I like the Volvo Amazon and always wanted to a Restomod... Someone beat me to it and did a much better job than I would ever do!
Apparently the Guy who owns it rides bikes too!
Bumpage.
Looking at a V70 to replace the EP4 Civic.
Quite like the 52mpg to work and back, and the 60+ to BPW from the North East for the Civic, and I know the V70 won't achieve that, but what's people's realistic MPG for the manual and the auto boxes?
I have had 2 old 2004 V70 D5 estates , both manual.
1st one was chipped and regually did 55mpg, up to 57mpg in the summer. That is brim -brim, not the OBC as they are always very optimistic.
Current one does 50 - 52mpg, but this does involve being sensible with the right foot , reading the traffic flow, rolling 200mtrs to red traffic lights etc.
They are huge , well built, reliable , safe , comfy
Personally I would avoid geartronics, do not be afraid of mega milages . Mines on 192, last one sold on at 212k. Change cambelt and aux tensioners as they are the main common fault ( 90k / 5yr interval) .
Clutch and dual mass will set you back £900-ish fitted just so you know
Can be tuned to 200bhp easily , but tend to need a better intercooler as they blow , but Ford RS ones fall into the same hole
I have a D5 V70 auto and get 42 - 44 mpg on a run, high 30's/low 40's mixed.
I'm on my third xc70...traded in my 2011 for a 2014 with 100,000 less on the clock. The onboard computer on the old (manual) said 41-42mpg, and on the new (auto) it claims 40.3mpg. The vast majority of my driving is motorway cruising. Both are the D5 215bhp model
That Restomod Amazon is just gorgeous.
realistic MPG for the manual
2013 D3 5-pot manual.
Long run on A-road or Motorway with a few of us - 47-49 calculated (50 on the dash).
Around town late 30's to early 40's.
2 Bikes on roof, 3 on towbar, 5 people and a weekends kit rind trip of 500 miles was 37mpg this weekend.
Going to look at a 1-owner, 150k miler 2007 D5 (182BHP) tomorrow. This one has no impact on insurance, yet a 163BHP auto was £170 more, and a 163 BHP manual £110 more.
Mental.
Well. The car itself was lovely enough, but there was a hiss in acceleration, almost like a split boost hose. Could hear it more inside the car, rather than outside. So it was a "no" from me. Figure there's plenty more out there.
So I put new discs and pads on the back of the Civic. Better the devil you know. For a bit longer.
Split intercooler most likely .
Should pull really strongly from 1700rpm all the way through the rev range
The engine mounts are 'active' and controlled by the ecu and they can bleed air as well from the feed lines
Intake growl should be the only cabin noise once up and running
We keep our cars a good while, so it was only two cars ago we had the mighty Wentworth, a lot like this one:
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Another "not an estate but...". Going back to the late eighties, a bloke in our scuba diving group had one of these, but for reasons unknown it always seemed even more high maintenance than his wife. Great ride though.
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Great ride though
We still talking about the car?
Loved my old Wentworth. Silver, boot that spanned multiple time zones and a proper mile muncher.
I now own this. 2005 with the facelift interior but the 163BHP Euro3 engine - no swirl flaps or DPF.
Black leather, too. Which is nice.
Just need to fettle the handbrake.
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Check th yoke underneath the center console. One cable can become disconnected jut behind the handbrake
Short throw normally , just 2 or 3 clicks but I think this may lead to some cables rusting as the cable movemen is so short
For the handbrake you may need to get aftermarket barrel adjusters off eBay, they slot in to the rear shoe handbrake mechanism and allow you to adjust tension.
The handbrake mechanism isn't particularly brilliant at the best of times.
I replaced the cables on mine a few years ago, also only use genuine shoes and get a spring kit if you are replacing the shoes
I spent the morning chasing DofE groups with another volunteer - a traffic copper. He was appreciating our wagon - he's used T5 850's through to V70 MK3's.
Apparently the new 5 Series are just not as liked, cost a fortune in BMW parts and the Volvo is so much more comfy (although the BMW goes round corners better).
He was all but trading in his Audi A5 for a Volvo by the end of the short ride back to the start...
Just had a sit in my Dads new S90 T4 (dash showed average of 31mpg but I’ve no idea how he’s been driving it), it was really lovely, I’d love a V90, there have been some good PCP deals on them, but still too much for me 🙁
Just in the process of getting rid of our xc90. It's a bit old and time for a change, but I'll miss it. Would like another Volvo but can't afford what we want.
We still Have a V50 though. 2.0d and got nearly 70mpg (75mpg indicated) on a recent 250 mile trip up north from London. Whole trip 520 miles and indicated 68mpg. Nice. It's the 'wrong' engine (not D5) but it's not bad.
Do the front seats fold forward on the V50 so the headrest sits on , or below, the dash ?
