1998 Volvo V70 T5
Discussion
As with the best car purchases, this one started at a train station, specifically, Glasgow, last Wednesday, at 6:30am. The destination, London.
Over the previous 10 days, I had exchanged emails and phone calls with the seller, who seemed like a very nice chap and had owned this car for the past 10 years, covering a modest 10,000 (or so) miles in that time, in other words, a typical London car. Only reason for sale was with ULEZ coming into force he'd be required to pay £12 a day to use it, which he didn't want to do.
Annual oil/filter servicing done by him, with anything more complicated carried out by local garage. Various detailed emails explaining the history and work that has been carried out during his ownership meant I felt confident the car would be as described, so much so, I only bought a single train ticket.
Test drive went well, usual checks carried out, documents and history (or which there was lots) examined and we agreed on a price and off I went. Fortunately by brother lives in North London, so I drove the 20 or so miles from West London and parked up there for the night.
Following morning I set off back to Glasgow, 410 miles. Took the journey at a fairly sensible pace, 8 hours in total. I just assumed that the car would make it, and it did without any issues what so ever, it was of course supremely comfortable and a very relaxing drive. Somehow, I managed to average 37.7mpg according the computer. Calculated this accurately by filling up at the end of the journey, and it was more like 37mpg, which to be honest, was about 10 more mpg than I was expecting, at best.
In the last week i've done another 100 or so miles, and i've got to say, it's quick, the mid range pull is very addictive, as is the noise. Not sure what I was expecting from the 4 speed auto, but it's very smooth, and whilst a manual would have been better, the auto doesn't seem to blunt the power.
So what are my plans? Well, nothing major to be honest, this will be a second car/toy (other car XC70), so wont do a huge amount of miles. Jobs to do, include:
- Good polish
- Replace broken headlight wiper motors
- Possible wheel refurb
- Stop rear boot trim rattle
- Take to local Volvo specialist for them to give it a once over.
For those that don't know, brief spec below:
- 2.3 5 cylinder turbo. 240bhp
- 1463kg
- 6.9 to 60
- CD spec, so full leather and every toy you need, including climate control etc...
- At its peak, there was 580 V70 T5 Autos, now only 78 on the road. (285 manual at peak, 22 on the road currently)
Few more photos:
Over the previous 10 days, I had exchanged emails and phone calls with the seller, who seemed like a very nice chap and had owned this car for the past 10 years, covering a modest 10,000 (or so) miles in that time, in other words, a typical London car. Only reason for sale was with ULEZ coming into force he'd be required to pay £12 a day to use it, which he didn't want to do.
Annual oil/filter servicing done by him, with anything more complicated carried out by local garage. Various detailed emails explaining the history and work that has been carried out during his ownership meant I felt confident the car would be as described, so much so, I only bought a single train ticket.
Test drive went well, usual checks carried out, documents and history (or which there was lots) examined and we agreed on a price and off I went. Fortunately by brother lives in North London, so I drove the 20 or so miles from West London and parked up there for the night.
Following morning I set off back to Glasgow, 410 miles. Took the journey at a fairly sensible pace, 8 hours in total. I just assumed that the car would make it, and it did without any issues what so ever, it was of course supremely comfortable and a very relaxing drive. Somehow, I managed to average 37.7mpg according the computer. Calculated this accurately by filling up at the end of the journey, and it was more like 37mpg, which to be honest, was about 10 more mpg than I was expecting, at best.
In the last week i've done another 100 or so miles, and i've got to say, it's quick, the mid range pull is very addictive, as is the noise. Not sure what I was expecting from the 4 speed auto, but it's very smooth, and whilst a manual would have been better, the auto doesn't seem to blunt the power.
So what are my plans? Well, nothing major to be honest, this will be a second car/toy (other car XC70), so wont do a huge amount of miles. Jobs to do, include:
- Good polish
- Replace broken headlight wiper motors
- Possible wheel refurb
- Stop rear boot trim rattle
- Take to local Volvo specialist for them to give it a once over.
For those that don't know, brief spec below:
- 2.3 5 cylinder turbo. 240bhp
- 1463kg
- 6.9 to 60
- CD spec, so full leather and every toy you need, including climate control etc...
