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Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Been offered a 2004 V70 with the 5cylinder Diesel engine and semi automatic gearbox by a friend.

Be grateful for your views as this model doesn’t seem to be covered on the car by car guide.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - sandy56

see

https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/volvo/v70/

Volvo V70 - Your views please - badbusdriver

see

https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/volvo/v70/

The car in question is a 2004, whereas the above review covers the 1996-2000 model, so i'm not sure it is relevent.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Thanks I’ve taken a look at this but as you say it does not cover any cars beyond 2000.

So I wonder if anyone has knowledge of the later model with the semi auto gearbox ?

Volvo V70 - Your views please - nellyjak

This might give some indication/opinion.?https://www.parkers.co.uk/volvo/v70/estate-2000/used-review/

Had a V70 myself a few years ago...but it was petrol..and a fine engine it was too.

One of the best cars I've had tbh.

Edited by nellyjak on 29/04/2020 at 17:39

Volvo V70 - Your views please - gordonbennet

My son had an 06 plate S60 with the higher power Diesel (two outputs from the 2,4), it pulled really well and was surprisingly frugal, had it been the V70 estate i would have bought it from him without hesitation.

These suffer from the parking brake shoes delaminating, in extreme cases they can jam the rear hub up, it's not a hard or time consuming job to remove the disc/drums and inspect, but if you do this i suggest you buy a set of shoe hold down springs and clips first, if they haven't been replaced already the chances are those small springs will have gone weak and be rattling around....note not the shoe return springs but those tiny springs that hold the shoes against the back plate.

The Volvo specialist that was up the ''mad mile'' between Wellingborough and Sywell (don't know where they are now since the Park Farm ind estate has been extended) was reputed to be a dab hand at these geartronic boxes, Brother in Law who used to use them sadly passed away a couple of years ago so i have no knowledge of the current whereabouts of this excellent Volvo indy.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Big John

Great car with a fabulous engine and the best seats in the business. Main thing of note is ensure gearbox has been serviced - if not they can fail.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - barney100

I have a 2008 V70 with 145k on the clock. It has been a great workhorse, with any older car you need to be lucky but these cars are capable of starship mileages and many outlast their owners.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Thanks everyone.

Luckily I know the Volvo Indie who is now in Sywell . He is called Avalon Motors. Thanks GB for reminding me . It may be wise to get him to check it over .

Volvo V70 - Your views please - gordonbennet

Luckily I know the Volvo Indie who is now in Sywell . He is called Avalon Motors.

Noted for future ref, ta very much.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

GB .Sounds like you are quite close by to me.

Are you in the Kettering/Wellingborough area ?

Cheers,

Volvo V70 - Your views please - gordonbennet

Yup, lived in Welly for donkeys, now Kett.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Well the V70 is back on the cards.

Its a 2005 with the D5 Diesel engine. 120k and main dealer service record.

metallic red with sunroof.

Once more it has been owned by a friend so pricing is difficult. Have you any idea please?

And does this engine have a cam belt and when should it have been changed.

Many thanks

Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

Cambelt at 96k. Simple job, only 1.2 book hours.

Worth £2k all day long, more at retail if clean.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb
Thanks PD.
That gives me an idea.
What should I be looking for when I get to view the car please ?
Volvo V70 - Your views please - gordonbennet

Why not together with fried selling yon Volvo visit Avalon motors together to check the car over, could maybe ask the chap for an unbiased valuation whilst there.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Thanks GB .

Have already arranged to do this subject to the agreement of my friend.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - SLO76
Nice comfy big wagons but any 16yr old turbo diesel is a risk. Don’t buy it if you can’t afford to bin it if anything major fails. Personally I’d stick with something less complex or expensive for parts at this money but I do also like an old Volvo estate, there’s just something about them. It’s worth up to £2k if very nice but it’s not really possible to really value without seeing it, if it’s tatty it could be as low as £500.
Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

Even tatty ones with 200k are fetching a grand on eBay no reserve auctions.

The engine is very good and the D5 is a more reliable engine than the petrols from the same era in Volvo's. It is the gearbox which is the weak point and what usually kills them. Diesel wise they are old tech.

They're heavy on front suspension bushes, handbrakes often won't work on autos due to lack of use. Stereos often pack up on 2005 models. Steering racks prone to pulsing if someone has put wrong fluid in. Intercoolers bow and spilt. Engine mounts and gearbox "dog bone" prone to worn bushes.

None of that is terminal but all typical over time.

