Which Volvo V70 Estate - Diesel or Petrol?

[Familyman 90]

Originally Posted by CNGBiFuel

Not sure what ths thread is doing in the P80 section. The OP looks to V70 2007-2016 models. Eh? However....

Diesel or Petrol?
Don't be daft. neither. CNG. If it's cost per mile you're after, and it must be or you'd not ask the question. If the aim is long-game high-mile use methane is unbeatable. Very rare cars these days, Volvo made the first factory fits. It's not that you'll see anymore than 30ish on petrol, it's that you fill for 20% of the price.

Thus on that logic 50mpg - via a diesel - is either good or truly dreadful. As our Tesla brethren, Homefill. The rub, and there's always a rub with alternative fuels:

1) The learning curve is vastly steep.
2) The RHD cars are the rarest Volvos in the world. (not that this makes them valuable). Most are ex UK press-fleet cars.
3) The set-up costs are near a very decent used car.
4) You won't be sleeping in your V70, the space is required for the factory tank. You can afford a B&B/Hotel when you get there.
5) You need to drive it. If you run 'big girl's blouse miles', likely not viable.
6) If you lack self-belief, and spend your money on registration plates, this is not for you - you won't like the choices.
7) There is no 'served on a platter' set-up.
8) Angelina Jolie will have you down as some kind of nut-job, and she won't be seen dead in it.
9) You'll struggle to insure anything that's not factory-fit.

The upside, the fanbois will still consider you a dinosaur, yet you'll absolutely THRASH any Prius/ Tesla champagne-drinking Guardian reader for range and cost per mile. These car 'if looked after' do galactic miles. I threw my last one away at 420K, it had more in it, and looked like a shed. I found a very tidy ex British Gas management example for £1500 thus swapped. 600K is not unheard of.

For a multitude of reasons, mostly electronics/spares prices and corrosion, it's doubtful anything made after 2005 will last anything near that. Thus 2007-2016 models, why worry? You're tacitly agreed to throw it away anyway.

There isn't much difference in the electronics architecture between P3 and later P2 cars. They are both full multiplex, and both have pretty much the same number of functions and modules to manage. Any electronic failure that might notionally affect a P3 car is equally likely to appear on a P2.

The very late P3 cars have a little more electronics when they went Sensus, but a scroll through this very forum shows little in the way of evidence that these are problematic.

So no real issue with electronics reliability between the generations.

Ditto parts prices. Everything from mudflaps piston rings is priced very closely between P2 and P3 cars, from both Volvo and aftermarket suppliers. The one advantage the P2 may genuinely hold here is that there are more dead ones by virtue of sheer age, so used part supply is greater. Having said that, a quick scroll through everones favourite auction site shows that used P3 parts are not exactly in short supply, with everything from wings to sump plugs freely available.

So no real issue with new or used parts supply between the generations.

Comapring P2 and P3 generation cars, easy to do as I own examples of each, I can see no evidence that a P3 is any more likely to corrode. The oldest P3's date from late 2007 are now in their 15th year, and we are not seeing any excessive corrosion when compared to P2 cars when they were the same age.

So no real issue with corrosion between the generations.

The P3 rides a little better, handles slightly sharper, has a slightly bigger boot, and an expanded choice of engines. The P2 in still a comfy beast, has great seats, and is liable to be cheaper. If the OP buys on condition he will doubtless be very happy whether he finds a P2 or P3. There is little in it for the used car buyer, and these whispers that one rusts more than the other, or has more electronics so will be inherently more unreliable ia not being borne out by the experiences of owners.

We need to stick to evidence and facts, not urban lore.

CNG is a problem in the UK. There are only 7 in the UK licenced to sell CNG as a road fuel. LPG fares rather better, but availability is shrinking at the rate of about 2 filling stations a week. There are roughly 1800 remaining across the UK, but with 100 or more disappearing a year its going to become a bit bum squeaky before too long.

The only thing I would say that genuinely can make the P3 a pain over the P2 are the small bore PSA-Ford engines. They're fine when they work, but they are prone to issues and do not appear as durable as the Volvo engine options. There is also little incentive for a buyer to choose one - if one wants a 4 pot Ford engine, then buy one attached to a Ford. Why pay Volvo prices for a Ford ownership experience?

