154k Volvo V70....R you feeling brave?

154k Volvo V70....R you feeling brave?

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Discussion

GrantB5

572 posts

87 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
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I can see myself going down the volvo route at some point in a few years. Will have to kill the Passat first though.

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Saturday 14th January 2017
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Brief update time, and for you lots it's pretty boring I expect, but it's nice to document it somewhere I guess.

Car has just ticked over 158500 meaning I've done a little more than 4k since purchased at the end of April. Should put me on 6k in my first year of ownership. About 2k more than expected, somehow.

It's been relatively straight forward up until this point, but over the last few weeks had noticed the gearbox felt a bit "odd". Fearing the worst I thought I'd get it checked out. It was only rebuilt 13 months ago too. The local volvo specialist took it away and then dropped it back (after changing coolant) to advise me it was totally fine. It had just adapted to my sedate driving style and had learnt to coast up to junctions. He reset it to give me piece of mind, and it's back to how it originally felt.

Happy that my gearbox was actually fine I decided to splash out on two replacement rear tyres. For those reading since the start the car had p-zeros fitted all round but the fronts were standard ones, the rear p-zero rosso (which I believe were quite a bit older). They both had around 3mm left but had worn oddly, possibly due to being over inflated in the past. They had a visible ridge. One had also gained a nail in the last week so I had 2 new standard p-zeros fitted yesterday.

I appreciate that this topic is probably boring for you all but I'm still enjoying the car. I did tentatively put it up for sale last week but think I'd regret it so removed it pretty quickly. I can't see what I could replace it with that does everything so well. Finally I've been having a competition with a bloke from work trying to get the car as dirty as I can. I failed. I just don't do enough fast driving, and it's silver. Despite it still looking silver I noticed the door rubbers were going green. Couldn't cope any more so gave it a quick wash today, and it looks much better for it.





Edited by S10GTA on Saturday 14th January 17:55

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Nothing to add, just took this picture this morning and like it



Edited by S10GTA on Wednesday 18th January 09:40

hora

37,011 posts

210 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Lurker here, I'm not bored. Keep the updates coming.

M1C

1,832 posts

110 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Me neither. Looks great.

WRT V70s...the only one's ive driven are the 2.4D and 2.4 XC model. I liked them both, the 5 cyl engine really does add an extra bit of something. I had a 9-5 Aero at the time which was great..but the 4cyl 2.3 did lack character.

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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A user has just messaged me about the V70R as he is considering one. I've just written the following so might as well post it here as it might be useful for someone, it might also be a load of rambling bks, so take what you want from it.

S10GTA said:
No issue with you sending a message, hopefully I can offer constructive advice. Congratulations with the imminent arrival (and the child!).

Firstly, I wouldn't be put off by all the horror stories, I too read them and have been concerned, but they are no more fragile than any other 10-12 year old 40k car. I guess thats the important bit to remember, they were almost 40k new. As you've probably read, there are several main points of weakness. I'll list them below.

1) Liners prone to cracking - I've read lots about this. Apparently the walls are so thin that the liners can crack. The only way to tell bar sticking a borescope down there is a loss of coolant. Not just a little bit, but emptying the expansion tank on a short drive. This only seems to occur on cars that have been fettled (read boost wound up). It does still happen to standard cars, but very few cases. If you are one of the unlucky ones the engine is scrap. Most replace it with a 2.4 lump from a T5 which is much less fragile. Engine can be shimmed for circa £500 as a preventative measure.

2) AWD - Early ones angle gear was made of cheese. Spline gets stripped so no AWD. Expensive to fix (mine was circa £1500 before I purchased it). Later ones (06 onwards) had a beefed up angle gear from an XC90 fitted.

3) Gearbox - Early ones (like mine) had a 5 speed Aisan Warner box fitted. Apparently a big no-no. Prone to failure (again mine was fixed before my purchase...£2200!) and limits torque in 1st and 2nd. The later (06-onwards) had a better 6 speed fitted which is much more resilient. Torque limiter removed and more robust but does suffer from valve body issues. Circa £800 to fix. TF-80 I think.

