Robustness, reliability, problem areas of '01 5 speed manual trans?

jrschwit · Post by **jrschwit** » 21 Mar 2025, 13:27

I am considering the purchase of a 2001 V70T5 with the original 5 speed manual trans. I cannot test drive because of unrelated issues but I'd like to know of any problem areas with the 5 speed. I'm familiar with the V70 and it's challenges but no experience with the manual trans. The car has about 100K miles and is priced attractively.
Any comments are welcomed.

ignatz · Post by **ignatz** » 21 Mar 2025, 15:29

I had an 01 V70 T5 and it shifted great. My current 06 S60 T5 has a 6 speed and that works great too. What I always worried about more than the tranny is the clutch slave cylinder.
100K on the tranny isn't high mileage if driven sensibly, but the slave cylinder on the wagon you are looking at could be 25 years old. I'm in the same boat, but love driving my 06 T5.
I never had problems with my clutch slave cylinder, but just thought I'd mention it.

Post by **BlackBart** » 21 Mar 2025, 15:42

Is it accessible? Hard to reach? It could be rebuilt or replaced with new.

Post by **matthew1** » 21 Mar 2025, 16:12

I changed a clutch in a Honda Accord of roughly the same year, back in 2014. While it's apples-oranges in make, it wasn't that difficult, and there's no tricky electric component (modules, Vida, etc.) for diagnosis. Clutch failure is a very linear, obvious, prolonged mechanical situation that gives you eons to prepare, while maintaining drivability. That's my 2¢.

jrschwit · Post by **jrschwit** » 21 Mar 2025, 16:23

Ignatz , Matthew1- thanks for the comments. I grew up driving cars with manual 5 speeds and miss the sense of control over shift timing and rpm. Those that I'm most familiar with were 60s and 70s vintage Toyotas, Alfas and Dodge Caravans. I found them all to be basically trouble free and robustly built with the occasional attention needed to a master or slave cyl, as you point out. I also found that the flywheel, pressure plate and clutch disc would last several hundred K miles if driven properly. I'm not put off by occasional maintenance such as seals and the like but would like to know if the internals hold up well.

I seem to recall reading that Volvo flywheels are prone to wear and the pressure plate/disc are insanely expensive. So I'm hoping for feedback to know pitfalls may await.

Plus, my wife really would like to get back in a manual shift car - she's one in a thousand!

Post by **abscate** » 21 Mar 2025, 19:29

$1000 for the dual mass flywheels and clutches but I’m on two clutches over 250k miles

Post by **scot850** » 21 Mar 2025, 19:45

But is that a FCP 2 clutches?

Neil.

jrschwit · Post by **jrschwit** » 22 Mar 2025, 06:59

Abscate,
Could you please clarify? Do you mean you have two vehicles, each with over 250K on a clutch? If so, that would allay any concern I might have about clutch/flywheel longevity.
Jim

Post by **abscate** » 23 Mar 2025, 03:04

jrschwit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2025, 06:59 Abscate,
Could you please clarify? Do you mean you have two vehicles, each with over 250K on a clutch? If so, that would allay any concern I might have about clutch/flywheel longevity.
Jim

Clutch life comes down to how it is driven , not the parts.

V70 T5 1999 still on original clutch, 256k miles
V70 2005 NA driven around DC beltway , 120k miles needed new plate
Grunhilde v70 1998 new clutch at 180k miles
I did a 1999 NA v70 two years ago, 210k miles original clutch
I think Jane bond v70 was 160k miles on clutch one ( no failure, replaced with blown engine) and 200k miles on that clutch before it was hit from behind an saved my friend Firefox

Post by **BlackBart** » 23 Mar 2025, 09:41

Those are impressive numbers of miles on a clutch.