Back to a Volvo V70, but which one???

[NAD]

My old V70 died after I had personally done over 150,000 miles in it. Big expensive bills at the end, before I made the sad decision to scrap it.
Anyway, after a brief and painful (for my back) few months in an Audi A5, I’ve decided I really want to go back into a V70.

My old car was a D5 auto R-Design. I do big miles (25 - 30k PA) and don’t mind auto or manual. I’m slightly swayed towards a manual by the fact that my previous car finally died because an oil transmission cooler hose popped off.

Main question is engine: Another 5-cylinder, or the VEA? Sounds like the 5-cylinder is more reliable, assuming I don’t have another issue with the timing belt ingesting something.

Also suspension. I liked the way my old R-design drove, with its stiffer suspension and self levellers, but it appears that the R-Design spec was dropped when the model was face lifted in 2013. Did the later cars get updated suspension, or should I be looking for an older R-design? (And yes I know the Nivomats are £600 each if they go wrong..l)

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by NAD

My old V70 died after I had personally done over 150,000 miles in it. Big expensive bills at the end, before I made the sad decision to scrap it.
Anyway, after a brief and painful (for my back) few months in an Audi A5, I’ve decided I really want to go back into a V70.

My old car was a D5 auto R-Design. I do big miles (25 - 30k PA) and don’t mind auto or manual. I’m slightly swayed towards a manual by the fact that my previous car finally died because an oil transmission cooler hose popped off.

Main question is engine: Another 5-cylinder, or the VEA? Sounds like the 5-cylinder is more reliable, assuming I don’t have another issue with the timing belt ingesting something.

Also suspension. I liked the way my old R-design drove, with its stiffer suspension and self levellers, but it appears that the R-Design spec was dropped when the model was face lifted in 2013. Did the later cars get updated suspension, or should I be looking for an older R-design? (And yes I know the Nivomats are £600 each if they go wrong..l)

Sorry to hear about your other car.

Honestly, I suggest another 5 cylinder. The 4 cylinder VEA's suffer from high oil consumption, EGR and EGR cooler issues.

They did make improvements to the VEA's around 2017, note "improvements"... EGR issues aren't completely fixed. I've been told by countless Volvo mechanics that the VEA engines are nowhere near as good as the older 5 cylinder ones. The downside is, the 5 cylinder ones aren't as good on fuel as the VEA's and are dearer to tax.

Although that throws a spanner in the works, I still personally think the 5 cylinder is a better engine overall. I've read far too many threads on VEA engine issues to avoid them with a barge pole... I'll never buy one personally. Although, that's not slating anyone that has. Some have had joy with them, others not so much. Its a gamble you take. For me, if its not a 5 cylinder, I won't buy it. That will mean one day I move from Volvo completely if the Government ban the old diesel's off the road in future, but so be it. I'll buy another brand before buying a problematic VEA. All cars have their issues, but the VEA's have a big design flaw that's frankly a disgrace. I'm hearing about newer models (2017 onwards) suffering with EGR problems... Its not good.

With regards to the transmission, that's personal preference. I'm an auto guy myself. so manual's don't interest me. Although, the clutch on a V70 isn't cheap to replace either. Keep that in mind. If you do buy another auto, make sure its not a Powershift! Geartronic is the better transmission, although, it doesn't know what gear its in half the time, but that's another story.

As for the trim level, I don't see any R-Designs after 2013 either. One bonus to going for a newer model is the newer dash layout (Sensus). So you get a newer instrument cluster, which includes a coolant temperature gauge (which the old one didn't have... stupid idea), the centre console is different, sat nav is built-in as opposed to rising from the dash, LED lights at the rear... Just touches that make it more modern. Although, the sat-nav will be out of date now and isn't supported anymore, so you won't be able to get the latest maps on it. You're better off using your phone for route guidance.

If it was me, I'd go for the newer model. The R design would feel too much like what I had before. If I change a car, I want it to be somewhat different, even if its only small changes. Maybe that's just a "me" thing though. If R-Design means a lot to you and you aren't bothered about having the newer interior, go for one of those. Just find one with good MOT history, good service records and so on. Check the cam belt has been replaced (ideally with proof). You know the drift with the D5's. They have their issues like anything else, but they're great cars. Sad ending for your one, but consider that most other cars would have been in the scrap yard long before your one was.

Maybe someone else can confirm if Volvo ditched the R-Design spec on the V70 after 2013, I'm not 100% sure? I can't find any for sale, so it looks like it.

[Joyful]

Which ones are the five cylinder Volvo engines.

Is it just the D4 2.0 and 2.5. And D5

What engines are D2 and D3?

[YorkR]

I can maybe help a little here, as I've had several P3 models, across the XC70, V70 and S80 ranges.

My experience tells me that overall the D5 engine has been the least troublesome and the later the variant the better. I've had the 185, 205 and now the 215bhp versions. Plus the 163bhp version in my old P2 S60.

I had an XC70 D4 VEA auto for a short time and although the 8 speed gearbox was surprisingly good and the engine smooth, it had catastrophic oil usage, smoked like a chimney and had constant DPF problems. I've never had issues of that magnitude with a 5 cylinder version.

Conversely, I had a 2016 S80 D4 VEA auto (which my Dad now has) and that was and continues to be faultless. So it is possible of course to get a decent example and have the benefit of cheaper tax etc.

My current car, a late 2014 V70 is a D5 with the manual box and I have to say it is my favourite by far. It is not too thirsty being 2 wheel drive, very punchy through the gears and the tax is pretty reasonable being a manual. It really is an enjoyable car to drive.

I'd recommend therefore, based on my learnings, a late V70 (or S80) with a manual box!

[YorkR]

Originally Posted by Joyful

Which ones are the five cylinder Volvo engines.

Is it just the D4 2.0 and 2.5. And D5

What engines are D2 and D3?

They did a 2.4 D4 in the AWD XC70.

I believe the D2 was a 1.6 4 cylinder and the D3 a 5 cylinder.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Joyful

Which ones are the five cylinder Volvo engines.

Is it just the D4 2.0 and 2.5. And D5

What engines are D2 and D3?

You have to check. This is where it gets very confusing. Some cars badged "D4" are 4 cylinder, some are a 5 cylinder. The same applies to "D3", some are 4 and some are 5.

If you search on places like AutoTrader, click "specifications", then "performance" and it lists the number of cylinders a car has. You can't often tell just by looking at a picture. You need to properly research.

[Tannaton]

It's easy..... 2015MY and later (i.e. those cars made after July 2014) non AWD D4 badged V70 are VEA. Some late 2014MY may have VEA.

Another way to tell is the engine size - 5 bangers are 1984cc, VEA are 1969cc