Volvo V70 Wagon Experience

irollit · July 2003

Tell me more about the T5. Is it available in manual or auto? Does it have the manual available with the automatic like the XC?

Is the AWD an add on option?

Is it as low to the ground as the 2.4?

libertycat · July 2003

manumatic available.

shieatt · July 2003

bodble2: On the whole, I find the V70 an extremely luxurious car, although I admit there are a few interior pieces that just don't quite have the feel they should on a $40K car. In particular, the interior door handles are an oddly different plastic that doesn't match and doesn't look expensive. Also, they put some kind of black coating on the woodgrain trim behind the interior door handle pull which is scratching off from use. Also, I'm not completely crazy about how the radio and climate control area of the dash fit together. Finally, the glove compartment door doesn't seem to fit completely tight, although it doesn't rattle or anything. All this being said, I otherwise think the quality of the interior materials and ergonomics is at least up to par with MB, BMW and Lexus. And the seats beat anything out there... the most comfortable seats you can find.

volvomax · July 2003

V70 2.4, available in auto or manual(very rare)
I5 168 hp

V70 2.4T 197hp I5 turbo, auto or Geartronic only

V70 XC 197hp I5 turbo, Geartronic only.
AWD, Ground Clearance 8.5 inches(reg V70 5.5 inches)

V70 T5 247 hp I5 turbo, Geartronic or manual(also rare) can have sport suspension also bigger brakes and sport seats.

The 2.4 is the basic wagon and feels like it.
2.4T is the best value, most features for a reasonable price.
The XC is the most comfortable, has the best ride and is best for resale. Its the most popular wagon.
The T5 is the most fun to drive, feels like a sports car with a big trunk.

volvomax · July 2003

Actually it won't, sorry.
Current plan, new S80 2006, maybe 2007.
New S60/V70 1 yr later.

In the meantime for 2005 all Volvo's will get body colored moldings(yea!!)

libertycat · July 2003

If what you say is correct, then Volvo is making a big mistake as the S80 was introduced YEARS before the S60/V70

volvomax · July 2003

The S60/V70/S80 all share the P2 chassis.
According to Volvo, the S60 was concieved first but management wanted a replacement for the aging 960/S90 cars.
The 850 had just been refreshed to the S70 so the S60 proj was shelved and the S80 went forward.
The S60 arrived 2 years later, and would have arrived sooner if not for the teething pains suffered by the S80.
So, if a new S80 arrives in 2006, there is no reason that a new S60 couldn't arrive 1 yr later.
It would capitalize on the interest in the redesigned S80 and offer the new features/engines that Volvo is working on.
Hardly a mistake.

marinadave · July 2003

Have a 2002 2.4T just went in for 15K service at Volvo dealer and was told front brake pads were 95% worn (rear 50%) so replaced front for $135 at this service. If this is going to be the pattern, I'm inclined to do this next time at Midas where pads are free for life.

Does anyone have thoughts on swapping in longer life pads?

Any thoughts on this brake pad issue?

Thanks.

robr2 · July 2003

"I'm inclined to do this next time at Midas where pads are free for life."

It's been many years since I've gone there, but it always seemed that it was never just the brake pads that had to be replaced. "Sir, the rotors are too far gone to be turned - yes even with only 20K on the car. Oh and one caliper is sticking and since they're only sold in pairs you gotta replace both. We also noticed..." YMMV.

As for longer life pads, there are always some tradeoffs with changing pad types. More dust, noise, et al can occur.

sanel6599 · July 2003

Looking at buying a 2000 V70 XC SE or regular, what is the difference between the two? Any issues I should be aware of with either of these models? Thanks

volvomax · July 2003

Was a trim version of the XC.
2 tone paint is what distinguished the car from the regular XC.
Also a higher feature content, but mostly trim items. A different pattern alloy wheel.
The SE's were the last versions of the old V70's built.

budwom · July 2003

The brakes are clearly the weak point in my 1998 V70. I can count on pads and rotors at least every 30k miles, both front and rear.

I'm not a huge Midas fan, and also found that the "free pads for life" deal wasn't all that fruitful.

Furthermore i've had several non-dealer Volvo specialists tell me that non-Volvo brake pads are unpleasantly noisy. Looks like it's something I'll have to live with. Numerous friends are having the same experience, though thus far we've had no other repair problems...and many of these cars are approaching 100k miles.

k7hp · July 2003

No comments to my earlier query .. I now have about 3500 miles and the stumble/lag/oscillation in going from coast to drive in speedup/slow down traffic is abysmal. I cannot believe that this is normal but dealer drove it and said no problem observed. It cannot begin to compare to my 960 wagon I traded in . Dealer comment to this is "Its an entirely different car" . At this point I am very very sorry I traded my 95 960 .. If I had known this was this lousy , I would have continued to pour about $1K per year into the 95.

volvomax · July 2003

How are you accelerating?
In other words are you easing down the gas pedal or hitting it hard and fast?
Given the digital throttle on the V70 and its economy program default , if you ease into it I can see how you would feel the "stumble-lag" feeling.
Hit the pedal hard to activate the sport shift program and I think you will see better results.
By activating the sport program the car downshifts faster and further in order to bring the boost up quicker. This will give you more immediate power.
In the economy program, the boost creeps up slowly because the car doesn't downshift until a certain threshhold is reached.
This is why the car seems to stumble and build power slowly.
It is very different from the 960, but the V70 2.4T is much quicker than the 960 was, you just need to drive it a little differently.

k7hp · July 2003

Thanks for response .. I had just about reached the conclusion you suggest .. agree the 2.4T is faster off the line than the 960 .. Guess I now know why it seems everybody here drives either flat to the floor or completely off the throttle .. However , I still believe this is an abysmal setup that Volvo should be ashamed of .. This is supposed to be a quasi luxury vehicle .. Anyhow .. Thanks for response.

ponnie · August 2003

I own an '02 V70 2.4T but have not noticed a stumble as severe as you describe. Sometimes as I change from off-gas (coast) to on-gas I will notice a bit of hesitation, especially if moving below 45 MPH. But I have attributed this to the transmission engaging and disengaging. It doesn't bother me enough to think something is wrong (I've experienced the same in other A/T cars) so I haven't brought it up with the dealer. Your's sounds worse than mine. Have you tried driving with the dealer tech. in the car with you? Perhaps there is a different dealer you can try? The service depts. are not created equally!

k7hp · August 2003

Thanks for response ... I can feel the transmission disengaging .. usually below 20 mph coasting .. I have read hundreds of V70 2.4T messages on several forums and see virtually nothing about this on post 2002 V70 .. I really cannot believe I am the only Volvo driver that does not like this ... especially ones who have driven 960's ... Really , this thing is very annoying to drive. . In front wheel drive I have driven Camrys , Accords, Buick Regals , and Tarus and none are as lousy as this Volvo. I am talking about driving them on a couple of week rentals , not just a test drive. Wish I had been able to rent a 2.4T .

I am going to try the dealer again , or try to find another opinion , I simply cannot believe this thing is as designed. Incidentally I know about Turbo lag, I drove a Toyota Turbo Pickup for several years , this is not Turbo lag .. Probably its the electronics trying to anticipate what I want it to do based on how I have driven it . The way it is , I simply cannot stand it for very much longer..and that is gonna cost me a lot of money.

