My first Ovlov
Discussion
Well nothing else has fallen off, and after a week of the commute and a trip over to the NEC, the needle is starting to approach the bottom segments and it'll be time to finally fill the tank!
On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
smn159 said:
The OBC on mine over reads the MPG by >20%
croakey said:
I average low to mid 50's in mine. I lie to myself and pretend that's a true read out
Excellent It appears Ovlov ownership follows the 5 stages of grief...
I've tried bargaining with the car, offering it many new parts in return for faithful service.
I've left it off the road for months in a bout of depression after the wheel fell apart and the myriad of other broken bits.
There was anger at the thing for failing its MOT with yet more broken parts after we replaced many parts, broke another bit, and then replaced that too.
Now it's time for the period of MPG denial
Maybe one day I'll move to the enlightened stage of acceptance...
As if this thread could be any less exciting of late, went over to a friend's car meet near Amersham last night, followed by a rather steady cruise home. Apparently averaging 65.7mpg at one point, but 2 lanes closed on the M1 meant that dropped a couple by the time I got home.
Most important fact was the joy of seeing 1,060 miles to empty tank having already travelled 66 miles. Naturally this morning I was sat in traffic for 20 minutes on the M1 so it's now expecting about 900 miles to empty, but I got to dream for a little bit!
There's a little bit of a rustle of wind at the top rear of the driver's side window. The rubber seal has deformed slightly so I know what it is, but on the drive home it did make me realise how little wind noise there actually is in the car, on a nicely surfaced piece of tarmac it's very quiet inside.
Starting to warm to the old tank again, closing in on 135,000 miles so time for an oil change soon. Really want to get the wheels refurbed as they're a mess, but they're split rims so I imagine it's going to be expensive!
Most important fact was the joy of seeing 1,060 miles to empty tank having already travelled 66 miles. Naturally this morning I was sat in traffic for 20 minutes on the M1 so it's now expecting about 900 miles to empty, but I got to dream for a little bit!
There's a little bit of a rustle of wind at the top rear of the driver's side window. The rubber seal has deformed slightly so I know what it is, but on the drive home it did make me realise how little wind noise there actually is in the car, on a nicely surfaced piece of tarmac it's very quiet inside.
Starting to warm to the old tank again, closing in on 135,000 miles so time for an oil change soon. Really want to get the wheels refurbed as they're a mess, but they're split rims so I imagine it's going to be expensive!
Hainey said:
Get the SE. By far the gentlemans choice.
How very dare you sir, to have opined thusly with such flagrant disregard for the 'Sport' nomenclature applied to my Ovlov.I do bite my thumb sir, and bid you good day
In all seriousness though, what's the difference spec wise?
Dull MPG update, OBC currently reporting 60.2mpg, covered approximately 250 miles with ~ 730 reported as remaining.
Edited by SturdyHSV on Tuesday 18th April 13:38
kapiteinlangzaam said:
On the facelift, the SE has chrome in the bumper inserts and a few other places.
Alu trim inserts on the interior, plus I *think* different spring rates.
All much of a muchness at the end of the day. Having had a few of these now, id actually buy on general condition rather than a specific spec/trim item.
The local dealer in the village just took in a lovely 2004 XC70 in a dark brown colour, small ish wheels, very understated and in perfect nick. Looks bloody lovely (still). However its >€5k, because Holland.
Ahhh, see I personally don't like the chrome inserts, so that's OK, I'll take my 'Sport' Alu trim inserts on the interior, plus I *think* different spring rates.
All much of a muchness at the end of the day. Having had a few of these now, id actually buy on general condition rather than a specific spec/trim item.
The local dealer in the village just took in a lovely 2004 XC70 in a dark brown colour, small ish wheels, very understated and in perfect nick. Looks bloody lovely (still). However its >€5k, because Holland.
I assume branding the V70 'Sport' is just part of Swedish humour?
Lots of crappy standstill traffic on the commute today means my average is showing as 59.8mpg now. The 'miles to empty tank' is falling, from the heady predictions earlier that would have seen me at 1,120 miles to a tank, I'm now on course for about 950. I imagine I will probably actually see about 800 when it's all said and done.
Such a comfy place to be, and I very much enjoy the sunroof in slow moving traffic
croakey said:
Impressed at your mpg, my old bus is currently showing 51.5mpg and that's on a 45mile motorway speed run each way.
