02 V70 D5 Auto - am I mad?

[largeruk]

Hi to all

I'm a newbie to these forums and even worse, know very little about cars. However, I'd be very very grateful for any advice that the clearly hugely knowledgeable people on here can offer.

My Situation
My daughter and I regularly have to make 400 mile round trips between specialist hospitals she has to attend in London & Leeds. We also have to carry a lot of medical equipment with us. We're currently doing the journey in an old very high mileage Skoda that's really in need of replacement.

So, I'm in need a car that's:-

• cheap to run (fuel/tax/insurance/maintenance)
• ultra reliable (given my daughter's health, this is a must)
• smooth & quiet at motorway speeds (she needs to sleep a lot)
• had most/all of the major jobs done (unplanned expenditure is my worst nightmare!)
• needs little spent on it in the next 1-2 yrs (as a single parent, funds aren't exactly flush!)
• has a large load area with a power socket for medical equipment that needs to be powered and kept charged.

My budget is pretty limited - up to c£2.5k.


The Options?
My head tells me to find a cheap diesel estate where parts and servicing/repair costs are relatively inexpensive - a Mondeo or???

Someone advised me to look at older diesel V70s as an option on the basis that they're quiet, refined and reliable. However, my worries about buying a Volvo are that they may well be built like tanks and go on forever but you need a deep wallet to keep them - maintenance bills are expensive and repair costs can be horrendous.

I'd be very grateful for any thoughts any of you have on the options the options I should consider - Mondeo, V70 or any other marques/models that might fit the bill.


A Specific V70
I've been offered an 02 V70 D5 (2.4/163) Auto with c195k miles on the clock for c£2,000. It's had 2 previous owners and seems to have been pretty well looked after. The seller (private individual who I don't know personally) has given me the following info:-

"i have spent a lot of money in fact everything the car needs to date, its just had a major service with me and cam belt change which is the thing that can go wrong, i thought i had a gearbox problem as i dropped down to lower gear going up a steep hill and a dashboard light came on, so i took it to the garage and they drained the gearbox oil and put fresh oil in they also did a diagnostic check and found it was ok and told me i should have stayed in top gear and not over revved the car, its been fine since, its not a sports car but a diesel estate and if driven normally it will be fine and last but unfortunatly gearboxes eventually wear out, also i only put the expensive diesel in it and that makes it feel more responsive, and is also better for the engine, the other problem going forward will be a head gasket will need doing eventually, its just a fact on any car" and,

" the gearbox is the original, what else have i replaced only ongoing maintence things like light bulbs, the dashboard computer twice, brakes two or three times, and wishbone suspension, all tyres about three times, air con regass, the odd relay switch, battery twice, windscreen wipers three times, plus all the regular and on time small and major services including all filters, and cam belt and oils, also some and various hoses, i have all invoices of work and maintence, basically as and when anything needed to be done it was done, also no crashes or anything major like repairs as you are asking as the car has been maintained regularly, so really well maintained".

My question to you all, as a relative car ignoramus with limited funds, is basically: does the age, mileage and service history of the car mean that almost inevitably big (and therefore expensive) repair/replacement jobs are an inevitability? If so, what kind of jobs & costs are likely to be involved?

Thank you so much to anyone who can help


PS. I'm also faced with the risks associated with attempting to find and buy a suitable car with little or no mechanical knowledge and without anyone I know who can help and advise. In this circumstance, how would people advise me to go about sourcing a suitable motor and navigating my way through the murky and dangerous waters of car buying at my budget? I really can't afford to make an expensive mistake.

[volvo145]

If it was me I would forget about it due to mileage and your need for a reliable motor.
I personally would look for another Skoda estate which you can pick up for a reasonable cost.
Don't you know of a friendly garage tech that would help you out?
There not all bad

[Simon Jones]

My XC70 auto is still going strong at 213,000 but I would be wary of an auto that's had issues in the past. The other statement that rings alarm bells is "the other problem going forward will be a head gasket will need doing eventually, its just a fact on any car".

Not sure why the seller feels it is inevitable that head gaskets will fail so that suggests he's got symptoms already.

The V70 diesel is a nice big comfy reliable car & sounds like it would be perfect for your needs, but for the budget you have in mind you will tend to be looking at the older / higher mileage end of the market. I bought an '02 V70 D5 for £4K a few years back, ran it for a year, just did regular servicing stuff & managed to sell it for £100 more than I paid for it. If you find a good one, it should work out as a cost-effective solution.

[DC850]

That car looks like it has a few issues. so give it a miss if I was you. For example I had a 1994 850 2.0 Auto (V70 for runner) which I owned from 2005 to 2013. had 50K on the clock and cost £2.5K I converted to LPG at 80K in and ran the car for until November last year selling it with 220K on it. Was on Ebay last month by he person I sold it to so still going at 20.

This turned out to be the most reliable car and per mile the cheapest to run. As I was using to travel to work I was doing over 550 mile per week. Replaced with a XC90 last November and replaced the wife's car to V70 last week.

