First drive of V70 D5

[ratman]

Well had my 1st test drive of a 06 plate D5 today. I have to say I walked away a bit disappointed, it was a geartronic and I don't think autos are for me, it kept on changing gears...why, it has the grunt to stay in the same gear! It was also very noisey when you booted it.

The handling was a bit like the car was floating, if I moved the steering wheel left and right I could feel the car wallowing from side to side, it was bit scary. But I did notice that one of the rear tyres was a bit flat and they were also cheap tyres.

so I will go for a S60 I think and also a manual.

[A lex]

Um it sounds like you are discounting an engine on the basis of driving a shoddy example with ditch finder tyres.

Doesnt seem to make much sense to me.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ratman

Well had my 1st test drive of a 06 plate D5 today. I have to say I walked away a bit disappointed, it was a geartronic and I don't think autos are for me, it kept on changing gears...why, it has the grunt to stay in the same gear! It was also very noisey when you booted it.

The handling was a bit like the car was floating, if I moved the steering wheel left and right I could feel the car wallowing from side to side, it was bit scary. But I did notice that one of the rear tyres was a bit flat and they were also cheap tyres.

so I will go for a S60 I think and also a manual.

you might have a 6 speed box , lots of gears to get through , it is inevitable , not like the old 4 speeds which changed gear less often .
People are said to love the D5 growl , it might be engineeered in, or the gearbox resting on the subframe due to worn engine mounts and the torque reaction on the top ;-)

They can feel like that with under pressure tyres and worn front wishbone bushes , the next generation V70 got rid of that feeling , you get a good ride though .

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by Clan

People are said to love the D5 growl ,
.

I DO!

[john-sussex]

Love our 185 D5, pulls well and dosen't keep changing.

[S60 PNV]

I've only had the S60 Geartronic for a week and I'm still getting used to the transmission. After 7 years of driving manuals it sure does feel odd.

It's lovely and smooth but I can't fathom why it decides to be in certain gears sometimes.

I haven't tried the manual mode yet. Not sure I want to...might try it when there's some clear roads in case I mess things up somehow.

[WillV70D5]

I also love my "new" 06 V70 D5. And it's growl, and surprising turn of speed up at motorway speeds.

The car is very sensitive to tyre pressures. I have tried a few variations and have found a direct trade off between the floaty feeling you describe, and comfort.

I tried a few V70s before buying and noticed quite a difference between them.

Other than the growl when booting it, I find it extremely quiet, refined and smooth rolling. And I have to say its got a lovely gearbox, and the relationship between gearbox, clutch and accelerator is all very refined and nice to use.


Mine's a manual though.

[daddypruds68]

Sounds like you have test drove a knacker to me!! The D5 growl is the best, as for the wallowy feel to the steering.....change the bushes...the 'tram lining' vanishes over 90mph.........so they recon

[RM955I]

I love my auto and it's worth remembering that the boxes are 'intelligent' so take a while to adjust to a new driving style. I wouldn't be surprised if the wishbone bushes were falling apart, not helped by incorrect and uneven tyre pressures.

The first time I test drove a V70 I was amazed by the solid, almost tank like feeling - it oozed robust quality even after my previous SAAB 95. Immediately after I jumped in a Laguna estate - it felt gutless, plasticy and 'lightweight' if that makes sense: nothing had the same solid feel.

My auto is my first and I don't for one minute regret buying it as it suits the car.

[v70stu]

I will echo the above. Had mine a week now. The auto has an adaptive shift pattern and adjusts to the way you drive. I sometimes find a very gentle and slight lift off the throttle and it will change up when holding a lower gear. I've played. about with the "manual" but in all honesty I do not envisage using it much. Maybe when towing if the gearbox becomes indecisive but for the most part I will leave it in auto. It is smooth and powerful. I feel it is a bit more vocal than it perhaps ought to be on acceleration but at a cruise it is very quiet. Mine has 157k on it so maybe some wear in the mounts to sort in time.
As for tyres, pressures make a very noticeable difference. To me, the mark of a well engineered chassis is that you can feel subtle diffetences such as tyre pressures and even tyre brands immediately. The V70 is just this way. Stick some quality tyres on and get the pressures right and the difference can be astounding.