- At its peak, there was 580 V70 T5 Autos, now only 78 on the road. (285 manual at peak, 22 on the road currently)
Few more photos:
Edited by xcseventy on Sunday 26th September 07:29
Excellent. I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
I just bought this manual T5 a few weeks ago. It isn’t on the road yet though.
I need to pull my bits off my current non-turbo one and have a new clutch and slave cylinder fitted. Loads to do but no time so it may wait until next spring.
Yours is low miles. Well done. My T5 has 194k on. My non turbo has 145k on.
Both are manuals so very hard to find, especially in the T5s case. I only drive manuals but that’s just me.
I’m sure you’ve seen but you can get the little reinforcement plates for the rear hatch trim. I’ve done it to a could of my old V70s. Works well.
I just bought this manual T5 a few weeks ago. It isn’t on the road yet though.
I need to pull my bits off my current non-turbo one and have a new clutch and slave cylinder fitted. Loads to do but no time so it may wait until next spring.
Yours is low miles. Well done. My T5 has 194k on. My non turbo has 145k on.
Both are manuals so very hard to find, especially in the T5s case. I only drive manuals but that’s just me.
I’m sure you’ve seen but you can get the little reinforcement plates for the rear hatch trim. I’ve done it to a could of my old V70s. Works well.
Edited by marky911 on Wednesday 22 September 20:19
That looks like a nice one, well done!
Oddly, I've also got an XC70 and a V70 T5... the latter of which is the latest in a long line of them over the years but yes, they seem uncannily good at returning decent MPG figures if you don't poke them. Like yours, mine is also a 1998 with the autobox and now well over 200k but has nudged on towards 40mpg on a steady run (albeit a bit sedate) and even when driven with a little less care, it's not bad. I took it to Italy and back and did 28mpg fully laden, via the Alps which I still can't get my head round.
But I digress, great old things and pretty easy to live with. I've never had one let me down, granted the usual wear and tear stuff and they of an age where some are getting a bit crusty but hopefully a London car will have dodged that bullet. I don't think we'll be retiring off the back of them any time soon but they do seems to be creeping up in value as they get increasingly rare, though getting bits is getting harder now too unfortunately. Thankfully there's a decent "scene" as it were up here and quite a few guys with them who are happy to help, which helps.
Oddly, I've also got an XC70 and a V70 T5... the latter of which is the latest in a long line of them over the years but yes, they seem uncannily good at returning decent MPG figures if you don't poke them. Like yours, mine is also a 1998 with the autobox and now well over 200k but has nudged on towards 40mpg on a steady run (albeit a bit sedate) and even when driven with a little less care, it's not bad. I took it to Italy and back and did 28mpg fully laden, via the Alps which I still can't get my head round.
But I digress, great old things and pretty easy to live with. I've never had one let me down, granted the usual wear and tear stuff and they of an age where some are getting a bit crusty but hopefully a London car will have dodged that bullet. I don't think we'll be retiring off the back of them any time soon but they do seems to be creeping up in value as they get increasingly rare, though getting bits is getting harder now too unfortunately. Thankfully there's a decent "scene" as it were up here and quite a few guys with them who are happy to help, which helps.
This is classic T5 for me, I know they did an 850 too but I always think of this shape when I think of T5.
I have a P2 V70 2.4T which is doing well so far. The 5 cylinder sound is addictive and a dying (or dead?!) breed. I will run it as long as possible and could only imagine changing it for something with a similarly or more interesting engine!
I have a P2 V70 2.4T which is doing well so far. The 5 cylinder sound is addictive and a dying (or dead?!) breed. I will run it as long as possible and could only imagine changing it for something with a similarly or more interesting engine!
Yep I’m baffled by the OPs mileage. I drive like a vicar on my commute and sit at 60 mph basically. I average 33 mpg in my non turbo manual and on the 200 mile drive home with the T5 manual I averaged 29 mpg.
I’m onto my 3rd V70 and my dads had a few. They always achieve high 20’s to low 30’s but hey if you achieved 37mpg OP, well done.
Chocolate frog the T5R and V70R are gaining proper Classic status now, hence high prices and I’d also want to keep one nice, so maybe as a summer daily at best.
The V70 T5 can still just be used as a daily. I have the 850R wheels, XC70 grill and V70R front bumper which have been on 2 of my cars now and about to be repainted to go on the 3rd.
