Why do I keep looking at Volvo's?

[beerok]

Hi all,

Dont post very often, usually because some PH'ers are full of .... and it does my head in but I do keep lurking.

My 'lurking' usually starts at Volvo's.

My first experience with Volvo was on holiday at 12 years old and my dad had bought his 740GL which was new at the time and it was in all honesty a beast. The car shook as it revved!! My first time driving on holiday at Shell Island , North Wales across the camping field.
At the same time his business partner bought a 240 GLT which was an absolute machine also. Yes i'm going back a good few years but my it has stuck with me!

Now in my early 40's there is something that keeps drawing them to me. Is it because of my childhood? Who knows?

I have a friend who has bought a 2.5 petrol XC70 and although his kids call it 'the old mans car' he loves it.

I am genuinely looking at swapping MY10 BMW 320d saloon as my kids are growing up and whinge and moan the back is not big enough for them to sit comfortably.

Question is.... do I go and buy an XC70 D5? Any ownership views appreciated. I want sat nav, heated leather etc etc so what do you think?

Beerok

[SantaBarbara]

They are very good cars with excellent electronic AIDS and instruments.

[ucb]

SantaBarbara said:

They are very good cars with excellent electronic AIDS and instruments.

What?!!! The BAD AIDS???

[ucb]

Seriously though, I am in a very similar boat.
My parents had the odd volvo but now with kids and in my forties I keep thinking baout what to replace my V50 with and I always end up looking at a V70/XC70 or other. Not dynamic, not sporty, but totally dependable and comfortable which is more important to me doing 20k miles per year

[beerok]

ucb said:

Seriously though, I am in a very similar boat.
My parents had the odd volvo but now with kids and in my forties I keep thinking baout what to replace my V50 with and I always end up looking at a V70/XC70 or other. Not dynamic, not sporty, but totally dependable and comfortable which is more important to me doing 20k miles per year

Is that a good thing or are we resigned to advancing age???

😂😂

[ucb]

Thats just down to your personal beliefs.

[Spudmaster]

In same boat...

42 with family and dog. Seriously thinking of D5 V90 Cross Country after 520D Touring.

I am trying to justify it to myself on the following grounds:-
a: slightly left field choice; and
b: the interior is genuinely cool (to a 42 year old at least!)...
c: OK, it's no BMW for handling etc- but it does actually drive really quite well- especially in terms of comfort.
d: having something perceived as 'sensible' as a daily will help offset any midlife crisis acquisitions over the next couple of years...

[TheVole]

To bring a little balance - or perhaps make you feel a little better about wanting a Volvo.

I'm 23, with no kids.

This is my Volvo.









C30 T5, with go-faster goodies from Polestar, Milltek and do88 among others.

Hope this helps

[Davie]

I've had Volvos since I was 18... pretty much exclusively anything powered by the 2.3 T5 engine, including a Gul T-5R estate which is as about as 'un-Volvo' as you can get. I'm now 37, 2.4 lifestyle and so moved away from the older models simply because I needed the likes of Isofix and working aircon, the things that make ferrying a baby around a bit less stressful. I debated a sort of 2005 to 2008 era XC70 and also a 2008 onwards v&0 R-Design but in the end decided that financial ruin seemed like a great idea so bought a 2005 V70R and it;s utterly fabulous... however, it's also very hard, very highly strung and she's terrified of it thus it barely sees active duty anymore. Now debating selling it and changing to something that you don't need to worry about potholes and can handle a bit outdoorsy action as my middle aged self sees me as some sort of pasty white Scottish Bear Grylls wannabe so I'm back looking at XC70's again... I know they're a bit soft and not a real 4x4 but they do really appeal over a lot of similar cars. Just can't quite bring myself to part with the R yet, probably because my inner 18 year old is scared of being replaced with my grandad...

[Spudmaster]

Gone and done a deal on V90 CC...

Quite funny telling my mates only for them to say 'you've bought what???' cue rolling of eyes.

Really looking forward to taking them out in it and hearing their thoughts once they've seen and experienced it.

Still want that 'me too' default BMW , Audi, Merc or Disco????

We'll see!!!

(Sincerely hope I'm right- otherwise going to look like a right d@ck!)

[PartOfTheProblem]

This has been a problem for me for over 10 years now.

I've finally scratched the itch. 90% of the time its just me in the car, I only do 10-12k a year, yet I've just bought a 2004 V70 D5 'because I fancied it'.

And I'm only 32

[Vipers]

I bought an S80 (auto and cc), in 2005, ex demonstrator 02 reg and 7500 miles on the clock.

Now 121,000 odd, going strong, just had the wheels refurbished today £380 like new now, amazing finish.

Reason for referb, corrosion inside the front rims and tyres kept loosing pressure.

If I won the lottery I would get another Volvo. Pic of my wheel just after refurb, all the dinks taken out, just looks like new, not sure we can name companies, so won't.

[Turkish91]

I'm 26 with no kids and bought a Mk1 V70 estate 5cyl non-turbo back in July, and I think it's absolutely fabulous! It wafts along at a decent pace and is mega mega comfy and you can chuck a freezer in the back. I'm 6'3 and I can comfortably sit behind my drivers seat, it's fking huge inside

[AndrewCrown]

I do understand this itch.....I look at car and classic a fair bit...sometimes I feel I need a nice old classic Volvo...a classic 240....even a 240 estate... normally after a trip to Sweden or watching Nordic noir tv.... I lie down and normally the feeling just goes away...

[exelero]

Interesting, I'm 24 and I want a Volvo too. I just saw this on ebay and because of other commitments I can't buy it now, would be a great fit for someone for sure
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S60-40K-Miles-Onl...

That C30 is sick tho

[V40Vinnie]

Theyre pretty stylish cars, and usually very well screwed together

[Ahbefive]

Love my Volvo, great car but unfortunately going up for sale soon as having 3 cars seems excessive.

[Stuart70]

4 years ago bought an XC90 as the family car. 90k miles later at 34 mpg; it has had 2 sets of tyres, 4 services and a brake calliper.

Brilliant "lug it all" family wagon.

I don't love it to drive, but love it for what it does.

[Andy-SP2]

Interesting thread, glad that i found it

I'm drawn to a V70 T5 although I don't know whether i could afford to run one really.. There's a non T5 one along the road and it's gorgeous. There's also T5 AWD ( I think it is) up the road which is getting on a bit but quite appealing..

I'm seriously considering a first gen S60 as I'm looking for something reliable with a bit of comfort. I'm heading for 55yrs and my small Peugeot hatchback doesn't really appeal anymore smile The hatchback has been handy because I've always had the rear seats folded down, I have a greyhound, but I should think she'll be OK on the back seat..

[Petrolhead_Rich]

I'm now on Volvo #5, bought my first when I was 17, in between I've had a selection of cars & driven a hell of alot more that were quite a bit more expensive (BMWs, Audis, Mercs, Lexus, etc etc) , yet I'd have a volvo over every single one of them.

Best seats bar absolutely none, nice looking, fast, economical, reliable, cheap to insure, well built, and of course the safest cars on the road.

I honestly cannot understand why anyone wouldn't want one! I've never heard of anyone regretting buying one (with the possible exception of really old knackered ones or the Peugeot engined "D2" models they are offering at the moment (Get a D3/D4/D5 or a Petrol one!)