Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking at getting a decent mile muncher (135ish round trip commute, 30k/year, d'oh), looking for a diesel auto to replace my E39. Decent economy and ride quality/comfort are the order of the day. The usual suspects of Mondeo/VAG offerings are obviously up there but the S60 and S80 have raised their heads in 2.4l 5 pot format.
Can't say I know much about Volvos so can anyone give me much of a clue? Economy for both (163bhp models) is pretty similar, listed at (Urban) 26-27, (ExtraUrban) 47-48(Combined) 36-37, which is interstingly very similar to the 2.0 Mondeo. Of course I'm taking them with a pinch of salt, but out of interest how close do those figures come to reality?
Is there anything major I need to know about these models? I'll be looking to spend £5-6k max. so that puts me around the 02-05 year range. What's the service interval like, and are these cam chain or belt engines?
Cheers,
Rob
I'm looking at getting a decent mile muncher (135ish round trip commute, 30k/year, d'oh), looking for a diesel auto to replace my E39. Decent economy and ride quality/comfort are the order of the day. The usual suspects of Mondeo/VAG offerings are obviously up there but the S60 and S80 have raised their heads in 2.4l 5 pot format.
Can't say I know much about Volvos so can anyone give me much of a clue? Economy for both (163bhp models) is pretty similar, listed at (Urban) 26-27, (ExtraUrban) 47-48(Combined) 36-37, which is interstingly very similar to the 2.0 Mondeo. Of course I'm taking them with a pinch of salt, but out of interest how close do those figures come to reality?
Is there anything major I need to know about these models? I'll be looking to spend £5-6k max. so that puts me around the 02-05 year range. What's the service interval like, and are these cam chain or belt engines?
Cheers,
Rob
Hi Rob,
I'm on my 2nd V70 with the D5 engine (163bhp) had had both from new; this last one is now nearly 5 years old now and done 185K without problem. Service every 12K, use synthetic oil, cam belt every 96K. The 05 and later cars are 18K service intervals.
Mine is mostly motorway use so tyres 24K on front and then 24K on the back, had a few sets of brake pads and 2 sets of front discs plus front wishbones bushes and that's about it.
Fuel wise, it's an auto and it averages about 42-43 MPG (700 miles on a tank full). You have to really abuse it to get down to mid 30's and I’ve had 50 plus if you can stick to 70mph on the motorway. I understand that the later engines from 05 are thirstier due to the emission rules.
They really are very rapid, comfortable, reliable and under rated cars. Drive one before you buy anything else.
I'm on my 2nd V70 with the D5 engine (163bhp) had had both from new; this last one is now nearly 5 years old now and done 185K without problem. Service every 12K, use synthetic oil, cam belt every 96K. The 05 and later cars are 18K service intervals.
Mine is mostly motorway use so tyres 24K on front and then 24K on the back, had a few sets of brake pads and 2 sets of front discs plus front wishbones bushes and that's about it.
Fuel wise, it's an auto and it averages about 42-43 MPG (700 miles on a tank full). You have to really abuse it to get down to mid 30's and I’ve had 50 plus if you can stick to 70mph on the motorway. I understand that the later engines from 05 are thirstier due to the emission rules.
They really are very rapid, comfortable, reliable and under rated cars. Drive one before you buy anything else.
D'oh, a bit of a wasted day. I missed out on a nice sounding S80 SE Lux, 52 plate with 31k on it for £6.5k, sold yesterday apparently. So went to look at an S60 in one of those unpleasant supermarket type places - it was the closest to me, that's the only reason I went honest! Cars battery was dead so I couldn't adjust the perculiarly positioned seat nor obviously test drive it. Other than that it looked OK but I'm thinking £7k for a 54plate with 60k on the clock might be a bit pricey, maybe it isn't and I'm just being a skinflint 
They also only offered me 1.5k p/x so ho hum! Anyway I'll keep my eyes open.
Cheers,
Rob
They also only offered me 1.5k p/x so ho hum! Anyway I'll keep my eyes open.Cheers,
Rob
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/968518.htm
On a serious note the V50 is not the most comfortable cruiser.
On a serious note the V50 is not the most comfortable cruiser.
T5R+ said:
Blimey £2k for an 05, sounds strangely too good to be true.T5R+ said:
On a serious note the V50 is not the most comfortable cruiser.
Hmmm, also starting at £12,494 on AT, bit - OK loads - over budget.Out of interest on the S60 front, was the 04 facelift more than just cosmetic?
Cheers,
Rob
B19GRR said:
T5R+ said:
Blimey £2k for an 05, sounds strangely too good to be true.T5R+ said:
On a serious note the V50 is not the most comfortable cruiser.
Hmmm, also starting at £12,494 on AT, bit - OK loads - over budget.Out of interest on the S60 front, was the 04 facelift more than just cosmetic?
Cheers,
Rob
The late 2004 facelift on S60 / V70 was just that and IIRC an opportunity to introduce the more powerful 185bhp D5 engine, meaning the 163bhp one carried on badged the 2.4D.
The 2005MY cars have "jewel effect" tail lights, sliding cover over the centre console cupholders and a few other bits that I've forgotten about - I used to sell Volvos back then
I'd highly recommend a S80 D5, with autobox & comms pack. Belting value.
If you can find an "Executive" then you have a bargain... IIRC £40+k new....
HTH
The 2005MY cars have "jewel effect" tail lights, sliding cover over the centre console cupholders and a few other bits that I've forgotten about - I used to sell Volvos back then
I'd highly recommend a S80 D5, with autobox & comms pack. Belting value.
If you can find an "Executive" then you have a bargain... IIRC £40+k new....
