Volvo V70 (P2) T5 - manual
Discussion
Yesterday was always going to happen at some point
OHs 535d written off by insurers after a boot fire at Christmas - would have cost £400 to fix but insurers decided to write it off - after a battle I got a decent payout
Replaced with a Giulietta Cloverleaf as a sensible family car, decided we did not need another big car
OH falls in love with Cloverleaf - lot of fun to drive and full of Italian "charm" so money spent on bringing it up to my standards
Found myself home alone yesterday, nothing much to be done so decided to browse cars for sale in the usual places, not looking for / at anything in particular
Whats this I see, a P1 V70 T5, big mileage but stacks of history, automatic but not to worry. Sent off enquiry to seller (no phone number) and decided to buy it when the seller called me to discuss if it all stacked up
Wandered off to tidy the garage with phone in pocket waiting for the call - it never came
Garage tidied so back to PC and continued browsing but this time with a direction - Volvo V70 T5s
Not that many around, few Japanese import, some with moon mileage (reassuring to see they can take it), even a couple of Rs but don't need cost / complexity of four wheel drive
Moments after receiving message from OH that she is stuck in traffic and will be another 30mins or so I saw THE CAR
P2, which I prefer both exterior and interior wise - tick
Sensible mileage - tick
Good history - tick
Towbar - only needed for bike rack but good not to have to budget for - tick
Single electrics on towbar - suggests only towing trailer rather than fibreglass home on wheels - tick
Cheap - not a tick but you can't have everything
Manual - now I am REALLY interested
Couple of messages exchanged, followed by a phonecall and deal done subject to it being as described
16 services, last owner for nearly 10 years, decent (Goodyears) and matched tyres and what appears to be pretty clean interior and exterior
OH not too happy that the Giulietta will have to be sold but did agree that we are not a "small car" couple and whilst the Giulietta is fun we have the Vantage and Tuscan to cover the fun stuff, a big Volvo estate will be pretty useful as a "do it all" car
So at the age of 55, I take my first steps into Volvo ownership but at least its a T5 and its a manual
Just hope it passes muster next Saturday, one way train ticket booked so being optimistic about it
Third car bought in 6 months - and there was me saying my swapping and changing days were behind me
OHs 535d written off by insurers after a boot fire at Christmas - would have cost £400 to fix but insurers decided to write it off - after a battle I got a decent payout
Replaced with a Giulietta Cloverleaf as a sensible family car, decided we did not need another big car
OH falls in love with Cloverleaf - lot of fun to drive and full of Italian "charm" so money spent on bringing it up to my standards
Found myself home alone yesterday, nothing much to be done so decided to browse cars for sale in the usual places, not looking for / at anything in particular
Whats this I see, a P1 V70 T5, big mileage but stacks of history, automatic but not to worry. Sent off enquiry to seller (no phone number) and decided to buy it when the seller called me to discuss if it all stacked up
Wandered off to tidy the garage with phone in pocket waiting for the call - it never came
Garage tidied so back to PC and continued browsing but this time with a direction - Volvo V70 T5s
Not that many around, few Japanese import, some with moon mileage (reassuring to see they can take it), even a couple of Rs but don't need cost / complexity of four wheel drive
Moments after receiving message from OH that she is stuck in traffic and will be another 30mins or so I saw THE CAR
P2, which I prefer both exterior and interior wise - tick
Sensible mileage - tick
Good history - tick
Towbar - only needed for bike rack but good not to have to budget for - tick
Single electrics on towbar - suggests only towing trailer rather than fibreglass home on wheels - tick
Cheap - not a tick but you can't have everything
Manual - now I am REALLY interested
Couple of messages exchanged, followed by a phonecall and deal done subject to it being as described
16 services, last owner for nearly 10 years, decent (Goodyears) and matched tyres and what appears to be pretty clean interior and exterior
OH not too happy that the Giulietta will have to be sold but did agree that we are not a "small car" couple and whilst the Giulietta is fun we have the Vantage and Tuscan to cover the fun stuff, a big Volvo estate will be pretty useful as a "do it all" car
So at the age of 55, I take my first steps into Volvo ownership but at least its a T5 and its a manual
Just hope it passes muster next Saturday, one way train ticket booked so being optimistic about it
Third car bought in 6 months - and there was me saying my swapping and changing days were behind me
Edited by Andy665 on Sunday 16th April 07:17
Edited by Andy665 on Sunday 16th April 07:19
These are the one to have; facelift manual T5, 260hp and no dodgy autobox to worry about!
