Convince me one way or another on a V70
Discussion
We've had a V70 traded in at work. It's a 2006 2.4 170hp SE with the 5 speed auto box (not Geartronic). It's got 107k and almost full history (one stamp missing and a couple of services have slightly longer gaps between them than ideal), It's had a devoutly religious lady owner since it was 1 year old to now. It's £1,500 or a straight swap for my 2011 Kia Cee'd.
I've come to terms with going from £30 to £540 tax a year. My wife loves it as it makes us look "country" and more well to do than I do in my Kia which is another obstacle crossed.
I need you to convince me either way on the last factor: potential borkage! I know it's 13 years old and therefore it's going to need some things from time to time. There is a knock from the front suspension for example, assumedly a drop link by the sounds of it but I'm more worried about big expenses. Is the gearbox reliable? Is there an ECU in a stupid place that is likely to get leaked on? Is there something you would think is a consumable like a back box but actually is main dealer only?
I just don't want to end up with the Swedish Equivelant of a P38 Range Rover.
I've come to terms with going from £30 to £540 tax a year. My wife loves it as it makes us look "country" and more well to do than I do in my Kia which is another obstacle crossed.
I need you to convince me either way on the last factor: potential borkage! I know it's 13 years old and therefore it's going to need some things from time to time. There is a knock from the front suspension for example, assumedly a drop link by the sounds of it but I'm more worried about big expenses. Is the gearbox reliable? Is there an ECU in a stupid place that is likely to get leaked on? Is there something you would think is a consumable like a back box but actually is main dealer only?
I just don't want to end up with the Swedish Equivelant of a P38 Range Rover.
Edited by PartsMonkey on Sunday 2nd June 13:38
Tel me about it. My boss has been giving me the hard sell on it and made me take it home the other night and it was such a nice place to be in. It really is lovely and it's an itch I've wanted to scratch for a long long time. I think I might just have to go ahead as I doubt I'll find one in this condition for this price anytime soon.
I’ve got a 2001 V70 which has now got 180K on it and in the last 2 years it’s cost me 2 services and a minor repair to the instrument binnacle and that’s it, it’s even gone through 2 MOTs without a single advisory. It’s the cheapest car I’ve run in a long time and I’m dreading having to replace it, I’ll probably just look for a newer one when the time comes.
I bought a 2006 v70 auto with the 2.0 turbo petrol engine when my company 330e went back last September.
I was specifically looking for an auto, as I think it suits the car better, and makes my daily commute effortless.
The petrol engine is so smooth and quiet, and the standard cd/radio is brilliant
I’m currently bumbling around France in it, and discovering just how practical it is, and also how much luggage and assorted gubbins they can swallow
The reason I went for a V70 was that my neighbour is still happily cruising around in a 1997 V70 classic that he bought off me 8 years ago.
In my tenure, that only required a timing belt (surprisingly cheap to do), discs/pads (again, not expensive) and regular oil changes.
That car was used and abused to cart my son and his windsurfing kit all around the country, and we effectively lived in it for the weekend.
I was trying to buy it back off him, but he was reluctant to do so, as he just couldn’t think of anything he’d want to replace it with.
My current 2006 version only had 84k when I got it (it took a while to find a car with less than 100k within budget), and I’m planning on keeping it as long as I can.
It had all the stamps in the book, but no detail of what had been done. I had the garage do the timing belt on it when they did the service, and again, this was only around £250 including a water pump.
I was going to get the gearbox oil changed, as again there was nothing in the service history that said it had been done. However, it having the 5 speed gearbox, I was able to check the fluid with the dipstick, and pleased to see that it was a nice bright red, so indicating that the previous owner had changed it recently.
As others on here have said, they just get under your skin. There are so many practical and well thought out little features without any of the bling and unnecessary fuss you find on new cars.
For carting a young family around, they are perfect.
I’m sure you’re already convinced yourself by now
I was specifically looking for an auto, as I think it suits the car better, and makes my daily commute effortless.