HTH
Well so far I'm not having much luck with anything as I just haven't had the time to trek miles to check things and I'm busy all weekend too. There area a couple of S60s down near where I work that I'm hoping to check out, both 04 SEs, one silver with an appealing 35k on it for £5795 and t'other is black with 47k for a more optimistic £6995. I'm a bit bored with silver cars but I can't ignore that mileage and price. The only facelift S60 in budget with lowish miles is gold so, err, no thanks
On the S80 front I've got my eyes on a 53 plate SE for £5495 in silver (d'oh) or an 06(!) SE Lux for £6995 in Blue (no pics so dunno if it's light or dark), both have 60k on them and both are bleedin' miles away
Out of interest I've heard the S80 has a ride slightly firmer than brick like? Is that true or just internet BS? The roads I have to drive on around me are bloody terrible and give no mercy to suspension so it's something I need to consider seriously.
Cheers,
Rob
On the S80 front I've got my eyes on a 53 plate SE for £5495 in silver (d'oh) or an 06(!) SE Lux for £6995 in Blue (no pics so dunno if it's light or dark), both have 60k on them and both are bleedin' miles away
Out of interest I've heard the S80 has a ride slightly firmer than brick like? Is that true or just internet BS? The roads I have to drive on around me are bloody terrible and give no mercy to suspension so it's something I need to consider seriously.
Cheers,
Rob
Best laid plans and all that. I decided to go for it and get up early to check out the 06 S80. Stopped at services near Kettering to call and check spec and some bugger was just driving off in it!! Probably not too surprising but very inconsiderate I ended up trying an MG ZT at a local place, didn't like it.
Ah well, back to AutoTrader!
Cheers,
Rob
I ended up trying an MG ZT at a local place, didn't like it.Ah well, back to AutoTrader!
Cheers,
Rob
Hi,
Stick with it! I spent just under a year from the first time I test drove an S80 to finding one with just the right spec. I ended up with an 03 reg (04MY) S80 D5 SE auto in Black with all the toys, 100,000 on the clock and drove as if it had just come from the factory gate. Bought in October 2007 for £4,500 now done 135,000 miles and only had service, one headlight bulb and a pair of front tyres (getting ready for four more).
I don't know where you heard about the hard suspension, but mine isn't called The flying Sofa for nothing, it will easily climb over 130mph and cruise all day well above the motorway limit if you so desire, OK it doesn't handle as well as my sons Elise but it ain't as bad as a lot of people think for such a big car. my fuel comp is showing 41.7 at the moment but I have been doing a lot of town miles just lately and that brings it down, if you stick to the motorway limit you should easily get over 50-55 mpg.
Best advice I can give is keep looking there are some realy good examples to be had if you look long and hard enough.
Let me know if I can be of any more help.
Walt (and his Flying Sofa)
Stick with it! I spent just under a year from the first time I test drove an S80 to finding one with just the right spec. I ended up with an 03 reg (04MY) S80 D5 SE auto in Black with all the toys, 100,000 on the clock and drove as if it had just come from the factory gate. Bought in October 2007 for £4,500 now done 135,000 miles and only had service, one headlight bulb and a pair of front tyres (getting ready for four more).
I don't know where you heard about the hard suspension, but mine isn't called The flying Sofa for nothing, it will easily climb over 130mph and cruise all day well above the motorway limit if you so desire, OK it doesn't handle as well as my sons Elise but it ain't as bad as a lot of people think for such a big car. my fuel comp is showing 41.7 at the moment but I have been doing a lot of town miles just lately and that brings it down, if you stick to the motorway limit you should easily get over 50-55 mpg.
Best advice I can give is keep looking there are some realy good examples to be had if you look long and hard enough.
Let me know if I can be of any more help.
Walt (and his Flying Sofa)
I have totally failed alas. I came across a 54 plate Passat Highline 130, 28k on the clock for £7k. Couldn't turn my nose up at it, just couldn't find any comparible Volvos and need to make the change asap really. Although having said that I've just recorded an all time high of 34mpg from the beemer, bloody typical
Ah well in a couple of years I'll be on the look out again!
Cheers,
Rob
I own an S60 and my father has had two S80s. Comfort in both is second to none. S80 "wafts" its way around very nicely. Although I find it a little sluggish (2.4T engine)
If you're partial to taking to a few back roads, the S60 chassis is pretty good for a fwd mid-large car and can be quite fun. You need balls of steel to hammer an S80 down country lanes. Difficult to compare as my S60 has sports chassis and bigger wheels, but the feedback through the wheel is much better in the S60 and gives you more confidence. The S80 carries more weight into the bends, so without that feedback, it's not something you can enjoy really.
Having said that, if you just want to cruise on the motorway, at the price that these are going at the moment (even very high spec cars), they're a seriously good option.
As someone else said, they did do an executive which I believe had the option of being a four seater with proper seperate rear seats. And if you find a Volvo specialist, then costs needn't be too bad.
If you're partial to taking to a few back roads, the S60 chassis is pretty good for a fwd mid-large car and can be quite fun. You need balls of steel to hammer an S80 down country lanes. Difficult to compare as my S60 has sports chassis and bigger wheels, but the feedback through the wheel is much better in the S60 and gives you more confidence. The S80 carries more weight into the bends, so without that feedback, it's not something you can enjoy really.
Having said that, if you just want to cruise on the motorway, at the price that these are going at the moment (even very high spec cars), they're a seriously good option.
As someone else said, they did do an executive which I believe had the option of being a four seater with proper seperate rear seats. And if you find a Volvo specialist, then costs needn't be too bad.
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