Thanks .. Hank

grk701 · August 2003

I just purchased a low mileage (7k) '02 V70 loaner car from a dealer. Overall we love the car, however, in the two weeks I've owned it I've noticed several annoying electrical problems. They are: passenger right rear door won't lock/unlock with the key fob or from the driver door button, gas tank cap doesn't always lock when the car is locked, rear wiper does not work, and the icing - the car sometimes locks automatically, on it's own when in park with no keys in the ignition. I've read the threads here of other model years having electrical issues, but not much for the '02. While I got a great $$ deal on the car I worry I've bought into some nasty issues I don't want to contend with.

bodble2 · August 2003

You're not referring to the auto relock function, are you?

nsolano · August 2003

I own a 2002 V70 and experience the same hesitation off the line that others have complained about. Most of the "pre-purchase" reviews I read said this was the nature of the 5-cyl engine. My wife's 960 is a pleasure to drive in comparison. I've always figured it was because the in-line 6 was a better power plant.

k7hp · August 2003

Thanks for response. I traded in two 1995 960's , a sedan and a wagon, because my wife felt we did not need two cars any more (probably right) What a sad day . would take them back in a minute.
I don't really have much lag from a standing start , that is OK , but going from drive to coast around 35 to 45 mph is terrible.(And that seems to be how traffic moves around here). Driving at constant speed or acceleration without having to coast is just fine. Lag , stumble , and CLUNK, sometimes even a shuddering oscillation when the drive train takes up the slack going from coast to drive. I have never owned a car with this much slop in the drive train, and the disengagement of the xmisssion is no help.(Probably why the T5 drivers with manual xmission love their cars)

You and I agree the 960 is head and shoulders above this vehicle in driving pleasure.

Oh Well ..Even my wife is ready to trade at 3500 miles , and she is a Volvo lover for the safety.

nsolano · August 2003

I own a 2002 Base Level V70. Soon after purchasing the vehicle, I noticed that the Cruise Control and Radio Controls on the Steering Wheel cannot be seen at night. This struck me as odd so I reviewed the original window sticker from the car. It clearly states "Illuminated Cruise & Radio Steering Wheel Controls" under the title of Audio Equipment. I asked my Dealer during a recent service appointment and was told that no V70 steering wheel controls are illuminated. Can any other owners confirm or deny this?

jcw · August 2003

Nsolano...obviously can't vouch for your '02, but my '04 base V70 certainly has illuminated steering controls for radio and cruise. Seems like a rather bold statement from your dealer. Have you checked the dash-mounted brightness dial to the left of the steering wheel? JCW

cpike1 · August 2003

My 01 V70 2.4T doesn't illuminate the cruise/stereo controls....I've never thought to actually ask, but it sure would be nice.

shieatt · August 2003

I am 99% sure that the audio/cruise buttons on the steering wheel DO illuminate... I have a 2001 V70 T5, although I can't imagine that the model grade matters.

sanel6599 · August 2003

Seller is asking $22.5k. Am I taking too big a risk-- higher mileage and out of warranty?

Thanks

k7hp · August 2003

2003 V70 2.4T .. all the controls on the steering wheel illuminate and are controlled by the dash light brightness control as well

blockislandguy · August 2003

Sanel6559, the price is a little strong even at just say 37 or 38K miles. If you live in New England, you should be able to pick this up for maybe only $500 more than a standard V70 because anyone not happy with the V70 is going to upgrade to the V70 XC. To the average Volvo buyer, I don't think that a T5 has much significant incremental appeal north of the Mason Dixon line and any additional price must explained with difficulty. Not so with AWD which is intuitively clear.

So, IMHO a final sale price would be something like an Edmunds private sale price for a V70 LESS the excess miles PLUS maybe $500 for the T70 package providing that all services have been done, the new tires (he did put on new sneakers at 40K, right?) are at least OEM equivalent, not K Mart private label, and maybe he will throw in his four mounted and balanced winter Blizzaks over in the corner of the garage.

conbug · August 2003

K7hp,

I'm not sure what you mean by "drive to coast"??? Are you talking about going downhill? I have had my V70 2.4t for about a year now and have never experienced what you describe (I wonder if your transmission needs adjustment)? I used to have a 1989 740 GL manual, so the main thing I notice about the automatic is how it loves to run downhill!

Dave

foxgo · August 2003

I have a factory order for a base 2.4 V70 wagon (premium, climate, boosters), and I was wondering how you like yours?