I have a sneaky feeling I have another leaky injector
I am driving it in full Ovlov mode. By which I mean like an old pensioner...I have a sneaky feeling I have another leaky injector
Mainly because the M1 queues at the same bit every morning and I'm in no rush to get to it, so I just waft along at around 55-60 (just keeping out of the way of lorries basically).
It gets the odd boot through MK, but otherwise I'm really making a concerted effort to keep the MPG high. Previously I've also averaged around 50 on the computer, I'm just curious to see how it can do
£1,200 looks like a bargain, an auto would suit the car's overall demeanor, I think they'd sorted them out after a few years as well
dandam said:
Hainey said:
Lol its all just nuts and bolts brother. Just nuts and bolts.
A man put it together rust free, with a raft of proprietary and expensive tools and the assistance of other trained colleagues in a warm, dry and well lit environment with all of the parts required available to hand. A man can take it apart and do the same again after at least 7 failed attempts, multiple scuffed knuckles, a lost finger, loss of employment due to repeated absences, a bitter divorce, and at least a week each spent in denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.
You'd manage on the 8th attempt outside your new rented flat 40 miles from your kids. Few 4-packs of Stella and some tears but you'd do it.
This may just become my new mantra - certainly going to print this out and put it on my garage wall A man put it together rust free, with a raft of proprietary and expensive tools and the assistance of other trained colleagues in a warm, dry and well lit environment with all of the parts required available to hand. A man can take it apart and do the same again after at least 7 failed attempts, multiple scuffed knuckles, a lost finger, loss of employment due to repeated absences, a bitter divorce, and at least a week each spent in denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.
You'd manage on the 8th attempt outside your new rented flat 40 miles from your kids. Few 4-packs of Stella and some tears but you'd do it.
carreauchompeur said:
Arse... (to the tune of 'there may be trouble aheaaaaaad'). Warm day today and the gearbox is noticeably harsh and occasionally 'shunting' at low speeds. Didn't do this whilst test driving or indeed since then.
Fingers crossed.
Oooo bugger. Maybe a fluid change could help? Hope it's nothing serious Fingers crossed.
To be fair, at £1,200 you're currently about £1,800 below my total spend so far so you've got off lightly Well after a comparatively exciting morning drive whereby the fuel needle settled off the bottom of the gauge, I had to fill 'er up.
Managed to squeeze in 68.33 litres, which I make to be about 15.03 gallons.
Total mileage in the end? 754.1, so about 50.1mpg whilst the OBC was still promising me I had averaged 59.1
Once it gets below the halfway mark the gauge does drop very quickly. Around an indicated half a tank I had done 470 miles with 450 left to go apparently, as opposed to the probably about 300 that I had left if I'd run it empty.
Still, after 13 months of ownership I've managed to complete a full tank of fuel
Managed to squeeze in 68.33 litres, which I make to be about 15.03 gallons.
Total mileage in the end? 754.1, so about 50.1mpg whilst the OBC was still promising me I had averaged 59.1
Once it gets below the halfway mark the gauge does drop very quickly. Around an indicated half a tank I had done 470 miles with 450 left to go apparently, as opposed to the probably about 300 that I had left if I'd run it empty.
Still, after 13 months of ownership I've managed to complete a full tank of fuel
The Ovlov has kept on trucking, just got back from Le Mans where it really settled in to its own, carrying a load of stuff and 2 blokes at ~130km/h in comfort for hours on end with good aircon and a good stereo.
Total mileage for the trip was about 880 door to door. I'd had an ambition to do it on one tank, but very quickly gave up on that as motorway boredom set in! In the end we averaged about 42mpg, although this did include about 3 hours spent stationary with the air con on at various points over the weekend as it was 30*+ and we didn't have much shade...
So, enough text, some pictures... A relatively uneventful drive down, uneventful except for the eaglehawkfalconkestrel that was munching on a central reservation mouse about 30 minutes in to France.
Given their exceptional eyesight, he clearly saw the Volvo coming, and I can only imagine assumed we'd be towing a caravan and doing 70km/h (km/h, he was french after all). Alas, we were going a bit quicker than that, so he had to bid a hasty retreat vertically. Upon reaching bonnet height, he clearly realised he wasn't going to make it unless he jettisoned some weight, and so released his prey and, from the looks of things, voided his bowels, in order to gain just enough height to make it over the roofline in one piece.
Alas, Mickey was not so lucky, and lodged himself in the passenger side windscreen wiper, whilst said buzzardkitevulturealbatross' bowels sprayed up the windscreen. Naturally one had to engage the wiper to clean this off, so we had a clean screen except for the smear from Mickey's organs.
