Discussion
On the hunt for a new station/shopping/take stuff to the tip car to replace the old faithful Mondeo which is getting just that bit too sheddy nowadays - it has even managed to accrue some gaffer tape on the rear bumper courtesy of some kind soul in a car park who obviously left without leaving a note.
That combined with the fact that it'll need 4 new tyres soon and it incurred a few advisories at the last MOT will make it economically unviable as its probably worth about £300.
Won't be doing a lot of miles (maybe 5,000/year) so mpg not an issue plus something with even a modicum of poke is always the better option so was looking at the 2.5L Mondeo or it's cousin the Cougar - both seem to have plenty of toys and will slide in at under £2K which is my preferred budget for the new workhorse.
Looked at a few other things as well but someone threw a spanner in the works by suggesting the S80 T6. Now I admit that I'd never really considered a Volvo but on paper a comfy, 2.8l twin-turbo seems to tick a few of my requirement boxes.
Reading Wiki though a few things stood out:
"For Volvo, the S80 was a major step forward into the age of modern car design, particularly with the use of canbus multiplex wiring. It is said that the S80 has more than 40 onboard computers, with at least one in every door. A popular expression says there's more electronics in the S80 than in the F15 fighter."
So then, would one of these be a money pit in waiting or are they generally quite reliable - electrics, engines & anything else??
Anyone got any experience of them or thoughts?
Would be looking at something similar to this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3322319.htm
Seems a lot of car for the money but also a lot that could go wrong...
They're ok but they are far from the best car Volvo has made - the straight 6 variant of the Volvo modular engine range was the worst of the three - we service sereral s80's one of them being a t6 - what I will say is that quite a few parts for them can be very costly. They also don't drive anywhere near as well as a t5 and they certainly don't feel like they have the claimed 280ish bhp - working on and driving volvos everyday I can categorically say I would have a t5 over a t6 everytime - that said, offer me an s80 t6 or something like a merc e-class of a similar age and I'd take the Volvo - naturally I'm biased though
Hmm, thanks for the input so far guys, have been trying to read around but there isn't a lot of info on these cars, seem pretty rare.
Comparisons I have found seem to be that people prefer the S60 T5 over the S80 T6, certainly seems to be a more popular car (in terms of there are more of them on sale) and they are slightly higher in value than the equivalent year/mileage S80.
Jeez, this time yesterday I hadn't even considered a Volvo or knew anything about them but now I'm becoming intrigued by what all the different model denominations/specs are and the likely risk of failure of any expensive components.
The joys of bangernomics.
Comparisons I have found seem to be that people prefer the S60 T5 over the S80 T6, certainly seems to be a more popular car (in terms of there are more of them on sale) and they are slightly higher in value than the equivalent year/mileage S80.
Jeez, this time yesterday I hadn't even considered a Volvo or knew anything about them but now I'm becoming intrigued by what all the different model denominations/specs are and the likely risk of failure of any expensive components.
The joys of bangernomics.
Edited by OzzyR1 on Friday 28th October 10:29
I have an 2002 S80 2.4 170HP SE bought on carp bay for £1,130. 84K miles. So far done 15,000 miles with no repair costs, although it will need a couple of suspensiony bits for the MOT, and the ABS ECU is demanding a repair - can't make up my mind to try myself or send it off for £50.
I'd recommend one. Not quite as stylish as the S60, and the back seat is much more usable. Fuel not too bad either.
I'd recommend one. Not quite as stylish as the S60, and the back seat is much more usable. Fuel not too bad either.
I just bought an auto' 170bhp S80 SE, so feel qualified to comment on the S80 part if not the t-6 part.
So what can I say? Well, firstly if you're planning to buy it with any kind of driver involvement/enjoyment in mind, then forget it. It just doesn't deliver. Soft suspension, ponderous gearbox, seats that don't hold, totally uncommunicative steering, like I say, it doesn't really work.
On the other hand, if you want a car you can just jump into and relax on a long drive (on motorways I touch 40mpg) then this really is it. I’d genuinely rather spend time in my Volvo than in my house. The seats are ultra comfy and heated (thanks winter pack!), the standard stereo is amazing (and there's no neighbours to bother), and the engine makes a pleasing noise.
It is slow, however. The best way to describe it is it gains momentum rather than accelerates. Which brings me to the next positive - it's very refined, certainly the quietest car I have ever driven.
Everyone mentions the electrics so I will to. I think it probably depends on how you approach it, my car came with 100,000 miles, full service history and all the MOTs. It also came with several warning lights illuminated... which are: air bag, emissions, bulb failure (this does happen a lot) and alarm service.
I paid £750, so massive investigation doesn't seem economic. I have had an AA guy look over it and all he diagnosed was noisy tappets. Not a problem, he said. As far as I am concerned everything works, it has no rust and is in a better condition than a similarly priced BMW/Mercedes would be.
