Volvo Classic V70 Tdi (manual) incredible mpg
Discussion
I've had my diesel V70 estate a couple of years or so now and it's reached 240k miles, at least the last 50k being mine.
It seems amazing this 16-17 year old car averages around 60mpg - dropping to maybe 56 in Winter and currently showing 64.9 for the last couple of tanks worth, all which seems to add up properly with a manual calculation.
Accepting I do a lot of fairly steady motorway miles but even chugging around locally it maintains similar economy.
And yes the usual motorway driving style is only 2100-2200 rpm max with cruise switched on giving around 68mph, and very occasionally a full blown flooring to discharge the exhaust buildup which seems to come with gentle driving.
But I don't see much in online archives from other V70 Tdi owners reporting this kind of economy - is it possible these engines loosen up as the milages become inter-stellar?
Amazing car - cost £870, not an ounce of rust, will take a double bed straight in with seats down, or fold out the otherwise invisible jump seats for a 7-seater, can tow a big caravan, never seems to go wrong - touch wood, a £30 oil service every 10k miles and 60mpg - it's the best all rounder I've ever had. The only negative is it's anything but flash, and now I'm so attached to it it's going to be some while before I ever own something shinier and newer.
It seems amazing this 16-17 year old car averages around 60mpg - dropping to maybe 56 in Winter and currently showing 64.9 for the last couple of tanks worth, all which seems to add up properly with a manual calculation.
Accepting I do a lot of fairly steady motorway miles but even chugging around locally it maintains similar economy.
And yes the usual motorway driving style is only 2100-2200 rpm max with cruise switched on giving around 68mph, and very occasionally a full blown flooring to discharge the exhaust buildup which seems to come with gentle driving.
But I don't see much in online archives from other V70 Tdi owners reporting this kind of economy - is it possible these engines loosen up as the milages become inter-stellar?
Amazing car - cost £870, not an ounce of rust, will take a double bed straight in with seats down, or fold out the otherwise invisible jump seats for a 7-seater, can tow a big caravan, never seems to go wrong - touch wood, a £30 oil service every 10k miles and 60mpg - it's the best all rounder I've ever had. The only negative is it's anything but flash, and now I'm so attached to it it's going to be some while before I ever own something shinier and newer.
I think it has a lot to do with how they been looked after and driven in a previous life - I ran one of these next to my V70 T5 and I bought with an engine knock and took all the good bits off and stuck them on the T5 and then flogged the hell out the Tdi for about a year - eventually snapped the crank in two somehow and scrapped it, but it was a really decent motor even with the shagged engine - I'd have another in a flash.
I ran my 1999 2.5D from 50k to 190k miles. The mpg was very consistnent and pretty impressive, but I only ever recorded 47mpg on long term average, mostly motorway cruising. No idea how you get circa 60mpg. Was mildly disappointed to only get around 40mpg from my replacement Mk3 D5. Part is the auto, part is fatter tyres (225 vs 195) and the rest must be emmissions controls and a little more lard.
Are these calculated actual figures or ones from the OBC?
The D5 can be quite variable it seems. Not sure about the old TDi version but I would be inclined to do a few tank fills back to back to verify the OBC.
My OBC on my old D5 was an habitual hallucinogenic drug user, claiming 58-64 mpg averages.
The D5 can be quite variable it seems. Not sure about the old TDi version but I would be inclined to do a few tank fills back to back to verify the OBC.
My OBC on my old D5 was an habitual hallucinogenic drug user, claiming 58-64 mpg averages.
DJT said:
I ran my 1999 2.5D from 50k to 190k miles. The mpg was very consistnent and pretty impressive, but I only ever recorded 47mpg on long term average, mostly motorway cruising. No idea how you get circa 60mpg. Was mildly disappointed to only get around 40mpg from my replacement Mk3 D5. Part is the auto, part is fatter tyres (225 vs 195) and the rest must be emmissions controls and a little more lard.
All my figures from many full-to-full tank fills, tracked via an app on the phone. The Mk3 OBC overreads at least 10%, so I just ignore it. I do wonder if the accuracy is affected by the lower energy content of the diesel that now contains bio-fuel vs what was used when Volvo programmed the OBC.My daily is a 1999 Volvo V70 2.5D ( TDI ) auto and I no longer check the mpg as it was that good for a big car when checked over a period after I bought it that any slight change wouldn't worry me.
Unfortunately I do not have the optional INFO display enabled on mine to show live mpg but when checked tank to tank when I bought it at 175K it was ~ 48mpg knocking around and general driving - and I'm no feather-light on the throttle.
It has now done just short of 204K and is still a great car and comfortable.
I have had various Volvos since 1982 ( mainly 240's ) and this one is among the best.
Have owned it about 4 - 5 years now.