Tempted by 60+mpg but windsurf boards need to fit inside .
Yes, there is a little lever that drops the front passenger seat. If you move it back before dropping it fits under the front glove box bit. It's not as good as a V70 or the xc90 in many respects - Belgian build, not sweden - rear headrests have to be taken out to fold seats flat ( takes 5 seconds) - but overall qaulity is good.
As for 70mpg, I was really trying for it, proper hyper-miling to see what it could achieve, slip-streaming coaches and such stuff. The journey back was more realiatic with jams and more haste. Still, mid sixties mpg not bad. I get around 38mpg around town.
Ps. It's a 2007, phase 1, euro 3 so no dpf. Might be relevant.
Volvo Amazon's were great rally cars and have had cult following in Scandinavia for years. I always liked the roof chops for the ultimate slammed look. And no they are not practical...
It may be my age, but I'm very excited to be joining this thread tomorrow. 🙂
Must learn how to post pics....
Ours (the V70 in the beginning of this thread) sailed through its MOT yesterday at 15year old and 180k miles, the only advisory being a CV boot that I knew about. Awesome car.
So - I now have a V50 estate, 2.4 petrol, first-ever auto, and by some margin the comfiest barge I've munched miles in. However, it has twice failed to start, enough juice in the battery to make the solenoid click but not enough to turn the motor over, starts fine from a jump. Auto electrician dude says the battery is poor and the alternator is gently draining it overnight when it's turned off, so we're unhooking the battery in the interim. Does that sound like a solid diagnosis? Had no idea a duff alternator could drain the battery when not running - anyone had an alternator fixed or replaced and remember the cost?
Only on a Yaris (only fault ever on 140k/12 year old car...) so not really comparable.
The alternator should be changed every two times (IIRC)the auxiliary belt is changed (V70 non turbo) I didn't know this and the one way alternator pulley seized and threw the aux belt one day resulting in a new alternator anyway.
I got a Bosch reconditioned one from ECP
**** these V70 handbrakes!
Cleaned up, new shoes, new cables - will it bollocks hold. New spring kit and P1 style adjusters on order.
Seriously tempted to convert the rear calipers to ones with the handbrake built in.
I took an 03 xc70 for a test drive yesterday. It was absolutely buggered. I've got a V40 estate at the mo. Not getting on with it. So I'm still looking for an old xc70 that isn't a moving turd 🙄
The V70 handbrake is crap even with new cables and springs but ours passes it's MOT even when it feels crap to me (my Mot guy is strict)
You do need to fit genuine Volvo shoes due to the possibility of non genuine friction material coming detached from the backing and taking out the hub backplate assembly apparently.
The alternator should be changed every two times (IIRC)the auxiliary belt is changed (V70 non turbo)
Interesting, thank you - lots of fun tbis morning between diligently locked the car before disconnecting the battery and discovering the emergency key.... She started for about two seconds then keeled over and needed a jump, drove mebbe 30 minutes and parked her all day, she started fine this evening. Now on charge overnight courtesy of our fantastic Air BnB hosts - such a shame as she's awesome other than not starting when left overnight.
I had a 62 plate 136hp auto V70 from new. Genuine 50+mpg and a great M-way machine. But it needed a new gearbox after 2 yrs (under warranty) and the seats gave me serious back ache ,so it had to go. No room for rear passengers, and not the biggest of boots.
Handbrake update.
Adjustable H-bars FTW.
20 mins to fit both sides and adjust, and job jobbed.
With the usual perfect timing, my venerable V70 D5 recently went to the great auction house in the sky (well in point of fact, it was traded in). It was a 13 plater with 80k on it dripping in kit and with the optional autobox fault... Possible valve body (£1k) or valve body plus rebuild (up to £3k!) so it needed rehoming. A sad day...
Step forward the mighty V90, hurrah!
I managed to find a pre reg Inscription D5 AWD jobbie with the princely sum of 35 miles on the clock - immediately before the lock down so not many miles are being put on it ATM.
Too early to tell how it compares to a 'proper' Volvo but it is a nice place to sit... which is just as well as as it's not going anywhere...
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Yeah, but it's not an estate... 😉
In true panto stylee: 'oh yes it is...' though not mine:
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Oops, it looked like my sister in law's XC90...
Are they bigger than V70? They look chuffing huge.
About the same on plan but not as many m³ due to the dropped roofline and slant tailgate. Main qualy for me is getting the tandem in which it still does - though not ATM obv....
That 240 linked to above is lovely, I see it's still for sale at 11.5k tho. I suppose it just needs 1 person with that money who likes it enough to buy it, for 240 fans there have been a few in the classic car auctions, look at brightwells, Anglia car auctions..in fact don't if you have anything else planned for today. 240s seem to go on forever if properly maintained, some are on 500k and still going strong.
