Volvo V70-140

[gort]

Just bought a 2001 Volvo V70 140 Estate. I have just been informed that this model was only produced for the one year, although I have seen 2000 and 2002 140's advertised (maybe because of a delay in manuafacturing to licencing period). Can anyone enlighen me as to why this is so, and what different spec has the 140 got.........or not got. Have I unwittingly bought something that may be a problem.

I have also a couple of trivia questions:

My Volvo 2001 is on a 'Y' plate. Why is it not on a 01 or 51?

I understand the local authority index lettering system ended in 1999, in the days when you could find out where a car was first licenced. Does this not apply to 'Y' registrations, or perhaps even some X's? If so, how were the digits selected.

[oilburner]

Hi Gort,

There was no 01 plate, the system went from Y to 51 in Sep 2001 and then to 02 in March 2002, then 52, then 03, etc.

It was partly down to the timing of the introduction of the new plates (otherwise Y wouldn't have been used) and partly so that the DVLA could save the valuable 01 plates for a rainy day. I expect that in 10-15 years time they'll be auctioned off for vast amounts of cash.

The 140 is simply the BHP of the 2.4 engine. The were made for most of the production of the V70. There's also a 170 BHP 2.4 engine that's the same apart from software and the gearing.

The spec of your car is either base model, S or SE. The engine doesn't make a whole lot of difference to the spec. If you've no leather or alloys (or climate, I think) then you've probably got the base model.

The only major problem you're likely to have with this car is with the ETM, there's plenty of posts here on the subject that you should find quite easily.

This site might help with the number plate confusion:

http://www.richardsonclan.plus.com/

HTH!

[gort]

The ETM. yes, I now remember the Watchdod episode. What have I done!! (LOL)

Do you know if Volvo still will replace? American site says they gave a 10 year or 200000 mile guarantee to replace. The one I have bought, yet to collect, has done 115000, and has been Volvo serviced. presumably it would have been rectified....wouldn't it !!

Originally Posted by oilburner

Hi Gort,

There was no 01 plate, the system went from Y to 51 in Sep 2001 and then to 02 in March 2002, then 52, then 03, etc.

It was partly down to the timing of the introduction of the new plates (otherwise Y wouldn't have been used) and partly so that the DVLA could save the valuable 01 plates for a rainy day. I expect that in 10-15 years time they'll be auctioned off for vast amounts of cash.

The 140 is simply the BHP of the 2.4 engine. The were made for most of the production of the V70. There's also a 170 BHP 2.4 engine that's the same apart from software and the gearing.

The spec of your car is either base model, S or SE. The engine doesn't make a whole lot of difference to the spec. If you've no leather or alloys (or climate, I think) then you've probably got the base model.

The only major problem you're likely to have with this car is with the ETM, there's plenty of posts here on the subject that you should find quite easily.

This site might help with the number plate confusion:

http://www.richardsonclan.plus.com/

HTH!

[marcb]

Originally Posted by oilburner

The spec of your car is either base model, S or SE.

We've got a 140 V70 on a 51 plate - but there's nothing on the car to say beyond that what model it is and I had some trouble finding a model to select on an insurance company's website recently. It's got aircon and full leather - so I presume it's either the S or SE?

M.

[oilburner]

In 2001, the 2.4 140 went something like this:

base: air-con, front+rear electric windows, electric mirrors, HU-403 stereo with 6 speakers, cloth trim, reading lights, passenger vanity mirror, steel wheels

S model adds to above: cruise control, colour matched details, HU-603 stereo with 8 speakers, plush cloth trim, 15" alloys

SE models adds to above: climate, trip computer, auto dimming mirror, basic leather trim, front fogs, driver vanity mirror, 16" alloys

It is possible that someone could take a base or S model and bring it up to SE spec with the options list, for instance someone with restricted choice of company car but who is allowed to pay for options out of their own pocket. Unlikely, but possible.

As time went by, the specs became more generous and the base model was dropped.

So, with leather, chances are it's an SE, check to see if you have the rest. On my old X reg V70 2.4 140 it had all the SE features + electric sunroof, but the V5 and insurance database recorded it as a base model. Volvo customer services were able to confirm that it was an SE. Why they can't just put a badge on the back, I don't know!