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Advice on the best replacement for my V70
I hope that you can help. We currently run an 05 Volvo V70 D5 manual estate. The performance, fuel consumption, seat support and trust in the safety of the car suit us perfectly on long journeys - we travel up to Northumberland several time a year. Not so good on country lanes and very sensitive to type pressures.
We have always had estates and they have been Volvo for about 25 years. The last two have been V70's but we are now past retirement age and find the Volvo is difficult to access being low and with the angle or rake of the windscreen. My wife is the main driver of the Volvo. I drive our second car, which is an 02 Honda CR-V. My wife does not find the Honda front seats quite so supportive and as she has back problems, this is an important factor.
Perhaps the latest Honda is improved in this respect? We found the four-wheel drive of the Honda a useful feature during this winter. I could drive it out of our car park but we had to dig the snow away from the front of the Volvo as the wheels would not grip. We do not use the Honda as an off-road vehicle but this drive system is advantageous in bad weather and the signs are that we could be getting more of these bad winters.
We prefer manual drive and don't want a vehicle that is permanently in four-wheel drive because of the effect upon fuel consumption. With all of the above points considered, can you give me a shopping list of possible replacements and some comments about each vehicle?
It would be nice not to have too much mechanical or road noise and we do want a diesel.
We have always had estates and they have been Volvo for about 25 years. The last two have been V70's but we are now past retirement age and find the Volvo is difficult to access being low and with the angle or rake of the windscreen. My wife is the main driver of the Volvo. I drive our second car, which is an 02 Honda CR-V. My wife does not find the Honda front seats quite so supportive and as she has back problems, this is an important factor.
Perhaps the latest Honda is improved in this respect? We found the four-wheel drive of the Honda a useful feature during this winter. I could drive it out of our car park but we had to dig the snow away from the front of the Volvo as the wheels would not grip. We do not use the Honda as an off-road vehicle but this drive system is advantageous in bad weather and the signs are that we could be getting more of these bad winters.
We prefer manual drive and don't want a vehicle that is permanently in four-wheel drive because of the effect upon fuel consumption. With all of the above points considered, can you give me a shopping list of possible replacements and some comments about each vehicle?
It would be nice not to have too much mechanical or road noise and we do want a diesel.
Asked on 15 January 2010 by MD, Great Milton, Oxford.
Answered by
Honest John
Yes. Current model Honda CR-V (2007 to now). I had one for six months and regarded it as my personal comfort zone. Preferably on 17in wheels with deep profile tyres. 18in not too bad. 19in wheels a definite no-no.
Runs in 2WD until it reaches slippery conditions. If buying used, the 2.2iCDTI does not have a diesel particulate filter, which is a huge advantage. The current 2.2iDTEC does. Buy a separate set of winter tyres fitted to a separate set of wheels and fit them to the car from November to March.
Alternatively, non-4WD, either a new Ford C-Max or Grand C-Max or a new model Mazda 5 on 16in wheels with sensible profile tyres. Excellent combination of ride comfort, handling and seating position. Again buy a separate set of winter tyres fitted to a separate set of wheels and fit them to the car from November to March.
Runs in 2WD until it reaches slippery conditions. If buying used, the 2.2iCDTI does not have a diesel particulate filter, which is a huge advantage. The current 2.2iDTEC does. Buy a separate set of winter tyres fitted to a separate set of wheels and fit them to the car from November to March.
Alternatively, non-4WD, either a new Ford C-Max or Grand C-Max or a new model Mazda 5 on 16in wheels with sensible profile tyres. Excellent combination of ride comfort, handling and seating position. Again buy a separate set of winter tyres fitted to a separate set of wheels and fit them to the car from November to March.
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Dear Honest John,
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
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