RE: Volvo S80 V8: Spotted

RE: Volvo S80 V8: Spotted

Monday 13th November 2017

Volvo S80 V8: Spotted

A stately Swedish sleeper with unexpected Nobility...



Writing as the owner of an elderly Volvo S80, I can tell you that the big Swedish saloon cars are the perfect accompaniment to long, continent-crossing journeys. And in five-cylinder diesel form, quite economical too.

Owner of an 850 as well? Bravo!
Owner of an 850 as well? Bravo!
But Volvos aren't simply sold to those who care to keep a reign on their fuel costs. They are sold to Americans also. So when Volvo brought out the second generation S80 based on the P3 platform, having just the standard 3.2-litre petrol wasn't going to cut it. They needed a V8, especially if they wanted to be taken seriously as a luxury car maker.

Trouble is, Volvo's engines have been transversely mounted ever since it made the decision in the 90s to abandon rear-wheel drive set-ups. And, as V8s traditionally have quite a large 'valley', they aren't particularly suited to such a layout. The only solution was to mount the engine in front of the lead axle.

To do this, the team designed a much narrower vee angle of 60 degrees, but that's not great for smoothness - a must for an executive car - so they had to fit a balancer shaft to sort that out. Then there was the issue of where to build it. Enter Yamaha.

Yamaha Motor Corporation has been in the engine development and building game for years. Previous credits include the 1.7 Zetec-S unit used in our Shed Ford Puma. Since it already had a contract with Ford, Volvo's owner at the time, Yamaha seemed like a natural fit.

The result was something of a sleeper. A handsome, solid, if slightly staid, Volvo exterior matched with a raucous exhaust note and V8 power. 0-62 mph was a very un-Volvo like 6.5 seconds and the top speed was 155 mph to match its German rivals. Autocar at the time wrote that, despite the engine's placement, it wasn't some nose heavy monster and had, in fact, a rather 'coherent feel' on twisty roads. Read that as boring - but then it does have all-wheel drive and a reputation for protecting its occupants from danger to uphold.

That's a very strong average figure!
That's a very strong average figure!
The trouble is, if you are looking at one of these, you'll no doubt have one eye on sensible stuff such as running costs, and with fuel economy of just 23mpg and annual road tax costs here in the UK of £530 per year, it's going to make you wince. This is perhaps why they are such a rarity on our roads. The ad claims it is one of only 113 left, which sounds eminently believable.

Is it Spotted material though? Well, since you've read all the way to the bottom, it would only be decent of me to come up with something here. I guess there is always something to having a 'Q' car. The sort of thing you can waft around in as you easy up to the red light in one of the world's most conservative cars, before leaving all those showboating hot hatch owners in the dust of your Volvo saloon. And there's also something quite appealing in being able to claim that you own a saloon with a supercar engine. It's true, after all. Well, kind of. This S80 shares a fair bit of its engine with the 200mph Noble M600. Now that's the making of some good pub banter...


VOLVO S80 V8
Engine:
4,400cc, V8
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 315@5,950rpm
Torque (lb ft): 325@3,950rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 293g/km
First registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 108,000
Price new: £39,135
Yours for: £8,500

See the full ad here.



Max Adams

 

Author
Discussion

Valgar

Original Poster:

850 posts

134 months

Monday 13th November 2017
quotequote all
These sound pretty incredible with an aftermarket exhaust, one of the best V8s I've ever heard

jwwbowe

571 posts

171 months

Monday 13th November 2017
quotequote all
Nice sleeper! Shocked they even sold 100 of them in the UK. Some people must just have loyalty to a manufacturer and ask for the top of the range model regardless of what it is. Glad they did though as a V8 Volvo is a cool thing indeed.

njw1

2,047 posts

110 months

Monday 13th November 2017
quotequote all
I like that. A lot.

Bencolem

1,008 posts

238 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Had the same engine in an XC90 V8, nice engine. £8,500 seems super steep for this to me though.

Amanitin

415 posts

136 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
some brave soul should put this engine into the S90. Longitudinally with rwd and the zf8 inbetween. I will pick it up tomorrow thank you.

