V70 D5 impressions

[100K+]

Had my 2015 V70 D5 for 3 months now, but have just returned from a 1150 or so round trip from Newcastle to St Austell including a few days sight seeing.
First long run (over 150 miles) I've done in it.
Lets say 90% of transit journey was motorway/duel carriage. Sat at 60/65mph ( more 60 than 65) on cruise, computer av. for trip down 61.2mpg. highly delighted.
Approx 350 miles while there dropped Av.mpg to 54.1.
On return more 65 than 60 MPG improved slightly to 56.9.

Car travels smoother than P2 cars I previously owned, but actual seats not as comfortable, but still a lot better than OK. Lower wind road and engine noise too.

Annoyances : not so much the electric hand brake - which don't get me wrong is a bad idea, nor the lack of an engine temperature gauge, or a decent fuel gauge, but the loss of the tinted banded strip across the top of the windscreen.
I now find the sun can suddenly dazzle when before it never did.

Cheers

Bob

[mhon72]

Agree with you on the tinted band at the top of the windscreen. Had it on my P2 and made a huge difference to driving comfort as being quite tall I find the fold down visors get in the way.
I'm going to get a 6in tinted band fitted when I get the rear windows done. The only problem is it won't be graduated so I hope the edge of the tint doesn't become annoying.
Is there a P3 windscreen available with a tinted header? The tinting guy seems to think there is.
Looking around very few cars including the more premium brands seem to have these fitted anymore.

[xco]

Halfords years ago sold a graduated 3" dot strip you fitted with soapy water and a squeegee (I dont know if they still do it but amazon or a 3rd party motor accessories website may have something similar if not) to the top of your screen at rear view mirror level.

The graduated sun tint at the top of the windscreen you quote is reffered to as a " triple zone screen" and are still available although you may have to order (be careful you order the right tint though they come in loads of colours. The code should be somewhere on the car for it but I dont know where, maybe a call to volvo parts would help)

Hope this helps.

[tt82]

Thats fantastic economy. Really glad your pleased with the car!

[100K+]

Originally Posted by tt82

Thats fantastic economy. Really glad your pleased with the car!

Its a lot better than I was expecting. From comments on here was I was expecting about 45mpg poss 50 mpg. Bonus is the 5 pot 215bhp engine which pulls better than expected - not T5 levels but not shabby.
Glad I opted for the D5 rather than the D4.

Cheers

Bob

[Scooser]

Are you sure you weren't driving in each direction with a 70 mph tail wind, as the mpg figures quoted are at odds with about everything I've ever seen, and about 20 mpg better than I get!

[Blueray]

Yep mpg was the most striking thing i noticed too.

Example ;Trip to the Spey last year - 4 passengers and fully loaded with all the fishing gear - 65-70 mph on cruise and averaged 58 mpg.

Normal driving around is 48 mpg - and never been below 45 mpg.

Mind u - its only done 187,000

A great car and engine - enjoy

[mhon72]

Originally Posted by xco

Halfords years ago sold a graduated 3" dot strip you fitted with soapy water and a squeegee (I dont know if they still do it but amazon or a 3rd party motor accessories website may have something similar if not) to the top of your screen at rear view mirror level.

The graduated sun tint at the top of the windscreen you quote is reffered to as a " triple zone screen" and are still available although you may have to order (be careful you order the right tint though they come in loads of colours. The code should be somewhere on the car for it but I dont know where, maybe a call to volvo parts would help)

Hope this helps.

Yep, seen those stick on sunstrips before. Do I need to add my name in letters?!
In all seriousness, I'm not sure how well these apply. May have to see how the window tinting film works out.
I'll bear the factory tinted windscreen in mind should I need to replace mine in the future.

[100K+]

Originally Posted by Scooser

Are you sure you weren't driving in each direction with a 70 mph tail wind, as the mpg figures quoted are at odds with about everything I've ever seen, and about 20 mpg better than I get!

As I said originally I was a bit gob smacked at how well the economy ran, as I considered the D4 as the "new kid on the block" so to speak with good power and better economy.

I was expecting about 45mpg so mega delighted. The upshot is I can press the loud pedal more often and still return 40+mpg

Coming from a petrol V70 T5 and a V70 AWD R even that's a 25% improvement.

Cheers

Bob

[xco]

Originally Posted by mhon72

Yep, seen those stick on sunstrips before. Do I need to add my name in letters?!
In all seriousness, I'm not sure how well these apply. May have to see how the window tinting film works out.
I'll bear the factory tinted windscreen in mind should I need to replace mine in the future.

LOL. The one I chose was graduated black dots and looked very smart when fitted

The graduated strip fits the same method as the film I believe, that is, with soapy water and a squeegee or sponge to remove the air bubbles.

I fitted one to my Citroen cx2000 many years ago because it didn't have a triple zone screen,it was easy to do but I had to take the rear view mirror off and refit it afterwards otherwise it would have been a pain,but it did its job very well being graduated.
But I have heard stories that the film is quite fragile and easily damaged. I think you have to wet the glass and float it on like a transfer,its really meant for flat glass.

A friend of mine has his 04 xc90 back and side windows done and his dog has wrecked it scratching the glass.
I know that wont happen where you want to fit it but the film is usually meant for flat glass as privacy(as fitted to mine)not curved glass where you intend to fit it.