S60 potential purchase advice
Discussion
Just started looking around really, currently driving a Saab 9-3 (the old hatchback style), and could do with something with a little more interior space - and just a change really.
I like the look of the s60, but in terms of practicality can anyone offer any opinions on the choice of engines and running costs (I'm a bit of a mechanical numpty in that anything much beyond changing fuses and light bulbs is for a garage to do somewhere, but i DO expect top be able to change lightbulbs!).
Things I like about the Saab are the comfy seats, ability to munch motorway miles (and still return about 35mpg - even though it's the Aero HOT), the fact it's not german, the capacious boot (though the s60 looks similar sized with a smaller aperture), the ability to lift it's skirts and go when required, the fact it's done 138k with very little going wrong.
I don't like: the handling is a bit soft, and even using an indie it can be a bit pricey come service time.
I do a 65 mile round commute (90% motorway) at the moment, but in real terms does the diesel offer any great benefit over the petrol, or does having a diesel just mean potentially more things to go wrong (and more expensive)...
My other short list cars at the moment are the Jaguar X Type (+ image, handling?; - costs), or Ford Mondeo (+ cheap, fully loaded, handling; -image) (incidentally, the 'image' rating comes from the wife, and her opinion will not be swayed!)
Thanks for listening to the long post... Oh budget is about 7.5k which looking on autotrader / Volvo UK, gets me a 4 yr old D5 if I'm willing to travel.
Thanks, CH
I like the look of the s60, but in terms of practicality can anyone offer any opinions on the choice of engines and running costs (I'm a bit of a mechanical numpty in that anything much beyond changing fuses and light bulbs is for a garage to do somewhere, but i DO expect top be able to change lightbulbs!).
Things I like about the Saab are the comfy seats, ability to munch motorway miles (and still return about 35mpg - even though it's the Aero HOT), the fact it's not german, the capacious boot (though the s60 looks similar sized with a smaller aperture), the ability to lift it's skirts and go when required, the fact it's done 138k with very little going wrong.
I don't like: the handling is a bit soft, and even using an indie it can be a bit pricey come service time.
I do a 65 mile round commute (90% motorway) at the moment, but in real terms does the diesel offer any great benefit over the petrol, or does having a diesel just mean potentially more things to go wrong (and more expensive)...
My other short list cars at the moment are the Jaguar X Type (+ image, handling?; - costs), or Ford Mondeo (+ cheap, fully loaded, handling; -image) (incidentally, the 'image' rating comes from the wife, and her opinion will not be swayed!)
Thanks for listening to the long post... Oh budget is about 7.5k which looking on autotrader / Volvo UK, gets me a 4 yr old D5 if I'm willing to travel.
Thanks, CH
I don't do that many miles in S60s now but I'll kick off from my view.
Bulb changing, rears is a piece of winkle, everything is in a cartridge that is easy to remove and access. Fronts can be fiddly, especially on nearside, not particularly due to the light unit but other stuff getting in the way.
Seats, comfiest of the comfy, and handling for a big fwd saloon is very much OK, and have even had them a bit sideways but very controllable. :cough:
Engine D5 is the way to go no question. The 2.4 diesel engine is the same 5 cyl engine slightly different setup afaik. Others will know far more than me to advise on that.
Manual or auto? frankly I find the D5 manual box a bit cumbersome, but could be lived with. If you want effortless wafting go for the Geartronic auto, then that will affect your price and choice.
What else, Jag, thanks but no thanks, Mondeo, lots of kit for your money, and reasonably well built, but the dealers can be a nightmare, then again you might be going indie. The S60s just seem to soldier on. Of course when it goes wrong like any modern car, especially with the amount of electrickery involved, it gets pricey.
HTH.
Just by way of interest
T5 60k 03 £3495
Bulb changing, rears is a piece of winkle, everything is in a cartridge that is easy to remove and access. Fronts can be fiddly, especially on nearside, not particularly due to the light unit but other stuff getting in the way.
Seats, comfiest of the comfy, and handling for a big fwd saloon is very much OK, and have even had them a bit sideways but very controllable. :cough:
Engine D5 is the way to go no question. The 2.4 diesel engine is the same 5 cyl engine slightly different setup afaik. Others will know far more than me to advise on that.
