Review of Volvo V70 2.0 Turbo

[scooby_simon]

Well a few of you will remember that we bought a V70 a couple of months ago.

Basically we were looking for something a bit bigger than the Avant and had given up on the Audi Dealership network after some bad experiences.

So here we go :

Spec is :

Sept 03 (53) Volvo V70 2.0 SE Turbo 180bhp in Silver

Full Leather, colour is Dark grey / black (off black they call it)

17" Alloys (will be perfect when we pick it up) (space saver spare )

Multi CD / Radio RDS, 9 speakers Pro Logic 4 play front loader multiplay - Sounds the Dogs....

Cruise control

Trip / info Computer

Electric Slide/Tilt Sun roof

Climate control Port and Stbd and air vents on the Boot as well (for child seats in the boot)

Roof Bars

Rear facing seats on the boot

Tow Bar

Brake assist + traction control

Full Electric seats with memory (Port and Stbd)

Heated Seats

Tow bar

Xenon's

Full light pack

Auto Mirror Dip

Air bags all over the place

The buying experience.

Not the usual pushy sales people that was nice, usual cups of tea and toys around for the kids to play with. Guy we spoke to at Bedford was fairly knowledgeable and was prepared to spend the time and find out what he did not know. (we believe they are one of the top Volvo Dealers in the country BTW).

Usual test drive was fine, took the time to explain everything. Let us check the Kids seats fitted and all 5 of us went out for a drive around Bedford.

Alison went back later and had the car on her own for about an hour. We could have had it for the weekend with a little pre-warning and (a fair bit of paper work IRC) but we had decided by then.

When it came to price we went up there knowing they had already lopped 2K of the asking price of 24K a few days ago and were not expecting much movement. After a couple of trips we finally settled on 16K plus the Avant, but got the Child seats and tow bar as part of the deal (around about £1500 after market fit) as a deal clincher.

The dealer appeared to be selling loads of cars (around 10 new and used went to new owners while we were there) but still wanted to do the deal.

Driving it

When get in everything is in the right place, the seats are not as 'hugging' as the A4's but they are very nice, the leather is some of the best I've seen/sat on/in :smilylove:

It is not as quick (going from 197bhp in the Avant down to 180), but when pressed the turbo does spin up nicely and provide a fair bit of go when required. Just need to be a cog lower than the Audi to do things quickly.

It has sports suspension, but it is nothing like as firm as the A4 we had with 20mm lowered sports. The Volvo does does move around more when pressed in the corners, but it is a bigger car with more toys on board.

fit and trim

No Wood trim :-(

A little bit too plasticy in places but the brushed metal look is OK

As I said above the seats are very nice front and back (and boot) and all work well and plenty of room for 3 in the back and 2 in the boot.

Many tie down places for luggage and the rear passenger spaces is protected from the boot with removable mesh divider (slots into the back of the rear seats)

40/60 split rear seats with 3 full belts

toys

The Prologic stereo is very nice indeed and (so far) will play any disc we throw at it. The front loading 4 player is nice as no trips to the boot are needed for a music change. Nice to have volume and track skip on the steering wheel.

Aircon is fantastic, there are vents all over the place in the dash. 2 each side in the rear passenger space for air-conditioned air and ditto in the boot

Cruise control does all we'd expect (but this is the first car we have had with cruise)

3 12 volt sockets.

Parking aid is the business !

Nice little things

One button in the car to disable the internal alarm while away from the car if you've left the kids in there while paying for petrol etc.

His and hers keys automatically set the seat position when un-locking the car

When locking the car, the petrol cap stays unlocked for a couple of minutes to allow you to fill up.

'Panic' alarm of the key fob will set off the alarm from about 100m which might scare the feckers off

'Where are you' alarm will flash the lights of you cannot find the car.

To finish

It is not really what I considered a Volvo to be which was "a huge car, but a bit agricultural in drive / appearance and feel, with huge load carrying capacity, but not something you would feel comfortable in on a long trip or taking the boss out to lunch

It is a luxury car to travel in, it feels great and will get you there nicely - It's no RS6 in the A-B on a hurry stakes, but then it really is not designed to be. It fits our needs of 5(proper) seats well and the ability to carry plenty of clobber to. It's not drinking Juice either, trip computer is saying 35 MPG at the moment (but I don't actually drive it much )

However I would not call it a 'drivers' car, it does not set you alight like a driving a quick Avant - The Volvo suspension is just a little too soft and the engine just has not got quite enough grunt to haul the tonnage around. Maybe we should have held out for a T5 with 250 bhp, but it would have been 2 years older, had many less toys and would have drunk Optimax like crazy.

Alison loves the V70 and it does so many things better than the Avant - Comfort of carting 2 adults and 2 kids (or one Scooby_Doo and loads of sailing kit) around, MPG, It feels so much better put together than the Avant (excepting the internal trim - no wood).

Final comment from Alison after Top gear tonight, Can I borrow Scooby now and then to go for a blat

[scooby_simon]

I've just had a bit of a "Moment" in the Volly. Passing a school (dual at 40 limit) and someone pulled out on me about 10 yards in front. Slammed the brakes on (thinking oh I'm going to squash them) and the Brake assist kicked in and the car stopped almost on the spot, I am totally flabbergasted at how quickly such a big car stopped - To give some idea, I was fully braced and pushing the steering wheel hard, but my head and sholders went forward PDQ.

Totally brill, the Brakes saved me from hitting them infront and luckily there was no-one behing me.

Nice work Volvo

[shao_khan]

Shouldnt this be in the reviews section?????

[scooby_simon]

Good point, it is now

[a4tdi130]

Having owned my Volvo XC90 for a couple of weeks now I can also say what wonderful cars they are making these days. And I would argue that my local Warrington dealer was the best in the country - absolutely superb.

[mooret]

Good to hear about your excellent experience at Bells in Bedford. think my best pal was sales manager there at the time you purchased. hes a good guy and not yer typical car sales type!

He has since moved to their Northampton branch so look him up when it comes to change time!!

[felixthecat1]

Insert the obvious from me " "

And shouldn't we have a Volly area?

[TDS3]

Good choice of car my friend - i take it you didn't want the T5 performance ? Anyway check out this site if you like - very friendly and for any Volvo really.

[felixthecat1]

[ QUOTE ]

Good choice of car my friend - i take it you didn't want the T5 performance ? Anyway check out this site if you like - very friendly and for any Volvo really.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, no. I just coiuldn't find one. They're thin on the ground and even thinner on the ground in my price range.

I had a T4 some years back and although it wasn't the most refined car at speed it was loads of fun and I loved scaring cars that thought it was just another slow old Volvo.

I'll be buying a Stage 1 when I get my job situation sorted though and can't wait. As for the car itself, it was hard top say no to because the previous owner ticked so many boxes on the options list.

I'll have a look at the site link, thanks for that, I have been toying with the idea of joining a Volvo forum but TSN is so good and everyone so nice I can't leave just yet and at the same time don't have the time for two forums right now. I'll have a look anyway, you never know.