We had the great joy of watching Mickey's intestine slowly cook on the drive down, going from a vibrant red to a mildly putrid purple, and ultimately to a succulent medium rare brown.
At camp we removed medium well Mickey and attempted to sling him over the concrete barriers onto the dual carriageway next door. Alas he got caught on the barbed wire, and I presume is still rather unceremoniously hanging there by his innards.
First time on Tertre Rouge and I have to say it's a great camp site, such good access to everything compared to the arse end of Maison Blanche we're used to, and being in the Volvo, we didn't need the use of MB's skid pan this year
Naturally the Volvo did its job looking after our precious nectar.
A successful trip.
Final toilet stop waiting to board the Chunnel, slightly more bug splattered than when we left!
Next up will be an oil/filters service, I think Ovlov has earned that much
Total mileage for the trip was about 880 door to door. I'd had an ambition to do it on one tank, but very quickly gave up on that as motorway boredom set in! In the end we averaged about 42mpg, although this did include about 3 hours spent stationary with the air con on at various points over the weekend as it was 30*+ and we didn't have much shade...
So, enough text, some pictures... A relatively uneventful drive down, uneventful except for the eaglehawkfalconkestrel that was munching on a central reservation mouse about 30 minutes in to France.
Given their exceptional eyesight, he clearly saw the Volvo coming, and I can only imagine assumed we'd be towing a caravan and doing 70km/h (km/h, he was french after all). Alas, we were going a bit quicker than that, so he had to bid a hasty retreat vertically. Upon reaching bonnet height, he clearly realised he wasn't going to make it unless he jettisoned some weight, and so released his prey and, from the looks of things, voided his bowels, in order to gain just enough height to make it over the roofline in one piece.
Alas, Mickey was not so lucky, and lodged himself in the passenger side windscreen wiper, whilst said buzzardkitevulturealbatross' bowels sprayed up the windscreen. Naturally one had to engage the wiper to clean this off, so we had a clean screen except for the smear from Mickey's organs.
We had the great joy of watching Mickey's intestine slowly cook on the drive down, going from a vibrant red to a mildly putrid purple, and ultimately to a succulent medium rare brown.
At camp we removed medium well Mickey and attempted to sling him over the concrete barriers onto the dual carriageway next door. Alas he got caught on the barbed wire, and I presume is still rather unceremoniously hanging there by his innards.
First time on Tertre Rouge and I have to say it's a great camp site, such good access to everything compared to the arse end of Maison Blanche we're used to, and being in the Volvo, we didn't need the use of MB's skid pan this year
Naturally the Volvo did its job looking after our precious nectar.
A successful trip.
Final toilet stop waiting to board the Chunnel, slightly more bug splattered than when we left!
Next up will be an oil/filters service, I think Ovlov has earned that much
By way of an update as it's been a while, Ovlov relentlessly continues with great success.
I must confess over the winter my rather hands-off cleaning regime meant the wheels (and rest of the car) had become a touch messy.
A mid spray shot for contrast...
Alongside my friends new to him C30 post bath:
Around that time the passenger front wheel bearing had endured one pot hole too many and started making a reasonable din. The replacement process didn't require any special tools or a press, so I opted to undertake this and an oil / filters change on what turned out to be the weekend before the snow fall, which was nice.
Wheel bearing replacement went really well, all of the bits that might have been difficult were very easy, and then the simple task of tapping the old bearing assembly out with a hammer took 2 hours and much swearing.
This is the rather smug shot I took a mere 50 minutes in at what should have been the half way point, oil already drained, everything apart, bolts undone ready to tap out...
Needless to say after finding a big / heavy enough hammer the old one came out and as Haynes would say, assembly is the reverse of disassembly, all buttoned up and back on its wheels as it started to get dark.
We're approaching 152,000 miles now, the only other drama being a rather surprising departure from the driver's side rear tyre. Every now and then the pressure has dropped a little and I suspect it'd been through some sidewall wear as a result. Alas, on the first day back at work it decided enough was enough and attempted to make good its escape, the entire barrel of the tyre separating from the sidewall.
I took that opportunity to replace both rears as the surviving rear was an old Pirelli that would have needed replacement soon anyway, so I'm now finally on Pilot Sport 4s all around.
The intention is to swap the new tyres on to the front at some point as although fine when cornering the fronts are starting to scrabble a bit under power, so I'd rather they saw out their days keeping the exhaust off the floor whilst the good tyres handle the majority of my braking. Even with the best will in the world I can't see comparatively worn rears turning the V70 into a tail happy skid monster...
