Boring auld XC70

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Discussion

pd2

Original Poster:

260 posts

156 months

Wednesday 11th September
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Picked this up last week to replace our mini clubman as our 10 month old pup has outgrown it.
I like to have something a bit different to the norm and had a bit of criteria for looking for the replacement. Glasgow ULEZ complient, petrol, big estate, no SUV type stuff and have reasonable performance.
Looked at a few octavia vrs's, superbs, legacy GT's, V70's etc...

Ended up with a Japanese import, Volvo xc70 T6 AWD with Polestar Optimisation.
So, a 3.0 straight 6 turbo with around 325bhp / 355ftlb.

There were very few T6 V70's / XC70's for sale in the UK. Found a few xc's at an importer and went down to have a look at them., and ended up buying this one with a few niggles resolved. Replacement struts for the power tailgate as it was dropping slightly when open fully, full uk conversion to mph, miles, FM etc. Being an import it's half the normal £710 rfl and it's allowed into ULEZ zones.

Spec wise: MY2014 Twilight bronze metallic, 72k miles, on small 17" alloys (currently on winter tires), espresso brown leather, heated/cooled seats, radar cruise and a host of safety stuff. Also came with a proper volvo badged thule roof box, removed now, might use later.
Not many plans for it but run it. Might try and hunt down a set of standard 18's for the summer months and might try and source a volvo roof spoiler as well.













And the pupper....





Edited by pd2 on Wednesday 11th September 20:21


Edited by pd2 on Wednesday 11th September 20:25


Edited by pd2 on Thursday 12th September 06:30

CrippsCorner

3,015 posts

188 months

Wednesday 11th September
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I kind of love those seats! That is a proper sleeper.

Mr Tidy

24,327 posts

134 months

Wednesday 11th September
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That looks like a really practical dog car, with a bit of performance thrown in - lovely!

miniman

26,309 posts

269 months

Wednesday 11th September
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Chocolate leather is cool

seiben

2,367 posts

141 months

Wednesday 11th September
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I really like that. I wavered between a T6 XC70 and a V8 XC90 and eventually settled on the latter due to towing capacity, extra seats and more cylinders (hehe). Looking at yours I'm not entirely sure I made the right choice!

Leithen

12,117 posts

274 months

Wednesday 11th September
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Top Brown.

Love it.

seawise

2,180 posts

213 months

Thursday 12th September
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Looks tidy - never driven a petrol XC70, worth searching out i would imagine.

Cambs_Stuart

3,119 posts

91 months

Thursday 12th September
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That's a fantastic car! Lovely dog too, my dad used to have one.
Really interested to see how you get on with it. Assuming it's an auto, is that right?

GeniusOfLove

2,258 posts

19 months

Thursday 12th September
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Lovely colours inside and out, and avoiding the spite tax is a real win.

That's a proper family car and the absolute antithesis of what people buy for the job today; a toy SUV with a miniscule engine straining it's guts out, giant cast wheels smashing through potholes, over firm suspension to control the movements of its bloated body and silly CoG, and a dismal black interior with plastic "leather" seats.

I'd stick wtih 17s, it'll never be "sporty" so why give up some of what it's good at for no benefit?

Very very proper.

pd2

Original Poster:

260 posts

156 months

Thursday 12th September
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Thanks folks, all nice comments!

It is an auto, they never did a manual with the T6. It does like a wee drink of petrol lol.

They mostly came with 18's over here and they look quite nice. There was also a 19" option.
Was just thinking more keep winter tires on the 17s and something a bit more suitable on 18s for the summer.

Budleigh

135 posts

170 months

Thursday 12th September
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That's fantastic. Wish we got those here - we only got the na 3.2 (a bit underpowered, apparently) and the D5. What's the engine like?

Smitters

4,120 posts

164 months

Thursday 12th September
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This looks absolutely brilliant. I had to do exactly the same thing and ended up with a Saab 9-3 wagon, but this is pretty much my ideal spec of dog-mobile, down to colour and kit. Nothing boring about it.

Do you mind letting me know what you paid please as unsurprisingly, these are not all over Autotrader to check on! Drop me a DM if you prefer.

pd2

Original Poster:

260 posts

156 months

Thursday 12th September
quotequote all
I dont mind, its only money lol. I actually went down to look at a couple in the £11k bracket and they were just ok, but they just got this post face lift, in and I really liked it. Paid £13995 all in.


SmithCorona

729 posts

36 months

Thursday 12th September
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I am incredibly jealous of this car. I have no need for it. But perversely I want it more than essentially any other car. And my own.

Doofus

28,460 posts

180 months

Thursday 12th September
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I had that interior on one of my XC70s, and I loved it. biggrin


pd2

Original Poster:

260 posts

156 months

Thursday 31st October
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just a small update and a vent. 2 Months in and all is not well frown

For the last month I had a grumbling rotational noise coming from the from drivers side front wheel. sounds like a wheel bearing.....

I'm also looking for a Volvo Indy to deal with the car for servicing etc for the future.

Popped into one Indy a few weeks ago, they had never seen a T6 XC70 before. Took 3 different guys to road test it.... hmmm, wonder why.... Anyway, consensus was a wheel bearing, no charge for the diagnostics, which was nice. Asked them to price the job and get back to me and we'll get it booked in. A week later and still no contact. Dropped them a text, got an apology and i'll call you tomorrow. Still waiting.... So, i ain't chasing it any further.

Popped into Indy number 2 last week, very busy place. Booked in for today as it was the earliest available. Got the call this afternoon, they can here the noise but there's no vibration etc of the bearing causing it when checking it on the ramp. They think its the old winter tires. there going to swap the wheels round and we will see if the noise moves.To add to this joy of possibly needing a new set of tires the rear trailing arm bushes are shot!

Too top this off, i have a shared drive with neighbour. I was hovering the car out and heard him reversing up the drive, BANG!! Reversed straight into the front of my car. Headlight and headlight washer with cover needed along with painting of the bumper and possibly blending into wing and bonnet. Correct second hand light purchased already, £33 bloody quid for the washer cover!!
We get on well, so once i get a cost for painting and tally up the rest, he will pay cash or if to expensive, will go down insurance route.

So 2 months in and will be £660 lighter tomorrow for bushes, alignment and diagnostics. Then possibly new tires or bearing.
Minor accident damage to sort and breathe.....

Apart from that, the cars great, Indy says its spotless underneath. It hauls the dog no problem, very comfortable for me and the missus, even the mpg is not bad. Into mid 30s+ on long runs. (think its averaged 26 since i got it, but i do drive it a bit differently when the wife's not with me biggrin )




Edited by pd2 on Thursday 31st October 21:06

jammytask

24 posts

165 months

Friday 1st November
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Lovely car, thanks for sharing your experiences.

JQ

6,045 posts

186 months

Friday 1st November
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Budleigh said:
That's fantastic. Wish we got those here - we only got the na 3.2 (a bit underpowered, apparently) and the D5. What's the engine like?
Having owned both the 3.2 and the D5, you are quite right, the diesel was the better engine. I got rid of the petrol in the end as the £700 tax and 20mpg was getting tiresome.

Definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for a T6, the XC70 is such a lovely car.

Loving yours OP, hopefully that’s the end of the big bills for now.