S80: Engine 1.6d Drive

[N0vice Dr1ver]

I'm new to the forum, and would appreciate some advice.
I am considering purchase of a used S80 - The 1.6d Drive model appears to offer great value for money, from both purchase price / fuel economy / road tax etc.
I assume that the attractive used prices are because whilst this model was marketed to company car drivers focused on tax efficiency, the smaller engine appeals less to a private buyer when a few years old.

But I have 2 questions regarding the 1.6D engine (manual transmission):
- Is the lower torque / power of this unit a material issue for everyday mixed road driving - should one avoid this and choose a larger engine model ?
- Is the engine more highly stressed, to a point where reliability in the longer term would be an issue ?

[volvorocks]

Is it a 1.6d or a D2 which is also a 1.6?

My own view is that the 1.6d or the D2 1.6 is too small an engine for a large car. I have experience of a V70 D2 auto, which whilst a nice drive was woefully underpowered. Ok it drove nice around town and on dual carriageways and cruised nicely at the legal limit, although imo there was far too little power. Add in 4 more people or a load of luggage and the issue gets worse. Same engine in s40 was acceptable as it is in the s60. Just enough. My experience in these two latter cars though is in manual form.(owned both)

Many owners will disagree with me, although tbh it is better that you take a long test drive to satisfy yourself rather than rely on opinions such as mine or others

Regards

[N0vice Dr1ver]

Thanks.
I would go for a manual transmission(think they all are with this engine size). I don't know, but think this is the 1.6 rather than D2.
As you say, i need to test drive, but am also concerned by reliability factors...

[volvorocks]

Reliability should be ok, although people like Clan et al know better knowing the ins and outs of both the 1.6 and the D2.

Our 1.6d s40 was engine wise fine - as was/is our D2 S60

Regards

[BigBadRob]

Originally Posted by N0vice Dr1ver

I assume that the attractive used prices are because whilst this model was marketed to company car drivers focused on tax efficiency, the smaller engine appeals less to a private buyer when a few years old.

But I have 2 questions regarding the 1.6D engine (manual transmission):
- Is the lower torque / power of this unit a material issue for everyday mixed road driving - should one avoid this and choose a larger engine model ?
- Is the engine more highly stressed, to a point where reliability in the longer term would be an issue ?

Quite right. I bought a V70 DRIVe a few weeks ago second hand after a company owner had had it for 2.5 years. It was very cheap for the amount of car I got.

It isn't exactly the quickest but the engine is best described as 'plucky' and considering the weight it has to drag around, mine performs admirably. Although as yet I haven't loaded it to the top and gone to the Pyrenees or anything like that.

Regarding reliability, everyone I've spoken to says that dutiful attention to the service schedule is paramount as well as always using the specified oil, especially as it heads past 100k but other than that they generally seem OK.

I have to say that the huge drop in insurance cost and only shelling out £30 for my road tax has certainly helped me feel it was a good decision

[Rettopian]

I have the S80 D2that is now 15 months old & 28,500 miles on the clock. I'm now into my 3rd month of ownership & 4500 miles in. Can't comment on long term reliability yet but so far no problems.

I came from a 2.7ltr V6 diesel with over 200bhp. Overall - very impressed. 'Plucky' sums it up nicely. Mine has the powershift transmission which is really smooth, the changes hardly registering on the consciousness. Under acceleration the engine is a little gruff compared to my previous drive but not massively less smooth. Obviously its not as tuneful or smooth as my two previous D5's.

My daily drive will take me over mixed A & B roads into Bath or Bristol where I'll rarely get above 60mph & so far I tend to get 52-54 on the trip computer.

Came back from Birmingham yesterday & the economy over 135 miles was over 64mpg. I was - delighted - at one point it flicked up 67+ as the average - admittedly this was a 70 mph trundle due to rain - lots of rain......

On the Motorway it cruises very nicely & keeps up with the flow of traffic without difficulty. I do a fair few motorway miles in a month, sometimes solo - sometimes 4 up with luggage. Its not struggled. If you're the kind of chap that wants to blast out of the contraflow in a flash of kidney crushing acceleration though - you'll need to look elsewhere!

When I bought the car I tried to be rational. Roads are getting more congested & journeys slower. I do 24,000 miles a year probably half of those on the Motorway. My Youngest will be off to Uni in the not to distant future so more miles will be on the cards. My Wife's Dad is in his 80's & my Mum in her 70's so the need to travel to see them will probably increase - they both live about 140 miles from us. So, I decided I wanted something big enough to take 4 in comfort with a decent boot that wasn't going to cost a fortune to fuel, tax, insure & maintain and wouldn't be vastly expensive to buy. The S80 D2 ticked the boxes & so far I've not got any complaints. Realistically, given a choice of more power or less - we'd probably all say more! How often do we get to use it though??

I think the model you're looking at has the 16 valve head which you can get remapped to produce a bit more 'poke' - no doubt others can tell you more on that front.

Drive one - see what you think.