Volvo V70 2.5tdi's

[Scania]

Thinking of replacing my Corsa 1.7dti, it serves it's purpose admirably (although somewhat hatefully!) being my daily hack, I've had it since March, washed it once - you get the picture....

Looked today at a 99 V plate Volvo V70 2.5tdi, 5 cylinder with a remap, it went surprisingly well (despite 175k on the clock) last owner for 9 years - spoke to him - full history albeit from a local garage rather than a Volvo dealer or specialist.

£650 or thereabouts should I think bag it....

Obviously been used as a workhorse, dirty inside but bar a patch of peeled paint on the roof the body is fine with not a spot of rust anywhere, wired up with twin electrics and a towbar (I want it to pull my caravan) as I say dirty inside but clean out and mechanically surprisingly swift and smooth.

I know a lot about Volvo FH HGV's but sod all about the cars (bar their supposed reputation for reliability and build quality) is this true of the V70? Should I walk away?

Undecided tbh, buy the Volvo for caravan tugging but keep the Corsa for the daily hack or ditch the Corsa (hate the thing!) and run the Volvo as its a nice comfy barge from what I felt today as my daily...?

Any opinions / experience of the V70 appreciated.

Yes, still looking for an e38 but finding good ones rare as hens teeth and somewhat reluctant to use one for towing should the unicorn ever appear!

Thanks.

 

[Ricochet J]

I know nothing about Volvo's but know something about £650.

If you can afford to write it off if the Volvo doesn't work out, then don't over think it, just go for it and buy the car tomorrow. Be done with it.

If you can't afford to write it off if/when it all goes pear shaped, then keep the Corsa, and the money to maintain its upkeep.

 

[Scania]

I know nothing about Volvo's but know something about £650.

If you can afford to write it off if the Volvo doesn't work out, then don't over think it, just go for it and buy the car tomorrow. Be done with it.

If you can't afford to write it off if/when it all goes pear shaped, then keep the Corsa, and the money to maintain its upkeep.

Yes, it's an old one, high miles etc
Tbh, keeping or ditching the Corsa isn't an issue either way, I'm happy to keep it (if I must! )and use it as my daily, my thinking being though leaving the Volvo standing for weeks / months at a time bar towing my van occasionally wouldn't do it any favours...


No plans to ditch the Corsa immediately, so if the Volvo turns out a loss then hey ho , I'm more interested if an old - apparently good - V70 is worth persuing or not for a tool to occasionally pull my caravan, otherwise I'd most likely still use the Corsa as whilst it's hateful, it's cost me next to nothing to run since I've had it and has been (surprisingly) faultless...

The Volvo just struck me as a better option than the countless Mondeo & Vectras at a similar price to do this one task....

 

[andy_mk3]

I maintain a V70 that comes into work, the guy uses it to go to France and back a lot and all over France, the thing has about 500k kms on it and it still goes well. They're solid engines and with good service history seem to go on forever.

 

[phil675]

Check out the MOT history it will tell you a lot. I was looking at a 2000 Focus estate that had 38,000 miles on it which looked in good nick for about £700 but from the MOT history you could tell it had lived a very hard life on a farm or something with huge amount of wear.

 

[sigma]

Yep, I'd rather have a car with 500k motorway miles than 5k of 2 mile journeys to the shops and back.

If you check out the basics (its not got massive leaks, the clutch isnt slipping, no smoke from turbo etc) and if £650 isn't going to hurt your pocket then I'd take a punt.

Mot history check is a good shout, also scour the service history for any key parts that have been changed. I'd imagine £650 isn't far off the cost of an alternator for the Volvo? Complete guess, mind.

 

[paradigm]

This era of V70 is essentially the same as the late 90's 850 I believe.

The 5cyl petrol 850 I had for 6 months or so was utterly reliable (except needing a new radiator when I got it) even though it was on well north of 150,000 miles, and easily the most comfortable seats of any car I've had. Wasn't fast or economical, but it was a lovely drive to the Alps and back.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Yep, I'd rather have a car with 500k motorway miles than 5k of 2 mile journeys to the shops and back.

Fairly nonsensical. The principle is sound but the reality is that a car with 500,000 motorway miles will be considerably more worn in every possible way than one with 5000 miles of 2 mile trips.

 

[sigma]

Fairly nonsensical. The principle is sound but the reality is that a car with 500,000 motorway miles will be considerably more worn in every possible way than one with 5000 miles of 2 mile trips.

I didn't realise you could make my decisions for me.

I'm sat waiting to get my hair cut, what style shall I go for?

 

[[TW]Fox]

I didn't realise you could make my decisions for me.

I didn't realise we didn't discuss views and opinions on an internet discussion forum

Why post your view if you are going to kick off if somebody replies? The principle is, like I said, sound - I'd take a 140k mile Motorway car over an 80k town car but the higher the differential the less it's true - 5k v 500k is such an extreme example that the 5k car would feel almost factory fresh despite its usage whereas the 500k miler would be one bill away from the scrapyard.

