Hi

[R41nsy]

I know I have probably put this in the wrong place for which I apologise, however it is a post that covers a few things, firstly wanted to say hi, I am near Chichester and think it’s time I took the plunge and got a Volvo I really want, so I am looking for a unicorn( I think), I am after a C70 T5 coupe with as low miles as possible. Always loved the shape and think it’s time. Any advice on what to look for or buying guide links would be very well received. Or if anyone knows of a nice one please point me in the right direction. I am after as much help as I can get

Many thanks

Dan

[T5Terry]

Hello Dan,

The last time I looked the DVLA had 1,136 Volvo C70's with a T5 registered. Not all of these will be taxed and on the road as some will be on SORN. I know for my exact model the DVLA show 13 as registered with one on SORN.

It took me almost two years to find ours because I wanted one in great condition and ideally with less than 60,000 miles. I finally found a cracking example, one owner with very full service history and only 48,000 miles. This explains why I drove from West Devon to North Yorkshire between Christmas and New Year to make sure I got it.

I looked at Autotrader a few days ago just to see what the prices are like and for the diesel versions they are up to £14.5K but I didn't pay quite that much so I'm very happy.

Others will no doubt tell you that the fuel consumption is not great, especially around town. That should not be a surprise as it is a heavy car. I am using Fuelly to track its costs and so far it is averaging 27MPG. For me that is not a problem as I have owned other cars that have been worse than that. Ford Explorer that did 20MPG regardless of how I drove it for example.

I got this one because the wife wanted a convertible and she appreciates a bit of performance. She loves the T5 so for me it is worth every penny.

Good luck with your search as you will not be the only person trying to find one.

[domhart10]

hello and welcome.

I am chichester area as well!

First off, depends what C70 T5 you are looking for as there is the older gen and the P1 C70 T5 platform.


depending on the mileage you will need to ensure that both the timing belt / water pump are done. I think these should be done around 90,000.

The clutches and dmf usually need changing around 120000, but I took mine off at 140000 and still lots of life left.

check the air con is working, there are issues with the ac clutch gap here. The condenser is also very fragile and prone to leaks.

Check any moisture area's around the windscreen. These can lead to other issues if not addressed but will just need proper resealing.

Check for any smoke at idle from the exhaust. These engine's when not looked after are prone to cracking cylinder liners in the block. There is a block mod that can be done to help against this.

Take it for a drive, listen to any clunks changing through the gears and reversing. Feels for vibrations through the wheels, driveshaft issues are common and best to stay with oem.

[T5R92011]

There is also the 2.4i 170bhp non-turbo.

People will say "Get the T5 because it's faster and the MPG is very similar" but in my opinion the driving experience is very different.

The 2.4i needs to be revved right up to 6,000 rpm to feel it's power, which may sound like a chore, but actually its so satisfying (at least in my opinion).
The 5 pot sound just builds and builds, then as you hit 4,000rpm it really starts to growl and it maintains this growl as the peak power starts to kick in. So you receive this wonderful combination of engine sound and feeling of naturally aspirated acceleration coming together at the same time.

And while it's not fast in reality, it SOUNDS fast...which makes it more exciting.

The T5 however (as standard) doesn't growl like that. And with max torque being there already at 1500rpm, the car always feels beefy but less rewarding to drive. It doenst feel as enjoyable to rev out because the power drops off after 5,000rpm.

The C70 T5 by todays standards is not a fast car, so I would personally pick the 2.4i because its a more exicting engine to drive (in standard form) than the T5. And the C70 is actually quite a numb feeling car from a drivers point of view, so the 2.4i livens this up in a way that the T5 can't quite match.

Obviously if you are looking to tune the T5, then that changes things, but the 2.4i is a very nice mid range engine that is so often overlooked.

[cam]

Hi Dan and welcome mate.