I have a new-shape V60, and it's huge. Swallows two road bikes with the wheels on with room to spare.
To give you an idea of how big the V90 is, you could probably park my V60 in the boot. I'd have had one (they're cheaper, weirdly) but I couldn't face doing a three-point-turn to get around every ramp in the multistory car park at work.
Polestar V90
Gnrk.
Aye Flashy, for a Volvo, they're a nice looking thing 🙃
CFH Can you get the Polestar V90 in the UK?
Still missing the leather armchairs in my last XC60 🙁
My lad’s V50.
1.6d, £30 tax, cheap insurance, easily takes 2 enduro bikes inside.
👌
User of old Volvo estates here.
My previous one was a 2093 xc70 which I took up to 260k then 'treated it' to a service and air locked it after changing diesel filter and it's never moved since.
Currently using a 2003 V70 pre-dpf with 194k. Flywheel knocking (doesn't bother me not worth doing) but is great to drive, can sleep in it, great sound system, and computer says 53mpg which is hard to believe,maybe it was chipped as someone mentioned earlier.
If I won the lottery I'd have that Polestar V90 in a heartbeat.
Long time admirer of all things Volvo, driven a few but never owned one.
240s may be mechanically tough, but they rust like a mother.. which is why very few are still around.
V90 is very average to poor for a load lugging estate , BIL works for Volvo and has had all the V70 variants , he got a V90 last year and it’s got a massive bonnet but the boot and rear roof line really compromise it.
If I won the lottery I’d have that Polestar V90 in a heartbeat.
+1
I'm not that sure.
I had an XC90 T8 last year for a bit whilst mine was in. It had a 2L diesel of 180 ish BHP and approx another 220 BHP of electricery; ~410 in all. It was fast enough, electric only up to about 30 mph then banzai dependant on foot/accelerator interface.
Most of the time I was plodding about on a 4 pot 2L diesel which is a bit shit in a vehicle of that type which wa one of my reservations on the v90 as they've stopped doing the 'nice' engines...
This is my first Volvo and I'm quite besotted with it. 2007 XC70 D5, 160K.
Currently sporting some bigger AT tyres (235/65/17) and I've a 30mm lift kit to fit when I get some time off. It does get used off road occasionally...and it's surprisingly good at it.
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That looks reet tidy 👍
That is purdy.
Love Volvo's new and old, Even battered old 240's in hearing aid beige. Got a C30 R design at the moment, just a Focus in a party frock but its a handsome thing. We're wanting an XC40 next. Been tempted to sack off the works van and buy a big old 740 estate for work but it'd just get ruined
I'm on my third XC70...love them, traded the previous one 18 months ago for 4year old one with only 19k on it...should last me a few years (tho this one is an auto, so maybe not! 😀)
I can't understand why Volvo stopped making the XC70
Thread update!
Took our V70 (first post in this thread) off the road at the begining of the year as the steering rack was starting to leak and I knew it would fail it's MOT.
Its a 2004 year with 190k miles. So its been on axle stands in our garage/tinkering room/studio downstairs having a well deserved mini restoration.
Both bumpers off and repainted.
Front wheels re-powder coated,
Steering rack professionally rebuilt,
Urethane wishbone bushes installed,
Subframe bushes changed,
New shocks, springs, top strut bearings, gaitors and bump stops all round,
New track rods, roll bar bushes, drop links etc,
New outer CV's, new inner boots
New front wheel bearings
New engine mounts
Full discs and pads all round
New handbrake shoes, backing plates and cables
New leather gearshifter and handbrake gaitors.
New fuel flap hinge and dangly
Gearbox flushed and regular oil and filter service.
Alarm sounder back up battery replaced
Bonnet catch alarm switch repaired.
All wheel arch liners and exhaust removed, any surface rust removed followed by Fertan, 4x coats of zinc rich epoxy followed by Dinitrol. Looks better than new underneath now.
Some things didn't need changing - the wheel bearings were fine for example but seeing as it's done 190k and is in bits it makes sense to change most things.
Only two bolts were seized in all the jobs- the best engineered and built car I've ever owned.
Economically it's not worth doing - I've spent ~£2.5k on parts and 3rd parties (bumpers painted & steering rack) but the car does everything we ask of it and it didn't make ecological sense to scrap it.
Here's to another 17 years with Vlad!
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Final Dinitrol application before arch liners go back.
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That's a lot of work - yet so much cheaper than a new wagon.
Great job RNP, I really hope some idiot doesn't trash your hard work!
That’s a lot of work – yet so much cheaper than a new wagon.
Yep! I have the space, tools, time, no kids, I'm happy tinkering and it's MrsRNP's car and she loves the thing. Plus used car prices are mental right now.
Great job RNP, I really hope some idiot doesn’t trash your hard work!
