How do the Ph3 cars compare to older models?

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by warninglight

As I understand it, the higher towing capacities in Auto models are because the torque convertor allows a more controlled set-off up a specified hill

Spot on - the vast majority of manufacturer specified towing weights are based on what the weight it when a fully loaded car is still able to do a controlled hill start on a 20% gradient. This is why the 1.6DriveE is 1300 Kg, AWD cars up to 2100 Kg.

[Puffster]

My old MY05 XC70 was a great car but not particularly fast. Towed a twin wheel car-trailer quite nicely though.

Getting into the MY11 XC70 was almost like getting into an old slipper, though IMHO not quite as comfy as the old one. Car is much faster (it is Polestar'd) but I don't think the handling is as good as previous one. I love a fast corner or roundabout yet I don't have the same confidence as I might have had in my old car. Could be down to memory and could be down to tyres but just my perception. Otherwise, it feels/looks almost exactly the same!

[warninglight]

Glad to hear you guys seem to rate them!

Going to view one this weekend - an 11 plate XC70 D5 Geartronic Lux - xenons etc. but seemingly no stereo upgrade. It looks like a reasonable price for the mileage, too.

One thing I have noticed is that tyres in the 18" size are not cheap! What wheel options are there for one of this age which look 'right'? I'm happy to drop to 17" or 16" if I can!

[green van man]

Mine runs 17". Plenty of tyres available at reasonable costs. Have pirelli all season on at present paid £88+ a corner, previously had Michelin's at £108 + a corner.

Thanks for the heads up, my handbook defiantly says 1800 kg for the manual gearbox. Agreed these figures changed as the cars developed.

Paul.

[Semnoz]

Originally Posted by warninglight

Glad to hear you guys seem to rate them!

Going to view one this weekend - an 11 plate XC70 D5 Geartronic Lux - xenons etc. but seemingly no stereo upgrade. It looks like a reasonable price for the mileage, too.

One thing I have noticed is that tyres in the 18" size are not cheap! What wheel options are there for one of this age which look 'right'? I'm happy to drop to 17" or 16" if I can!

Just make sure you stick to the specification published in the User's Manual for that year/model (page 309 from the following):

http://az685612.vo.msecnd.net/pdfs/1...EN_tp11753.pdf

I expect the 215/65/16 tyres would make the car look more 'offroad', which might suit your taste. I too don't like 18" - 17" is all you need. The outer diameter of all those lists tyre sizes might be similar, so the wheel-arch gap might be the same (more of an upper gap on the XC70 compared to V70).