St4 has wetted my appetite

[kieran40]

St4 has wetted my appetite for a s80 phase 3 d5 I've seen a few for under the 5k mark on 07 plates they seem like a awful lot of car for the cash and a nice upgrade and my 2cnd volvo. Looking too buy one preferably in black in the comming weeks. So any pointers on what to look out for whats to be avoided I'm guessing the autos.

[Rooster]

If i was to buy an S80 it would have to be an auto,

Wrong type of car for a manual box, there big motorway cruises not little pocket rockets

[kieran40]

Originally Posted by Rooster

If i was to buy an S80 it would have to be an auto,

Wrong type of car for a manual box, there big motorway cruises not little pocket rockets

Don't you get issues with the auto's rooster I prefer a manual

[Sasha94]

You get more issues with the manuals In terms of the 5 cylinder diesels, both versions of the single turbo D5 (2.4D163 and D5 185) are a little thirsty but nothing intolerable. Leather is a must as is the my key function and winter pack. Xenon's are useless, set way too low and even when set right they don't throw the light any better than the standard lights. Those are the main things, any toys on top of that like sat nav etc are nice but don't really add value unless it's adaptive cruise, BLIS, city safety, RSE, Keyless go etc

Make sure the cambelt was done at 108,000 if the car has more miles than that and has the latest aux belt tensioners fitted. Service intervals are 12 months or 18,000 miles whichever comes first.

The auto box is a strong reliable unit and the manual is half decent as well but obviously there is a clutch and dual mass flywheel to wear out. The EPB is very reliable and usually fault free.

Best of luck in your search, there are some nice ones out there!!

[green van man]

Kieran, your problem will be finding a manual with the D4/5 5 pot engine.
Like you I much prefer manual but hate leather seats, try finding an xc70 with cloth seats and manual transmission with a D4/5 motor.
Business edition has cloth seats and manual but unless buying new try finding the engine you want!!
They are out there but it takes looking and a willingness to travel.
Well worth it though in my view, the big diesel engine is a sublime mile muncher, lazy power and torque that makes the gearbox all but redundant once on the move.

Paul.

[kieran40]

Isint that geartronic troublesome

What about something like this https://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/barg...ger/1146888226

Seems a lot of car for the cash

[I-S]

Originally Posted by Sasha94

Xenon's are useless, set way too low and even when set right they don't throw the light any better than the standard lights.

Strongly disagree.

They are set by default way too low, I will not disagree. However, once set correctly they are better than the halogens, and on main beam (which is reasonably regular for me on the country roads I drive on) there is no comparison - the Xenons are WAY better.

The Xenons do not operate in the same way regarding low-beam/high-beam as the Halogens do. On the Halogen you have the H7 bulb that covers the dip-beam/DRL and the H9 that provides main beam. On the Xenon, the D1S Xenon produces the dip beam/DRL AND the shield moves away to allow it to cover the main beam pattern also. In addition to that there is an H7 halogen bulb that illuminates as additional main beam (and acts as the main beam "flash" if the D1S is not illuminated (ie you're set to sidelights)).

The xenon dip/main also turns with the steering. TBH this is a feature that I find neither here nor there, even with my twisty country road drives.

The Xenons also have the advantage that the dip can be flipped over to continental for driving abroad.

As for other things to look for... There's all the usual crash damage etc. On those engines they went through phases of issues with DPFs, so look out for evidence of issues or remedial works. I think between revisions to service routines and software and so on they've mostly resolved the issues. If you do get repeated "soot filter full" messages then if you have no boost leaks and the intercooler is in good nick then check the DPF pressure sensors. They're not terribly expensive parts.

Suspension seems to be fairly weak on these cars - shocks with very limited lifespans, bushing wear, top mount failures.

Fancy things like BLIS, City Safety, etc seem to bring big repair bills if they go wrong. Or if you have a minor front-damage collision, a knock to the radar module can be phenomenally expensive for example.

Wheels/tyres - I prefer the 17" options with 225/50R17, and find a nice soft-sidewalled ballon-like tyre (eg P7 Cinturato Blue, Efficiengrip, Primacy 3) for lovely ride and grip... not the last word in handling, but this is a very front heavy car with mac strut front suspension so it never will be.

Auto boxes - volvo stick with their "sealed for life" mantra on these. The truth is actually "sealed for the life that would be far longer if we actually changed the fluid".

[I-S]

Originally Posted by kieran40

Isint that geartronic troublesome

What about something like this https://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/barg...ger/1146888226

Seems a lot of car for the cash

It's not unusually good of a deal:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01512019138821

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01512049225352

Bigger cars tend to depreciate a lot more than littler ones so you rapidly get more for your money, although that does come with commensurately bigger servicing, tyre and tax bills.

[kieran40]

How do you fella's who own one feel about them as in everyday living with one. Are they as good as they look I'm not going to be using it a great deal as I'm keeping the x40 I have aswell I may aswell considering it's a good car and it's not worth a awful lot and it's costing me £700 to get my clutch done. That's brilliant. So what are these like to own and live with.

[Sasha94]

I'm still not convinced by the xenons on any Volvo tbh, unless you have an SE Lux car in front of you with them fitted I wouldn't bother looking myself but my colour perception is a bit off due to my poor eyesight so I find a xenon light a little too blue in some cases but the people I know who have an XC like mine but with xenons don't rate them that highly either. I dunno, I just didn't find them that much better on dip beam. They look nicer in the light unit though!!

Tbh, if you're using it as a second car you may as well go for a petrol one like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...age/1/usedcars

Unless you plan on using it the D5 isn't worth it, not a car to put a low mileage on IMO. Geartronic is a reliable gearbox, change the oil every 100k and you'll be grand! If you really want a manual car then that's different and there are petrol manuals about