S80 vs V70 (2008+)

[cpk]

Hi All,

I need some expert advice.

I'm going to opt out my company car scheme and take the money and mileage allowance.

My plan is/was to spend ~£5k on a well looked after S80 (07-09) and put 15k miles on a year, service it myself where possible (with help from the forum!) and keep it ticking over for 3 years. We would then have a 'family car' for the other half, mine would only be used for work and perhaps the emergency family job.

I've recently noticed in my searching that the equivalent V70 is of a similar price but would give the advantage of a bigger boot and perhaps make it easier to resale should the time come. Is this assumption correct?

I was expecting the V70 to be far more desirable and 20-30% more expensive.

Are there noticeable differences between the two? I assume interior space/rear leg room is the same? The S80 may have a slightly better spec, but apart from that I'm struggling to see...

Is the saloon a noticeably quieter/better cruiser?

Any help is appreciated. I want to make sure I make the right decision.

Thanks

[dme123]

The S80 is noticeably quieter, as saloons always are for obvious reasons. There are probably differences in suspension tuning but they must be subtle because they feel much the same to drive. As you say, you seem to get more well specified S80 models than V70s and the really nice options (Dynaudio/better leather/radar cruise) are a lot less common on the V70.

Having had a look on AT briefly it does look like you get a lower mileage S80 for your money than a V70 though. The £5k V70s all look a bit crap with high miles and low specs, whereas you can just sneak in a decent S80 on that budget. I would say that my colleagues experience of a higher mileage S80 (140k ish) has not been good, if you want something that'll probably be more robust for the long run you could consider a late model '06/'07 P1 V70? There are some real bargains, and a couple of very nice looking late model T5 manuals on AT at the moment.

[RM955I]

06/07 would make it a P2.

I ran a P2 for 80,000 miles with nothing more than routine maintenance and a few bits like wishbones. The die hard enthusiasts swear blind that the P2 is a better car than the P3 and the last of the 'proper' Volvos...utter cobblers. I'm in a P3 now and it is immeasurably more refined and a massive leap forward. It hasn't got the rattles and squeaks of the frankly shoddy P2 interior which never equaled the sum of its parts: the quality of the materials was good but it wasn't well assembled.

I'm a V70 fan because I love the versatility of the big old barge and in P3 form it is refined although at 115k mine needs the shocks replacing. It seems as easy to work on for routine maintenance although there's a few demons such as the thermostat - I believe if that ever needs replacing, it's a real pig. My twin turbo D5 is a lovely, grunty if slightly gruff unit but that's part of the charm. The P3 sits higher and is easier to get in and out of which does matter and I'm hardly limited in terms of mobility! Personally I think the V70 is suited to auto trim and the horror stories of transmissions are greatly exaggerated - find one with a good 'box, look after it by changing the oil and it should last you well.

As for S80...just not my type of car I'm afraid.

[Billggski]

Big saloons don't sell well, but a Volvo estate is a style icon as well as a useful tool, there will always be a market for them.

[st4]

I'm biased, saloon car every time. Lockable boot, better refinement and performance.