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
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1KH39dXfi1bhDfgb8
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).
Anyone got a recent V60
I have. It's a very good car. Mines a D4 8-speed auto, it's quick and quiet, a bit dieselly around town. Deliberately specced the smaller wheels/higher profile tyres for comfort, but it still handles OK. I also had one of the previous V60s, which was about the smallest car in its class, but this one is about the largest. Infotainment system is good. My riding buddy has one too, with absolutely maxed out spec including the B&W stereo which is awesome, and the very scandi driftwood trim, but his has bigger wheels and is noticeably noisier and ride is less good.
Driftwood trim sounds good!
Plus used car prices are mental right now.
Even more reason to do that amount of work to keep the car going well into the future. Nice job!
Very taken with the red 245 estate ^^, well tasty that, and nicely stealthy, too.
My folks had 2-series estates all through my childhood, finally ditching the dreadful brown 1981 jobbie in about 1997.
The first on looked exactly like Kayla's, although it had the extra seats in the boot, which were extremely exciting 🙂
Anyone got a recent V60
I got a V60 R-Design T6 Recharge as a company car last month. Brilliant. Streets above the 330e that it replaced. Eats motorway miles, comfiest seats I've ever sat in, acres of space in the boot and properly quick. Average about 45mpg when plugged in most days.
The first on looked exactly like Kayla’s, although it had the extra seats in the boot, which were extremely exciting
We have that 3rd seat but my OH took it out, it's currently taking up room in the shed which is ironic given that it's a space-saving seat 🤣
I've recently got a V60 T6 AWD Recharge as a company lease vehicle and it is lovely. Very quiet, comfortable, well-equipped and well built. Decent front and rear legroom too. Boot is OK for space, but not as much as I was used to with the 2011 E-class estate it has replaced. Oh, and no spare wheel due to rear electric motor. I'm only getting about 25miles on electric only mode but getting about 45 mpg in ICE mode on longer journeys. Had a V40 T4 previously and always regretted selling it 15 years ago - was a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing, apart from the torque steer...
V60 t5 owner here in comfy inscription spec,more than fast enough for me.Love it,and so does the Mrs, looks really menacing in black/black (on rare occasions its clean)🤦🏼♂️
Yearly update. The V70 passed another MOT today @196k miles and 18 years old. It did initially fail on handbrake efficiency so I fitted the adjusters that Volvo penny pinched from this model range and all good again.
Brilliant, well engineered and built car.
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Can't go wrong with stroll adjustment on drums.
Rather have drums on the rear than discs..
No seized handbrake!
This was the photo I was trying to find earlier!
Volvo Vista's - at the mother in laws on the French/Spanish border pre Covid, MrsRNP is there at the moment but we couldn't drive out due to my work commitments. I wouldn't hesitate to jump in it now though for another international roadtrip.
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I miss my Volvo estate. 🙁
You can almost smell it....
Those Volvo "will it start" YouTube vids are a bit boring.....of course it'll start, it's a VOLVO!
Jobs to do on ours are;
Top up the Dinitrol / Dynax underneath ready for winter.
The driver's seat bolster stitching has split so need to find a decent automotive upholstery repair place.
I noticed the rear tyre treads are puckering a bit so I think the rear alignment is drifting slightly - going to source a complete rear end (subframe, wishbones etc) and rebush & powdercoat it to swop over into mine at some point. It's only held on with 6bolts.
Have 2 V70s here.
1. 2001 T5 185k in a nice shade of burgundy red. It's the bike bus, emergency back up, tip run, do it all car. Refuses to die.
2. 2008 2.4D 5 pot. 130k. Nice drive. Bit lack lustre in performance but just does the job. Just don't like the electric hand brake. Worst thing ever. 42mpg as well.
Parts are steep for major items but simple to work on.
2008 2.4D 5 pot. 130k. Nice drive. Bit lack lustre in performance but just does the job. Just don’t like the electric hand brake. Worst thing ever. 42mpg as well.
I had one of those, 163bhp, but a bit weighty.
Did a lot more than 42 mpg though!
2008 2.4D 5 pot. 130k. Nice drive. Bit lack lustre in performance but just does the job. Just don’t like the electric hand brake. Worst thing ever. 42mpg as well.
Had 2013 D3/136bhp manual. Easily did 42-44mpg around the doors and 50mpg on a run...that was measured over 4.5 years and 88k miles.
Parts are steep for major items but simple to work on.
Try Caffyns Volvo - they are a proper dealership but have an ebay shop. I email Chris in the parts department directly and he has always done good prices.
Also Jamie @ Partsforvolvos can source genuine stuff as well as what they sell online.
https://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/
that was measured over 4.5 years and 88k miles.
Think i had mine just over 3 years and about 160000km.
Did a lot of driving round the country, and other countries.