They're good strong cars. What sort of mileage is it on?
My 2.4t burned oil from stem seals around 150k an needed the full PCV service plus lots of other refurbishment of suspension etc. Theyre really well built, mine looked brand new underneath. In some ways it was better quality and design than my current S211 (folding rear seats etc) but the Merc is better overlal
Looking forward to updates and im sure you'll enjoy it!
They're good strong cars. What sort of mileage is it on?
My 2.4t burned oil from stem seals around 150k an needed the full PCV service plus lots of other refurbishment of suspension etc. Theyre really well built, mine looked brand new underneath. In some ways it was better quality and design than my current S211 (folding rear seats etc) but the Merc is better overlal
Looking forward to updates and im sure you'll enjoy it!
Willber said:
These are the one to have; facelift manual T5, 260hp and no dodgy autobox to worry about!
They're good strong cars. What sort of mileage is it on?
My 2.4t burned oil from stem seals around 150k an needed the full PCV service plus lots of other refurbishment of suspension etc. Theyre really well built, mine looked brand new underneath. In some ways it was better quality and design than my current S211 (folding rear seats etc) but the Merc is better overlal
Looking forward to updates and im sure you'll enjoy it!
Its on 88k so thinking its got plenty of life in it yetThey're good strong cars. What sort of mileage is it on?
My 2.4t burned oil from stem seals around 150k an needed the full PCV service plus lots of other refurbishment of suspension etc. Theyre really well built, mine looked brand new underneath. In some ways it was better quality and design than my current S211 (folding rear seats etc) but the Merc is better overlal
Looking forward to updates and im sure you'll enjoy it!
As others will say, probably the most comfortable seats of any car most people are likely to own (we had a P2 V70 2.5T a while ago running it from 130k - 185k Miles & then an S60 D5). Ours was an early P2 & hence with the miles/age suspension parts wear was an issue but easily replaced.
Some of the cars suffer from issues with the wiper/indicator stalks and also the steering wheels can throw up a few issues but there are plenty of specialists breaking cars so used parts are plentiful.
Our Volvos convinced us to get an XC60 last year and the seats are almost as good as the P2s were.
Some of the cars suffer from issues with the wiper/indicator stalks and also the steering wheels can throw up a few issues but there are plenty of specialists breaking cars so used parts are plentiful.
Our Volvos convinced us to get an XC60 last year and the seats are almost as good as the P2s were.
Trip down to Slough to collect the T5 today, relatively painless with a direct train to Euston although spoiled by cackling groups of middle aged women - despite me choosing the "quiet" carriage.
Service from Lee, the seller was superb, good long test drive, everything was as he said it would be and even had new NGK spark plugs fitted as he discovered it was overdue a change, ones that had been removed were shown to me to prove they had been done.
Having never been in a Volvo of any description before, let alone driven one or owned one it has been a pleasant surprise. Was expecting the controls to be relatively heavy and they are the exact opposite, clutch is lovely and light, the gearbox really smooth and precise and the seats - the seats are incredibly comfortable.
No satnav is actually a bonus, the Vantage has the Volvo navigation system and its awful, with navigation on phones, built in is redundant now and got a nice Quad Lock mount going in tomorrow. No Bluetooth but retrofit kit ordered that will be invisible bar the microphone.
Ash Gold metallic is not gold, its a pale green, I love it, the OH hates green cars but I'm sure she will like it eventually.
Few little jobs to do but nothing time intensive or expensive but will be looking out for a set of the OE BBS split rims, for a T5 it looks a little underwheeled but at least the ride benefits and tyres are cheap
Just over 180 miles home as I had to call in to MK to pick up some shiny bits for the Vantage so 75% motorway, 25% urban and the economy shocked me - T5s have a reputation as liking the fuel but look at what I managed - 45.2mpg. Checked by re-brimming the tank when I got home - true figure was just shy of 43mpg
Service from Lee, the seller was superb, good long test drive, everything was as he said it would be and even had new NGK spark plugs fitted as he discovered it was overdue a change, ones that had been removed were shown to me to prove they had been done.