It is my main towcar for caravan towing and I did about 1,800 miles on a 4 week trip to France last year without problems.
It tows quite well even though only 140BHP.
About 3 years ago I had an auto box failure ( at 187K ) as the ATF fluid was the original 'so called - for life' fluid.
That is when I bought the Vectra V6 2.5 L 194 bhp GSI ( in my profile ) as a get me by while the Volvo was being repaired.
Even at this mileage, I decided to repair the V70 as the car was worth the investment and have had no Auto problems since.
Probably wouldn't have been worth the cost had I not repaired it myself.
Research at the time I bought the V70 showed that these were expensive cars in 1999 and mine had an original purchase price of ~ £36,000 - and I haven't adjusted that for inflation in the intervening years.
Great cars - and I don't envisage changing it soon.
Colin
Unfortunately I do not have the optional INFO display enabled on mine to show live mpg but when checked tank to tank when I bought it at 175K it was ~ 48mpg knocking around and general driving - and I'm no feather-light on the throttle.
It has now done just short of 204K and is still a great car and comfortable.
I have had various Volvos since 1982 ( mainly 240's ) and this one is among the best.
Have owned it about 4 - 5 years now.
It is my main towcar for caravan towing and I did about 1,800 miles on a 4 week trip to France last year without problems.
It tows quite well even though only 140BHP.
About 3 years ago I had an auto box failure ( at 187K ) as the ATF fluid was the original 'so called - for life' fluid.
That is when I bought the Vectra V6 2.5 L 194 bhp GSI ( in my profile ) as a get me by while the Volvo was being repaired.
Even at this mileage, I decided to repair the V70 as the car was worth the investment and have had no Auto problems since.
Probably wouldn't have been worth the cost had I not repaired it myself.
Research at the time I bought the V70 showed that these were expensive cars in 1999 and mine had an original purchase price of ~ £36,000 - and I haven't adjusted that for inflation in the intervening years.
Great cars - and I don't envisage changing it soon.
Colin
LankyLegoHead said:
Interesting this.
I bought a 2.5TDI auto last week, I struggle to get mid 30's out of it! I replaced the thermostat last night as it was running cold, and disabled the EGR valve. Hoping it improves. I haven't even got a heavy foot!
An Italian tune up does help every week, once it's warmed up. Without a DPF you can see all the rubbish come out the exhaust the first time you do it.I bought a 2.5TDI auto last week, I struggle to get mid 30's out of it! I replaced the thermostat last night as it was running cold, and disabled the EGR valve. Hoping it improves. I haven't even got a heavy foot!
Yes agreed - very heavy footed Italian tuneup is a must particularly before the MoT.
I bought the (manual) V70 Tdi after driving the other half's one around France and back with 7 people and a roof box on, average was around 50mpg.
As I said, mine averages over 60mpg but there are factors which I believe have a significant impact:
1. Manual gearbox more economical
2. Cold weather - seems to drop 5-10mpg when freezing
3. Load - carrying tool boxes etc drops a few mpg
4. Tire pressures - around 40psi in the fronts
5. Driving style - try to keep 2100rpm or below
6. The car has an amazing ability to coast under its own momentum - if doing 60mph I can often let off the accelerator completely about 0.5 to 1 mile away from an approaching roundabout, depending on circumstances
7. Proportion of mileage on the motorway - mine is high but then the motorways are as often as not stop-start these days and the none motorway mpg seems not much different in this car anyhow
I had an E39 530 diesel before and with the same driving style I could only get about 42mpg compared to 60+ in the V70
A trader currently has one with 80k Miles up for £3700 at the moment which is frankly ridiculous money - if it was £2500 I wouldn't think twice.
I bought the (manual) V70 Tdi after driving the other half's one around France and back with 7 people and a roof box on, average was around 50mpg.
As I said, mine averages over 60mpg but there are factors which I believe have a significant impact:
1. Manual gearbox more economical
2. Cold weather - seems to drop 5-10mpg when freezing
3. Load - carrying tool boxes etc drops a few mpg
4. Tire pressures - around 40psi in the fronts
5. Driving style - try to keep 2100rpm or below
6. The car has an amazing ability to coast under its own momentum - if doing 60mph I can often let off the accelerator completely about 0.5 to 1 mile away from an approaching roundabout, depending on circumstances
7. Proportion of mileage on the motorway - mine is high but then the motorways are as often as not stop-start these days and the none motorway mpg seems not much different in this car anyhow
I had an E39 530 diesel before and with the same driving style I could only get about 42mpg compared to 60+ in the V70
A trader currently has one with 80k Miles up for £3700 at the moment which is frankly ridiculous money - if it was £2500 I wouldn't think twice.
I picked mine up for £650 with 175k on it! Thanks for the advice. I believe alignment and pressures could be letting mine down a tad, although it does coast rather well! It's on cheap coilovers with T5 alloys so may get the alignment done at some point, I have a feeling it was never done after being lowered.
