Running costs for a 2001 V70 T5

[Daniel B]

Hello all,

I'm after a bit of advice and info here, on the general running costs of a 2001 V70 T5 Auto.

I've been offered one by family member, and it's only got 60K on the clock.
I currently run a 2000 Nissan Primera 1.8S estate, which has been very reliable for 60K (Just slipped over 111K) over the last 6 years - it's just had regular servicing work really, 2 sets of £50 a corner budget tyres, last set fitted in the last 18 months, one whole new exhaust, plus a mid pipe again very recently, and one coil went in one of the cylinders, oh and it's had a new battery, but aside from that, that's about the sole outlay I have had - gearbox is still tight, and still goes very well, starts first time etc etc.

MPG I get on the Nissan is 38, but that's on a long run, though to be honest that is the bulk of the mileage we do, as both myself and my girlfriend currently get to work by cycle or on foot.

What is putting me off the Ovlov:
It's pretty much as old as the Nissan
It's an Auto (I've driven them, and this car, but Auto's are not my favourite, still have another manual car though, so not like I would lose the skill)
It has cream leather interior/cream carpets etc etc
Running costs, not sure about servicing costs, but also imagine a set of new tyres is going to be a fairly healthy amount.
Tax will be more, insurance is not too bad at £100 more
MPG is going to be worse, though I notice people seem think you can get 35mpg on a run?? (Is that even for an Auto?)
Amazed by that for a 2.3 Turbo I have to say.
It does need a full cambelt service in the summer - expensive?

What I like about it:
Have always wanted a T5 (Nearly bought a previous shape R 7 years ago)
Has only covered 60K, so probably good for another 100K?
Has all the toys, so a nice cruiser down across Europe
Considering an LPG conversion to alleviate additional fuel costs (Speaking to Fassi on here about it)

So what do you reckon, is it a good acquisition, what are the running and servicing costs like, would I need to find a Volvo specialist (Any recommendations near Newbury?) or is my usual local garage sufficient to look after it?
Would appreciate your feedback, and experiences

Many thanks

Dan

[T5Noob]

Mine as cost me £200 ish in cash since last summer . and that is only this week just in new tire and a few parts to get in through the mot.
average i get on fuel is around 28 to 35 ish mpg . mines a 2.3 t5 also.
im lucky to have a lpg conversion on it.
But if it didnt i would still had bought it
a Volvo is for life not just for Christmas :-).

i would say this year isnt gonna be cheap for me on car parts, thats only down to the fact that this volvo forums as got me in the mod bug.

they are amazing cars hope you enjoy yours

[M-R-P]

Here's a few tips...
1, (this is the BIG one) watch the DIM (speedo cluster) they fail on these, a lot. Volvo UK don't recognise there's a problem but if it goes, it will cost £750 for a replacement from Volvo, £350 for a reprogrammed unit from somebody like HLM or about 50 quid to have the defective part resoldered if you're feeling brave.

2. cambelt change cost me 183 quid from a local indipendant.

3. Tax is £260 a year.

4. Alarm system fails 100 quid if you want to do it yourself.

5. 60K is a run in :)

6. keep an eye on the PCV system, it can block and if left unattended, can cause expensive problems. (go for a drive, pull over and leave the engine running, pull the dipstick out. If you see puffs of smoke, then sort the PCV)

7. auto box can be problematic after 100k.

8. P2 V70s are fantastic cars. superb on long drives, comfy, safe and even the autos go like the clappers.

Prices...(quality stuff)
front shocks - £200 pair
front disks - £88
front pads- £37
10W/40 semi synth oil, changed every 6k - £20
225x45x17 Avon ZV5 tyres (very good) £95 a corner
225x46x17 Barum Bravuris2 (good) £85
track rods £17
front top mounts £15

Mine's cost me about £1700 in 12 months (£735 on a new DIM) but worth every penny (ex-plod, bit of a dog when I got her)

[Daniel B]

Thankyou both for those excellent replies :-)

T5Noob, sounds like you have had a pretty good year cost wise, hopefully that will continue.

Martin - comprehensive reply Sir!
Speedo is interesting, as far as I am aware it has never had any such issues, my gf's dad bought the car about 7 years ago, and it had covered 34k at the time, and he is the second owner.

Cambelt change sounds entirely reasonable then, and road tax is more than the Nissan, I forget how much, think the Nissan is around £220 ish, so not THAT much difference.

One hopefully silly question whilst it occurs to me, does the LPG count as a modification and then put your insurance up?

Thanks for the tip on the PCV - can I be a dumbass and ask what it is please :redface:

Re the autobox potentially giving issues over 100K, what are the logistics involved with a conversion at some point to manual, ie I guess getting hold of a manual box is not too much of an issue (?), but would it be an expensive job (I'm not not really DIY competent with a car) to get a garage to change it out?