Manual or auto? frankly I find the D5 manual box a bit cumbersome, but could be lived with. If you want effortless wafting go for the Geartronic auto, then that will affect your price and choice.
What else, Jag, thanks but no thanks, Mondeo, lots of kit for your money, and reasonably well built, but the dealers can be a nightmare, then again you might be going indie. The S60s just seem to soldier on. Of course when it goes wrong like any modern car, especially with the amount of electrickery involved, it gets pricey.
HTH.
Just by way of interest
T5 60k 03 £3495
Edited by F i F on Wednesday 18th February 12:07
i have had both, volvo and saab, at the same time
VOlvo S60 d5 185bhp and saab 9-3 hatch turbo
volvo is the better car, qualitywise, and handling
for 7.5k you can get a new shape s60, buy one from 2004 onwards, they have a superb sound system, the mileage is 140k now on volvo and its still going strong,
its more spacious inside, handling is better, it has differnet damper settings whereas saab doesnt.
i think volvo seats are better than the saab, quality of controls is superior, auto is the way to go. its an easy auto , no problems with the auto.
at 85mph the car is doing 40mpg
i also had s60 t-5 with 250bhp, the car used to slide in 2nd on a straight and the mpg was 20! the s60 d5 with 185bhp, is a fast car-its 0-60 in 7.2 seconds, and the mpg is great on it. i would recommed one
VOlvo S60 d5 185bhp and saab 9-3 hatch turbo
volvo is the better car, qualitywise, and handling
for 7.5k you can get a new shape s60, buy one from 2004 onwards, they have a superb sound system, the mileage is 140k now on volvo and its still going strong,
its more spacious inside, handling is better, it has differnet damper settings whereas saab doesnt.
i think volvo seats are better than the saab, quality of controls is superior, auto is the way to go. its an easy auto , no problems with the auto.
at 85mph the car is doing 40mpg
i also had s60 t-5 with 250bhp, the car used to slide in 2nd on a straight and the mpg was 20! the s60 d5 with 185bhp, is a fast car-its 0-60 in 7.2 seconds, and the mpg is great on it. i would recommed one
Edited by K321 on Wednesday 18th February 15:27
Edited by K321 on Wednesday 18th February 15:28
Cheers for the views, I was a bit confused about the two diesel engines - obviously I'll go for the D5 if I find one in budget... Interesting view on the confy seats - IME the Saab seats are the comfiest I've been in (did Kent --> Scotland and back in the past few weeks and you get out feeling as good as you went in), so improvements on that can only be a good thing!
Had I read somewhere about the Geartronic being a potential problem? Is there another auto option - I like manuals, but mainly cos I've never really given autos a chance.
Thanks, CH
Had I read somewhere about the Geartronic being a potential problem? Is there another auto option - I like manuals, but mainly cos I've never really given autos a chance.
Thanks, CH
CAR recently described the S60 as a sadly overlooked gem....a complement indeed.
Regards, Don.
PS. and the post '05 facelift T5 is the best of Volvo's 5 pot petrol turbos, to all intents and purposes an 'R' engine with a slightly narrower bore, same bigger KKK turbo, inlet tract etc., which is bombproof and can get 330bhp with just good software...........
Regards, Don.
PS. and the post '05 facelift T5 is the best of Volvo's 5 pot petrol turbos, to all intents and purposes an 'R' engine with a slightly narrower bore, same bigger KKK turbo, inlet tract etc., which is bombproof and can get 330bhp with just good software...........
Edited by don kalmar union on Wednesday 18th February 20:20
i had a s60 geartronic t5 with 250bhp up to 120k miles, no geartronic issues
now, s60 d5, 2005 model- 140k, geartronic- no issues, whereas my friend with bmw 530d has just has gearbox broken, and audi 2.8 quattro i know had major gearbox issuesß the volvo gearbox is in comparison a much simpler gearbox
and s60 seats i think are really comfy, better than saab 9..3 and 9.5 i have tried
hey Don, how much bhp can you get out of 1998model c70 t5?
now, s60 d5, 2005 model- 140k, geartronic- no issues, whereas my friend with bmw 530d has just has gearbox broken, and audi 2.8 quattro i know had major gearbox issuesß the volvo gearbox is in comparison a much simpler gearbox
and s60 seats i think are really comfy, better than saab 9..3 and 9.5 i have tried
hey Don, how much bhp can you get out of 1998model c70 t5?