Any pros or cons about your ownership experience?

I have heard good and bad about this car as compared to the turbo wagons and the XC70, and decided to go for it, rather than spending $90 more/month for the XC70 (my first choice) or a Chrysler Pacifica (new to the market, but heavily discounted due to poor marketing by Chrysler).

ponnie · August 2003

I have an '02 V70 2.4T (w/ 20K mi.) that I have been very satisfied with. The base V70 will not have as much torque (acceleration) as the turbo models, but you probably won't notice it except when the vehicle is heavily loaded. If you frequently drive with passengers or heavy cargo, or drive in high altitudes you may want to reconsider the turbo models. The XC70 will give you more ground clearance and 4-wheel traction, but you will sacrifice acceleration and fuel economy (due to extra weight)and handling won't be as nimble as a standard wagon due to the higher center of gravity and the SUV tires. Everyone I know that has a current platform (P2) V70 has had reliable performance. Cars are so great these days that it often comes down to simple personal preference - the best car is the one that you feel best driving. The Volvo has many unique features and so you have to decide if you will utilize/appreciate those features.

newbaby3 · August 2003

I have been informed by 1 dealer so far that the non-cross country version of the AWD wagon is essentially not available. The body side cladding on the XC looks cheesy to me. Is the V70 really not available? I am in Connecticut.

foxgo · August 2003

According the the volvocars.com website, edmunds.com website, and my local dealer's website (bigdeevolvo.com in Elmsford, NY), ALL have the V70 AWD listed as an available vehicle.

Whether or not they have any in stock for immediate purchase/lease is another story, but you can always place a factory order/allocation (I just ordered my V70 in mid-August, for delivery in mid-November).

bonanza68r · August 2003

Also, if you are considering a factory order for a new v70 AWD, check out Volvo's OSD program (overseas delivery). I ordered my 2.5T V70 through the program this summer and I highly recommend it.
Check Volvo's site for details (under Financial Services) or better even, go to www.flyvolvo.com (a dealer near SanFrancisco that specializes in OSD). This site has current OSD pricelists for MY2004.

conbug · August 2003

I bought a 2002 2.4t in September 2002, so I've had it for about 1 year and have put on 15K miles. So far I am still in love with this car. I'd say the only negative is over the left shoulder visibility. You really need to get used to that, especially when changing lanes. As far as the base model goes, I found it to be a little noisier under hard acceleration, but not a big deal. I thought the acceleration was pretty good. And without a turbo, there is one less (expensive) thing to go wrong with your car. The seats on this car are incredibly comfortable. Does anyone else wish these cars had an ashtray??? I'm not a smoker, but I'm constantly looking for a place to toss little receipts, gum wrappers, etc. Good luck with your new car.

volvomax · August 2003

The V70 AWD is an order only car.
Meaning a dealer must request that the car be built.
They are not part of the normal allocation process.
The reason dealers don't order the car is that it isn't any less expensive than the XC70, and it lacks the XC70's ground clearance and offroad ability.
Resale on this model will not be as good as the XC70's for the same reason.

foxgo · August 2003

That is interesting that the V70 AWD is an order-only car, since I recall seeing quite a few of them on the road!

When I was pricing out my Volvo V70 order, I was comparing the prices between the V70 AWD and the XC70 (in the hopes that it would be cheaper than the XC70 price tag), and I remember that they were practically identical in pricing.

volvomax · August 2003

Some do get built at customer request.
But, as you've seen there really isn't any savings.

lancerfixer · August 2003

some consumers (myself included) prefer the "cleaner" look of the non-XC'd V70 AWD.
Of course, a big subset of those same consumers (again, myself included) would, if they had the means, step up to the V70R. :-)

Of course, in my case that's all academic...my '89 740 is getting along just fine, thanks, and I certainly don't have the funds for a new V70 base model, let alone the V70R!

bodble2 · August 2003

Anyone wishing to contribute to the "lancerfixer new V70R fund" please send check or money order to .... :-)

lancerfixer · August 2003

LOL!
:-)

volvomax · August 2003

I would much rather have the R than the AWD, and I would much rather have the XC70 than the AWD.