I must admit when I guiding it through the city at around 20mpg, cursing its size and terrible turning circle I'm not completely convinced I love it, but show it a 400 mile run and it is ideal. Horses for courses, and all that.
So what can I say? Well, firstly if you're planning to buy it with any kind of driver involvement/enjoyment in mind, then forget it. It just doesn't deliver. Soft suspension, ponderous gearbox, seats that don't hold, totally uncommunicative steering, like I say, it doesn't really work.
On the other hand, if you want a car you can just jump into and relax on a long drive (on motorways I touch 40mpg) then this really is it. I’d genuinely rather spend time in my Volvo than in my house. The seats are ultra comfy and heated (thanks winter pack!), the standard stereo is amazing (and there's no neighbours to bother), and the engine makes a pleasing noise.
It is slow, however. The best way to describe it is it gains momentum rather than accelerates. Which brings me to the next positive - it's very refined, certainly the quietest car I have ever driven.
Everyone mentions the electrics so I will to. I think it probably depends on how you approach it, my car came with 100,000 miles, full service history and all the MOTs. It also came with several warning lights illuminated... which are: air bag, emissions, bulb failure (this does happen a lot) and alarm service.
I paid £750, so massive investigation doesn't seem economic. I have had an AA guy look over it and all he diagnosed was noisy tappets. Not a problem, he said. As far as I am concerned everything works, it has no rust and is in a better condition than a similarly priced BMW/Mercedes would be.
I must admit when I guiding it through the city at around 20mpg, cursing its size and terrible turning circle I'm not completely convinced I love it, but show it a 400 mile run and it is ideal. Horses for courses, and all that.
Edited by Rusty-C on Friday 28th October 14:59
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. GEARTRONIC BOX = HUGE FAILURE AND MASSIVE COSTS....
Volvo's are a bit minty to run. I've had 5 inc 850 an V70's my last was about 4 years ago - bloke at work has the newer p2 one 2.4 n/a 5 pot with manual box. He's had it around 7 years and constantly spends beyond £500 a year keeping it on the road, it averages 21 mpg full fat road tax, 12k range on front tyres shocking steering lock and he needed clutch and DMF circa £1000 this year (second one) now at 155k miles. Check insurance too, in this region it is getting on for BMW equivalent money!!
Stick to what you know IMO.
Volvo's are a bit minty to run. I've had 5 inc 850 an V70's my last was about 4 years ago - bloke at work has the newer p2 one 2.4 n/a 5 pot with manual box. He's had it around 7 years and constantly spends beyond £500 a year keeping it on the road, it averages 21 mpg full fat road tax, 12k range on front tyres shocking steering lock and he needed clutch and DMF circa £1000 this year (second one) now at 155k miles. Check insurance too, in this region it is getting on for BMW equivalent money!!
Stick to what you know IMO.
I had a S80 T6 Executive as a company car for a while - Swedish cut glass tumblers and a fridge in the back!
Pre 2003 cars don't feel like they have 280hp ('04 model onward feel much quicker, even though there was no stated change in hp or gearbox programming). They are FWD with a viscous LSD.
The GM 4 speed gearbox is a liability (5 cylinder models have a much better 5 speed box).
'03 model year onwards feel better built, have a more feelsome steering rack and higher standard specs.
Early S80 electrics can be problematic, but not wallet breaking on the 5 cylinder cars.
If you go for one, try and find a 2.4/2.5 Turbo with optional sports seats. -
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
As others have said, one of the comfiest cars you can buy.
Pre 2003 cars don't feel like they have 280hp ('04 model onward feel much quicker, even though there was no stated change in hp or gearbox programming). They are FWD with a viscous LSD.
The GM 4 speed gearbox is a liability (5 cylinder models have a much better 5 speed box).
'03 model year onwards feel better built, have a more feelsome steering rack and higher standard specs.
Early S80 electrics can be problematic, but not wallet breaking on the 5 cylinder cars.
If you go for one, try and find a 2.4/2.5 Turbo with optional sports seats. -
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
As others have said, one of the comfiest cars you can buy.
Edited by JimexPL on Friday 28th October 15:26
I just bought a S60 T5, had no intention of buying at first just went for test drive and end up buying there and then, it's so comfortable and it certainly feels well put togather.
The engine sounds great and when it comes on boost it really shifts for the size of car.
It's really a lot of car for the money, but check that the alarm works as alot have faulty alarm modules, the one I bought was ok on test drive but come on when I went to pick up, it comes up as alarm service on the dash I just ignore as it just means the alarm will not go off but it is suppose to cost around 300 to fix.
The engine sounds great and when it comes on boost it really shifts for the size of car.
It's really a lot of car for the money, but check that the alarm works as alot have faulty alarm modules, the one I bought was ok on test drive but come on when I went to pick up, it comes up as alarm service on the dash I just ignore as it just means the alarm will not go off but it is suppose to cost around 300 to fix.
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