Tomorrow will be a good test for it. First time since the thermostat change, old one was stuck fully open. Barely saw the needle move!
Tomorrow will be a good test for it. First time since the thermostat change, old one was stuck fully open. Barely saw the needle move!
Another thing to check is tyre pressures, but not the obvious . . . for some reason Volvo set the standard pressure on my D5 S80 to 32psi front and rear. Not only does this feel horrible but it increases consumption by 2-3 mpg. The car weighs 1.7 tonnes before I get in and another 60kg with a full tank of fuel so pushing 1.9 tonnes.
There is also an "eco" setting in the manual of (from memory) 39 psi front and rear. This feels a bit hard to me so I set my fronts to 37psi and rears to 35psi and this feels much better. I'd suggest experimenting with higher pressures than standard if yours are also similarly low.
My tyre wear has always been even and they car still handles perfectly - to the point that I think 32psi is too low full stop.
There is also an "eco" setting in the manual of (from memory) 39 psi front and rear. This feels a bit hard to me so I set my fronts to 37psi and rears to 35psi and this feels much better. I'd suggest experimenting with higher pressures than standard if yours are also similarly low.
My tyre wear has always been even and they car still handles perfectly - to the point that I think 32psi is too low full stop.
£650? - bargain!!!
Mine was £870 couple of years ago similar or a tad higher mileage.
By the way, make sure the belts and water pump are either in good shape or have been changed every 80k Mls - they are physically interconnected and it's a potential engine killer on failure.
I've also found with the Classic it has such a heavy lump at the front, try and keep in mind how the dynamics of the weight distribution will be working when you're driving it.
This especially on roundabouts and when cornering - front suspension, bearings and steering rack can take an uneccesarily heavy beating otherwise.
I used to cringe when seeing how the other half treated hers (only had 165k when she decided it was 'unreliable' and px'd it to a garage without telling me - I was mortifed).
Mine was £870 couple of years ago similar or a tad higher mileage.
By the way, make sure the belts and water pump are either in good shape or have been changed every 80k Mls - they are physically interconnected and it's a potential engine killer on failure.
I've also found with the Classic it has such a heavy lump at the front, try and keep in mind how the dynamics of the weight distribution will be working when you're driving it.
This especially on roundabouts and when cornering - front suspension, bearings and steering rack can take an uneccesarily heavy beating otherwise.
I used to cringe when seeing how the other half treated hers (only had 165k when she decided it was 'unreliable' and px'd it to a garage without telling me - I was mortifed).
Rob-u50pm said:
£650? - bargain!!!
Mine was £870 couple of years ago similar or a tad higher mileage.
By the way, make sure the belts and water pump are either in good shape or have been changed every 80k Mls - they are physically interconnected and it's a potential engine killer on failure.
I've also found with the Classic it has such a heavy lump at the front, try and keep in mind how the dynamics of the weight distribution will be working when you're driving it.
This especially on roundabouts and when cornering - front suspension, bearings and steering rack can take an uneccesarily heavy beating otherwise.
I used to cringe when seeing how the other half treated hers (only had 165k when she decided it was 'unreliable' and px'd it to a garage without telling me - I was mortifed).
Indeed! It does need a new wheel bearing up front, and I had the thermostat to replace. But otherwise... it all works! Heated leathers as well which is lovely. Mine was £870 couple of years ago similar or a tad higher mileage.
By the way, make sure the belts and water pump are either in good shape or have been changed every 80k Mls - they are physically interconnected and it's a potential engine killer on failure.
I've also found with the Classic it has such a heavy lump at the front, try and keep in mind how the dynamics of the weight distribution will be working when you're driving it.
This especially on roundabouts and when cornering - front suspension, bearings and steering rack can take an uneccesarily heavy beating otherwise.
I used to cringe when seeing how the other half treated hers (only had 165k when she decided it was 'unreliable' and px'd it to a garage without telling me - I was mortifed).
Yeah, it's just a tad different to my now "weekend" car (Toyota GT86) when it comes to handling haha. I do get a squeek from the steering rack when dry steering, and as said a front bearing is making a bit of noise so indeed there is some wear on the front suspension. I imagine the cheap coilovers arent helping.. but it looks good!
So, I'll get my tyre pressures done tomorrow I think. The fronts do look rather low!
Thanks for your help people (btw I put a thread in readers rides about it for those interested, I'll mark its life in there)
AClownsPocket said:
I've just bought a 2006 2.4 Geartronic V70 SE LUX today with 164K. I am amazed how tight it feels and how well screwed together it is. Both my wife and I are curious to see how far we can run it before something breaks. Its a wonderful thing.
If the gearbox oil hasn't been changed I'd recommend changing it.Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff