Late XC70 Buying (ULEZ Compliant) - Anything to look for?

[CosmicBike]

Thanks for the responses. My last XC90 was the 205bhp twin turbo and that was certainly no slouch for such a big wagon, a vast improvement on the first which was the 163 and suffered the initial getaway hesitation. Now the hunt begins for the right one, perfect world is going to be the 220bhp, winter pack and would be nice in the bronze colour with sensible miles. Might take a while.

[apersson850]

Properly taken care of, the gearbox shifts very nicely even immediately after a cold start. By cold I mean like -15°C or so.
I've had my 2012 since new and replaced the oil in the gearbox three times now.

At -15°C it typically takes 4-5 km before lockup engages, if you go out on a 90 km/h road.

Sport mode makes a big difference in behaviour for the gearbox. If I'm lurking for a gap to overtake in, I usually flip over to sport mode while waiting for that opportunity.

Note that if you find a 2016 D4 (181 hp/400 Nm) you can apply Polestar and get 220 hp/440 Nm - converting it to a D5 after the fact, so to speak.

We have one 2016 D4 XC70 as well (wife's), with the original 181 hp. For everyday driving it doesn't matter, but if you whip the whole stable, then there's a very noticeable difference compared to my D5 with 230 hp/470 Nm.

Note that the TF80-SC and TF80-SD trannys are of the limited slip lockup type. In some cases, they'll not lock firmly, but just half way, to reduce vibrations at low revs. Mainly noticeable with diesels. As soon as you press a bit more to accelerate, it will return to full lockup to avoid wasting fuel.

As said above, during normal driving lockup engages almost always, like half a second after a gear change. Only during special cases, like when I was towing 2½ tons at around 40 km/h did lockup disengage for longer periods.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

Agree with some of the above, but the OP was talking about late model, ulez compliant Euro 6 models. It’s a big wafty car, and it bowls along nicely in D, and yes it won’t kick down in an instant, BUT those with ‘sport mode’ will appreciate it is exactly that. Completely turns it into a 220 bhp AWD animal, especially at traffic lights , roundabouts, and overtaking. I did wonder if the ‘sport mode’ actually alters the engine ecu in any way, sort of temporary Polestar. My goodness does it shift. First time I tried it at a roundabout, I was almost ‘in’ the roundabout in a jiffy, I forgot to turn the steering wheel quick enough, the power delivery is instant. These 2016 models must be the absolute best of the bunch. Mine has winter pack, yesterday ice on windscreen etc, so I jumped in, started the car, pressed the button twice, once for electric windscreen defrost, and twice for thrice power windscreen blower, jumped out, wiped all the other windows clear of mush, and by the time I had jumped back, the heated seat was toasty, and the windscreen completely clear. I just love it more every day.

I am strongly of the view that in Sport mode the throttle response on my 2015MY XC60 was quite a bit sharper, and the throttle curve was altered also.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by apersson850

I've had my 2012 since new and replaced the oil in the gearbox three times now.

Nice

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by CosmicBike

Thanks for the responses. My last XC90 was the 205bhp twin turbo and that was certainly no slouch for such a big wagon, a vast improvement on the first which was the 163 and suffered the initial getaway hesitation. Now the hunt begins for the right one, perfect world is going to be the 220bhp, winter pack and would be nice in the bronze colour with sensible miles. Might take a while.

The last XC90's with 200BHP (MY 2011 onwards) were the single turbo Euro 4/185 engine with different software and injectors - the twin turbo engine was never fitted to the Mk1 XC90.

So you will fine an XC70 an improvement in many ways, though not quite as refined as the last of the 90's.

[Kev0607]

What does the winter pack give you?

[yostumpy]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

What does the winter pack give you?

Not sure TBH, but I guess heated front seats, heated screen, heated side mirrors, not sure what else, mine is an SE nav. Headlamp washers are std are they not?.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

Not sure TBH, but I guess heated front seats, heated screen, heated side mirrors, not sure what else, mine is an SE nav. Headlamp washers are std are they not?.

I’m not sure either haha. Maybe someone can clarify.

I don’t think a heated screen is part of the winter pack though. Maybe it is on the newer shape XC90/other newer models.

[Andmurph]

My 2010 SE LUX has heated front seats, no pre heater.
Front fog lights? Winter tyres?

[Andmurph]

Heated door mirrors and “luxury mats” show up on a Google search. I find the Genuine Rubber mats much better in Sweden and UK environments.