With gearbox get it hot and check no hunting or jolts on down changes when coming to a halt.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - RT

It is the gearbox which is the weak point and what usually kills them.

The Aisin autobox, branded Geartronic by Volvo is regarded as "bullet-proof" when used in other brands

Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

It is the gearbox which is the weak point and what usually kills them.

The Aisin autobox, branded Geartronic by Volvo is regarded as "bullet-proof" when used in other brands

Hmm. Not so sure. Seen it exhibit exact same issues in several other brands. It was much better sorted by 2005 although having sorted it Volvo and most other manufacturers dropped it in 2006 and replaced it with the TF80 which is a stronger gearbox but can have valve body issues.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Saw the car yesterday.

Its been laid up for six months and had a new MOT this month.

Needs a new tyre which was mentioned in the MOT along with wear in the front bush.

But the radio is not working too and needs servicing.

Wants 2900 but will take 2700.

Which I thought was a bit too much.

Grateful your views .

Volvo V70 - Your views please - nellyjak

A bit too much.??...I'd say quite a lot too much.

I'm a fan of these estates...had one myself (petrol)..great car...but I'd give this one a miss at the price.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

If it's a really clean facelift it's worth £2700 but as it sounds it isn't it's worth £2000-£2300 privately IMO.

If it's the 6 CD unit they often fail. Either the changer deck goes or the sound goes silent or both. They can be repaired for both faults but costs £200+

You can put in aftermarket but assuming it has Dolby surround the kit to fit a normal unit is quite expensive at about £70 and you need a head unit with pre outs to connect to the Volvo amp.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - gordonbennet

The price is right but the car isn't, without those faults, clean and running well yes 2700 is fair, as pd i'd want several hundred off to get it tyred and radioed.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Alby Back
There is though, something in that old thing about quality being remembered long after the price is forgotten. Sure, you might be able to find a cheaper one, or a cheaper alternative, but, if you want that one, and believe it to be mainly sound, and if you can afford to buy it and keep it maintained if necessary, then, if it's going to be with you for a while, a few quid either way might not be the core of the decision. If you feel the seller is asking too much, then make an offer that you feel comfortable with.

I need a big estate too, and the one I have might not be the rational choice, but, I like it, it works for me, and I'm at peace with it maybe costing something to keep it going at some point. It's not always about the money is it? Sometimes, it's about what you want and will enjoy owning, provided it doesn't or isn't likely to stretch you to any critical point.

Monsters to park though I believe those V70s, hideous lock I hear.

Of course, predictably enough, I'm going to say you should consider an E Class estate. Proper cars those. ;-)
Volvo V70 - Your views please - SLO76
As much as I do like old Volvo estates, there’s just something about them. They’re comfortable, safe and classless but on a limited budget I’d rather have something like this. Already told a work colleague to call about it.

www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/toyota-aven...l

Edited by SLO76 on 04/09/2020 at 20:49

Volvo V70 - Your views please - nellyjak

Yep..agree with you there SLO....like you, I do like the V70's, but the Avensis is a far safer bet....really good reliable cars.....mileage is good AND it's petrol.!...no brainer.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

If you want to fix the stereo Google Central Services in Manningtree. They can fix them.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - Steveieb

Once again I must thank you all for the insight and in depth knowledge about the V70.

I imagine my friend will keep the car in his garage for some time rather than let it go for less than he thinks it’s worth. And run his XC 60 instead.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - SLO76

Once again I must thank you all for the insight and in depth knowledge about the V70.

I imagine my friend will keep the car in his garage for some time rather than let it go for less than he thinks it’s worth. And run his XC 60 instead.

If you really like it then make a cheeky offer and let him sit with it. He’ll want it out of the way soon enough and no one will be falling over themselves to offer anything like his asking price for a near two decade old car in the current climate. It’s a risk and this has to be factored into the price. It has to be cheap enough to write-off if something major fails otherwise I’d suggest spending more on a newer and much more reliable petrol engined estate like an Avensis, Accord or Mazda 6.
Volvo V70 - Your views please - pd

The "current climate" is that people will seemingly fall over anything to buy any old car.

Prices are through the roof and then another roof.

Volvo V70 - Your views please - SLO76
As much as I do like old Volvo estates, there’s just something about them. They’re comfortable, safe and classless but on a limited budget I’d rather have something like this. Already told a work colleague to call about it. www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/toyota-aven...l

Work colleague went to view this and bought it without hesitation at £3800. It’s apparently immaculate inside and out. Another excellent used buy and hopefully much more reliable than the daft SUV’s he insisted on before he finally started to listen to me.