Having never been in a Volvo of any description before, let alone driven one or owned one it has been a pleasant surprise. Was expecting the controls to be relatively heavy and they are the exact opposite, clutch is lovely and light, the gearbox really smooth and precise and the seats - the seats are incredibly comfortable.
No satnav is actually a bonus, the Vantage has the Volvo navigation system and its awful, with navigation on phones, built in is redundant now and got a nice Quad Lock mount going in tomorrow. No Bluetooth but retrofit kit ordered that will be invisible bar the microphone.
Ash Gold metallic is not gold, its a pale green, I love it, the OH hates green cars but I'm sure she will like it eventually.
Few little jobs to do but nothing time intensive or expensive but will be looking out for a set of the OE BBS split rims, for a T5 it looks a little underwheeled but at least the ride benefits and tyres are cheap
Just over 180 miles home as I had to call in to MK to pick up some shiny bits for the Vantage so 75% motorway, 25% urban and the economy shocked me - T5s have a reputation as liking the fuel but look at what I managed - 45.2mpg. Checked by re-brimming the tank when I got home - true figure was just shy of 43mpg
Edited by Andy665 on Sunday 23 April 06:42
Edited by Andy665 on Sunday 23 April 13:43
The Volvo has a name - a rarity for a car in this household to be given one - Bob - straightforward, no-nonsense and is what it is 
Spent a couple of hours on the car today and its a real puzzle - I cannot understand how it is so immaculate. Its 18 years old, its done 88k and there is not a stone chip on it and zero evidence of any repaint. Only mark I can find on the outside is a tiny little chip on offside rear door and the rear wiper does not work with tailgate shut (but does with it open) which I have already identified as a break in the body / tailgate wiring so an easy fix.
In 30+ years of car buying (and probably over 60 cars) I have never bought such an immaculate car and the small trader I bought from was exceptional, honest, friendly, not pushy.
Replacing the cigarette lighter with a USB / PD charger, sorting out the rear wiper, replacing the bonnet strut and the gas struts on the fitted dog guard ais about the extent of the work to be done - absolutely nothing major to be done at all which feels a bit alien to me.
OH drove it yesterday and was shocked - everything is so much lighter than the Giulietta, clutch, brakes, steering - bit of a shock to her, she thought it would be heavy / clunky to drive yet its the exact opposite
Spent a couple of hours on the car today and its a real puzzle - I cannot understand how it is so immaculate. Its 18 years old, its done 88k and there is not a stone chip on it and zero evidence of any repaint. Only mark I can find on the outside is a tiny little chip on offside rear door and the rear wiper does not work with tailgate shut (but does with it open) which I have already identified as a break in the body / tailgate wiring so an easy fix.
In 30+ years of car buying (and probably over 60 cars) I have never bought such an immaculate car and the small trader I bought from was exceptional, honest, friendly, not pushy.
Replacing the cigarette lighter with a USB / PD charger, sorting out the rear wiper, replacing the bonnet strut and the gas struts on the fitted dog guard ais about the extent of the work to be done - absolutely nothing major to be done at all which feels a bit alien to me.
OH drove it yesterday and was shocked - everything is so much lighter than the Giulietta, clutch, brakes, steering - bit of a shock to her, she thought it would be heavy / clunky to drive yet its the exact opposite
Another little job done last night. The bonnet strut seemed a bit weak so new one popped on, all of a 30 second job.
Visiting Donington Historic Festival on Saturday but small list of jobs to hopefully get done on Sun / Mon:
Fit Bluetooth stereo adaptor - only modern convenience I actually miss
Fit new dog guard gas struts - old ones are well past their best
OE mudflaps need to go on
Deep clean and condition of leather - suspect its more dirty than it looks and definitely does not feel as supple as it should
May well commence with a decontamination of paint followed by a machine polish but have little jobs I want to do on the Tuscan, Vantage and 650 as well
Foxwell Diagnostic code reader should be here today, no sign of any warning lights but always good to have a half decent diag tool on hand just in case.
