V50 or v70 ? Help choosing between 2 cars please.

[jo63rob]

Hello, just joined but have been a volvo owner for many years.I need help witb the following dilema.
I have a V50 2 ltr d estate 59 plate with 62,000 on the clock. Automatic.
It has just had a full service and timing belt, 4 new tires, new rear wash wipe pump, aircon re gassed.
It does about 42 mpg and is a nice but basic car.
It has a small dent and some scratches, plus the brakes judder but are ok apparently.
I have the chance to buy my dad's V70 D estate. It is also automatic, 1.6 ltres, has more spec, is very clean,. 13 plate with 80,000 miles on the clock.i think it has better mpg.
It had the gear box completely rebuilt a few months ago, costing £4200. It also has an exhaust sensor problem a couple of years ago which cost £3500 to fix.
It has a warning light on, sensor again, and I have had a quote of £500 to fix it. The low battery light comes on even after a long run.
The car is lovely to drive, quiet, clean and smooth if a bit underpowered to what I am used to.
I am worried that the v70 with all it's electronics is going to be a money pit. Whereas my V50 is mechanical, cheaper to fix, and I know it well
Any advice or considered opinions welcome. Thanks in advance. Jo

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jo63rob

Hello, just joined but have been a volvo owner for many years.I need help witb the following dilema.
I have a V50 2 ltr d estate 59 plate with 62,000 on the clock. Automatic.
It has just had a full service and timing belt, 4 new tires, new rear wash wipe pump, aircon re gassed.
It does about 42 mpg and is a nice but basic car.
It has a small dent and some scratches, plus the brakes judder but are ok apparently.
I have the chance to buy my dad's V70 D estate. It is also automatic, 1.6 ltres, has more spec, is very clean,. 13 plate with 80,000 miles on the clock.i think it has better mpg.
It had the gear box completely rebuilt a few months ago, costing £4200. It also has an exhaust sensor problem a couple of years ago which cost £3500 to fix.
It has a warning light on, sensor again, and I have had a quote of £500 to fix it. The low battery light comes on even after a long run.
The car is lovely to drive, quiet, clean and smooth if a bit underpowered to what I am used to.
I am worried that the v70 with all it's electronics is going to be a money pit. Whereas my V50 is mechanical, cheaper to fix, and I know it well
Any advice or considered opinions welcome. Thanks in advance. Jo

I would say both are in the same condition , It just depends whether you need a larger car or not...If not stay with what you have .

[T5R92011]

Both of these cars are blasphemy.

They are Volvo's with Peugeot engines under the bonnet (1.6d and 2.0d) -

What you should do, is sell your V50, and buy a V70 with either a D3,D4 or D5 engine, which are all Volvo designed diesel engines. Sure they won't be quite as economical as the small 1.6d and 2.0d engines, but they will have less niggly faults, and you will be able to sleep at night knowing that have a Volvo engine in your Volvo, rather than Peugeot engine.

Based soley on your given options however, I'd keep the V50.

[The Thong]

The 2ltr PSA unit is rock solid, it’s only the injection and EGR that lets them down. Ok, the 1.6 have a reputation for blowing up but that’s not a guarantee. The V50 is a decent motor, I had four years of happy motoring out of an 8yo V50 than once the age related gumph had been dealt with was a very reliable and economical motor. Like any car, if it’s good then buy it. If it has faults them walk away, there’s plenty out there.

TT

[george57l]

Originally Posted by The Thong

The V50 is a decent motor ... Like any car, if it’s good then buy it.
TT

The OP already owns the V50.

[The Thong]

Originally Posted by george57l

The OP already owns the V50.

Misread…. excuse my stupidity 😂

TT

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by The Thong

The 2ltr PSA unit is rock solid, it’s only the injection and EGR that lets them down. Ok, the 1.6 have a reputation for blowing up but that’s not a guarantee. The V50 is a decent motor, I had four years of happy motoring out of an 8yo V50 than once the age related gumph had been dealt with was a very reliable and economical motor. Like any car, if it’s good then buy it. If it has faults them walk away, there’s plenty out there.

TT

I would agree that in relative terms in the motoring world, the 2.0 Ford/PSA lump is a good, reliable engine… but not nearly as good as the Volvo units. But the Ford Powershift box is not that solid… whether through lack of correct maintenance or poor design, statistically it is not as reliable as the Geartronic units.

To the OP - the V50 is not a simple, mechanical car… but it is well made and screwed together properly, as it the V70. There really isn’t much between them in terms of complexity, but the extra 400 kg does stress that 1.6d lawn mower engine.

But your dads car does sound worrying, though I suspect he might benefit from a new mechanic, I can’t think of an exhaust sensor issue that costs £3,500…. With the battery light on, it might just need an alternator or it might be deeper than that…. And the other warning light? It doesn’t bode well.

Personally, I would keep your v50 but you must make sure the auto box has been serviced correctly or it might need a rebuild at 80k miles too.