So in short Volvo are expensive but if you find a good one the cost is negated due to the reliability. Like all cars there are problem ones so if you can take someone along that knows cars and can be objective.

The V70 D5 will tick all your boxes hope you and your daughter find the right car soon. If you do go V70 D5 ensure the cambelt (timing belt) was done at around 100K mark and that the turbo is OK.

Others will be along pointing out more help and things to look for.

happy hunting

DC850

[largeruk]

Thanks to all of you who've replied so far with your very helpful thoughts - much appreciated.

2 things strike me so far:-

1. all seem to agree the particular V70 I asked about may not be the best option to pursue based on its mileage and issues mentioned by the seller
2. I'm beginning to wonder if my budget (<£2.5k) is basically too small to give much likelihood of finding a well looked after (albeit older) Volvo with good history and non-stellar mileage.

If I'm right, then what cars should I realistically be looking at? Finding another Skoda (presumably an older Octy estate again) has already been suggested by one member - what do others think about suitable cars given my budget?

I'm also really struggling to find a way through the conundrum of lacking knowledge about cars and not knowing anyone who can fill that gap. So, the actual process of how best to look for a car while minimizing the inevitable risks attached is taxing my brain every bit as much as which car actually to pursue...

I don't know of any friendly garages or even individuals who can help me through this minefield. Given all that, what do others think is the path of least risk and maximum reward...? I'd be genuinely grateful for any thoughts or advice on this.

Thanks again...

Originally Posted by volvo145

If it was me I would forget about it due to mileage and your need for a reliable motor.

Originally Posted by Simon Jones

I would be wary of an auto that's had issues in the past. The other statement that rings alarm bells is "the other problem going forward will be a head gasket will need doing eventually, its just a fact on any car".

Not sure why the seller feels it is inevitable that head gaskets will fail so that suggests he's got symptoms already.

Originally Posted by DC850

That car looks like it has a few issues. so give it a miss if I was you.

Originally Posted by volvo145

I personally would look for another Skoda estate which you can pick up for a reasonable cost.

[blueacid]

Originally Posted by largeruk

Thanks to all of you who've replied so far with your very helpful thoughts - much appreciated.

2 things strike me so far:-

1. all seem to agree the particular V70 I asked about may not be the best option to pursue based on its mileage and issues mentioned by the seller
2. I'm beginning to wonder if my budget (<£2.5k) is basically too small to give much likelihood of finding a well looked after (albeit older) Volvo with good history and non-stellar mileage.

If I'm right, then what cars should I realistically be looking at? Finding another Skoda (presumably an older Octy estate again) has already been suggested by one member - what do others think about suitable cars given my budget?

I'm also really struggling to find a way through the conundrum of lacking knowledge about cars and not knowing anyone who can fill that gap. So, the actual process of how best to look for a car while minimizing the inevitable risks attached is taxing my brain every bit as much as which car actually to pursue...

I don't know of any friendly garages or even individuals who can help me through this minefield. Given all that, what do others think is the path of least risk and maximum reward...? I'd be genuinely grateful for any thoughts or advice on this.

Thanks again...

First, I'm sorry to learn that you're having to traipse up and down the country so much - I wish you and yours all the best.

Without knowing precisely what equipment is required, is there any way that a Saloon or Hatchback could carry all that you need? When I was shopping for my car I knew I wanted a comfortable motorway cruiser but the crucial difference was that I didn't need to carry much besides myself.

I looked at the V70, thinking "well I'll bet the space comes in useful!" but quickly noticed that for my budget the estates had all done far more mileage and were looking tattier for it inside: they had been doing hard work and still carried a price premium for people wanting the practicalities of same.

The saloon S60 was way cheaper, I believe due to it simply not being an estate. But I still enjoy the quiet comfortable ride, the dual climate (so a dozing front passenger can crank the heating for them while I can stay cooler). When I was shopping a year ago, my £2,500 S60 D5 SE Auto was bought in fine condition with 65,000 miles on it. If I had to have an estate for that price, it would be a ratty one with 150,000 miles on it. At least, looking at the market at the time.

I don't doubt that this market effect will occur whatever you look at - it's a bit of a pain! Saying that, other cars that might be worth a look are the Octavia you mention, Mondeo estate, Passat/Audi A4 estate (Look at the 130 PD engine, it's a bit older and agricultural but it's proving to be quite reliable), and possibly a cheap leftfield choice but maybe a Citroen C5? With the squishy suspension it would certainly help your daughter sleep, but I've zero idea about how they are to own and run - more research definitely needed there I think.


Still, to provide some useful advice - there are a few horror stories about older diesels. Some, yeah, are unreliable. Others really detest being used for short runs so the regular M1 pounding you'll be doing will help out - I strongly doubt you'll run into issues with any Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) fitted. Although if you're getting a V70/S60 diesel from pre-2005 the odds are that it won't have one of these anyway.

