700/900 veterens opinion on late 90s V70s

[Zlornick]

You folks may remember the tragic end of my 940 wagon, which y'all were very helpful with, thank you very much.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=287332

I haven't had much luck in finding a replacement for that car, unfortunately, as pickins' have slimmed over the years. I do, however, have a line on a 1998 V70 2.5 turbo with a manual transmission. Test drove it today and it seemed solid enough and a decent price to boot. Fairly low miles, 123k I think. Body in decent condition, the interior really nice.

However!

I've avoided the FWD era like a plague, to be honest. When I look under the hood the only thing visible is this giant black Lego block pointed the wrong way. It's not like I have to work on these things, it's not a requirement for happiness or anything, but sometimes it just saves so much money to do the work yourself, it becomes almost a necessity. That doesn't look like an option with these things. And initial research implies these things ain't cheap to send to the shop.

Regardless, What do y'all think about these things?

[Forrest]

My neighbour once bought a V70 because he reasoned that since I had a number of 940s parked on my driveway I would be able to help him should he encounter difficulties. One specific incident springs to mind.

I broke a headlamp on a 940. I replaced it myself very easily using a secondhand part from eBay that took me under half an hour to fit without having to refer to any manuals.

A few weeks later my neighbour came asking me to help him repair the electrical connector on the headlight on his V70. We both looked at it for some time and couldn’t work out how to remove the unit from the car. Internet research revealed it is necessary to remove the front bumper first. It didn’t sound like a sub half hour job. After a few similar experiences he sold the V70. I still have my 940s.

You might want to look how easy it would be even just to change a headlight bulb on the V70. My recollection is that there was very little access space without significant dismantling.

[Laird Scooby]

There is a school of thought that says the 700 was the last "proper" Volvo designed purely by Volvo engineers with no outside influence.

By extension, the same could be said of the 900 although in the later years, Ford owned some shares in Volvo as part of their PAG - Premier Automotive Group. The V70 was a product that had a lot more Ford influence, some might say a glorified Mondeo/Taurus.

In other words, you're paying for the Volvo name but getting a Ford.

There's a reason why you've instinctively kept away from the FWD cars - go with your instinct!

I realise a lot of V70 owners will probably take umbridge at that but to be fair, try fitting a wardrobe/closet in the back of a 7/9 estate/wagon then try putting it in a V70 wagon.

Bottom line is, it's your money, your choice and you have to live with the car. I have a feeling you'd already made your mind up before posting your request for others' views.

[mentepazza]

In January 1999 Ford bought Volvo.
P80 platform is 100% volvo, so the v70 you are looking for is the last Swedish Volvo.
I have got one 240 and One v70xc 1999. Basic maintenance is very easy on the 240, so is with the v70. There is not much space to work under the bonnet of the v70 if you wish to carry out major repairs.
I never considered the v70 and got one 2 weeks ago and it’s impressive for quality and dinamic, comfort and refinement.

[john.wigley]

I'm inclined to agree with the general view expressed above. I too looked in vain for a 9 series car to replace my much loved 745. I too ended up buying a 2000 V70. It is not a bad car which has grown on me over a couple of years. Apart from the engineering complexity already referred to, I offer two further comments. 1) The early V70s, if bought well, are reliable and tremendous value for money. 2) After driving a 7/9 series car, the steering lock is abysmal. Where you can U-turn in the RWD cars, a 3 point turn is necessary with the FWD ones.

Regards. John.

On further reflection, having owned Volvos continuously since 1984, I think the above is not a great deal different from the dilemma that I faced when I bought my first two series car after several years of one series ownership, and again when i bought my first seven series after the twos. In each case, the respectively newer car, while still being RWD, was at the same time 'different' enough to its predecessor to raise concerns at the time. The major difference in changing to a V70 after many years of sevens plus a 944, is that it required a greater leap of faith!

John.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by mentepazza

In January 1999 Ford bought Volvo.

That's correct and although it doesn't appear to be widely reported, they had been acquiring shares in Volvo from about 1994, similar to how they acquired Jaguar-LandRover and Aston Martin - it was all towards building their PAG which became an official entity in 1999.
Fords acquisition of J-LR queered BMWs pitch somewhat when they bought Rover Group in 1996 (reported widely to be 1994, too many other things suggest it was later) because BMW and Ford didn't want to be linked. Volvo being fairly neutral were easier to deal with and buy shares slowly but steadily until 1999 when Ford bought the remaining shares.

After BMW had raped Rover Group of the Mini and the 4x4 technology from Land-Rover, they sold it to Ford complete. Again, there were no other parties with fingers in the Volvo pie. There were rumours of Volvo and Saab merging but that didn't happen.

[Triple-S]

Ignoring the history lessons..... all I can add to possibly assist the OP is that my son bought a former courtesy 2001 V70 estate about a year ago, which already was on its 2nd gearbox - at 130k miles. No less that two dash-failures (no electricity was getting there, don't ask us why) then noises in reverse from that replacement 'box meant he upgraded quickly to a 2006 one.
So far so good.....however, to reiterate, the steering lock is rubbish compared to my 740. I'd never have a FWD car, living on an estate with narrow roads and tight bends.

P

[mentepazza]

2001 is not Volvo p80 chassis. It’s ford.
Plenty of 850/v70 around to confirm they can survive high mileage.
The downside of course is, not as easy to work and repair compared to 240/740/940.
You get that nice feeling of the 5 inlineengine when driving 850/v70. Which feels more solid than the previous generation of red block.
Mine is awd and it doesn’t feel much different than the 240 rwd.
Try one, in general feels better screwed together than 740/940.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by mentepazza

2001 is not Volvo p80 chassis. It’s ford.
Plenty of 850/v70 around to confirm they can survive high mileage.
The downside of course is, not as easy to work and repair compared to 240/740/940.
You get that nice feeling of the 5 inlineengine when driving 850/v70. Which feels more solid than the previous generation of red block.
Mine is awd and it doesn’t feel much different than the 240 rwd.
Try one, in general feels better screwed together than 740/940.

Funnily enough I was looking for a P1 V70 but by chance ended up with a 940.

I must say it fits the bill ( apart from the myriad of jobs that need doing )for transporting the dog etc and I quite like being back in rwd. I'm planning/hoping to keep it for many years as it's really a fourth car but I would happily go to V70 P1 after

[GreenBrick]

I haven't felt the same attachment to my V70 Ph2 as I did my previous 940s.

I wished I had kept the 16v 944 I had, I regret that deeply.
My second 940 was snatched from me by a suspected drunk driver (still sorting out compensation for that almost 3 years later).

I bought the v70 as I thought it would be a natural progression, but I so wished I had waited and got the only natural progression, a 960 instead.

Now the v70 is sitting in disgrace on my lawn with throttle body issues, I wonder if it is time to cut my losses and get a 960?