V70 P3 2nd hand buy opinions
Discussion
I'm looking at getting a P3 V70 D5, probably an earlier one but budget could stretch to a leggier post '09 facelift where they changed the D5 to the twin turbo. I'm undecided on whether I'd prefer a manual or auto, naturally i'd lean towards a manual but auto gives me more choice in the 2nd hand market, how reliable are the auto boxes?
We're looking at buying a caravan too so the car would be a tow car for a couple of thousand miles a year. I've never towed before but I think this shouldn't be a problem for a heavy torquey barge, so long as the rear suspension is in good order.
I used to own a 163bhp D5, which I had for 7 years and it was the best car I've owned to date, in terms on value and reliabilty anyway. I would be hoping for more of the same from a newer V70 but how do they compare to the P2 era cars?
I was well aware of the foibles if the P2 cars and my D5 had its fair share, intercoolers, handbrake adjustment, front wishbones, engine mounts etc. What are the things to look out for on a P3 car?
Advice welcome!
We're looking at buying a caravan too so the car would be a tow car for a couple of thousand miles a year. I've never towed before but I think this shouldn't be a problem for a heavy torquey barge, so long as the rear suspension is in good order.
I used to own a 163bhp D5, which I had for 7 years and it was the best car I've owned to date, in terms on value and reliabilty anyway. I would be hoping for more of the same from a newer V70 but how do they compare to the P2 era cars?
I was well aware of the foibles if the P2 cars and my D5 had its fair share, intercoolers, handbrake adjustment, front wishbones, engine mounts etc. What are the things to look out for on a P3 car?
Advice welcome!
Before you buy a tow car....check what it can tow weight wise first if you already have a caravan. I bought a caravan from a dealer who pointed out my V70 could pull a van weighing in at 1550kg (book said it could pull 1600kg) and as a towing novice did we know it when pulling up hills....really struggled.
So go to caravan club website and check what they now recommend difference is before you buy
Volvo V70 is front wheel drive, so will struggle on wet grass!
We had self leveling suspension put on the back of ours, and it transformed the towing of the caravan, check tow bar "nose weight" and don't exceed or your rig will be unstable and drive along in a "V" shape
Over all it was a good tow car, we just had a caravan too heavy for it, and thus had to work the gears going up hill!
We did not fry the clutch and still on original years after the caravan went
before buying if possible tow the van first to see if the car can cope
So go to caravan club website and check what they now recommend difference is before you buy
Volvo V70 is front wheel drive, so will struggle on wet grass!
We had self leveling suspension put on the back of ours, and it transformed the towing of the caravan, check tow bar "nose weight" and don't exceed or your rig will be unstable and drive along in a "V" shape
Over all it was a good tow car, we just had a caravan too heavy for it, and thus had to work the gears going up hill!
We did not fry the clutch and still on original years after the caravan went
before buying if possible tow the van first to see if the car can cope
P3 D5 will be fine towing, Depend on towing experience though if you wish to apply the out dated 85% rule
The lesser D4 and D3 won't pull the skin off your milk, unless are polestar mapped will be gutless regardless of what the book says you can legally tow
The D5, I think are Bi turbo 205bhp will be lovely, our P2 D5 manual pulls the socks off our 1650 twin axle rig
That said do check nose weights. Volvo's are suprisingly poor on nose weights
The lesser D4 and D3 won't pull the skin off your milk, unless are polestar mapped will be gutless regardless of what the book says you can legally tow
The D5, I think are Bi turbo 205bhp will be lovely, our P2 D5 manual pulls the socks off our 1650 twin axle rig
That said do check nose weights. Volvo's are suprisingly poor on nose weights
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