Discussion
Hi all,
Just been to visit my local Volvo dealer looking to by a used V50 or V70. Apart from size, what are the main differences? There are so many engine varieties i'm not sure which to choose from. I only do around 7k a year so i'm not sure if diesel would be much more economical or practical than petrol.
My budget is around £15k, my reason for choosing Volvo is i've recently found out i'm going to be a dad
Is there anything in particular i should be looking for when choosing?
All info/suggestions much appreciated.
cic
ps will be selling my Chimaera 450 if anyone's interseted!
Just been to visit my local Volvo dealer looking to by a used V50 or V70. Apart from size, what are the main differences? There are so many engine varieties i'm not sure which to choose from. I only do around 7k a year so i'm not sure if diesel would be much more economical or practical than petrol.
My budget is around £15k, my reason for choosing Volvo is i've recently found out i'm going to be a dad
Is there anything in particular i should be looking for when choosing?
All info/suggestions much appreciated.
cic
ps will be selling my Chimaera 450 if anyone's interseted!
My brother in law bought a V50 when his little lad was due.
Lovely car. Does the business but they're starting to think its maybe not big enough.
We have 1 girl and another baby on the way and decided to get a V70 as the Focus we had previously (the V50 is based on the current Focus platform) was starting to burst at the seams.
Diesel V70s are great, but you do pay a premium for them because everybody wants them at the moment. My godfather recently picked one up and it'll happily do 800 miles on a full tank. At 7k a year I'm not sure if you'd make the premium back in fuel savings, though.
Petrol V70s are a bit cheaper (because the diesels are so popular) - our 2.4T will do 450-500 motorway miles on a tank, but more like 300 around town.
Lovely car. Does the business but they're starting to think its maybe not big enough.
We have 1 girl and another baby on the way and decided to get a V70 as the Focus we had previously (the V50 is based on the current Focus platform) was starting to burst at the seams.
Diesel V70s are great, but you do pay a premium for them because everybody wants them at the moment. My godfather recently picked one up and it'll happily do 800 miles on a full tank. At 7k a year I'm not sure if you'd make the premium back in fuel savings, though.
Petrol V70s are a bit cheaper (because the diesels are so popular) - our 2.4T will do 450-500 motorway miles on a tank, but more like 300 around town.
I actually test drove both last year.
V50 - More of a "driver's car" than the V70. Has sharper handling (IMO) and a weird "floating" dash board. Same platform as Focus (draw your own conclusions).
V70 - Feels bigger than the V50, but without a doubt the most comfortable car seats I have ever sat in. If interior space is important (and it is to me), this is the puppy to go for.
Although, I couldn't afford a late model V70, but managed to find an 850 T5-R, which is the dog's danglies of 850's (and predecessor of the V70) and was within budget.
V50 - More of a "driver's car" than the V70. Has sharper handling (IMO) and a weird "floating" dash board. Same platform as Focus (draw your own conclusions).
V70 - Feels bigger than the V50, but without a doubt the most comfortable car seats I have ever sat in. If interior space is important (and it is to me), this is the puppy to go for.
Although, I couldn't afford a late model V70, but managed to find an 850 T5-R, which is the dog's danglies of 850's (and predecessor of the V70) and was within budget.
Well done on becoming a Dad. I'll be after a chimera, but have the small problem of selling the S3C, and the minor point my wife particularly likes our volvo
. Anyway, back to subject, for your preferences I would go for the V70. However, don't discount the S60. We have a 51 reg S60T, a boy of 8 who is into every sport imaginable(lugging kit around) and a girl of 3(ditto re the kit but constitutes dolls, pushchairs, anything bulky and pink) and the S60 copes admirably. They are extremely good value at the moment, and if I'm correct virtually the same interior dimensions as the V70 but without the cavernous load space - mind you the boot is a good size with all sorts of cubby holes and hidden hooks for the curry run.
Our S60 is the bog standard 5 cylinder 2.0Turbo Se and is as good in every way as my previous E39 bmw's have been.
All the best,
Mike.
Thanks for the info, i think i was heading towareds the V70 as it would probably save me upgrading to bigger later on (i've been informed that we will at some point be having 3 kids
).
The dealer did have a 2003 V70SE within my budget, it looked nice, he should be calling me today to let me know what else is available and also what crappy part ex price he's going to offer!
Thanks again,
cic
). The dealer did have a 2003 V70SE within my budget, it looked nice, he should be calling me today to let me know what else is available and also what crappy part ex price he's going to offer!
Thanks again,
cic
I looked at the V50 / V70 's and in the end due to purely financial reasons, we opted for a VW instead.
Having once owned a V70, I really do miss the seats, he comfort, and the safety.
The V50 I found is actually smaller than the A4 and also the Merc C Class. its funny to think in this class, the Mondeo estate was the best option.
The V70 feels safe. as previously mentioned, the seats are second to none, the boot is a cavern and reliability of the engines is prooven.
One think to bear in mind, if your looking at Baby seats, check that it is "volvo" compatable. as Volvos have slightly shorter belts that will not go around some car seats.
V70 I think is gonna be on next years shopping list when the lease is up on my Golf.
