Looking to buy a Phase 3 V70R Automatic

[Jason Watt]

Hi.

My story short.

Back in 1998 I had a Black 850 T5-R Estate and I absolutely loved it.
My friends drove Bimmers and Audi’s but they couldn’t keep up with my BSR tunes 315BHP sleeper.

Since then I’ve had a motorcycle accident that left my paralyzed but live has gone on and I have owned a lot of car converted to hand controls.

I’ve recently come across a Black V70R Estate for sale and I sort of fell in love with the idea of reliving the past.

Questions:

Is a Phase 3 with the 5 speed auto a better buy than a earlier model with a 4 speed?

I would like to make a horsepower upgrade to approx 350BHP is that a bad idea with an automatic transmission?

Thanks

[DSK]

I have personally avoided big power upgrades in automatic cars as they auto boxes are always the weakest link. In manuals, clucthes etc can be changed without hassle but, any issues on an automatic box will turn into an fast expensive migrane.

I run an MTE stage 1 remap on a 4spd auto S70R (with a first gear torque limit). Had it put on in 2011 and the car is still sweet as but, its driven sensibly and not raced off the lights etc.

I have 2 C70 T5's with the 5spd auto's and they are lovely boxes. The gearbox oil is changed frequently and they are going well. 1 will also get an MTE stage 1 remap at some point but I'd not be going further than that for power to ensure longevity of the autobox.

[sdg1970]

+1 on above ^

I run a 1997 FWD V70R 4 spd auto, with an MTE S1 map and JT Tuning 3" turboback exhaust. One of the first things I did when I got the car was flush the autobox twice and then re-fill with fully synthetic Dexron III. It gets the power inputted progressively and not flat to the floor all at once. Power wise it's certainly sub-290bhp, and I wouldn't want to go bigger with an auto.

I'd wager your intended 350bhp would be way too much for the 5-speed auto in the later cars, which to be fair have mixed opinions as to performance/reliability.

[rockinron]

Having owned both the 5 speed autos just don't drive like the 4 speeds at all.

Just my opinion but the 5 speed is much more suited to leisurely driving whereas the 4 speed just feels more raw and kicks down better. Or put more simply the 4 speed puts a smile on your face whereas the 5 speed just feels like a quickish car.
Also for that kind of power the 4 speed means when you hit the kick down it only got to go through 1 gear before the power hits. The 4 speed autos with the selector set to the 3 position are the ultimate grin-on-your-face machine and the box is far more suited to some fast paced country roads. The 5s just lack something.

Also the 5 speed car has the later 2401cc engine whereas the 4 speed has the original 2319cc T5 which has a slightly better reputation although both are sound blocks.

If you didn't want to go so old the last of the V70Rs with the 6 speed box are unbelievable. A real step up in speed from the MK1s and the gearbox is excellent and uses the lock up clutch all the time so feels like an automatically shifted manual than a slush box.

For any auto Volvo make sure you get it up to temperature and feel for any transmission knocks or flares. Particularly when accelerating lightly (when they start to flare it often happen more clearly at slow acceleration rather than fast).
Supposedly the 4 speeds are more resilient than the 5s to not having the fluid changed. I've owed around 15 Volvos from that era and would not touch a 5 speed box with more than 100k on the clock unless it's got documented history of a full fluid change, especially in an R.

[Jason Watt]

Thanks for a great explanation and for sharing your thoughts.
You seem to have a lot of experience with the automatic trans R-cars.