Cheers all, looking a bit more at the engine options - what's the feeling on the bi-fuel engines - there seems to be a few on autotrader in budget... and the other thing - is the 2004 facelift obvious?
Test drive is the next step - I quite like the idea of tooling up and down the motorway looking like undercover police (that should improve the ability to 'make progress')!
CH
Edited to say, just been looking at the technical specs and the D5 manual looks like a no-brainer choice on paper... which is obvously what the original purchasers thought as this seems to be a fairly common model on Autotrader.
Test drive is the next step - I quite like the idea of tooling up and down the motorway looking like undercover police (that should improve the ability to 'make progress')!
CH
Edited to say, just been looking at the technical specs and the D5 manual looks like a no-brainer choice on paper... which is obvously what the original purchasers thought as this seems to be a fairly common model on Autotrader.
Edited by Dr Bob on Thursday 19th February 11:23
A - W said:
D5 is the choice, SE spec if you can as it brings the leather and few bits of kit.
I am biased but little compares.
If your near East Yorkshire your welcome to have a nosey at mine.
Cheers, but I'm not local... anyway, I've had a bit of a look at the local Volvo dealership and I'll go back for a better look armed with the info I've gleaned from this thread(!)I am biased but little compares.
If your near East Yorkshire your welcome to have a nosey at mine.
Just a quickie, my old boss just warned me that his S40 cost a bomb in servicing requirements - what's the opinion here on servicing costs? Oh and when's the cambelt on the S60?
Thanks, CH
Servicing isn't cheap, but using a local indy should help.
Search for the Volvo Forums and there is a list of recommended garages.
Cambelts are 96k or 8 years if memory serves me right, I changed at 72k for piece of mind.
If you want a list of the service schedule I am sure I have a pdf of it kicking around?
Search for the Volvo Forums and there is a list of recommended garages.
Cambelts are 96k or 8 years if memory serves me right, I changed at 72k for piece of mind.
If you want a list of the service schedule I am sure I have a pdf of it kicking around?
A - W said:
If you want a list of the service schedule I am sure I have a pdf of it kicking around?
Next time I'm in the garage I'll ask 'em about things like menu priced servicing and decide for myself whether it's OTT or not... unfortunately there don't seem to be any independants close to me, but then does it need to be a dealer? The local ford dealership is not only inexpensive for servicing (due to always having promotional vouchers for services), but is pretty reliable and trustworthy.CH
Edited by Dr Bob on Friday 20th February 09:14
2004 facelift IMO is really obvious. the car looks more modern, with a more pronounced front grille, different lights,and dashbooard is a little different and better quality materials used
the se is the one to go for, with leather, sat nav, 4 C damper selection, DSC, the xenons are superb but cost a lot to fix
every bmw m3 driver overtaking me slows down to see if i am a cop or not, and people generally tend to move over if u are on fastlane of motorway.
the se is the one to go for, with leather, sat nav, 4 C damper selection, DSC, the xenons are superb but cost a lot to fix
every bmw m3 driver overtaking me slows down to see if i am a cop or not, and people generally tend to move over if u are on fastlane of motorway.
Edited by K321 on Thursday 19th February 14:20
Dr Bob said:
A - W said:
If you want a list of the service schedule I am sure I have a pdf of it kicking around?
Well if it's handy you could email me but don't go to any trouble - next time I'm in the garage I'll ask 'em about things like menu priced servicing and decide for myself whether it's OTT or not... unfortunately there don't seem to be any independants close to me, but then does it need to be a dealer? The local ford dealership is not only inexpensive for servicing (due to always having promotional vouchers for services), but is pretty reliable and trustworthy.CH
don kalmar union said:
PS. and the post '05 facelift T5 is the best of Volvo's 5 pot petrol turbos, to all intents and purposes an 'R' engine with a slightly narrower bore, same bigger KKK turbo, inlet tract etc., which is bombproof and can get 330bhp with just good software...........
What was the facelift?I have a 54 plate S60 T5 and didn't realise they changed things for the 05s.
Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff