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Volvo C70 second generation question for the wise?

George J

George J

Herefordshire member
Is the folding solid roof C70 a sensible buy at about £1K. If has the 2.4 litre diesel five cylinder engine so probably a torque monster, and capable of far faster than I would use, but are there serious issues with this type assuming I drive it like a baby? I have never broken an engine since the 1970s in a tractor, lorry or car, however frail they were. I don't do less than fifteen miles so the diesel engine will full warm up, and for the short runs I walk! I also give any engine a serious workout on uphills, and we have a few. Full throttle for maybe a minute or two, which does no engine any harm unless stone cold.

It is black, has no corrosion to see and has not been pranged.

My delightful 2004 Mini One is riddled with rust and will cost as much to get through MOTs for another couple of years.

I would be very grateful of the wisdom of those here. I don't expect it to last like my old Volvo 240 - 1989 registered, and went to 121K miles with only £ 167 spent during its last eleven years [bought as a ten year old] of life and still rust free. But this might last a few years ...

Please advise, caution, say I am an idiot ... etc.

Best wishes from George
 
110K, but new engine last year. Proper new engine, not scrap-yard replacement.

Reason for sale is expected baby in a few months ... Good enough reason.

ATB from George
 
That 2.4 litre five is one of the best engines Volvo produced. Plenty powerful, torquey and bombproof. I’m a little surprised the car in question needed a new one at 110k miles. The only engine killer I’m aware of is that the auxiliary belt can fail, foul the cambelt and that’s goodnight Vienna. So it’s worth keeping ahead of the replacement schedule for that part. Later versions, like the one in my car, have a guard that prevents this happening, but still sensible to replace the belt. Volvos of that era are very robust. Not sure if the roof is prone to problems though.

There’s a good forum - Google Volvo Owners Club forum. Lots of very knowledgeable and enthusiastic people on there.
 
It's a nice car and a reliable platform. A friend had one for many years and was happy with it (low mileage), but I forget which engine it had. Assuming the folding roof works properly, it should be a good buy at that price. Check for wobbles in the front suspension.
 
Sue Pertwee-Tyr said:
That 2.4 litre five is one of the best engines Volvo produced. Plenty powerful, torquey and bombproof. I’m a little surprised the car in question needed a new one at 110k miles.
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That was my first thought too. Famously strong and reliable engines. 110k really is nothing. My daily driver has more and still feels like new. Must have been a belt, which suggests inadequate servicing. But... £1000? No risk, surely?
 
Only thing to be wary of is the 5 speed Aisin auto box used in big volvos from 2000 to 2004. If it's that old and still going it may well be on borrowed time, although I strung a 2002 one out until I sold it at 190,000 a couple of years ago, the concensus on the owners forum was that I'd been lucky. It hasn't been MOT'd since I sold it and the box was very clonky when I px'd it, so I probably dodged a bullet there.

The Euro 4 185bhp version of that engine has absolutely epic torque, but it's got more potential points of failure (egr, swirl flaps, DPF etc) than the earlier Euro 3 163bhp version.

That said, it's a good price and a cracking car and big ticket stuff like the swirl flaps or an auto box rebuild may arguably be worth it it if the rest of the car is very good.
 
I never had a problem with the 163BHP at all in the S60 & V70 I had. Never felt short-changed - it still had loads of torques.

Those engines just keep going (High Peak Motors YouTube channel are running an XC70 D5 with >300k miles) as long as they're regularly serviced along with the gearbox (if it's an auto). I don't know how reliable the roof if but at that price, if it fails, you've still got a pillarless coupe.
 
I had a look. Fortunately [for me] it is a manual box. Given that I know the provenance, I shall have to have real look into getting this, if I can afford it.

I know it goes well. I see it leaving or coming home most days.

It would be a rather different car to my last Volvo, a 240 GL from 1989! Sold in 2010 aged 21 with absolutely no rust.

image 074 by George Johnson, on Flickr

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The internet seems to indicate that the car gets a good write up from many sources. I have never seen the roof down, but if that does not work it is all to the good as will be less easy to sell! And then I can either run the car into the ground or fettle it!

Best wishes from George
 
Had a S60 D5 which kept going into limp home mode when under power. After a few visits to the garage where various parts were changed to no avail I sold it. I miss the seats but not much else tbh.
 
Seem to remember I was considering one of these at one point, but the headlights were supposed to be dreadful.
A serious consideration in country areas.
 
ff1d1l said:
Seem to remember I was considering one of these at one point, but the headlights were supposed to be dreadful.
A serious consideration in country areas.
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You can always replace the standard bulbs with higher intensity ones.
 
Seeker_UK said:
You can always replace the standard bulbs with higher intensity ones.
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When I had a Jag, x series, nothing improved it to what I would call useable - not nightriders or led bulbs - I didn't go as far as HID. In the end I put bright bulbs in the sidelights and drove around with the sidelights on. That was just about safe. When I was looking for a car after the Jag I considered the volvo, but looking online it seemed the headlights were designed by the same knackers as the Jag. Country district, narrow unlit lanes, wasn't even considered.
 
Taff63 said:
Had a S60 D5 which kept going into limp home mode when under power. After a few visits to the garage where various parts were changed to no avail I sold it. I miss the seats but not much else tbh.
Click to expand...
Often dry solder joints in the instrument binnacle main board. £100 to fix.
 
If the lights are dim by modern standards, it would not worry me much as I do everything I can to avoid driving in the dark anyway. I always do long trips so I am home before it is dark.

I am going to ask what price they really want for the car as I know it will be sold quite soon. The owners are having a baby, and want an estate car or SUV so that the baby can be safe in the back seat with the canines in the very back! I don't mind that the car has had dogs in it. Lu will be in it if I get it.

I would want to have a drive before final decision, but if it has some of the quality of my 240, then I would hope for several years of use from it.

The observation about short trips is fair, but mostly my trip length is to places about 15 miles away, so that should be enough to keep a modern diesel happy. My diesel Skoda Fabia was happy with my style of driving. I like to open the throttle fully on a hill, and we have several round here!

Anyway it something to consider. I was considering spending on the Mini for the coming MOT, but spending on a car never adds to its value. That is determined by age and cosmetics on the whole, except for real classics. Some have called my approach to cards as "bangernomics!"

Best wishes from George
 
Being an older diesel it might not be allowed free passage into city centres with clean air zones, if this matters?
 
Buy it, George! The first sunny spring day with roof down you will know you did the right thing. When your pals get envious you can always ad
'And, yeah, it's a Pinninfarina...' It was built by Pinninfarina in Uddavalla, Sweden, strangely enough.

Is the asking price really £1k???? That is nothing, by todays standards. Check what a new entry level Golf costs...
 
What year is it George? I had an 03 S60 D5 manual, bought at auction with 100K, only died due to corrosion of brake pipes after standing on gravel drive all its life and barely moving during lockdown. Engine still good at 190k now powering a boat on the Trent. Those engines should be good for 300K+ I would want to ask about service records on one changed at 100k Electrical faults I've posted on here previously details of a specialist control cosole fixing firm.
 
ff1d1l said:
Seem to remember I was considering one of these at one point, but the headlights were supposed to be dreadful.
A serious consideration in country areas.
Click to expand...
I had a 2012 V50 which had the most atrocious halogen headlights. I changed the bulbs repeatedly in an effort to improve it but eventually I gave up and sold it. There was a long thread complaining about this model's headlights on the Volvo Owners Club forum.
But for the headlights I'd have it yet. In the daytime it was the closest thing I've ever had to a perfect car. But I did, and still do, regular 50 mile each way evenings out.
 
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