[akash]

Hi all,

I have now had the new shape S80 for 6months and it has done around 17200 miles. I booked it in for a service as the sign "Book time for maintenance" came up back in November.

After phoning Volvo up in concern as the car was not due for another 2-3000 miles (at that time) or in theory, another 6-8 months! They explained some mess up on the mileage when I got the car and that on the service, they would reset it- never did understand it!

Anyway, The car is in for the service now so I felt it would be good to review it 18000 miles on.

Summary:
As you may have realised, I cover a lot of mileage in this car. My average is around 32000 miles a year, that includes just the work mileage and not social mileage!
I felt I needed a car that would handle this in both mechanical and comfort wise and this car has lived up to exactly that expectation.

Looks:
I still get many looks and feel somewhat proud of the car I am in. Bearing in mind that I am 23 years old, the car is way too big for a "normal" 23 year old (if such thing!). I should in theory be driving a souped up Golf with a fake GTI badge on but thats another story!

The car being black does gather lots of dirt up. The wheels are always coated in brake dust despite my weekly wash and bi-monthly professional valet. I blame the weather though I do wonder why it loses so much brake dust.

When it is clean though, it is really "bling bling"! The car shines and really shouts out with the chroming and curves volvo designers put on this shape.
I loved it when I got the car, and nothing has changed.

I have to say, I got bored of the shape for the BMW and Mercs but I don't with this despite spending so much time with the car!


Mechanical:
The engine is running very smoothly. There are some negatives here though.
When I got the car, I explained how quiet the engine was for a 5-cyl diesel engine. Unfortuntly, around the same time of the book time for maintenance message came up, the engine got rather loud. The overall cabin noise was louder and it sounded like a typical disel engine. There was a constant tractor chugging sound basically.
Now normally, when I drive at a faster speed, the noise goes away but now, I can still hear the chugging in the background.

Gear changes have also become a little rough especially 1-2 and 3-4. 5 and 6 is fine.

For changes, I did not change the oil at all because on weekly checking, the colour and levels were acceptable. I am now hoping that may be the mistake and that after the service, it sorts it out. I will update when I get the car back.
I compared noise levels to my loan car - a 1000 mile old V70 with the same D5 engine, this car is almost silent, even quieter than mine when I first got it.

Could Diesels still be suffering from showing signs of old age - even when young?

Integrity:

No rattles, no creaks, the car is sold just as it was the day I got it. The only thing to point out here, and this may be totally my fault, is that when the music is up loud (and bass is high-ish), there is a panel that makes a bit of noise. I have yet to find it and it will most likely be a case of tightning it. I suspect the roof console.

Other than that, the car is solid!

Ride:
Still running on the stock tyres (mich primacy 17"), the car is very comfortable to be in. I sit in the car for many hours a day, sometimes an hour + in traffic. I >need< something comfortable and at the end of even a 3-4 hour journey in traffic, I don't feel tired out.
Seats are great and again in comparison to my V70 loan car, I really do appreciate mine!

No creaks from suspension either at this point.



Problems:

The car is booked in for it's first service but there was some minor niggles to sort out.

1. right bulb for numberplate has blown.
2. Engine noise
3. Gear changes
4. possible software update to my door lock system. I find that if I lock doors, and then unlock (my settings are first drivers door unlock, then the rest)... if I now lock the doors again, the mirrors do not fold. I have to unlock ALL doors and hten re-lock - then the mirrors fold in. Known issue apparently.


Thats it... nothing really major as you can see.

Again, hope this helps you guys!