Any updates OP?
I’m onto my 3rd V70 and my dads had a few. They always achieve high 20’s to low 30’s but hey if you achieved 37mpg OP, well done.
Chocolate frog the T5R and V70R are gaining proper Classic status now, hence high prices and I’d also want to keep one nice, so maybe as a summer daily at best.
The V70 T5 can still just be used as a daily. I have the 850R wheels, XC70 grill and V70R front bumper which have been on 2 of my cars now and about to be repainted to go on the 3rd.
Any updates OP?
Thanks all. I agree, not quite sure how I managed such good mpg. Computer now says 34mpg after a few shorter journeys, tbh if I got 30mpg I'd have been happy.
I've booked it in to my local Volvo specialist for cambelt, aux belt and water pump, plus a diagnostic and full check over. Doesn't need the belts for another 3 years (or 84,000 miles...) But for peace of mind.
Marky911 -lovely examples there, the 850 wheels suite it really well.
I've booked it in to my local Volvo specialist for cambelt, aux belt and water pump, plus a diagnostic and full check over. Doesn't need the belts for another 3 years (or 84,000 miles...) But for peace of mind.
Marky911 -lovely examples there, the 850 wheels suite it really well.
Edited by xcseventy on Sunday 26th September 07:30
Just noted your comment about how many are left. That's an eye opener! I'd have thought there would be more than that but being fair, pretty much all V70's of this ear you see in the wild are all rather hard worker, typical Volvo spec, 2.5 models.
As great as the halo models are, I always maintained the slightly softer, more forgiving and less obvious T5 models were the better cars day to day. Probably peak Volvo in my opinion, last of the old, mechanically some cats before they went to the P2 cars and their annoying levels of complexity..
As great as the halo models are, I always maintained the slightly softer, more forgiving and less obvious T5 models were the better cars day to day. Probably peak Volvo in my opinion, last of the old, mechanically some cats before they went to the P2 cars and their annoying levels of complexity..
So just over two months of ownership now, and about 800 miles covered.
I took it to my local Volvo specialist for them to give it the once over and despite the previous owner confirming the timing belt change in 2016, they never replaced the aux belt and water pump, so for peace of mind, I got them to do the whole lot.
List jobs they carried out:
- Timing belt kit inc water pump
- New number plates
- New brake fluid
- Rear discs & pads and sort a pretty poor handbrake
- Exhaust rubber was missing, so that replaced (although still hangs down more than i'd like)
Not a cheap set of works, but needed doing and given the low mileage over the last 10 years, I was pleased nothing much else needed doing.
Taken yesterday, not ideal weather!
PXL_20211114_112636353 by Will Beresford, on Flickr
I took it to my local Volvo specialist for them to give it the once over and despite the previous owner confirming the timing belt change in 2016, they never replaced the aux belt and water pump, so for peace of mind, I got them to do the whole lot.
List jobs they carried out:
- Timing belt kit inc water pump
- New number plates
- New brake fluid
- Rear discs & pads and sort a pretty poor handbrake
- Exhaust rubber was missing, so that replaced (although still hangs down more than i'd like)
Not a cheap set of works, but needed doing and given the low mileage over the last 10 years, I was pleased nothing much else needed doing.
Taken yesterday, not ideal weather!
PXL_20211114_112636353 by Will Beresford, on Flickr Nice work, good to see one getting proper TLC as most seem to have dipped into banger territory thanks to living in the shadows of the R models for so long. Though I still maintain, they're the nicer of the two models to live with day to day. I really need to pull my finger out and do something with mine. One day Rodders, one day.
Just clicked over 3,000 miles in my ownership and still running wonderfully. The list of jobs is starting to grow in an effort to smarten it up, mainly cosmetic but includes rear bumper respray (quoted £400) and wheel refurb which should be done in the next few weeks. There is also a slight wine on full lock, possibly power steering pump? but need to get that looked at as well, plus a service.
Spent the weekend up in Fort William where the car performed brilliantly, 4 up and full of luggage, it really is a great long distance cruiser:
Spent the weekend up in Fort William where the car performed brilliantly, 4 up and full of luggage, it really is a great long distance cruiser:
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