Discovered last night the colour is not Ash Gold but Lunar Gold, it seems to photograph as green but in low light it is definitely gold, in sunlight it becomes green, was not sure at first if I liked it but its growing on me.
I have been looking at exhausts etc but decided this is a car to keep OE and enjoy it for what it is - a big, comfortable bus
Visiting Donington Historic Festival on Saturday but small list of jobs to hopefully get done on Sun / Mon:
Fit Bluetooth stereo adaptor - only modern convenience I actually miss
Fit new dog guard gas struts - old ones are well past their best
OE mudflaps need to go on
Deep clean and condition of leather - suspect its more dirty than it looks and definitely does not feel as supple as it should
May well commence with a decontamination of paint followed by a machine polish but have little jobs I want to do on the Tuscan, Vantage and 650 as well
Foxwell Diagnostic code reader should be here today, no sign of any warning lights but always good to have a half decent diag tool on hand just in case.
Discovered last night the colour is not Ash Gold but Lunar Gold, it seems to photograph as green but in low light it is definitely gold, in sunlight it becomes green, was not sure at first if I liked it but its growing on me.
I have been looking at exhausts etc but decided this is a car to keep OE and enjoy it for what it is - a big, comfortable bus
Edited by Andy665 on Thursday 27th April 10:43
Real result this week on the T5.
Whilst it came with a fully stamped service book there was precious little in the way of invoices apart from what the trader I bought from had bought. Fortunately I managed to keep the V5 as we did transfer of ownership online so I had the previous owners address.
As the previous owner had owned the car from early 2013 to Dec 2022 I thought there may be an emotional attachment to the car so I wrote him a short letter and popped it in the post, primarily to let him know I now owned the car and it was in good hands but also on the off chance he might be able to provide some background on the car.
24 hours later I received a WhatsApp from an excited gentleman telling me how grateful he was for the letter and he hoped I had all the paperwork that he handed over when he traded it at a Jaguar dealership. Obviously. thanks to GDPR his carefully maintained history had been dumped but not to worry he had electronic copies of 10 years worth of receipts and invoices he would happily email over to me.
Woke up this morning to a nice email with some background details of the car, pictures from when he bought it in 2013, the invoice from when he bought it and a mountain of paperwork showing that this has been a very well cared for car - now all filed away electronically and also printed out and put in to my newly created history folder.
So pleased to have lots of history now rather than just a stamped service book - I think I dropped lucky with this car.
Strange coincidences though in the email exchange, previous owner was brought up less than 1/2 mile away from where my dad was brought up, his grandparents lived less than a mile from where we live and he now lives in Inverness, where the buyer of the Giulietta that the Volvo is replacing lives
Whilst it came with a fully stamped service book there was precious little in the way of invoices apart from what the trader I bought from had bought. Fortunately I managed to keep the V5 as we did transfer of ownership online so I had the previous owners address.
As the previous owner had owned the car from early 2013 to Dec 2022 I thought there may be an emotional attachment to the car so I wrote him a short letter and popped it in the post, primarily to let him know I now owned the car and it was in good hands but also on the off chance he might be able to provide some background on the car.
24 hours later I received a WhatsApp from an excited gentleman telling me how grateful he was for the letter and he hoped I had all the paperwork that he handed over when he traded it at a Jaguar dealership. Obviously. thanks to GDPR his carefully maintained history had been dumped but not to worry he had electronic copies of 10 years worth of receipts and invoices he would happily email over to me.
Woke up this morning to a nice email with some background details of the car, pictures from when he bought it in 2013, the invoice from when he bought it and a mountain of paperwork showing that this has been a very well cared for car - now all filed away electronically and also printed out and put in to my newly created history folder.
So pleased to have lots of history now rather than just a stamped service book - I think I dropped lucky with this car.
Strange coincidences though in the email exchange, previous owner was brought up less than 1/2 mile away from where my dad was brought up, his grandparents lived less than a mile from where we live and he now lives in Inverness, where the buyer of the Giulietta that the Volvo is replacing lives
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