The petrol engine is so smooth and quiet, and the standard cd/radio is brilliant
I’m currently bumbling around France in it, and discovering just how practical it is, and also how much luggage and assorted gubbins they can swallow
The reason I went for a V70 was that my neighbour is still happily cruising around in a 1997 V70 classic that he bought off me 8 years ago.
In my tenure, that only required a timing belt (surprisingly cheap to do), discs/pads (again, not expensive) and regular oil changes.
That car was used and abused to cart my son and his windsurfing kit all around the country, and we effectively lived in it for the weekend.
I was trying to buy it back off him, but he was reluctant to do so, as he just couldn’t think of anything he’d want to replace it with.
My current 2006 version only had 84k when I got it (it took a while to find a car with less than 100k within budget), and I’m planning on keeping it as long as I can.
It had all the stamps in the book, but no detail of what had been done. I had the garage do the timing belt on it when they did the service, and again, this was only around £250 including a water pump.
I was going to get the gearbox oil changed, as again there was nothing in the service history that said it had been done. However, it having the 5 speed gearbox, I was able to check the fluid with the dipstick, and pleased to see that it was a nice bright red, so indicating that the previous owner had changed it recently.
As others on here have said, they just get under your skin. There are so many practical and well thought out little features without any of the bling and unnecessary fuss you find on new cars.
For carting a young family around, they are perfect.
I’m sure you’re already convinced yourself by now
2007 Gen 3 (one of the first of that series) owner here. Car is a D5 SE with lots of toys (it was an ex-demonstrator and I bought it from the dealer) and 130k largely trouble-free miles. Only let me down once when the battery failed totally. Needed a new driver's seat cushion foam as the first collapsed at about 90k miles - the older Volvo seats would never have done that - I blame Ford). This is my third V70, and is one of the best cars I've ever owned
Re your concerns on Borland. The knocking drop links is a straight forward job, and parts are cheap. Same for ball joints
There are horror stories on the internet about the automatic gearbox, but given the sheer number of high mileage (200k plus) examples there are still running around happily, then I wouldn’t fret too much about that. I think the key thing with the gearbox, like any other supposedly sealed for life unit, is to have the oil changed regularly.
The reputation for reliability and reasonable price for parts was one of the things that drew me back to getting another V70 a propos Merc/Audi alternative (both marques of which have proved anything but reliable in my ownership)
There are horror stories on the internet about the automatic gearbox, but given the sheer number of high mileage (200k plus) examples there are still running around happily, then I wouldn’t fret too much about that. I think the key thing with the gearbox, like any other supposedly sealed for life unit, is to have the oil changed regularly.
The reputation for reliability and reasonable price for parts was one of the things that drew me back to getting another V70 a propos Merc/Audi alternative (both marques of which have proved anything but reliable in my ownership)
I think for £1500 and assuming it's tidy with minimal issues, you really can't go wrong... you could run it for a year or two and probably get your money back, if not make a bit as good ones seem to attract a premium.
I've had four P2 V70's... a 2001 T5 Geartronic, a 2005 V70R manual, a 2005 V70 D5 163bhp manual and I'm in the process of selling my current 2006 V70 D5 185bhp Geartronic, the latter going as I simply hate the gearbox and its showing signs of being less than perfect.
I'm also looking at a scrap value 2.4 manual as a stop gap, as others have said they do get under your skin and really are hard to beat so hence owners tend to stick with them and for good reason too. They're not without fault, every engine / box combo has some so worth having a search but the 2.4 and the boggo standard auto seems fairly solid.
All I would say is that with age, they can get a bit loose feeling over rough roads... and thetes the infamous rear side hop. All of mine did it, the R was the least troublesome but only after every bush was replaced, new shocks and tweaked rear geometry. It's the one thing that puts me off them, in comparison the mega miled V50 Sport we have drives lovely.
However, I stand by my comment... if it's tidy, you can't really go wrong for the money.