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

There isn't much difference in the electronics architecture between P3 and later P2 cars. They are both full multiplex, and both have pretty much the same number of functions and modules to manage. Any electronic failure that might notionally affect a P3 car is equally likely to appear on a P2.

The very late P3 cars have a little more electronics when they went Sensus, but a scroll through this very forum shows little in the way of evidence that these are problematic.

So no real issue with electronics reliability between the generations.

Ditto parts prices. Everything from mudflaps piston rings is priced very closely between P2 and P3 cars, from both Volvo and aftermarket suppliers. The one advantage the P2 may genuinely hold here is that there are more dead ones by virtue of sheer age, so used part supply is greater. Having said that, a quick scroll through everones favourite auction site shows that used P3 parts are not exactly in short supply, with everything from wings to sump plugs freely available.

So no real issue with new or used parts supply between the generations.

Comapring P2 and P3 generation cars, easy to do as I own examples of each, I can see no evidence that a P3 is any more likely to corrode. The oldest P3's date from late 2007 are now in their 15th year, and we are not seeing any excessive corrosion when compared to P2 cars when they were the same age.

So no real issue with corrosion between the generations.

The P3 rides a little better, handles slightly sharper, has a slightly bigger boot, and an expanded choice of engines. The P2 in still a comfy beast, has great seats, and is liable to be cheaper. If the OP buys on condition he will doubtless be very happy whether he finds a P2 or P3. There is little in it for the used car buyer, and these whispers that one rusts more than the other, or has more electronics so will be inherently more unreliable ia not being borne out by the experiences of owners.

We need to stick to evidence and facts, not urban lore.

CNG is a problem in the UK. There are only 7 in the UK licenced to sell CNG as a road fuel. LPG fares rather better, but availability is shrinking at the rate of about 2 filling stations a week. There are roughly 1800 remaining across the UK, but with 100 or more disappearing a year its going to become a bit bum squeaky before too long.

The only thing I would say that genuinely can make the P3 a pain over the P2 are the small bore PSA-Ford engines. They're fine when they work, but they are prone to issues and do not appear as durable as the Volvo engine options. There is also little incentive for a buyer to choose one - if one wants a 4 pot Ford engine, then buy one attached to a Ford. Why pay Volvo prices for a Ford ownership experience?

The P3 is a bigger car too… there’s more leg room in the back.

The P3 Volvo V70 & S80 is based on the Ford platform in some way or another. The majority of the engines aren’t, but the underpinnings of the cars themselves are. You’ll see “FoMoCo” stamped all over the place.

I dare to say it as a P3 owner myself, but a P3 Volvo is a Ford with a Volvo engine… the P2 is a “true” Volvo. Some P3 models are even more Ford based with the PSA engines. Volvo had added their stamp to the interior, as its much more luxurious than a Ford. P3’s are still fantastic cars in my opinion, but the issues that do arise are usually related to the link between Ford. For example, early worn suspension parts, washer reservoir pump/the washer system.

[T5R92011]

I would say, you will enjoy owning a P2 more because it is a car that had various traits which you must adapt to.

You get a solid, "heavy duty" feeling vehicle, that WILL do huge mileage. But...it has certain character traits/flaws that you must learn to deal with. For example the turning circle. Or the "roll back" style handbrake. Or the exceptionally comfortable LARGE seats that are shoehorned into a cramped interior.

It feels like a car designed by a person who did their best but ran out of time/money to correct certain things. Whereas the Ford era Volvos feel like generic cars, designed to look inoffensive and be as easy to drive as possible.

[SteveSarre]

Hi

I hope Towerblock comes back to visit this forum

Here's something for inspiration!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325015343476

HTH
Steve

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by SteveSarre

Hi

I hope Towerblock comes back to visit this forum

Here's something for inspiration!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325015343476

HTH
Steve

Well, as it is listed in Jaywick, that is just a normal mobile home.

[CNGBiFuel]

Ah, the joys of Jaywick...