of snowy alpine roads in which the car performed perfectly.
My pictures for this trip are on a broken laptop so I will have to fish them out and upload them. I’ll upload a picture of some nice views and get these pictures off this laptop somehow.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Dj6taF36[/url]Plenty more to come
Edited by J51dhu on Sunday 14th November 10:38
Edited by J51dhu on Sunday 14th November 10:44
Edited by J51dhu on Sunday 14th November 10:45
Edited by J51dhu on Sunday 14th November 10:47
cosworth330 said:
Lovely spec/colour V70 R.
I also bought a V70 R 6 speed manual in 2006 from Caffyns Volvo in Eastbourne and ran it up to 78,000 miles. Sold it in 2010, great car. Ran an E39 M5 alongside it. Also have still have 2 T-5Rs. Looks like we’ve had a few of the same cars!
Yes it looks like we have! What good taste you have in cars I also bought a V70 R 6 speed manual in 2006 from Caffyns Volvo in Eastbourne and ran it up to 78,000 miles. Sold it in 2010, great car. Ran an E39 M5 alongside it. Also have still have 2 T-5Rs. Looks like we’ve had a few of the same cars!
Thats a super cool two car combo - Any pictures of the V70R and E39 M5 together would be great to see.
Those are great threads you have on your 850’s, thanks for keeping us posted with them.
JD82 said:
Do these have isofix? Lots of jap imports - assume nothing inherently wrong with those? (Bar the usual checks you’d do on a used car)
Oddly for a safety conscious brand like Volvo, they didn't come with isofix as standard however it's very easy to retrofit the brackets. I did it on my R when I had it, it's documented on here somewhere.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff