I wanted a Volvo estate, but a reasonable mileage V70 was proving unjustifiably more expensive than the ’04 V60 D5 I ended up with, only 76k on the clock with fsh, full SE spec, black on black with black leather & can still fit a decent amount of crap in the boot – It’s trying to convince me I get aboot 52mpg from it, but it’s probably nearer 42… Liking it so far – have thus far resisted to put a prancing moose decal on it…

Only problems are the stereo backlight doesn’t work (no biggie) and the info panel keeps telling me a parking light bulb is out (have replaced the fronts, will try the rears eventually…)

I’m young but love a Volvo estate – I was obsessed with the 850 T5 as a kid and have come close to buying one in the past.

My aunt had an original XC90 for a long time and it was a brilliant family / dog lugger despite having the turning circle of an oil tanker. It was massively reliable too. She’s swapped it now for a new XC90 which is very lovely and has a fantastic interior.

I have a 2005 XC90 which is currently on 244k miles. I’m still getting 38-40 mpg from mixed driving (goes up on a long run), though mine is a manual. The older D5 engine only has 163 bhp but its also only euro 3 so no dpf to worry about. They really are huge inside and you even get a reasonable size boot with all seats in use.
Down sides are they are a heavy car and as such are hard on components which are not always the cheapest to replace. I do all my own work which saves a fair bit.
The XC90 is based on the P2 chassis of the older V70 where as the XC60 is from the newer Ford era one. The XC90 never got the 205 twin turbo D5 as it didn’t fit in the engine bay whilst the xc60 did.

Love mine, perfect car for me. AWD is brilliant, as is ground clearance.

Ah im a happy Volvo V70 owner, mines a 1999 2.4L 5 cylinder diesel, done just over 107k and im the second owner! Love the thing! So damn comfy and the kids and wife love it too, My eldest loves the tape deck in it and the car has become a real part of the family, the kids always want to go out in daddys car 🙂

I had a 2003 XC90 for 12 years (almost from new – ex demo).
At the time it was great as we needed the space with 3 small kids and two dogs, but it stopped being a 4×4 after a few years and was just 2wd, it chewed through drop links for fun, flywheel was faulty and got chewed up by the starter after 4 years (that was a £1k fix), the MOST stereo was a little flakey for most of its life and then packed in completely, the stiching on the drivers seat split and I had to hand sew it back together and the engine core plug came out and dropped oil all over the drive two days before we were going to drive to Bristol airport in it to go on holiday – another £1k fix 🙁
Oh and it never did anything over an indicated 33mpg plus it was slow.
Thankfully those days are behind me.

I think I bought my V70
D5 at 150,000 miles, it’s now on 195,000.

It’s last big road trip was the best part of 2500 miles to France last summer. It’s a phenomenal mile muncher.

The only real issues I’ve had with mine have been a water leak from an emissions pipe and most recently a new DPF which was a leap of faith at £600. It should have a good few miles left in it yet. I’d happily get another, best car I’ve ever had.

Back in the day I had a ‘65 Amazon Estate. I did some epic road trips in it

I forgot I had a 1999 V70 xt 2.4 auto, just like the one Gus drove in breaking bad. Sold it as gearbox was clunking, but sort of regret it as the Skoda never felt as solid. Fuel economy was dire, it was slow, handled like a space hopper but it was comfy and had character. Boot was great too. I got sucked into the diesel hype which was probably a mistake.

Just remember….

D3 or 2.0d 4cyl 130bhp Ford/PSA engine
D3 5cyl 136bhp and D4 5cyl 163bhp
D3 4cyl 150bhp and D4 4cyl 180bhp
D5 5cyl in 185, 200 and 215bhp

Are four different engines. The newer 4cyl had some issues with EGR initially / early on.
Also, remember so many folk were sold diesels on the ‘mpg’ and were not told that they are useless and clog up EGR/DPF/etc on short urban runs. Therefore, many family cars (not just volvo) are seeing many, many problems – but down to inappropriate use for that engine.

That said, I went 5cyl volvo to avoid the new 4cyl volvo early issues.

Tell me about it, our VW just had it’s DPF replaced at a cost of over 2000 euros…. I’d love to buy a petrol or hybrid car, but there’s not much choice at the moment in our price range. So a low Co2 engine and then either trade in when the choice improves, or suck it up and keep it for years.

So is the D5 the best engine?

Its not been fault free to get it to 176k miles but no car will be. The main thing for me is that it’s free from corrosion underneath – I have access to a four post ramp do my own spannering so have been under it a bit. Also main dealer parts are reasonable and everything is available – they even do a refubish kit of new knobs for the radio!

The other thing is the thought that went into its design about how it would be repaired in the future. Two examples are the exhaust manifold gasket has little tabs to hold it in place so it doesn’t fall off when you are bolting the cat back on, and the fold back flappy section of the inner wheel arch to aid timing belt changes. Genius! On the other hand you can tell my hateful Transit was designed for cheap/easy assembly with no consideration at all for it’s future life once it was built.

The engine range for V70s is so convoluted that Matts summary above is incorrect….for example he misses out the D3 5 Cylinder 161hp 400NM that I own.

I’m a serial Volvo licker I’m afraid. Wife had a 340DL before I met her, survived a bad smash in it. My Volvos:

EDIT – something has changed with Flickr can’t upload my photos. Imagine a silver 2003 V40, a black 2010 C30, and a JRG 2011 V70.

P.S. Any in the Fort William area needing diagnostics done on a Volvo give me a shout have VIDA.

I think I’m ready for one. I have a jacket with patches on the elbows, & I’m wrong side of 50. I’m ready.

Love mine .
£950 for a 188k V70 D5 163 2003MY .
It almost all works, just the rain sensor on the windscreen has lost its sensitivity so its disconnected and I have a 5 speed intermittant setting instead .
Takes a FS 29er with the wheels on no bother , or a road bike.
They are well thought out mechanically apart from the aux belt tensioner issues.
My last one had a plug in boost chip and was faster and more econmical , got up to 57mpg brim – brim regulaly in the summer. Current one seems to be more 50 – 52mpg , but its winter-ish so do expect more.
Toying with the idea of transplanting a 6 speed box on as its very nearly a like for like swap

I so nearly bought a 940 2.3 last year, with the redblock and the LSD, and the amazingly enormous cloth seats… Can’t get any enthusiasm for the fwd ones but some of the later 4wds are cool.

So is the D5 the best engine?

I would say the D5/4/3 5cyl are proven. D5 is the powerful one (185/215) but you pay in tax for this (£200-300+ usually), D4 and D3 can be £30 or £20 per annumn, same or better mpg, for being a bit slower (but still surprisingly rapid, and IMO, all I need). Sounds nice. If you add auto or 4wd the mpg goes down, tax goes up.

New 4cyl engine had a couple of teething issues it seems, but last of the V70’s in 2015/2016 are the more sorted versions of these. Father in law has one, and it is noticeably better mpg.

2.0d is the Ford/PSA unit and I think its OK – but lots get all ‘its not a volvo engine’ it seems, mechanics on here may confirm its a good engine.

Look out for expensive tyres on 18″ rims on R-designs, all others are on 17″ (ok tyre cost) or 16″ (uber cheap tyres). R-design insurance is more also. I hung out for an SE with winter pack – heated screen & jets, heated seats, headlight washers, better speakers and leather…

My mate owns an Independent Volvo dealership. Last time I went down he had just taken delivery of this beauty. It really is as nice and original as it looks and he has it in his collection until someone makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

http://www.formulacars.co.uk/used-cars/336/volvo-240-glt-estate/

He also bought the blue Type R in the following link, new, loaded up with all possible options. It currently has about 4000 miles on it, is kept in a heated showroom, and has never got wet, ever!

http://www.formulacars.co.uk/volvo-performance-and-economy-tuning/

This one is not for sale at any price apparently.