4) 4C suspension - Munroe struts apparently expensive to replace, circa £300 per corner and often out of stock. Many people replace the 4C with KW coilovers and bypass the 4C. Circa £1000 but apparently much better ride.

Despite all the above, I still went for an early one as its all I could afford. I got lucky, the gearbox, AWD, 4C had all been replaced. I also figured people only really post negative stuff on the internet, and for everyone whos had an issue there are several others who've not. Its actually an incredible car. I too like you do lower mileage. I purchased the car at the end of April so nearly 10 months ago now, and have covered just under 6k. Basic running costs are pretty reasonable to be honest, given what you actually get. I'm around 22mpg according to the OBC, which over-reads a bit, so closer to 20mpg. On a long run I've achieved 35mpg. I'm quite fussy with tyres, so they are not cheap. Just paid £114 for two new P-Zeros. Last service was about £300. Apart from that its not required anything else (bar cosmetics due to scratch)

One thing if I was being critical is the ride isn't great, even in comfort, but I'm probably just being a bit fussy having had cars such as XM/Xantia. Apparently the KW improve this. It can be a bit crashy. The alloys are a bit weak too.

You state you're looking at a slightly later one. From all accounts this is a good idea, especially if you're looking at an auto. It has the better box and beefed up angle gear already.

To summarise, I really like my V70R and I wouldn't let the horror stories put you off, just give yourself a small slush fund or be prepared to park it up for a while and use a snotter if something big goes wrong. Its a fabulous family car when you need to pootle around with wife/kids but interesting enough when you're on your own. It covers ground at an epic rate, but you can also take dogs out/take stuff to the tip. It likes to drink, but it also has 300bhp. I also love its non-image, which you probably already get. Had a lad pull up behind me at the lights the other night, then he moved lanes as we waited for the lights to change as he though he'd out drag me. His face was a picture as I f**ked off ??

If I was buying again, what would I do different? If my budget was more I'd have certainly purchased an 06-onwards. The 6 speed box is far superior apparently. Apart from that, not much else, but I'd defiantly buy it again. I love its all-round ability, although I do worry a bit about something big going wrong. I had the gearbox checked the other day as I worried it was behaving oddly, it had actually just adapted to my driving style. I'm torn if I'd buy a manual or an auto next time. I think a manual would be superior, but after owning my XC70 (manual) I felt an auto would really suite the car. It does, but I think the 6 speed auto would be a good compromise.

There is a useful R facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/488591964562156/ if you do facebook. Its American based, so a manual (or M66 as they call it) is a big deal and they'll tell you auto is crap, but thats just Americans as most cars are auto.

Hope my rambling helps. I'd certainly be buying one in your position. I don't regret mine one bit. I've also not felt like I need a second car as this one does everything
Edited by S10GTA on Monday 26th June 20:18


Edited by S10GTA on Monday 26th June 20:21

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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Rather than subscribe to your posts, S10, can I just subscribe to you? It'd be much easier!

I need to add something like this to my lot. Then the daily/track can be stripped and caged

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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illmonkey said:
Rather than subscribe to your posts, S10, can I just subscribe to you? It'd be much easier!
Not sure if that is a compliment or a criticism laugh

illmonkey

18,112 posts

197 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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S10GTA said:
illmonkey said:
Rather than subscribe to your posts, S10, can I just subscribe to you? It'd be much easier!
Not sure if that is a compliment or a criticism laugh
A compliment to your posting, a criticism of your fairly sensible purchase!

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Little to report in Volvo land. It is pretty uneventful, which I guess is a good thing :-)

Took a longish run (for me) up to Crawley and back via the A272 on Friday which was 200 miles. Car performed faultlessly but I had noticed a small amount of knocking from the front end over the last few months, which had been diagnosed as track rod ends, getting a bit worse. This means I've stopped putting it off and booked it in for next Friday, along with an MOT. This is a month early which also means I've owned the car 11 months. I know, shocking!

Anyway, my 154k V70R is no longer on 154k, rather surprisingly it's now covered 160k. It appears I've done 6k rather than 4k in the last year. Must like it...

My passenger snapped this milestone tonight. It's just run in I believe.


Loose_Cannon

1,593 posts

252 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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As a T5 owner of all sorts over the last 17 years I've enjoyed this thread. I had one of these years back, a fantastic Sonic Blue V70R, 55 plate IIRC with the silky 6 speed auto. I only kept it a year or so as I was petrified of potential bills, possibly unjustified?

Anyhow its one of the few cars I ever bought and sold for a profit, from a dealer too.

The plus points were innumerable, the odd few negatives were;

1. Turning circle of a supertanker, doing 3 point turns to go around mini roundabouts was plain dangerous never mind embarrassing
2.Forever popping expensive PZeros on potholes
3. Grip in icy conditions was terrible without proper winter tyres, our Vauxhall Corsa was better on slicks.
4. I got 19-21 mpg everywhere regardless
5. st ride on pointless expensive suspension (no alternatives back then)
6. Seemed to be married to the dealer for servicing/parts when everything needed a "flash code" to fit. Hated this as a committed DIY guy.

However it did leave the most amazing memories as I took the family to Europe in it, 300hp made mincemeat of motorways coming home with a bootful of Normandy cider!

After a while I found myself looking enviously at old V70 T5s again, which seemed bizarre when I could have bought 12 for the same price as the R. Even so it was sold and I went backwards to the old cars again, but still to this to this day think I might have another go........of course the next wil be the russian roulette full chamber with the full compliment of ruinous problems!


Edited by Loose_Cannon on Friday 24th March 08:08

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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Odd, mine never struggles for grip in any conditions and always gets 29mpg. The auto box must make a huge difference.

Not had to have any reflashes for anything. Maybe they were more temperemental for the little things when new.

Mine was even 'fun' on the PH Silverstone track day.

Loose_Cannon

1,593 posts

252 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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I think the slush boxes do make a big differences on these cars mpg and performance wise even though I do love them

Chris x

271 posts

187 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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Love this.

In fact I think I may have just done a deal on a mint green, manual car with orange interior!

Any tips on what to look out for? (I will have a quick google now...)

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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Loose_Cannon said:
As a T5 owner of all sorts over the last 17 years I've enjoyed this thread. I had one of these years back, a fantastic Sonic Blue V70R, 55 plate IIRC with the silky 6 speed auto. I only kept it a year or so as I was petrified of potential bills, possibly unjustified?

Anyhow its one of the few cars I ever bought and sold for a profit, from a dealer too.

The plus points were innumerable, the odd few negatives were;

1. Turning circle of a supertanker, doing 3 point turns to go around mini roundabouts was plain dangerous never mind embarrassing
2.Forever popping expensive PZeros on potholes
3. Grip in icy conditions was terrible without proper winter tyres, our Vauxhall Corsa was better on slicks.
4. I got 19-21 mpg everywhere regardless
5. st ride on pointless expensive suspension (no alternatives back then)
6. Seemed to be married to the dealer for servicing/parts when everything needed a "flash code" to fit. Hated this as a committed DIY guy.

However it did leave the most amazing memories as I took the family to Europe in it, 300hp made mincemeat of motorways coming home with a bootful of Normandy cider!

After a while I found myself looking enviously at old V70 T5s again, which seemed bizarre when I could have bought 12 for the same price as the R. Even so it was sold and I went backwards to the old cars again, but still to this to this day think I might have another go........of course the next wil be the russian roulette full chamber with the full compliment of ruinous problems!
I don't think your concerns were unjustified. Mine has had thousands spent on it in the previous few years, both box and AWD being fixed. I'm just currently riding on the crest of the wave...

I agree with you the plus points far outweigh the negatives.
1. The turning circle I can cope with as I am used to similar with the GTA I owned before, although it does make some things pretty tricky. Its becoming a bit of a joke between me and the Mrs however. Multi-Stories are out.
2. Not experienced popping P-Zeros, but I do have a slightly buckled wheel frown
3. Can't agree with the lack of grip in icy conditions, mine has been great. Was your AWD working?
4. It's a heavy, AWD, turbocharged luxury barge. 20mpg is the trade off, although I can get 35mpg on a run.
5. Agreed, the ride isn't brilliant, and is costly to fix. As mentioned previously there are now solutions, however I'm not sure I'd change it. I like originality.
6. Not that I've had any issues as yet, but there are now plenty of people with access to VIDA/DICE to help you get round these issue. My friendly local Volvo specialist has all the gear.

Quite a few seem to be falling into the hands of genuine owners now, so you should be able to get a good one, but beware, prices are strengthening. I've not seen any anywhere close to what I paid for mine

Ahbefive said:
Odd, mine never struggles for grip in any conditions and always gets 29mpg. The auto box must make a huge difference.

Not had to have any reflashes for anything. Maybe they were more temperemental for the little things when new.

Mine was even 'fun' on the PH Silverstone track day.
Mine is auto and I don't seem to have grip issues either. It hammers the economy tho...

Chris x said:
Love this.

In fact I think I may have just done a deal on a mint green, manual car with orange interior!

Any tips on what to look out for? (I will have a quick google now...)
Great news. V or S?

Go back a page, I wrote a lot.




Edited by S10GTA on Friday 24th March 10:48

Chris x

271 posts

187 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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S10GTA said:
Great news. V or S?

Go back a page, I wrote a lot.




Edited by S10GTA on Friday 24th March 10:48
V smile Will have a look now! Thanks

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Friday 24th March 2017
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Chris x said:
V smile Will have a look now! Thanks
Its called Flash green btw, the orange interior is Atacama, and is cloud9

S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Sunday 2nd April 2017
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Following on from the last post, the Volvo went for its annual MOT on Friday, it's first with me. I'm always suspicious of an MOT with no advisories, as mine had when I purchased it, and was waiting to see what would be uncovered, but I was pleasantly surprised when it passed first time with only two advisories. A chip in the windscreen and slight misting from a shock. So it seems the last pass was entirely genuine.

I now have a 13 month MOT, and have covered 6k over the last 11 months of ownership. It's all been rather pleasant.

Today was also a momentous day, when I purchased the car the tow bar was stuck on. I've tried on several occasions to remove it unsuccessfully but today with a bit of ignorance I managed to get it off. Now I just need to find a cover to tidy the rear up. I also noticed the rear box was deteriorating whilst under it, so I might need a backbox at some point...shame


S10GTA

Original Poster:

12,645 posts

166 months

Friday 28th April 2017
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Wow, 365 days have past. It is exactly a year ago that I purchased the VR.

The 154k Volvo is now 160k, and I've covered 6132 miles during the last year.

In that time it has had a service, two new tyres, track rod ends, blower resistor, top engine mount and a new expansion tank, along with a scratch repair that was entirely needless. Thats about it I think. I must admit I was quite apprehensive after reading all the horror stories online, but so far I seem to have been lucky. No doubt now I've said that it'll kick me up the arse.

I recall this time last year I was deliberating between this car and a 120k non R version. I'm really pleased I bit the bullet and went for the R in the end. It really has been a great car. Its discreet and unassuming, and can be driven totally normally most of the time, but when you want to put your foot down it picks up the pace very well. I'm also pleased with the choice of auto. Yes the 5 speed auto is a bit dimwitted at times and I expect the 6 speed to be far superior, but its perfectly adequate. I'm unsure if I'd go out my way to get a manual if I was hunting for one now. Its not a sports car, its a GT car if anything. A very good one, which works well with an autobox.

The bodywork is still a bit battered and the alloys desperately need to be refurbished however I just cannot bring myself to blow a load of money on tarting it up with a new child on the way and the possibility of a house move on the cards. There is potential I may need to sell if we move house, but I'll try and hold onto it. As many of you who've been on here for a while I constantly go on about the GTA I owned for 4 years and rate it as the best car I've ever owned. I think I prefer the R now.

Couple of pics on my way to work this morning. I'm no photographer but I do really like the classic look of the wagon. I think they are totally classless, which works well for me.





Here is to another year (hopefully!)

Davie

4,733 posts

214 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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Every time I have a bit of a wobble, I refer back to this thread and it makes me feel a bit better so many thanks for that!

T minus 4 days and counting...