P2 V70r vs P3 V70 T6
Discussion
Need a bigger car to replace the s40. I've noticed a number of jap import V70s that seem good value.
Does anyone have experience of the P2 V70r vs P3 V70 T6? The P2 seems the more interesting & "sporty" car of the two but they are 20 years old now, although I think they have aged well the interior does look dated.
Does anyone have experience of the P2 V70r vs P3 V70 T6? The P2 seems the more interesting & "sporty" car of the two but they are 20 years old now, although I think they have aged well the interior does look dated.
From my own experience I would exercise extreme caution buying a imported R from Japan. The underside will be immaculate however their auction assessments give no indication of actual mechanical condition. Mine was listed as Grade 4 which is about as good as it gets for a used car however my first service revealed a lot of horrors and a dent for 3k at my long time Volvo mechanic..
If you are considering a Jap importer in Blackburn that seems to do a few Rs please avoid like the plague.
With regard to the P2R- Mine is a automatic. Despite being 300hp vs my old 250hp Manual T5 it has less pull. The auto box really kills it. The 4c chassis. system is a bit of a gimmick. Between Comfort/Sport/Advanced it does go from comfortable to shake fillings out. The car will handle speed and being thrown about but it is still a heavy estate. Brakes are good. In the snow the Haldex is very front driven even when sending power to the rears so don't expect any power oversteer.
Seats are as comfy as any Volvo. Sound system very good even for 15years back now.
As a final thought- a single rear shock for one of these is about 700 quid without fitting and programming. Despite this I'll keep the car for many years as it does what a Volvo estate does; massive capacity, comfortable place to be with enough shove for day. to day duties. I have a Impreza for everything else.
I've no experience of the 3L T6s but did consider one and was advised by my mechanic against it. Have you considered one of the later P2 2.4L manual T5s from the UK They are the same engine as the Rs just not bored out and a much stronger engine. Remap them and they'll keep up quite happily.
.
If you are considering a Jap importer in Blackburn that seems to do a few Rs please avoid like the plague.
With regard to the P2R- Mine is a automatic. Despite being 300hp vs my old 250hp Manual T5 it has less pull. The auto box really kills it. The 4c chassis. system is a bit of a gimmick. Between Comfort/Sport/Advanced it does go from comfortable to shake fillings out. The car will handle speed and being thrown about but it is still a heavy estate. Brakes are good. In the snow the Haldex is very front driven even when sending power to the rears so don't expect any power oversteer.
Seats are as comfy as any Volvo. Sound system very good even for 15years back now.
As a final thought- a single rear shock for one of these is about 700 quid without fitting and programming. Despite this I'll keep the car for many years as it does what a Volvo estate does; massive capacity, comfortable place to be with enough shove for day. to day duties. I have a Impreza for everything else.
I've no experience of the 3L T6s but did consider one and was advised by my mechanic against it. Have you considered one of the later P2 2.4L manual T5s from the UK They are the same engine as the Rs just not bored out and a much stronger engine. Remap them and they'll keep up quite happily.
.
Agree with above, the auctions are absolutely over grading now, there are few clips doing the rounds, if buying from certain dealers, I would have an independent mech give it a look, especially if its a dealer in Hemel Hempstead. Total cowboys some of these places, they are reliant on a 4/4b report , take them off the boat , give them a wash and whack a few grand on.
There are some cracking importers though who will see you right, Jurgen at JM is very good.
There are some cracking importers though who will see you right, Jurgen at JM is very good.
Thanks for that. I think that might be enough to put me off the P2. I was only interested as they were about the same as the P3 but a bit more interesting.
What caught my attention with the imports are the specs, miles and prices. I'll do some more reading on the potential issues, some I have seen don't get language and dials changed with seems to be about another £300. Then about £500 for underseal I believe is required for uk salt roads.
However, even with all that, I struggle to find anything german with the same kind of specs / miles / condition etc for the money which has sent my searches that way.
What caught my attention with the imports are the specs, miles and prices. I'll do some more reading on the potential issues, some I have seen don't get language and dials changed with seems to be about another £300. Then about £500 for underseal I believe is required for uk salt roads.
However, even with all that, I struggle to find anything german with the same kind of specs / miles / condition etc for the money which has sent my searches that way.
