XC70: Engine which motor?

[ThomasG]

Hi all.
I'm considering an upgrade from my P2 V70 petrol auto to XC70.

An I'm curious what are opinions on the engines.

Especially running costs.

I've spent last few days going trough this section of forum, and gathered that D5, especially pre-2010, will be thirsty.

D3 5-pot (non Ford) looks promising.

But nowhere I've seen anything about 3.2 petrol with LPG conversion.

Has anyone got one? Was it factory or retrofit LPG? If retrofit- what's the rough cost of such a service?

And finally: what do you guys think- overall costs of running petrol+LPG vs diesel? Including road tax difference?

Many thanks.

[tommyweaves]

Depends on what sort of mileage you'll be doing and on what kind of journeys

[ThomasG]

Most of time it will be city driving (London), spurs up to 20miles a day/100 a week.
Then 2-3 trips to mainland Europe, this year I clocked 5000 on this only.
And few trips a year in range of 100-150 miles one way.. Campings etc. Cornwall, Wales.
I'd expect around 10-12 000 miles per year.

A lot of paid parking in London, though. Diesels are charged extra for that..

On the other hand, I'm aware that with LPG I'll loose ability to use Eurotunnel.

[ThomasG]

Oh, and the longer trips tend to be properly loaded.
Tent, bikes, roof box..

This year I wasn't careful and lost rear tyre, due to rubbing, on the way back from France.
15 miles from home. On motorway.. 5 hours wait for AA, sitting like a duck right under a traffic camera...

[tommyweaves]

I'd genuinely not bother with a diesel for your daily drive. My D3 V70 (163) is great for longer journeys but the fuel consumption plummets for city driving. In addition you're asking for trouble with the dpf, potentially.

That basically leaves you with the 3.2 petrol. I can't help on the LPG question!

[ThomasG]

Yes... Exactly what I thought, too...

But is it enough to justify higher road tax, cost of LPG conversion..
Price difference of car itself (diesel around 120k miles I could possibly get for around £5k, the only 2 petrols were twice that, with benefit of having only 50k (ish) miles on them)

And as per few other posts- I have little chance of clogging DPF, on Volvo engine.
Would be different (confirmation needed) on Ford motor.

[tommyweaves]

Do you really need an XC70 or would a V70 do?

If you consider a V70 then you could have a 2.5T petrol.

[ThomasG]

Been struggling with this one, too..
Train of thought went:
Its gonna be a "keeper". Years and years to come.
Its gotta be able to take the load I'm going to put on it.
As above- I've been burned with rear suspension of P2 V70.
And since I'll be doing some harsh winter flights.. 4x4.

But in all honesty, the XC won it over an V on a 6/4 points basis..
I'm in no hurry here, want to do proper research before I commit.
All may yet change.

[ThomasG]

A quick swipe trough autotrader..
V70 2.0 se with lots of extras, 70k miles on the clock, 7 grand
XC70 3.2 with 50k miles, 7.5 grand..

[tommyweaves]

Personally I'd opt for a 2.5T petrol and get a set of winter wheels and tyres, or get all weather tyres.

Winter tyres will make more difference in snow than AWD with normal tyes. The 2.5T petrol will go on forever. In the long long term all of the diesels may well need EGR and DPF attention, particularly if previous owners haven't used correct spec. oil.