That Glt is lovely. I had many family holidays sitting in the back of late 70’s and 80’s Volvo’s 🙂

I loved our D5 XC90, right up to the moment when it spat out its cambelt on the M62. Should have acted on that slight squeek from the Ford specced aux belt pulley! Now have a V40 D3 auto. Love the adaptive cruise, seats are just as nice and a genuine 52mpg is a big improvement on the XC90.

The car I really want next is the newish V90 Cross country. Now that’s a Volvo!!!!

I’ve a 13 plate v70 d5. The 215 bhp one with auto. It’s an ex demo one and optioned up to the gills. I bought it with about 8k on it 6 months old and it now has 65k. Until recently just servicing and wear items. The tailgate motor has just failed and Volvo want over £1k to fix it. I spoke to an Indy specialist yesterday an hour or so away who both charge 1/3 of the main dealers labour per hour and get the failed part rebuilt so that’s looking promising.

It’s big (swallows single bikes whole, tandems with the front wheel off), pretty refined motorway cruising and powerful enough. It’s also a bit wallowy and soggy but it’s not really for ‘driving pleasure’ is it? I get low 40’s mpg on a run, high 30’s round town.

I’m also rather liking the new cloth seats on the new cars.

Oh i do like the GLT too, i did have a 340 saloon when i was a young lad, lost the back end of it and it went into a telegraph pole, still kept going! lol
Would love a set of T% alloys on mine though!

On our third Volvo. I put 110k on a V40 (98 vintage) that gave me no issues apart from suspension parts seemingly made of brie. Wouldn’t mind so much if it had a good ride but the suspension was overly complicated, noisy and didn’t ride all that well.

Later on came a pov spec V60 R-Design that was fab. Lacked features and the ride was harsh at slow speeds and the rims could ding easily but I loved the looks. Sold it to a mate who got rear ended at a fair old lick by a numpty in a defender. Since been repaired and is back on the road. He loves it too.

In a lease XC60 now (silly cheap deal on the old model) and is just typical Volvo. Comfy, relaxing,and just easy to get on with.

I’ll echo what Rustynissanprairie said, too re how they’re screwed together. Little things like the headlamp bulb was taking all of a couple of minutes, the bonnet release in line with the diagonal line on the grille so you don’t have to faff around fumbling underneath the bonnet for it, the fact the doors stay open even on sharp inclines or the windows that wipe clean on the seals when they mist up. I like how well sealed they are, you hardly ever have to wipe down inside the doors as nothing ever gets in. The flipping to this is the doors are prone.to freezing shut in a hard frost. Bit of Autoglym (other brands are available) rubber care on the inside sorts that though. No idea what our next car will be after this deal ends but if I can make the figures work I’d like to stick with Volvo.

*EDIT* why do all my posts turn into bloomin’ essays?

not an estate, but I had a series of 340s and 360s – this one (a rare convertible) drove over the sahara to Gambia (towing a chevvy blazer some of the way)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/zM7Gz]Pirates[/url] by Hugh Lunnon, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/zPrEv]towing the blazer[/url] by Hugh Lunnon, on Flickr

The new V90 looks lovely BUT despite being massive on the outside it’s smaller than the old V70 on the inside. Much smaller than a Superb or Passat or even an Octavia (I like big estates). Shame as it would be on my list for next car.

I would say the D5/4/3 5cyl are proven. D5 is the powerful one (185/215) but you pay in tax for this (£200-300+ usually), D4 and D3 can be £30 or £20 per annumn, same or better mpg, for being a bit slower (but still surprisingly rapid, and IMO, all I need). Sounds nice. If you add auto or 4wd the mpg goes down, tax goes up.

New 4cyl engine had a couple of teething issues it seems, but last of the V70’s in 2015/2016 are the more sorted versions of these. Father in law has one, and it is noticeably better mpg.

2.0d is the Ford/PSA unit and I think its OK – but lots get all ‘its not a volvo engine’ it seems, mechanics on here may confirm its a good engine.

Look out for expensive tyres on 18″ rims on R-designs, all others are on 17″ (ok tyre cost) or 16″ (uber cheap tyres). R-design insurance is more also. I hung out for an SE with winter pack – heated screen & jets, heated seats, headlight washers, better speakers and leather…

Not too concerned about tax as we’re in France and there’s no road tax (although it’s bound to be coming on heavily polluting cars) but still want to keep the Co2 down as much as we can. It will be an auto as there’s not much point in hooning around here. Too many cameras, unmarked cars, and gendarmes hiding in the bushes with a speed gun.

More interested in a trouble free life with a car that can do distances in comfort, can squeeze a couple of bikes in and/or the dog and tow a bike trailer. Add in the need to do a few rough tracks getting to off road events and the answer seems to be Volvo. Just a case of what engine.

What a thread!

Ive got an 04 plate V40. Bought it 6 years ago for £2700 at ~55k, now with 149k on the clock. Fantastically reliable, biggest outlays have been a new cambelt etc at 110k, but apart from that its just been consumables , oil changes and servicing (which my father in law has carried out for me for nowt!). It covers my daily commute of 70-80 miles comfortably, and there is nothing happening with it to suggest it needs any repairs / major issues coming up soon.

But… and it a big but… but

I have a hankering for a 65 plate, well specced V60 in R-Design trim for just shy of £12k, for which I’ve booked a test drive tomorrow. Having never taken out finance on a car (which id have to do), am l mad? It’d be about £190 a month, which l can afford if l cut back on spunking money on bike parts/kit.

What would the hive mind do? Wait till the old girl dies, or go with the shiny shiny new toy despite it being an extra cost to me? As l said, ive never bought a car that wasnt bought outright – am l opening up a lifetime of debt and hassle?

It’d be about £190 a month, which l can afford if l cut back on spunking money on bike parts/kit.

Plus probably more maintenance issues and certainly increased maintenance costs (more parts to go wrong and cost more when they do).

Why not save the money now, wait until the O4 blows up, then find a V60 then…?

If anyone wants to join the fun, at warp speed 9 in a wardrobe carrier….

https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedykywt/volvo-v70-t6-by-polestar-spotted/39654

Managed to gate crash the new V60 cross country launch last week on northern Sweden – on a fat bike too! Nice looking car, sadly only managed to nab a free coffee rather than a test drive though…

Clearly not an estate but this is badass.

Each to their own but that to me is minging I’d rather see a standard car, or at least one without the handling and ground clearanced ruined by fashion.

Hope all you Volvo drivers have seen this…
http://www.volvo600.co.uk

Love that slammed Volvo 🙂 Colour is stunning too !

I’m eyeing up a V50 estate . My Subaru outback failed the mot massively 😰. It looks like they’re good all round.😊.

I couldn’t quite find the right 940 when I was shopping but I would have loved to get one.

So how good is the 4WD on the XC’s? Looking to replace an X-Trail which has AT tyres and lockable diff. I go off road every week, this time of year mostly muddy, sometimes snow. Later in the year it can get a bit slippery when it rains on hard packed mud.

Looking to spend £10-12k. They also all seem to come with cream leather seats, which don’t seem that practical for off road.

Thanks.

There are a few black or dark grey leather. Takes some hunting though… Some friends have XC70 Ocean Race with white leather….!

There’s a few videos of them off-road. I suspect tyres would play quite a part in things.

Thanks Matt,

Yes, I’m sure tyres are the main thing. I’m not after Land Rover type off roading, but the numbers I’ve seen with light coloured leather suggests to me how much time they spend in the mud!