I've had four P2 V70's... a 2001 T5 Geartronic, a 2005 V70R manual, a 2005 V70 D5 163bhp manual and I'm in the process of selling my current 2006 V70 D5 185bhp Geartronic, the latter going as I simply hate the gearbox and its showing signs of being less than perfect.
I'm also looking at a scrap value 2.4 manual as a stop gap, as others have said they do get under your skin and really are hard to beat so hence owners tend to stick with them and for good reason too. They're not without fault, every engine / box combo has some so worth having a search but the 2.4 and the boggo standard auto seems fairly solid.
All I would say is that with age, they can get a bit loose feeling over rough roads... and thetes the infamous rear side hop. All of mine did it, the R was the least troublesome but only after every bush was replaced, new shocks and tweaked rear geometry. It's the one thing that puts me off them, in comparison the mega miled V50 Sport we have drives lovely.
However, I stand by my comment... if it's tidy, you can't really go wrong for the money.
we have a 2004 V70 D5 manual sport (nothing sporty about it i might add) 235 on the clock, bar tyres and brakes and general maintenance its bloody brilliant, stick our 26ft van on the back and away we go, XC90 brakes and R goodies inc wheels, D5 rumble, mid 40'S around town, late 50s on a run, spacious and super comfy, its worth £750 but more if we split it, bang for your buck you cannot go wrong with one of these.
Update time and unfortunately the car is a bit of a shed underneath is stylish Swedish body. Steering rack is knackered and there is a couple of oil leaks of unknown sources and a few other things that escape me as I type this. That's on top of the usual array of wear and tear stuff that I was prepared for such as service, timing belt, MOT, pads and discs etc.
I've reluctantly decided to not go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for something similar in the future and I'd like to thank you for all your help, it's what make PH so great.
I've reluctantly decided to not go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for something similar in the future and I'd like to thank you for all your help, it's what make PH so great.
PartsMonkey said:
Update time and unfortunately the car is a bit of a shed underneath is stylish Swedish body. Steering rack is knackered and there is a couple of oil leaks of unknown sources and a few other things that escape me as I type this. That's on top of the usual array of wear and tear stuff that I was prepared for such as service, timing belt, MOT, pads and discs etc.
I've reluctantly decided to not go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for something similar in the future and I'd like to thank you for all your help, it's what make PH so great.
To be honest, as much as people worship these old things... if you're unlucky enough to buy a baggy one with issues, then the options are general to either accept it for what it is, run it on a budget of zero and then bin it when something terminal fails or start spending a fairly hefty sum of cash in order to get it all fixed, but be happy in the knowledge it is fixed but also pray nothing else big goes wrong!I've reluctantly decided to not go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for something similar in the future and I'd like to thank you for all your help, it's what make PH so great.
As much as I like these, they can start costing a fair amount of money and neglected ones / ones with issues are pretty miserable. They just feel loose and unstable to drive, not to mention the secondary issues that a worn one will create like excess tyre wear and damage to your happiness. Things like racks are dear, £500+ which ok, you'd maybe accept on a decent one but one with more issues to resolve... it'd start feeling like a bottomless pit and to be honest, you did the right thing in walking away.
There's loads out there...
I love my 1999 classic, 235k on the clock, get it serviced every 10k as required, yes things like anti roll link bars etc...need replacing now and again, but last MOT only in May, pass no advisories
yep it has a couple of rattles, but it's 20 years old, bugging me off side speaker may have a lose wire....but that's little to worry about
sorted hopefully another year on the road with little to nothing going wrong, I have no idea what it is worth ....£500?.... but still no rust, glows when polished, would definitely get another....i will miss it badly when it eventually "retires"
yep it has a couple of rattles, but it's 20 years old, bugging me off side speaker may have a lose wire....but that's little to worry about
sorted hopefully another year on the road with little to nothing going wrong, I have no idea what it is worth ....£500?.... but still no rust, glows when polished, would definitely get another....i will miss it badly when it eventually "retires"
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