So there we have it, coming up for 2 years and 30,000 miles and fortunately I've managed to complete many full tanks of fuel now after the initial comedy. One other pleasantry is that the wing mirrors are also heated, so that's one less thing to scrape of a frosty morning.
I must confess over the winter my rather hands-off cleaning regime meant the wheels (and rest of the car) had become a touch messy.
A mid spray shot for contrast...
Alongside my friends new to him C30 post bath:
Around that time the passenger front wheel bearing had endured one pot hole too many and started making a reasonable din. The replacement process didn't require any special tools or a press, so I opted to undertake this and an oil / filters change on what turned out to be the weekend before the snow fall, which was nice.
Wheel bearing replacement went really well, all of the bits that might have been difficult were very easy, and then the simple task of tapping the old bearing assembly out with a hammer took 2 hours and much swearing.
This is the rather smug shot I took a mere 50 minutes in at what should have been the half way point, oil already drained, everything apart, bolts undone ready to tap out...
Needless to say after finding a big / heavy enough hammer the old one came out and as Haynes would say, assembly is the reverse of disassembly, all buttoned up and back on its wheels as it started to get dark.
We're approaching 152,000 miles now, the only other drama being a rather surprising departure from the driver's side rear tyre. Every now and then the pressure has dropped a little and I suspect it'd been through some sidewall wear as a result. Alas, on the first day back at work it decided enough was enough and attempted to make good its escape, the entire barrel of the tyre separating from the sidewall.
I took that opportunity to replace both rears as the surviving rear was an old Pirelli that would have needed replacement soon anyway, so I'm now finally on Pilot Sport 4s all around.
The intention is to swap the new tyres on to the front at some point as although fine when cornering the fronts are starting to scrabble a bit under power, so I'd rather they saw out their days keeping the exhaust off the floor whilst the good tyres handle the majority of my braking. Even with the best will in the world I can't see comparatively worn rears turning the V70 into a tail happy skid monster...
So there we have it, coming up for 2 years and 30,000 miles and fortunately I've managed to complete many full tanks of fuel now after the initial comedy. One other pleasantry is that the wing mirrors are also heated, so that's one less thing to scrape of a frosty morning.
DickP said:
Good reader car topic!
I have a friend who has taken an ex-police T5 one from around 120k to 240k now. Although it has had a gearbox and turbo and suspension bits are wearing in places, but hey it (largely) has worked okay and has not had an easy life.
By the way, at Le Mans you weren't the guys who had the fortune of being next to the motorised bath tub were you?
This one? I have a friend who has taken an ex-police T5 one from around 120k to 240k now. Although it has had a gearbox and turbo and suspension bits are wearing in places, but hey it (largely) has worked okay and has not had an easy life.
By the way, at Le Mans you weren't the guys who had the fortune of being next to the motorised bath tub were you?
No, but we did spot it out and about
Back in March I stayed over at a friend's house in MK of a Friday, came out in the morning to find Ovlov's number plates had been taken. Bit odd.
Logged it with the police, the rear left tyre had gone flat as expected so swapped on the space saver and trundled down the M1 looking particularly suspicious
This also lined up exactly with the MOT being due (poor preparation on my part!) so Ovlov was parked at home for a bit whilst I organised some new number plates and also got that wheel repaired. Alas the sun was now out so it was time to get the Monaro on the road, and with the Alfa / Monaro combo making for a far more entertaining commute, the big Swede languished on the drive for a bit.
Eventually the fuel cost started to get a bit silly (despite managing 30mpg from the GTV V6
) so it was time to replace the Ovlov's front tyres and get an MOT.
All that needed doing was passenger side rear brake pads and a clip for the passenger CV boot had come off. All in all, £20 worth of parts and an hour or so of my time saw the near 155,000 mile barge ready for commute duty once again.
Put the battery on a recondition cycle as it's been sat for a bit, oil level still good, all in all as it turns out I've done 21,000 miles since the last MOT I'm actually quite impressed
Logged it with the police, the rear left tyre had gone flat as expected so swapped on the space saver and trundled down the M1 looking particularly suspicious
This also lined up exactly with the MOT being due (poor preparation on my part!) so Ovlov was parked at home for a bit whilst I organised some new number plates and also got that wheel repaired. Alas the sun was now out so it was time to get the Monaro on the road, and with the Alfa / Monaro combo making for a far more entertaining commute, the big Swede languished on the drive for a bit.