Thanks, I rebuilt the whole front end early on when MrsRNP knocked a wall down with it when she got 'D' and 'R' mixed up looked over her shoulder and drove straight ahead into a brick wall...
It also had a medically unwell old guy drive into the back end. And was rebuilt.
Its like a tank underneath.
I love a Volvo, this is ours (rolling work in progress/restoration) -
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We had a 90-something S40 a few years ago which was great fun.
Relative newcomer to the whole Volvo appreciation thing but I have to say that this is amongst the most capable, comfortable and pleasant to drive cars I've ever had.
Here in full on holiday mode, covered in leaves and dead bugs from Cornish lanes
This is a friend of mines 245
Very rare Volvo OEM wheels, modified 940 turbo b230 engine, modified suspension, Alfa Romeo seats. Looks quite stock to most people but do not try and beat it at the lights, you will lose unless you driving something special.
It’s his daily driver, nice and comfy, not a race special and is very nicely appointed inside.
That's a nice refresh RNP.
We've an old XC90, taken it from 14k, currently on 200k, and trying to work out whether it's worth saving. Needs a power-steering pump and the clutch on the aircon compressor is slipping, so air-con doesn't function when it gets over about 25 degrees.
Car's worthless, and even though it's been dead reliable over the years, it's got a lot of little niggles, and it normally costs in the region of a grand to get it through MOT- there's always something in suspension/steering/braking that needs replacement with it being such a heavy car. Part of me wants to just carry on keeping it running, but I'm not sure that financially it's worthwhile.
That’s a nice refresh RNP.
We’ve an old XC90, taken it from 14k, currently on 200k, and trying to work out whether it’s worth saving. Needs a power-steering pump and the clutch on the aircon compressor is slipping, so air-con doesn’t function when it gets over about 25 degrees.
Car’s worthless, and even though it’s been dead reliable over the years, it’s got a lot of little niggles, and it normally costs in the region of a grand to get it through MOT- there’s always something in suspension/steering/braking that needs replacement with it being such a heavy car. Part of me wants to just carry on keeping it running, but I’m not sure that financially it’s worthwhile.
As I see it, generally, it's better the devil you know in the case of cars- you already have the car so there's no PITA dealing with Other People and trying to find a replacement (possible paying some kind of covid tax on top?), you know it and its foibles, your insurance is already sorted, it's taxed, you have the V5 etc... If you see it as a grand to keep the thing safe and legal and ready to go if you need/want it and if you mentally break that grand down into £85 per month for that convenience rather than a lump sum then it makes sense to keep it, I reckon anyway.
I really wanted our last car to be our last car ever, I was done and nicely out of it thank you (at least until we could afford an electric one anyway) but OH talked me into getting a classic he can job on with.
I'm a bit like you vinnyeh, our V70 has just nudged over the 195,000 miles.
My OH keeps showing me cars on Marketplace.
My thinking is if we can keep the Volvo going and it's not costing us a ridiculous amount in garage bills, we should keep it.
Can't be many cars that would have coped with the load on our family holiday this year.
5 adults, 2 dogs, 3 bikes, iSUP, surfboard!
This is a friend of mines 245
I must have that.
I must have that.
Best not show you mine then…. mines not as good though.
We once got one as a hire car when 3 of us took bikes and tents etc to Les Gets a few years back.
For that it was brilliant, comfortable, stable, big etc, just sat at 80mph and soaked up the miles. Only downside was the awful handling, it was a true barge.
Last week though I drove an XC90 it didnt really engage me in the same way and I was a little disappointed.
Best not show you mine then…. mines not as good though.
I had a red 240 estate years ago. It was the most comfortable car I ever had. I wasn't a complete Volvo fanatic but I knew a man who was. He had a unit full of fast Volvo's and a bunch of parts lined up for me including a T5 engine and a 960 gearbox.
One day I came out of a mates house to find the side of the car totally crushed by some mysterious impact. So my turbo charged, drift bus never happened. The 740 I had next was alright with a bigger turbo and boost controller but my heart wasn't in it.
For that it was brilliant, comfortable, stable, big etc, just sat at 80mph and soaked up the miles. Only downside was the awful handling, it was a true barge.
+1 they are built for long distance comfort, the subframes are bush mounted to the bodies and the wishbone bushes are quite compliant.
You can get 'police spec' Meyle wishbones and PU inserts for the subframe mounts but they all add NVH to the passenger cell.
If anyone else was wondering, that's noise, vibration and harshness...
So finally finished Vlads rebuild after months of work and took it for it's MOT yesterday......
....and it failed😢
Offside headlight bulb wasn't seated properly and was throwing the beam pattern out. My usual MOT place was short-staffed so failed it rather than having a look for me. Passed today.
Here's to another 17years of shrugging abuse and miles off
Anyone got a recent V60? I fancy one when time comes to replace the blue whale (AKA Passat estate).
