This may be the best driving 200K S70 out there.
I have had this car for five years, the longest I've ever owned any vehicle. I have learned a lot with this vehicle and have pampered it to the best of my abilities. It has taught me the value of OEM parts, how to do things right the first time, and much more. If you know me, you know this car has been featured in many threads & blog posts pioneering the quest of having every option, and getting every possible feature to work perfectly.
Mileage: 198,xxx
Third owner. Clean NY title, Autocheck report in hand w/no accidents.
Specs:
1999 S70 AWD with a FWD automatic transmission. There is no AWD running gear on this car whatsoever, the rear subframe is empty. The auto trans has approx 127,000 miles on it and was originally from a 99 C70. I have driven with this car converted to FWD for around 60,000 miles with zero ill-effects, it feels just like a normal FWD car. The fuel pump was replaced with a new OEM sending unit assembly when the subframe was down.
15G Turbo with ARD Green custom tune. With 93 octane this car is pretty zippy. I have returned this car essentially to stock aside from the turbo and tune. It drives just like stock, but quicker than a stock T5. I don't like the way that aftermarket mods (Lowering, intake, etc.) play with these Volvos and don't see this as a great platform to modify after trying everything out. Everything drives so much better on the stock intake and TCV, in my opinion.
Around 140K I went through the whole car in an effort to clean and make it perfect. The engine was removed & resealed, giving me a chance to deep clean the engine bay. I stripped the engine down to the block. The crank and pistons were left alone - original bearings and rings intact. I used only Genuine Volvo blue coolant. The heater core was replaced with an OEM Behr unit.
The AC evaporator is original, but was only used for the first 38,000 miles of the vehicle's life until the original owner had a rock puncture the condenser. I replaced the condenser @ 140K and even visually inspected the evaporator with the dashboard off and it is fine. No rot, no debris, no AC leaks whatsoever. I evacuated the system properly, replaced all of the o-rings, replaced the compressor with a 100K unit, new orifice tube, and charged with the correct oil & refrigerant. It works and cycles perfectly. Auto climate works perfectly. The AC is essentially factory fresh, charged to spec.
This car has rear heated seats. They worked when I installed them, now I am not sure. Sometimes they work (per my passengers), sometimes they don't feel anything. In any case, it's factory pads & the factory wiring, installed like factory, very rare, and looks cool having that button back there.
It has the rare, OEM S70 Antenna Down Switch.
A GROM Bluetooth unit is installed for wireless tunes and phone calls from any smartphone. Simply press the CD6 button and audio will play from your phone, wirelessly. The handsfree mic is located in the headliner for phone calls. Pressing the next and previous buttons on the radio can accept & reject calls, as well as advance the audio track. Seamless integration.
The headlight wipers both work, I replaced the motors. (And are great in the winter during sleety nights)
The audio system is a full Pro-Logic setup with the S70 Dynaudio speakers installed. These are the exact speakers that Jim Rothe had imported way back in the early 2000s and wrote a website full of information about them. It sounds very very nice for a 1999.
The tires are Goodyear Eagle GT with 9/32" up front and 8/32" tread in the rear. Excellent condition, only one season of use. I had the 16" Solar wheels straightened a few years ago when I got them.
Brakes are Meyle HD rotors with Akebono Euro Ceramic pads - all are very meaty. The e-brake cables were replaced with OEM at some point in the past, as well as all of the e-brake hardware.
When the subframe was down to remove the AWD hardware I fixed all of the rusty pipes and EVAP system leaks on top of the fuel tank. This car can be filled with fuel without "clicking off" all the time. No check engine light or codes, ever.
The exhaust downpipe is from a 2000 VR and it has newer Bosch O2 sensors in it. Catback section is a dual exhaust setup from a 2000 VR as well.
Other items replaced around 140-150K:
- Steering rack
Lemforder control arms
TRW/Lemforder tie rods
Sachs struts/Volvo rear shocks
Strut bearings/mounts
100K P/S pump
100K Wiper motor
OE Coolant Reservoir
New Volvo/Valeo Radiator
PCV System
All engine mounts
OE Subframe bushings
OE Volvo fuel pump & sending unit
Power Passenger Seat
Aluminum trim swap (dash out job)
Brake Lines
Rebuilt ABS Module
R Shift knob, R e-brake handle
- Delphi Coil Packs
Lemforder sway links
Windshield
(2) OEM FAG front wheel bearings
OEM Master window switch pack
Bosch alternator
OEM Aisin water pump/tensioner/idler @ 182K, OE Continental Timing Belt @ 197K
The bad? It's got the normal peely door panels. The hood and front bumper could look better, but aren't horrific by any means. Highway rock chips and NYS winters took their toll. It doesn't drive sporty, it's a stock AWD in essence and is comfortable. The rear bumper has a crack on the driver's side. But, the doors aren't littered with parking-lot dings and I always try to park away from others. It drives straight and starts up every time, I can't speak enough about it being a reliable DD with great A/C, seats, and heat.
The best way to sum this up is, I am OCD about everything in my car working, and the next owner can enjoy the fruits of my labor for a long time. All dash bulbs work, radio bulbs, everything. The 12V plug cover is present in the rear, I bought a new cigarette lighter for the front plug (I don't smoke) for aesthetics, and I even bought a brand new shift boot for the auto shifter due to yellowing. The interior looks like it has 100K on it, not 200K. A year ago I did the math and this car had over $8000 invested into it. I have no doubt there is a lot I am missing but don't hesitate to ask me anything. Just don't show up expecting perfect paint despite it looking so good in the pictures. It's got flaws but is still in better shape than most Volvos you'll see on the street. PM or e-mail works best.
Price: $3600 firm.
E-mail: [email protected]
Extras available upon request:
- Original 15" Alloys with 1-season-used General Altimax Snows
Roof Racks, Bike trays
Infinity Basslink Subwoofer
Probably other stuff in my collection of Volvo spares