Eventually the fuel cost started to get a bit silly (despite managing 30mpg from the GTV V6
) so it was time to replace the Ovlov's front tyres and get an MOT.All that needed doing was passenger side rear brake pads and a clip for the passenger CV boot had come off. All in all, £20 worth of parts and an hour or so of my time saw the near 155,000 mile barge ready for commute duty once again.
Put the battery on a recondition cycle as it's been sat for a bit, oil level still good, all in all as it turns out I've done 21,000 miles since the last MOT I'm actually quite impressed
Ovlov is ticking along, around 167,000 miles now, was reminded to post as I changed the front discs / pads at the weekend, swapped the tyres front to back and bought some more Castrol and a filter (although didn't get around to the oil change in the end, a job for this weekend...)
Not a great deal else to report, the rear wiper has stopped (common apparently) and the brake heat shield on the passenger side has finally given up and come off, but otherwise it's been largely plain sailing. Poor thing hasn't had a clean for a while, no excuses there to be honest.
Not a great deal else to report, the rear wiper has stopped (common apparently) and the brake heat shield on the passenger side has finally given up and come off, but otherwise it's been largely plain sailing. Poor thing hasn't had a clean for a while, no excuses there to be honest.
Why did I have it in my mind that the rear wiper was either expensive or a pig of a job?!
I shall have a look then, I'd not be surprised if it is the grease (or was initially) as it just slower got slower over time and would intermittently spark back to life...
OK one other thing, rear seats squeak, if folded flat they don't, and if people are sat on them they don't, so I'm of the mind it's the back rest of the rear seats squeaking against something over bumps, any pointers where to look as I've not managed to find the culprit(s) yet!
I shall have a look then, I'd not be surprised if it is the grease (or was initially) as it just slower got slower over time and would intermittently spark back to life...
OK one other thing, rear seats squeak, if folded flat they don't, and if people are sat on them they don't, so I'm of the mind it's the back rest of the rear seats squeaking against something over bumps, any pointers where to look as I've not managed to find the culprit(s) yet!
Oil change done today, 6.5l of castrol 0w30 is a bit greedy if you ask me
Rear wiper motor does look to be dead, replacement is in its way, along with a new dipstick as the existing one the bloody handle snapped off! Last check the oil about a month ago and no sign of it being difficult to remove or anything, very strange.
Got it out OK to check the level after refilling etc but not exactly convenient.
Rear wiper motor does look to be dead, replacement is in its way, along with a new dipstick as the existing one the bloody handle snapped off! Last check the oil about a month ago and no sign of it being difficult to remove or anything, very strange.
Got it out OK to check the level after refilling etc but not exactly convenient.
Managed to replace the driver's side bulb without removing the bumper, was a comparative doddle in the end.
Thought I'd update the thread as it passed its MOT first time, few advisories but nothing major. A little over 169,000 miles now. It's not been doing commuting duties for a few months now so it's largely been used as a helpful toolbox next to my garage door when working on the Monaro.
Gave it a good clean and it looks brilliant, such a handsome car and very loyal. There are some clunks hanging around but given how little it's being used at the moment I'm not too fussed. I'd very much like to take it to 200,000 miles but that seems a long way off at the moment.
Thought I'd update the thread as it passed its MOT first time, few advisories but nothing major. A little over 169,000 miles now. It's not been doing commuting duties for a few months now so it's largely been used as a helpful toolbox next to my garage door when working on the Monaro.
Gave it a good clean and it looks brilliant, such a handsome car and very loyal. There are some clunks hanging around but given how little it's being used at the moment I'm not too fussed. I'd very much like to take it to 200,000 miles but that seems a long way off at the moment.
As I was dailying the Ute it's not been used much, the wheel bearing going on the Ute dragged on a bit so the Ovlov stepped in for a little while, managed to tick over 170,000 at least, 200 still a long way off!
The difference in fuel consumption is hilarious, but ultimately not worth it Ute continues to await the bearing replacement, but now that the Monaro is tuned enough after the cam swap to (mostly) return to idle successfully, I've been dailying that instead. Too many choices.
Winter I may consider the volvo for those crappier weather days just to keep some of the salty filth off the Aussies
The difference in fuel consumption is hilarious, but ultimately not worth it
Ute continues to await the bearing replacement, but now that the Monaro is tuned enough after the cam swap to (mostly) return to idle successfully, I've been dailying that instead. Too many choices.Winter I may consider the volvo for those crappier weather days just to keep some of the salty filth off the Aussies
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