D5 R Design Manual

Quirky, old fashioned but competant

I bought this car after months of deliberating what to buy to replace my ageing but trustworthy Mark 4 Mondeo estate. I'd never owned a Volvo before but had always fancied one. I wanted a large estate to replace the Mondeo. I could have stretched to a new shape used high mileage V90 but particularly wanted a manual box so settled for a low mileage V70.
My example is in the very rare D5 and luckily for me had been very well maintained and cared for by its previous owners.
First impressions were that it felt smaller than the Mondeo and isn't the great huge think it's been made out to be. Nor do I find the turning circle, driving around town, or handling on the motorway a problem often highlighted by the motoring critics in their reviews. Sure it isn't as sharp as my old 2 litre Mondeo and nor as economical either. But I find it perfectly acceptable and the ride very pleasant though I have to say the suspension on the R Design model does thump and crash a bit over pot holes and uneven surfaces.
Only time will tell whether this dated old fashioned but competent old beast will live up to the Volvo reputation. It does give me the impression it's a bit of a highly strung machine that requires constant looking after (as the plethory of previous maintenance bills it came with testifies) and Volvo parts are seriouky expensive.
At 65 and in poor health we'll have to see whether the V70 outlives me or whether its running costs proves to be it's demise!

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