Plus I don't even think it applies in this case - the car has 175k but its 17 years old! That's bang on average mileage, it's not a motorway muncher at all...

 

[phil675]

You also have to take into account things like can the previous owner answer the question: When was the oil last changed?

 

[sigma]

I didn't realise we didn't discuss views and opinions on an internet discussion forum

Why post your view if you are going to kick off if somebody replies? The principle is, like I said, sound - I'd take a 140k mile Motorway car over an 80k town car but the higher the differential the less it's true - 5k v 500k is such an extreme example that the 5k car would feel almost factory fresh despite its usage whereas the 500k miler would be one bill away from the scrapyard.

Plus I don't even think it applies in this case - the car has 175k but its 17 years old! That's bang on average mileage, it's not a motorway muncher at all...

Calm down, it was clearly said in jest... I thought the hair cut comment would have given that away. Although I will be asking the barber for some advice tbh.

 

[Dr Who]

For £650 that is bangernomics money and IMHO these are pretty robust cars.

Personally I love them, love the engine and it remaps very well.

One of the best sounding diesels again IMHO

 

[Scania]

Thanks guys, after viewing a W plate 2.4 petrol one last night, this diesel one looks a much better proposition.

Checked its mot history, it's averaged 10k p.a. since 2005, two failures, one for a ball joint and one for a non functioning indicator! - a better mot history than my last e39 which was newer with less miles....

Just hope it's still available - his phone is going to answerphone and no reply to my text.... :/

 

[Scania]

Well, got it on Monday, paid £650 (asking £850) decided to take it straight to a local trusted garage as it needed two new rear tyres, plenty of tread but cracks in the sidewall and whilst I was there I got the battery checked (borked) replaced it as it turned over slowly when starting - now much better , they then checked the A/C which surprisingly is now working fine after a regas (wasn't expecting that!) but, this morning the battery warning light was on, back to the garage, alternator required :/ - decided to go for a new rather than recon or second hand and had the aux belt changed at the same time.

So, the £650 Volvo now stands me nearly double that amount but appears to now be back in a serviceable condition!

Whilst it was having the work done they gave it a good going over, its recently had a new steering rack,apparently a common and expensive failure, front springs,shocks and rear shocks, the brake pads all round are new, no pitting or ridges on the discs, the exhaust looks recent too and now I've driven it more than the somewhat brief test drive, it goes wonderfully well for such an old bus (5 Cylinder Audi engine I believe? - its got a lovely 5 pot note to it)

It's supremely comfortable, wallows like a boat in a rough sea, epicly crap turning circle......

I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd say this of an old Volvo estate, but, I actually rather like it!

Could have done without nigh doubling the purchase price sorting a few things, but, on the face of it at least, I hopefully now have most likely issues covered and can use it for its intended purpose of taking the Caravan out....

I looked at a few, ranging from £700 up to £1800 of similar age & miles (bar the 55 plate that turned out to have done a mere 420k miles!) , actually glad I opted for a cheaper one even though I have had to pay out to fix a few things rather than paying more and most likely facing similar expenditure....

It should be interesting to see how it pans out......

 

[Ryan-3]

I was tempted by one of these as a first car. They're a comfortable, likeable, Swedish brick. I look forward to seeing how you get on with it, now it appears to all be in a good working order.

 

[HouR]

Get some pics

 

[Ryan-3]

I also forgot to ask as I see no mention.

Is the interior beige?!

 

[Scania]

I was tempted by one of these as a first car. They're a comfortable, likeable, Swedish brick. I look forward to seeing how you get on with it, now it appears to all be in a good working order.

Don't know your age but for me (45) I was rather surprised to find it the most expensive car I've yet insured!

Including monthly payments, my total premium / cost is £620! - my e39 530i Sport was cheaper!

I'll have to create "Scania's Volvo thread" to keep you guys updated....

Get some pics

Will do when I fetch it from the garage later.

Is the interior beige?!

Dirt brown, I think, definitely not beige and I'm unsure if the dirt brown will turn out grey after a carpet and seat shampoo!


Just need now to swap my two German Shepherds for Labrodors, get a tweed jacket and grow a beard and my transition to middle age will be complete!

 

[Gaygle]

All I know is that my dad had a 99 2.5l 5 cylinder petrol V70 for about 12 years and from about 30-150k miles and nothing ever went wrong at all. No suspension bushes, no electric issues, no engine issues - nothing. Just a service once a year at the Volvo dealer. Its the only car that I've seen that the oil was still quite golden months after the service.

Utterly reliable cars. The true, old fashioned meaning of "bombproof" not the modern day definition that everyone uses to describe everything.