Can I just take a moment to say "Wow"??

[Georgeandkira]

To answer your questions:
1) Yes, the luxury / price increase was for POSH not utilitarian.
2) You got me with the engine question. I've only heard rumors the 3.2 I6 is less reliable than the 5 cylinder motors.
I've also heard the 6 drinks more (25% more) fuel.

I do like that the non-turbo '08 and on XC-70's (they dropped the V70 name) sit higher.

[abscate]

So, I've had my 2001 V70 NA manual for about 2 weeks now.

I have had my years of hot rodding around - maybe they will come again when I retire, but for now I'm very content to sedately go to and from work and pick my kids up from school.

So I bought this thing, looking at the curb weight and looking at the HP and torque ratings, expecting a nice, boring, really not fun to drive, but long lived car. I had an 84 240GL in the mid nineties, and that's exactly what it was.

I am *amazed* at how much fun this thing is to drive around. I cannot believe that I've got the absolute base model, it's 16 years old, and yet it's this enjoyable.

In a straight line it goes down the highway comfortably. It merges without drama. It overtakes and passes *surprisingly easily* with such a flat seeming torque curve.

It corners - well pretty darn nicely! It certainly doesn't feel as long as it is, turn-in is much quicker than I expected, it corners flatter than I expected, and overall it far exceeds what I would have been happy with for a 16 year old full size wagon.

And while I am not one to push such an old car hard, it just naturally seems to want to open up and go in 2nd and 3rd. I hit the cruise control "resume" in 5th today after the guy front of me moved over, and was surprised at the solid, noticeable pull, on a pretty good hill, from about 65 to 80. This car has enough oomph that I have to admit I kinda enjoy those situations where I need to give it a little extra, but it still doesn't require me to rev to the stratosphere - even when doing a spirited merge I'm very rarely hitting beyond 4K RPMs. At one point I wondered if I'd missed a turbo under the hood.

(And might I point out - all the above is with mud and snow tires on it - because that's what it came with, and that's what's staying on it until spring)

I came from a late 90's Saturn. That car was an absolute miracle - I paid less than $700 for it 5 years ago, put maybe $1200 into it since then, and it got me to and from with no problems - if a careless neighbor hadn't totalled it while it sat in front of my house, I bet I'd have got 5 more years from it, easy.

I respected that car - that it was so reliable and got the job done after nearly 20 years. With what insurance gave me for it, I was very skeptical of finding the same thing again. And while the jury is out on my V70 as far as that kind of thing goes (through no fault of its own), I absolutely did not expect to find something I could actually enjoy for this amount of money. I have owned brand new cars (mid-range domestic brands) that weren't as much a joy to drive as this thing is.

Those of you with newer or higher performance models - well I can imagine that you skip down the sidewalk to get into them every day. I think I'm a Volvo convert now, and this will be my preferred brand going forward. (Though I don't think I'll ever buy one new, unless there's a big windfall in my future.)

Anyway - I really love this thing - and I didn't expect to. I hope everyone is enjoying theirs this much.

You absolutely stole this car, old and broke . Happy for ya. Don’t sweat the ETM, there are many that go 200k +

Pm sent to you as I’m opening an office in Morgantown PA. Not too far

[matthew1]

I miss my R.

[oragex]

And while I am not one to push such an old car hard, it just naturally seems to want to open up and go in 2nd and 3rd. I hit the cruise control "resume" in 5th today after the guy front of me moved over, and was surprised at the solid, noticeable pull, on a pretty good hill, from about 65 to 80. This car has enough oomph that I have to admit I kinda enjoy those situations where I need to give it a little extra, but it still doesn't require me to rev to the stratosphere - even when doing a spirited merge I'm very rarely hitting beyond 4K RPMs. At one point I wondered if I'd missed a turbo under the hood.

I did a few pulls from about 50mph, but mine has the slower Aisin and some decently stuck piston rings (no much but the engine still doesn't rev as easily as a new one). I think the PCV plays a role in stucking the rings on this engine, it just doesn't feel 'easy' to rev. When I bought the car, the engine was screaming so loud at 3000rpm I was afraid to rev higher. It's good to replace the PCV at no more than 80K miles and also give the engine some action now and then to keep the ring grooves clean

@ 2:50

80kmh = 50mph
100kmh = 62mph
120kmh = 75mph




Speaking of XC70's, I think they have the nicer interior (especially the trims with stitches) and seats, after the S80. The seats in the S60/V70 vary greatly in comfort across the years and trims, but the seats on the XC70 are just better imho. Meanwhile the seats in the S80 are 1-2 notches above the rest, with different padding and also longer bottom seat base better suited for taller persons.

[matthew1]

How did you get the info center to display in blue characters?

[oragex]

Leds, I think T5 socket leds. But I had to shim a bit the led corners to slide it in there, plus blue was the only color that worked properly, colors red and yellow were just too dim (but maybe it had to do with the manufacturing not with the color).

Looking pretty much like these (but not exactly these)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10PCS-Extra-Bl ... Rb&vxp=mtr

[matthew1]

Cool. Looks good!

[vtl]

MY02 V70 were the most comfortable seats ever. MY05 XC70 are a bit more stiff, however they fit by wrecked spine better.