I wish Volvo would just drop the AWD model, its a waste of components.

bodble2 · August 2003

R or AWD? I think it depends on the individual situations. It you live in snow country, then AWD would be definitely more helpful. Also, an automatic R really doesn't have that much of a performance advantage (acceleration-wise) over an regular 2.4T. But I guess if you live in the sun-belt and prefer a manual, then the R would be the ticket.

lancerfixer · August 2003

Yeah, but the R is AWD as well. With a decent set of snow tires you'd be good to go.

volvomax · August 2003

The XC70 is a much better snowbelt car than the AWD is.
More aggressive mud and snow tires and more ground clearance on the XC70.

sailbls · September 2003

My 04 arrived the last of may,so far only 2200 miles we really love the car,but not impressed with the audio system....i ordered it with Premium,Touring,climate pkg with the Mimas 16" wheels. Its the Ice White with Taupe leather. I did install the mud guards front and rear and tinted the windows

rollie · September 2003

If you're not happy with the presumably base audio system why didn't you order the upgraded AudioMax? It's widely regarded as one of the absolute best factory systems out there (you could do a dealer upgrade but I wouldn't recommend it as it would be much more costly than the factory upgrade option was.)

What specifically don't you like about the base system? I'm sure that if you describe what you don't like in specifics you'll get some decent aftermarket recommendations here in this forum.

Good luck.

-rollie
rdollie@att.net

k7hp · September 2003

conbug .. What I experience is in slow traffic 40 -45 mph with having to go from "coast" to "drive" .. first if you have to slow too much the transmission disengages completely which means when you have to start to "drive" you have all the drive train slop to close up and second a slight bit of turbo lag.. I sometimes even get a shudder or 3 or 4 "oscillations" going back to "drive".. I also get a lag or stumble when you are turning a corner after almost stopping , then try to start accelerating again , the drive train has to be loaded up again (slop taken out)and it is bad enough you almost feel like it needs to "catch" and starts to accelerate (kinda like old carbureted cars with bad accelerator pump or cold and need a bit of choke).., I drove 960's for several years and they do not exhibit any hint of this foolishness. I have also driven several other front wheel drive cars for a couple weeks at a time as rentals when on trips and have never driven anything this bad (Accords, Camrys, Taurus ,Buick Regal )... I have been to dealer and she says its normal .. that its not a 960 .. ye gods ...I have looked at all the web sites I can find and see that there are some transmission software issues but the numbers do not match mine .. I am gonna try the dealer again and maybe get a regional rep because its pretty obvious to me that my V70 is nowhere as good as what I read fdrom others .. I do not believe I am a nit picker .. The driveability of this thing is horrible especially for a sticker price of over $37K. I agree with your visibility issue but I can live with that ..Incidentally I do not beat this car , it is driven easily , one suggestion I had was to "hit it hard" going back to drive ... that helps a tad but kinda impractical in close traffic...Rgds... k7hp

foxgo · September 2003

What year V70 do you have? My factory order is for a 2004 2.4 base model, so if yours is a 2004 I am starting to worry!

k7hp · September 2003

Foxgo .. Its a 2003 with about 3500 miles now ... I have a gut feeling the base model /non turbo is much less prone to this foolishness .. Also I really think I got a bum one .. I simply cannot believe all the car "nuts" out there who are driving 2.4Ts would not be dis-satisfied as I am if they had the same driveability issues, and is see very little about this since the early V70s were built .. supposedly this was all fixed by software and some hardware in about 2001 as I recall.

Today I tried locking it in both 3rd gear and 4th gear and that did not help anything ... Its 112 in Phoenix today and I dont feel like hassling with the dealer until it cools off !!!!

Rgds... k7hp

Volvo V70 Wagon Experience

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