My thinking being, is that if I am going to take this car, I will probably hang onto it until 160K - 200K, so if the gearbox does start giving issues, then it gives me another reason to convert it to my preferred choice of manual :-)

Thankyou for all those prices as well, tyre prices do not seem too bad at all, I know it depends on how you drive it, but how many miles do you tend to see out of the fronts and rears?

Re servicing, is it meant to be a 6000 mile oil change then, and what are the standard service intervals?

Glad to hear despite your expenses you are still very happy with your T5!

Cheers

Dan

[M-R-P]

:D
ok, with the speedo, first signs are the info screen on the left going a bit weird or throwing warnings that aren't there. Not ALL DIMs fail, but a lot do.
I don't think LPG would be a performance upgrade but it might be worth confessing it when you get a quote.
PCV - Positive Crankcase Ventilation. A series of pipes and a catchtank plumbed into various parts of the engine block and inlet system, designed to clear fumes from the inside of the engine, separate the liquid and remove the fumes. when it blocks, it overpressurises the crankcase and can blow the RMS (rear main seal) between the engine and gearbox.
As for the autobox, just look after it. Volvo states no service interval for the autobox but regular tranny fluid changes would prolong it's life considerably. (make sure the right fluid is used tho)
As for tyres, the Barums were all round when we got the car 14 months ago and had about 5-6mm on them. I changed the fronts to the Avons last month (they still had a bit on them but were spinning a lot) I'm not a fast driver but I do like to chuck it about now and then. Go easy coming out of corners or off roundabouts as that's where you're most likely to spin the wheels under heavy acceleration.
:)

[Porcine_Aviator]

I'm saying nothing or I could put you off. :)


As to repairs have at Swede's experience with one company who are not far from you who seem to keep popping up http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25163&highlight=swede

[Wobbly Dave]

If economy is your principal concern - don't buy a T5. That said if you want one then you can expect to return somewhere between 25 - 30 mpg. Renapped you can get a bit more.

I guess if you LPG it then you can offset some of the fuel costs. Road tax is 215 quid - as I believe that car is still before the cut off point?

Half decent tyres - which I believe should never be scrimped on will be around 80 quid a corner. The car if looked after will go to at least 200K miles.

[M-R-P]

It's not often I get to correct the wobbly one but...
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/road-tax-guide/volvo/v70/estate-2000/18407/
:D

[Wobbly Dave]

I'll get my coat.

[M-R-P]

I'll get my coat.

I'm allowed to be right now and then lol ;)

[Matt-L]

The only running costs I can comment on are my own for my S70 T5, I have just done 47 miles to roughly 2 gallons, which is all town driving to and from work and the gym. The average mpg reading says 21.7mpg, so couple with my fuel usage it appears to be quite accurate. Obviously this is only my cars consumption of a standard S70 T5 with 60k on the clock.

Hope this helps a little bit :)

[Daniel B]

Thanks for the reply Martin,

and for your explanation of the mysterious PCV!

Tyres do not sound too bad at all, do you think you would get 20K or less out of them?

Hi WD,

time to come clean, I'm not actually buying the car, but they have offered to give us the car for nothing!
I didn't want that info to cloud peoples advice though, hence the fact that i am after economy to a degree, but also this is one hell of a deal.

I was hopeful about road tax, but just looked it up on direct gov, and it is deffo £260 sadly :-(

The car has been very well looked after with only two owners, and if I take it on I would continue to do so,

Cheers

Dan

[M-R-P]

Good tyres should last 20k if treated with respect. Factors like the condition of wishbone bushes and wheel alignment should be taken into consideration. If there's wear on the inside of the tyre, it could be a sign of worn wishbone bushes. wear on the outside would indicate poor alignment (complimented by the car pulling to one side)

I got my car free from the inlaws who bought it from plod in 2006. with 173K on it and the cost of running it, they couldn't sell it so we ended up with it. that's why I didn't mind spending so much on getting it sorted ;)

[Daniel B]

Hi Martin,

sounds like I am in a similar position to you then, all be it with an older but lower mileage example.

Out of interest, what would be the logistics of changing a cream interior for a black one, would it be rather drawn out and difficult?
I guess the problem would be all the door cards, and carpet and what have you.
Is there any demand for cream interiors, or are they generally hated?

And IF I really disliked the auto, any rough ideas on the cost of a manual conversion?

Cheers

Dan

[M-R-P]

Yep! 187K now and sweeeet as ;)
Door cards and seats are easy to remove (honest) just unplug the battery for a while before unplugging the seats or steering wheel. carpets shouldn't be too hard once the seats are out. I'm currently looking to change to leather from the police spec cloth rubbish but I've found P2 V70 interiors are not easy to come by. My local scrappy sells full interiors - seats, steering wheel, cards, carpet, panels and head lining for 58 quid but in 14 months, I've not seen a decent leather interior in any of the cars they have.

As for the manual conversion, I wouldn't like to guess but it will probably be as expensive as replacing the auto box.

[Wobbly Dave]

It is more economical to sell the car & buy a manual - almost certainly cost neutral.