190k lots of life left?

[volvobiker]

Hi, I had a T5 untile recently and am thinking of a V70 with the Audi lump, most seem to be about £3-£4k for a 98-2000 model car, I have seen one for about £2k but it has 190k on it. If the servicing has been kept up and done properly, should this be a reliable car, or is it likely to suffer some expensive prbolems in the near future?
Cheers.

[Martin Cox]

Hi,

If it's been serviced properly including cambelt and tensioner changes, you'll most likely be fine with it. The water pump can fail and unfortunately it's driven by the cambelt so if it seizes, it can do an awful lot of expensive damage. Some people recommend changing the water pump at the same time as the cambelt. The recommended interval for cabelt changes is 80,000 miles, so at 190k it should be on at least it's third belt. If there's the slightest question about the pump or when the belt was changed, have it changed ASAP. Unfortunately it's not a cheap job because access is difficult. The diesel pump timing needs to be set dynamically which is usually a job for a main dealer or a diesel specialist.

The vacuum pump for the brake servo can get quite clattery particularly when cold but I think this can be sorted fairly easily if necessary.

These engines are a bit prone to producing black smoke under hard acceleration, particularly if you drive with a light right foot most of the time. I think most of them do it and it's probably nothing to worry about.

I have a 1998 V70 TDi automatic with the Audi engine which has now covered about 142,000 miles without any engine problems so far. I'd happily buy another one.

Hope this is of some help

Martin

[hawaiianblue]

Seen plenty of high mileage Audi Tdi's, so being the same VAG lump it should be fine. Maintenance is ultra important on a diesel though.

[volvobiker]

Cheers guys. I will let you know if I go for one. I did want an Audi originally as I had an A4 before I briefly owned the T5, but I like the Volvo's comfort on a cruise, plus the original A6 which had the 5 cyl lump is still expensive for what is an old design, the Volvo is much better specced out, shame they didn't get the 6 speed box though!
What sort of mpg's do you get?

[Martin Cox]

My V70 TDi is the automatic version and so it will be a bit thirstier than the equivalent manual. The very worst fuel consumption figure I ever had was 26 mpg and that was whilst my som was moving flats. It was a week of cold starts followed very short journeys in heavy town traffic whilst heavily laden. Most of the time it does about 38mpg where the usual journey is about 10 miles of light town traffic and semi rural roads. On a long run 40 - 42 mpg is no problem - better if it's just been serviced. Best ever was on a trip from Rotterdam to the far north of Denmark averaging 45mpg: this with speeds about 70 - 80 mph and in the high 90s on the German autobahns.

These figures are actual measured ones rather than the ones shown by the info centre which tend to be a bit optimistic

It's fed an unremitting diet of Tesco diesel except for when we're abroad when it usually seems to be Aral or european supermarket fuels

Good fuel consumption does seem to be quite dependant on the injection pump dynamic timing being set correctly. if it's off, the consumption will suffer.

Hope this helps

Martin