Having once owned a V70, I really do miss the seats, he comfort, and the safety.
The V50 I found is actually smaller than the A4 and also the Merc C Class. its funny to think in this class, the Mondeo estate was the best option.
The V70 feels safe. as previously mentioned, the seats are second to none, the boot is a cavern and reliability of the engines is prooven.
One think to bear in mind, if your looking at Baby seats, check that it is "volvo" compatable. as Volvos have slightly shorter belts that will not go around some car seats.
V70 I think is gonna be on next years shopping list when the lease is up on my Golf.
When I had my V70 it was a struggle to fit our rear facing baby seat because of the length of the belts. This was true for both front and rear. I read somewhere Volvo did longer belts as an option. Might be talking rubbish though.
I also found that some dealers charge a hefty premium over independents for 2nd hand models and are stingy with part ex values because they will not be selling them on their forecourt. There are plenty of good independent garages and even the car supermarkets are a good source.
For £15k you should be able to pick up a 03 D5 with reasonable mileage. Don't be put of by high mileage, they can take £250k no problem if maintained properly.
I also found that some dealers charge a hefty premium over independents for 2nd hand models and are stingy with part ex values because they will not be selling them on their forecourt. There are plenty of good independent garages and even the car supermarkets are a good source.
For £15k you should be able to pick up a 03 D5 with reasonable mileage. Don't be put of by high mileage, they can take £250k no problem if maintained properly.
after_shock said:
but avoid the 2.0D in the V50's too many problems with that engine.
Information source?
That engine in the Ford yes I'd agree a PITA from engine management and emissions control viewpoint.
But whilst on face value its the same engine in the V50, in practice it isn't.
Belt extensions are available for the 850 and I presume all the later models as they all have the same belt system - they are also quite inexpensive. Alternatively you can get the ISOFIX connections to allow the use of a Volvo childseat or any ISOFIX one. 
IMO the S60/V70 are a more confortable drive than the S40/V50 - I know I grabbed the keys to the S60 this morning rather than the S40 which was parked in the warm garage!
IMO the S60/V70 are a more confortable drive than the S40/V50 - I know I grabbed the keys to the S60 this morning rather than the S40 which was parked in the warm garage!
I work in a dealer so see the problems first hand, every V50 or S40 that has a problem is almost everytime a 2.0D, everything from electrical, management problems to constantly failing fuel pumps, or if the car has less than a certain amount of fuel in it wont start (not empty!), oil leaks and the list goes on.
Its the same engine in the ford, as it is in the Jaguar and the Citroen's etc etc, yes the management systems differ slightly but thats it, its still the same engine which is why ultimately the D5 has been fitted to the V50 as Volvo are sick of the 2.0D and Ford wont let them develop a new smaller diesel. Its also not that economical, a D5 is hardly any worse on consumption even in a bigger heavier car. Expect to probably find a lower powered D5 engine in the V50 in the future and of course the S40 eventually.
Its the same engine in the ford, as it is in the Jaguar and the Citroen's etc etc, yes the management systems differ slightly but thats it, its still the same engine which is why ultimately the D5 has been fitted to the V50 as Volvo are sick of the 2.0D and Ford wont let them develop a new smaller diesel. Its also not that economical, a D5 is hardly any worse on consumption even in a bigger heavier car. Expect to probably find a lower powered D5 engine in the V50 in the future and of course the S40 eventually.
Wandering a bit, but after shock, any inherent problems with the S60. Must admit I have generally always driven BMW's but am very impressed with the S60, and will keep with them I think as they are that good. (Unless someone in the know like you tells me not to touch them as the eventually implode or something) 
silverback mike said:
That's good to know, ours is great, only one issue is that it wanders a bit on the front, all bushes are fine, balljoints are fine, tyres correct and correct pressures.. Fully serviced by volvo, bit of an odd one, but a damn good car.
I've heard this before and read something about it being sometimes down to tyres, especially P6000's? Maybe a change to F1's might help?
The tyres are a bit of a grey area, they seem to affect some cars but not others, have had better results moving away from the P6000's mind as their not the best of tyres.
Suspension is very much all fine on the S60's, the odd batch of cars have the odd little niggle on the front, but again a rare occurence.
Suspension is very much all fine on the S60's, the odd batch of cars have the odd little niggle on the front, but again a rare occurence.
I have owned a V70 petrol for 5 years and done 95k miles in it. A great all round car. So good in fact that I have just ordered another one. The new D5 this time with auto box. Very good engine - I hope.
My current V70 is now for sale at a very reasonable £6.5k. Shout if you want a very well maintained one owner V70.
Cheers Jonathan.
07973 753150
My current V70 is now for sale at a very reasonable £6.5k. Shout if you want a very well maintained one owner V70.
Cheers Jonathan.
07973 753150
silverback mike said:
I have also heard about the S60 & tyres - try GDS3's or Toyo Proxy-R and apparently the problem goes away. Watch the load index on whatever tyre you use. I have an S70 and was going to use Avon ZZ3s but was told by Avon not to use them as the loadindex isn't high enough...
Sean
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