The Honda, in terms of boot space anyway, doesn't seem to give away much in space to the Volvo. Both are "proper" estates.
As you say, there are quite a lot of deals on new and nearly new Volvos at the moment. In the case of the Volvo, I'd probably avoid the auto as I've found it very poor. It declutches at standstill and when you're off the power and there is a noticable delay (and jolt) when it re-engages. Read any Volvo owners forum and there are packed with complaints about this. The D5 seems to be particularly bad in this respect. The V70 seems to work better as a manaul - and this is from somebody who normally prefers automatic cars!
Neither the V70 or Accord ride well IMO. My current V70 hasn't gone badly wrong - just lots of niggles. Alarm malfunctioning, both front wheels bearings went at 50k, lots of driveline shunt developed from 30k on (almost certainly because of the aforementioned rubbish auto - even Autocar's long term one had the same problem), very noisy aircon the dealer can't cure, lots of exhaust resonance (ditto and a common fault), excessive wind noise from A-pillars, endless blown bulbs which are a pig to replace, headlight height adjuster broke requiring new headlight etc.
The Accord I tried was on 16" but it still seemed a hard ride.
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Cor! My S80 is nowhere near as bad as that.
I have a bit of driveline shunt and the g'box takes ages to find a gear when I move it from Neutral to Drive at traffic lights. But neither of these causes any problems or costs. The only other problem has been an ATF cooler leak that cost £500 to replace.
My wife complains about the noisy a/c, but I discovered that with the climate control on auto, it pumps out fast cold air so it's noisy until the interior has cooled down. It was so fast she closed the vents so making it even more noisy...........
The road tests always said that the V70 was the best riding of the S60/V70/S80 group and I agree.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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The only time I've driven an S80 was in the USA and it seemed pretty smooth ride wise but the roads are different so the comparison doesn't mean much.
You do get into the habit of driving round the auto's faults but I still find the delay annoying when, for example, moving forward in a traffic jam or getting out quickly of an awkward junction.
The things I like about the V70 I really like - the interior design, the seats, decent stereo, good visibility, very good (for non-Xenon) headlamps and a sort of long legged relaxed feel. I've always felt it was a car Volvo either ran out of time or money developing and got 85% spot on then messed up the rest.
Interestingly enough, the press blurb for the facelifted 05 model mentions the word "quality" about 6 times. With air con on mine the actual air con (not the fan) is noisy. It hisses all the time. It's be checked, recharged, checked again and goodness knows what else but its always the same. It cools very well but its like driving with a heavy breather in the car.
Price wise a quick internet search reveals that a brand new 05 model can be had to order (D5 SE) for £23,400 on the road so its not surprising older 03 & 04 models are being priced to sell.
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Are we the only two BR's not watching the Euro 2004 final?!! Actually its on in the back whilst I write valuation reports.
I find that internal appointments of a car very important, as I spend so much time in it. The Volvo has a superb internal layout, very easy to use and with a quality feel, without hundreds of switches like a Merc.
The S80 has a worse ride than the V70, mainly because of lower profil tyres (oh bring back 70 section tyres) and it crashes badly over potholes and other road imperfections. However mine is a 2.9 and IIRC HJ says the 2.4s are better in this regard.. I like a nice 6 cylinder though.
My wifes Honda CRV has noisy a/c as well, but not overwhelming.
Do you consider the height of the drivers seat important. We are selling an elderly but lovely Honda Accord because its too low for the aged parents. Is the new Accord lower than the V70?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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I've got an Audi A4 Avant 2.0 SE multitronic, considered both Volvo, Honda & others but have just ordered a new diesel A4 Avant for Sept delivery even though a facelifted model is due in Jan 05. Give it go - no good as a real estate though.
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I can't comment on the Accord, but I drive a 2003 V70 2.4T SE manual with the lowered suspension option and Sachs niveaumatic self levelling, and my brother a 2003 V70 D5 SE auto, with standard suspension.
Both are superb cars.
My 2.4T manual is noticeably the better rider at autobahn speeds(not UK motorway speeds, where there's nothing in it) and on flowing A-roads, and is calmer to drive quickly on winding B roads. Downsides are more bump thump around town, and greater camber sensitivity than brother's V70, especially under heavy braking. Both however are superlative high speed cruisers, with a totally effortless gait, an enormous plateau of torque (Both 2.4T and D5 are at full torque way before 2000 RPM, and stay there), and a quiet and pleasant cabin environment. Both punch past A road traffic with rediculous ease, though I prefer the wider rev-band of the 2.4T. Both (yes, the diesel too) have a gorgeous quattroesque sound track when worked hard, rather than the humdrum boom of a typical four pot motor. Whilst I average 27.5 MPG in what I guess is a fairly typical mix of driving, bro averages well over 40 MPG. He frequently tows a heavy boat, too, and whilst I've not towed anything with my 2.4T (no tow bar!), so I can't make a comparison, I must admit that at this, the D5 auto is fantastic. We both had factory fit Pirelli P6000 225/45x17, and his lasted about 16,000 miles on the front. Mine will last about the same (currently 14,500). Brother's V70 is now knocking on 35,000 miles, and he replaced the P6000's with Pirelli Rosso Corsas that lasted about 5 minutes. No more grip advantage in real world, sane, driving, but appalling wear rates. They were through to the canvass (to his horror when he found out) in about 9,000 miles.
He has had no problems at all with his D5 (including since front and back end rebuild on saying 'hello', twice in the same accident, to a French auto route central reservation at high velocity!) and the only trivial problem I have had was one of the upholstery rings on the back of the passenger seat coming lose when the car was brand new. Fixed in seconds, literally, by my local dealer.
What don't I like about my 2.4 T SE? The aforementioned tramlining under heavy braking, and a rattle (noticeable, because the cabin is so quiet) from the load cover 'cassette' when the cover itself is extended that EVERY V70 suffers from! That's it!
Would I buy another?
Yes, without doubt, though as ours was purchased with long term tenureship in mind, that's unlikely!
For info, Dad has driven a 1998 S80 (one of the very, very, first RHD) since new, and the only unscheduled expense has been a stone smashed headlamp.
If there's anything particular you want to know that I have no covered, please ask.
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