The auto gearbox in these volvos is also a bit of an odd one. The actual box is well engineered and fundamentally reliable, but Volvo didn't schedule any oil changes for the gearbox ("Sealed for life!"). This meant that "life" was about 120,000 miles before the box died, killed by rotten old fluid that should have been changed. The same gearbox goes into some Saab and Renault vehicles, it's interesting that those manufacturers suggest oil changes at around the 50,000 mile mark. So for me, when I got my car I changed the oil at 68,000 miles figuring it was just a bit "overdue". So far no worries! When cruising at 70, yes I get worse fuel economy than I would have with a manual geabox, but when stuck in traffic it's a luxury to not have to keep pumping a heavy clutch pedal to creep forward..


Hope that something in here helps!

[Aveton Gifford]

Definately avoid the V70 you asked about, head gaskets are not an item that inevitably fail, they fail for a reason, in all the years I have been driving, I have only had 1 fail, and that was a Cavalier SRi 130, and I was caning it at the time, so it wasn't a surprise it went!

I think you would be well advised to look at a saloon, the boots are a lot larger than you may think, and they are quieter as well, I went for a saloon over an estate for much the same reasons as blueacid, he is right in what he says

I was told I would struggle with 2 small children having a saloon, and that advice was total cobblers, we have never run out of room when going anywhere, and my mum lives in the far north of Scotland, so when we go to see her from Cornwall we have to pack a lot, including the pushchair, and the car always has space left over in the boot

As for the auto gearbox, I had the fluid changed and the software updated when I purchased mine and it has been great since (touch wood) you have to remember that all the nightmare stories you read about only account for a very small amount of the Volvo's driving around, and nobody ever comes onto a forum to say there gearbox is working well do they!

Sadly, any car you are looking at may let you down, no matter what the make is, but I came back to Volvo after many, many years of driving cars that let me down, and the S60 has proved to be as reliable as all my old Volvo's were (245/240/340/740's) touch wood again!!

If you look at an S60 or V70 just remember to buy the best car you can for the money, look for lots of receipts that the seller has kept, this says more than just a stamped service book, look at the condition of the seats/carpets/steering wheel/gearknob/load area for signs of wear, that will tell you a lot.

Check everything works as it should, door locks/windows/sunroof/aircon etc. etc. Under the bonnet, check the colour of the coolant (greenish blue is correct) check the level/colour of the oil, it should be on the XXXXX mark on the dipstick, right up to the top X is perfect, have a look around for any oil/fluid leaks, and at the general condition of the engine, does it look OK? and check the radiator through the front air dam (under the bumper) for condition, it will never look perfect, unless it is brand new, but it shouldn't look really rust with loads of bent fins either.

Look at the tyres, these can speak volumes about the way a car is maintained, if they all match, and are good quality, that is a good sign, if all 4 tyres are a different cheap brand (Wanli/Linglong etc.) the car is/has been run on a budget, and tyres are the last place anybody should save money on a car unless they are really desperate!

All the above you can use when looking at any car really, the main thing is don't let your head rule your heart.

Also check these sticky's for more advice

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=22637

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=40932

These apply to the V70 as well as the S60

Another tip is, if you can afford it, look at the 2003 onwards cars as these were greatly improved

And if you need any more advice, feel free to ask, I'm sure people on here would rather you asked and bought a good car than didn't and bought a dog!!

[reesky]

"Over-revving" should not cause dash lights.

I would avoid like the plague. You are unlikely to get reliability with that year and an automatic box.

I'd get a Skoda, or something from Japan, Malaysia, etc.

[oragex]

Originally Posted by largeruk

Hi to all


"i have spent a lot of money in fact everything the car needs to date, its just had a major service with me and cam belt change which is the thing that can go wrong, i thought i had a gearbox problem as i dropped down to lower gear going up a steep hill and a dashboard light came on, so i took it to the garage and they drained the gearbox oil and put fresh oil in they also did a diagnostic check and found it was ok and told me i should have stayed in top gear and not over revved the car, its been fine since, its not a sports car but a diesel estate and if driven normally it will be fine and last but unfortunatly gearboxes eventually wear out, also i only put the expensive diesel in it and that makes it feel more responsive, and is also better for the engine, the other problem going forward will be a head gasket will need doing eventually, its just a fact on any car" and,

" the gearbox is the original, what else have i replaced only ongoing maintence things like light bulbs, the dashboard computer twice, brakes two or three times, and wishbone suspension, all tyres about three times, air con regass, the odd relay switch, battery twice, windscreen wipers three times, plus all the regular and on time small and major services including all filters, and cam belt and oils, also some and various hoses, i have all invoices of work and maintence, basically as and when anything needed to be done it was done, also no crashes or anything major like repairs as you are asking as the car has been maintained regularly, so really well maintained".

Sounds to me like a car that will keep drowning quite some money into repairs. The gearbox those years did not last and once it got the issue, the car was pretty much useless. The head gasket is very costly, if it can be fixed. This car is basically ready for the junk yard.

[John_C]

At circa £2.5k for a diesel estate which isn't going to land you with unplanned bills I've got to say you're basically playing the lottery - you might win, but the odds are heavily stacked against you.

Can I ask why the Skoda needs to go? Is it completely stuffed? Your budget buys an awful lot of maintenance.

Also how regular is regular? Weekly? Monthly? How many miles do you do in total in a year?