Volvo V70 R

Jays72T · 03-28-2007, 07:32 AM

Wife and I got rear ended in the Matrix the other day and while the damage is minor my wife feels that it's not a safe car for the kids. We have some $ that I was going to buy another 911 with but now it looks like I'm in the market for a family car. Looked at an '04 V70 R w/ 32,000 miles for $28,000 the yesterday and have to say it's a fun wagon. Anybody have any experience w/ these?

Thanks,

speeder · speeder's Garage

I owned a '99 V70-R and I have a friend w/ an '05. They are great cars but they use a LOT of super-unleaded in town, (4k lbs. and AWD), highway mileage is considerably better. I absolutely loved driving mine, I have never felt safer at speed in any car in my life. It feels better @ 100 mph in the rain than most cars @ 50 mph.

I sold mine when gas went over $3.00, (the first time, in '05), it was killing me as most of my driving is city and I couldn't keep my foot out of it. My friend remarked about the horrible consumption of his, and he has a high 8-figure bank account.

I have heard that reliability took a schit when Ford took over, like in '01 and newer models. I'd research it further. Resale is horrible, but this means that you get a lot of late model used car for no $$.

Jays72T · 03-28-2007, 08:15 AM

Thanks Denis, I'll keep looking. I was reading v70r.com, seems to be a great car but w/ gas prices going up I gotta pass.

badcar · badcar's Garage

You are missing out on a really fun car.....

I have an 07 model, not much changed since 04. The car is a blast, and I am heavy on the gas, but I maintain 21mpg in city driving.

As for resale, not sure what will happen to the value as Volvo is will not have an "R" version in the wagon until 2010 as they have a new design coming in for 08.

good luck with your search!

Jays72T · 03-28-2007, 12:05 PM

That's better then the Ody, thanks Mark.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by badcar
I have an 07 model, not much changed since 04. The car is a blast, and I am heavy on the gas, but I maintain 21mpg in city driving.

That's pretty amazing. I averaged about 10-12mpg in the city, and that was not running from the cops. Just normal, safe driving while occasionally exceeding posted speed limits. My friend gets about the same in his. Your high-altitude driving might be bumping your mileage a bit, but I woulod be shocked if your calculations are accurate. You are saying that with a 4k lb., AWD 300hp turbo car you get 21 in city driving? Is it downhill in both directions everywhere you go?

lyon · lyon's Garage

I have a V70 XC.
The mileage really is not that bad if you know how to drive it correctly.
it gets around 25 mpg city/hwy. 28-30 average on the highway.
Great leg room, it is a cruiser.
I like mine.

cliyde · cliyde's Garage

No experience w/ the wagon, but I do own an S60 turbo ( non "R" ) that's a pure rocket!!! Great handling, reliable, and affordable car. Almost as fun to drive as the 911.

slow&rusty · 03-29-2007, 05:36 AM

I REALLY REALLY like these cars - I recently almost bought the sister car the S60R. The reliability worries me, I have a friend who works at Volvo as a mechanic (he does alot of warranty work) and he always says when they run they run incredible and when they don't bend over and take it like a man!

Still they are the sexxist wagon around, nothing by BMW or Mercedes comes close.

Yasin

speeder · speeder's Garage

Audi makes some wagons that do more than come close.

Eric Coffey · 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
Audi makes some wagons that do more than come close.

Have to agree there. If I had to drive a wagon, it would probably be an Audi, preferably an S4 (in black

).
The Volvo (too "boxy" for me) would probably come in 3rd, behind the 3-series Bimmer.

Audi A6:

Audi S4:

BMW 3 series wagon:

911boost · 911boost's Garage

We drove a turbo S60 for 4 years, and my wife loved it. I wanted her to get the V70R as we now have 2 kids, but she wanted an SUV, so we got the XC90. We got about 22mpg with it on the highway and it has a 311 hp V-8.

The safety is great in them.

Buy it.

paul571 · 03-29-2007, 12:13 PM

Overall it's a good car. But be warned! The turning radius on the V70/ V70R sucks! Test drive one and try to pull in to a normal mall packing space and see for yourself. We had a '04 and my wife hated the poor turning radius so much we traded the car in.

berettafan · 03-29-2007, 12:17 PM

I'm with Yasin. NOBODY has a vehicle that competes with the Volvo V70 series. Not if you actually NEED a wagon that is. The cutesy little Bimmer 3 series would be great of it were 2+dog all the time.

Type 'Audi + Reliable' into google and i think you actually get a blank screen

We test drove some V70's and as of now they are tops on the list if the Jeep Grand Crapokee finally dies the painful death it deserves.

Check out www.swedespeed.com for some folks knowledgeable on these cars.

VaSteve · 03-29-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by berettafan
I'm with Yasin. NOBODY has a vehicle that competes with the Volvo V70 series. Not if you actually NEED a wagon that is. The cutesy little Bimmer 3 series would be great of it were 2+dog all the time.

BMW's serious wagon is the 5.... and it's freaking expensive. I had an S70 sedan and traded it for a 3 sedan. If I moved to a wagon it might very well be a V70R. It's quite nice.

Sarc · 03-29-2007, 12:38 PM

Sooner than later we'd love to add an V70R or S60R to the fleet. Far more striking, in my opinion, than the german options (and far less common around these parts)

paul571 · 03-29-2007, 12:39 PM

We had a different experience with our cars.

German car:
Audi A4 8 yrs old with 135K miles and still going strong with no major issues.
Porsche 911 19yrs 101K miles rock solid.

Swede cars:
Volvo 1.5 yrs 28K miles with 3 visit to the dealership with break and electronics problems.
Saab 9 months with 6 in the shop!

badcar · badcar's Garage

Quote:

That's pretty amazing. I averaged about 10-12mpg in the city, and that was not running from the cops. Just normal, safe driving while occasionally exceeding posted speed limits. My friend gets about the same in his. Your high-altitude driving might be bumping your mileage a bit, but I woulod be shocked if your calculations are accurate. You are saying that with a 4k lb., AWD 300hp turbo car you get 21 in city driving? Is it downhill in both directions everywhere you go?

Actually...this last tank of gas 20.4 miles. So I must be driving a little more aggressive.

As for problems, the turning radius does suck, but I bought the car to drive, not park.

Jays72T · 03-29-2007, 02:14 PM

BMW and Volvo are my choices for wagons. Test drove a Magnum SRT8 yesterday and even w/ 125 more horses then the Volvo, I liked the V70R. The Dodge just doesn't feel right but sounded great. Had an 01 Audi A6 Avant and while it was a nice car, it's a hassle to go to the dealer every month. Should be checking out a 5er wagon this weekend.

VaSteve · 03-29-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jays72T
BMW and Volvo are my choices for wagons. Test drove a Magnum SRT8 yesterday and even w/ 125 more horses then the Volvo, I liked the V70R. The Dodge just doesn't feel right but sounded great. Had an 01 Audi A6 Avant and while it was a nice car, it's a hassle to go to the dealer every month. Should be checking out a 5er wagon this weekend.

The E39 5er wagons (what I like) still sell for like $30K. Yikes!