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all

Hairymonster

1,409 posts

104 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
thelawnet1 said:
I wish you hadn't put this post up. I'm supposed to be looking for a 'sensible family hatchback/estate'

Now trying to work out how an Audi S8 with a Lambo V10 engine fits into this category and how I might sell this concept to my dear lady wife!!

Edited by Hairymonster on Tuesday 14th November 08:12

E65Ross

34,844 posts

211 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Audi A8 or BMW 750i for less money AND more performance, better economy and a nicer interior in both.....I can't see this selling too well.

culpz

4,869 posts

111 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
thelawnet1 said:
I'd assume that the Volvo would be cheaper to run than all of those mentioned, apart from maybe the Lexus. It'd probably be a bit more reliable too. Again, barring the LS, most likely.

David87

6,643 posts

211 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Why did they never put this engine in the V70? biggrin

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
E65Ross said:
Audi A8 or BMW 750i for less money AND more performance, better economy and a nicer interior in both.....I can't see this selling too well.
How is the v12, Ross? The big factor for you is that you know how to tinker with a lot of it.

BFleming

3,578 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
thelawnet1 said:
The price is a piss take. At £4-5k, all day long. At £8.5k no way in hell.

For the money...
S8 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - Yes please. Saw this myself on Autotrader this weekend!
Phaeton LWB https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - No. Sitting in a Phaeton is like a 1980's Granada. Not nice.
CLS 500 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - The first gen CLS's have never done anything for me. Great engine though.
750i https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - The new shape 7 came out in 2009, that's where my money would go.
S4 Convertible https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - Go on then.
Cayenne https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - You're good thanks.
LS460 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - Put a panama hat on the rear shelf & drive it like you stole it. Superb car.

My two additions to your very comprehensive list...
XF 4.2: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
W221: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

culpz said:
I'd assume that the Volvo would be cheaper to run than all of those mentioned, apart from maybe the Lexus. It'd probably be a bit more reliable too. Again, barring the LS, most likely.
I wouldn't assume that; an ex-colleague ran a S80 D5 that loved brakes, one Geartronic gearbox and fuel (lots of it). I can't imagine the V8 will be easier in any of those categories.
The one not to choose if you're worrying about running costs would be the S8. The S4 would possibly be up there for low running costs with the Lexus.


Edited by BFleming on Tuesday 14th November 09:14

E65Ross

34,844 posts

211 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Burwood said:
E65Ross said:
Audi A8 or BMW 750i for less money AND more performance, better economy and a nicer interior in both.....I can't see this selling too well.
How is the v12, Ross? The big factor for you is that you know how to tinker with a lot of it.
eh? I never had a V12? And nobody has mentioned a V12 here (the volvo or the other German alternatives), so not sure why you are?

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
I thought you ran a 760. My mistake

culpz

4,869 posts

111 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
BFleming said:
I wouldn't assume that; an ex-colleague ran a S80 D5 that loved brakes, one Geartronic gearbox and fuel (lots of it). I can't imagine the V8 will be easier in any of those categories.
That just one person's bad experience, though. Seeing how these V8 models are quire rare, it could be hard to say.

Brakes go without saying, as these are heavy cars. However, that all depends on how/what you're using it for. Geartronic do have their known issues. I'm not sure if this is the same gearbox though. V8 will be juicy compared to a diesel. However, again, it depends how it's being used and the D5 is still a high-powered diesel variant, so may not be as frugal as expected.

JMF894

5,463 posts

154 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Agreed on the face of it strong money but I guess it's got rarity and that curio factor in it's favor. If you really must have one of these then how many can you go and check out before buying? If it's sound and in good nick, get a bag knocked off then not a bad price imho.

Dapster

6,856 posts

179 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Talking about minimal running costs, how about this for £8.5k?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...



anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
I really want one of these, but they never show up for less than about £7k. If you think the one featured is overpriced though, check out this bad boy

https://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20...


cookie1600

2,087 posts

160 months

Tuesday 14th November 2017
quotequote all
Amanitin said:
some brave soul should put this engine into the S90.
A mini, stick it in a mini....

I don't want to alter the bulkhead and would love it to be under a round nose, not a clubby. It looks quite compact:



Length 754 mm
Width 635 mm
Dry weight 190 kg (420 lb)

Only about half as much again as an 'A' series and almost down to a Honda B18 or Vauxhall XE red top say?