To spend £10k+ on an import V70R and then some on making it right, I think you'd need to be really REALLY in to these cars and not just a fleeting "oh, looks interesting" sort of thing. I do love a quick Volvo and I've had a V70R and I wouldn't consider paying that for one so as far as "good value for money" then we're on different pages. As has been said, they now very old cars and the technology was complex at the time but these days... you really need to know what you're doing or have a very good, trusted garage.
Mine wasn't £10k, mine was £4k and it was a very good UK car, manual and yet still took another £4k to make it right - four new shocks plus associated parts, discs and pads, tyres, angle gear sleeve, DEM unit, rear diff, assorted electric gremlins, steering rack servo issues plus the usual P2 tendency to consume bushes and steering parts at a great rate of knots. A fantastic car but it was a labour of love, about 18 months of constant work to get it to where I wanted it to be and then I realised it really wasn't that fast, didn't handle that great, was a chore to own and just not that exciting and so I sold it.
I would absolutely do your homework before you jump in and more so if you're tempted by these "minters" from Japan at £10k+ as to date, I've yet to see somebody who's paid top dollar and got a car that wants for nothing. In fact some of the recommission bills people pay post import are frankly astonishing. Once you're knocking towards £15k, I think it's very much a case of "Here's what you could have won" and that's why I'd say unless you're seriously into these things, think very very carefully before you go in balls deep. I very much doubt you'd get your money back once you'd paid the over inflated import scene tax figures.
I can't comment on the T6 as a tool, but it's auto only which is a sticky point for me however the P3 chassis makes the P2 stuff look like an antique in comparison. Yes, it's Ford based and some of the fit and finish is a bit lacking but as a car it feels much more modern than a P2 car and thus, for a newbie if it was a choice between the two... I'd have the T-6. Or, if it had to be a P2 then heed the advice already given and consider a nice, UK manual V70 T-5 which is 90% of the performance and much much less hassle and indeed, outlay.
Tread very very carefully whatever you do, none of the above cars respond well to being run on a budget and neglected.
Mine wasn't £10k, mine was £4k and it was a very good UK car, manual and yet still took another £4k to make it right - four new shocks plus associated parts, discs and pads, tyres, angle gear sleeve, DEM unit, rear diff, assorted electric gremlins, steering rack servo issues plus the usual P2 tendency to consume bushes and steering parts at a great rate of knots. A fantastic car but it was a labour of love, about 18 months of constant work to get it to where I wanted it to be and then I realised it really wasn't that fast, didn't handle that great, was a chore to own and just not that exciting and so I sold it.
I would absolutely do your homework before you jump in and more so if you're tempted by these "minters" from Japan at £10k+ as to date, I've yet to see somebody who's paid top dollar and got a car that wants for nothing. In fact some of the recommission bills people pay post import are frankly astonishing. Once you're knocking towards £15k, I think it's very much a case of "Here's what you could have won" and that's why I'd say unless you're seriously into these things, think very very carefully before you go in balls deep. I very much doubt you'd get your money back once you'd paid the over inflated import scene tax figures.
I can't comment on the T6 as a tool, but it's auto only which is a sticky point for me however the P3 chassis makes the P2 stuff look like an antique in comparison. Yes, it's Ford based and some of the fit and finish is a bit lacking but as a car it feels much more modern than a P2 car and thus, for a newbie if it was a choice between the two... I'd have the T-6. Or, if it had to be a P2 then heed the advice already given and consider a nice, UK manual V70 T-5 which is 90% of the performance and much much less hassle and indeed, outlay.
Tread very very carefully whatever you do, none of the above cars respond well to being run on a budget and neglected.
I've had my 2003 V70R for 5 years now. I replaced the 4C shocks a few years ago and done usual maintenance stuff - tyres/brakes/lower arms. For a 20 year old car, on 130k miles, it's fine. I keep it going as I don't really know what else I'd replace it with that could do the same job as a reasonably quick estate, without spending serious money. I don't care about the 'image' of running around in an old car - it's the oldest car in my housing estate I think!
It's far from mint condition, but that's irrelevant as a load lugger.
It's far from mint condition, but that's irrelevant as a load lugger.
Rather than starting a new thread, thought i'd ask here - looking at a friend of a friends V70R auto (UK) which he may be thinking of selling. Are the daily running costs as high as people allude to or just one off bad experiences? Don't expect it to be cheap but not after a money-pit on a good day!
Difficult question I know.
Thanks
Chaz
Difficult question I know.
Thanks
Chaz
Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff