They are that expensive to run !!!!

[volvokid]

Rite so I thought I would have a quick look through all my receipts for my V70R, I totalled it up and without including insurance, tax, and fuel I have spent on my car in the last 16 months ( total time I have owned it ) .......... Siting down........... £6100 OMG now I bought this car knowing it had been maintained to a very high standard , I haven't counted all Matts receipts from when he had it from new, I don't think I want too! Is it really worth it? I don't know yet , after just getting the car to run almost perfect I want to start enjoying this car it has caused a lot of arguments. If life wasn't so short I would never have bought one knowing the true costs, but I love this car and I'm Volvo thru and thru got to start enjoying it now.

[JamesT5]

I know the feeling, I've probably spent about £2000+ on my 2001 T5 since I had it in March last year. I dread to think what I will have spent on it once it's totally sorted out (will it be?). For this money, I could have gone a long way towards saving up for an ex-plod Mk3 D5, there was one for sale not long ago at abount £4500!

Anyway, as MRP once said, you spend X amount on the car and then it owes you too much to sell it on to get the money back so you just crack on and try and get the car totally straight again. It's like an addiction and an obsession.

Regards

James

[T5frankie]

you are very fastidious though martyn

[volvokid]

That's the thing though, and I hate using this word but my car was near "mint" when I bought it, either I try to maintain my car too much or it was an actual bag of nails when I bought it. I don't think it's either lol.

[volvokid]

you are very fastidious though martyn

I know I wish I wasn't , I think I need to wind my neck in now though.

[Harvey]

I think the best idea is to the receipts in a box out the way,and try to enjoy the car.
and say i don't think i need to do that to the car until you spend a bit on the family first which helps.
Just booked two weeks away so her indoors has forgotten about THAT CAR!!! (for now)well thats what i get.
I have stopped looking at what i have spent on my motor,all I can say I now have a nice big folder of receipts as well.

[volvokid]

i think the best idea is to the receipts in a box out the way,and try to enjoy the car,and say i don't think i need to do that to the car until you spend a bit on the family first which helps.just booked two weeks away so her indoors has forgotten about THAT CAR!!! (for now)well thats what i get.

Haha I like your thinking.
I'm glad I have the V40, that's a car I don't care too hoots about as long as its still running fine, talking of such things its running like crap just now with no power most of the time. I don't know why I like cars so much!! Time to get my dice out this weekend to see what's up. Oh and I just spent £50 for headlight bulbs on it today lol it's never ending

[Jimmie]

Martyn you know you should have bought my one.:smirk:

[volvokid]

Martyn you know you should have bought my one.:smirk:

You shut up your just as bad :) . How much have you spent on yours for it to just go back in the garage lol

[V70 Graham]

I think the best idea is to the receipts in a box out the way,and try to enjoy the car.....


I think I could do with a bit of that too :redface:

[Jimmie]

Approx two grand less than you and it doesn't cost me any money in its cosy heated garage!!!
Put the lid back on the box before you have a divorce!!:wiggle:And you know who does that!!

[foammanmark]

My R wasn't the best when I bought her 4 months ago, and I've already spent 1.5 times what she cost on getting her some bit like. I shudder to think what I will have spent after the mods etc.

[Biff]

I've had my car for 2 weeks & spent over £600 on it. I bought it cheap but can see the next few years getting a bit expensive if I try getting my awd functioning again. Don't tell the mrs though...

[volvokid]

I was just 1200 for my angle gear. Is yours a p2? My biggest fear is splitting my liners on this car.

[Kingsford G]

I've had my car for 2 weeks & spent over £600 on it. I bought it cheap but can see the next few years getting a bit expensive if I try getting my awd functioning again. Don't tell the mrs though...

Are sure u want the awd back on?I`m expecting to spend double of what I paid for her.

[t5 pete]

Ouch but at the end of the day it all boils down to weather your happy with the car if you are then thats fine done worrie about it alot of people on here including my self have spent stupid ammounts on their car bacause thats the car they want and thats the way they want it to be, we all could have saved the money and bought a more expensive car but it most likley would have been the car we wanted or knew.
One thing to mention tho is you carnt beat the eairler cars they are much more cheeper and simpler to work on

[M-R-P]

I have receits for about £3270 since I got the sweed. As many of you know, I won't add a mod if I can't do it as cheaply as possible. With that in mind, I probably could have easily spent double on the same things. That aside, £3k for a car with 197500 miles on the clock is a gamble which I'm happy to take. Love this car ;)

[Biff]

Mine is a phase one mate.
My prop seems to have vanished. I don't know if I'm bothered with the awd, but it seems a waste to be dragging a dead axle around. Plus my olds live in the sticks & it would of been handy to get up there in the snow. I've heard of people welding they're angle gear so may look into this being a fabricator welder. I'd be happy with 300bhp & awd. Lol

[MIKESC70T5]

Rite so I thought I would have a quick look through all my receipts for my V70R, I totalled it up and without including insurance, tax, and fuel I have spent on my car in the last 16 months ( total time I have owned it ) .......... Siting down........... £6100 OMG now I bought this car knowing it had been maintained to a very high standard , I haven't counted all Matts receipts from when he had it from new, I don't think I want too! Is it really worth it? I don't know yet , after just getting the car to run almost perfect I want to start enjoying this car it has caused a lot of arguments. If life wasn't so short I would never have bought one knowing the true costs, but I love this car and I'm Volvo thru and thru got to start enjoying it now.

Blimey that's scary, I thought 'M' ownership was expensive but not now. I'm a bit like you and like to have my car in tip top condition and replace things for peace of mind. I've had the M3 for 15 months now and even having had both manifolds replaced, all 4 shocks and springs, discs and pads all round, diff seals, vanos unit, paint work, the big main inspection two service done at a specialist, two tyres, new aircon condenser fitted, the amount spent was only around £4000.

[M-R-P]

And your car is stunning Mike (did I just say that about a beemer?)

Really tho, I've seen it in the flesh, before most of the work was carried-out and although we didn't let him park it amongst the Volvos, we didn't make him park it over the other side with the EVO ;)

[silverhorse]

What you have to remember is that you may have spent 6 grand on your car, but you are proud to own it. You are proud to be seen out in it and it gives you a lot of pleasure. Also, if your home life is anything like mine, if you had not spent it on the car, the wife and you would have spent it on stuff that means nothing to you. £2000 on hand made curtains throughout the house????!!!! Don't get me wrong, they are nice curtains but FECK ME:grumpy:
You only live once and you have put the money to good use and you enjoy the result.
There!

PS if we all sat down and worked out what we spend on beer or fags we would §§§§ ourselves too!!!

[MIKESC70T5]

And your car is stunning Mike (did I just say that about a beemer?)

Really tho, I've seen it in the flesh, before most of the work was carried-out and although we didn't let him park it amongst the Volvos, we didn't make him park it over the other side with the EVO ;)

Thanks mate, haven't finished yet still have to refurb the wheels and fix a few little things, but all the expensive work has now been done. Done 12000 miles in the time I've had her. It's a labour of love. My other car is a 2007 Audi a3 and it gets nothing spent on her apart from the yearly service :lol:

[volvokid]

I forgot to add the 400 for my remamp, 90 for my new oils I put in the angle gear, gear box and rear dif. The 7 quid I just spent on getting decals made today and 90 for my boost gauge holder, still got the gauge to buy. The bill is getting bigger haha

[V70 Graham]

I forgot to add the 400 for my remamp, 90 for my new oils I put in the angle gear, gear box and rear dif. The 7 quid I just spent on getting decals made today and 90 for my boost gauge holder, still got the gauge to buy. The bill is getting bigger haha

Just out of interest.....what does your wife think lol

[volvokid]

Not happy, but I don't neglect her if you think that lol, she just got a new cooker and hob last weekend haha

[Harvey]

I forgot to add the 400 for my remamp, 90 for my new oils I put in the angle gear, gear box and rear dif. The 7 quid I just spent on getting decals made today and 90 for my boost gauge holder, still got the gauge to buy. The bill is getting bigger haha

See its just a drug for you to get your highs on,bank balance lows.
I bet the wife only knows half of it ?.
I am just as bad at this game aswell.

[Jimmie]

Not happy, but I don't neglect her if you think that lol, she just got a new cooker and hob last weekend haha
Ye and you do all the cooking and everything else that the house requires.!!!!?????????????



And you are soooo funny!!!

[volvokid]

Ye and you do all the cooking and everything else that the house requires.!!!!?????????????



And you are soooo funny!!!

You know I don't :-) but you do know it's never a tip of a house, I clean it more than my car lol

[smithy]

If you like the car then enjoy the car mate

[volvokid]

See its just a drug for you to get your highs on,bank balance lows.
I bet the wife only knows half of it ?.
I am just as bad at this game aswell.

This is the last of it for a long time, I still have a couple bits I would like to sort but they ain't that important. She knows everything I do, and when she asks how much i tell her, the only thing I haunt told her about it my £7 decals lol

[volvokid]

If you like the car then enjoy the car mate

I have been I've did 2000 miles in just the last 3 weeks with it lol.

[volvokid]

Blimey that's scary, I thought 'M' ownership was expensive but not now. I'm a bit like you and like to have my car in tip top condition and replace things for peace of mind. I've had the M3 for 15 months now and even having had both manifolds replaced, all 4 shocks and springs, discs and pads all round, diff seals, vanos unit, paint work, the big main inspection two service done at a specialist, two tyres, new aircon condenser fitted, the amount spent was only around £4000.

It sounds like you have done a lot for the money though. I have still my side hop issue to sort, my radio signal issue, and I would like a couple bits painted, but I'm putting it on the back burner

[Jimmie]

What decals have you bought,are they for the V40?
I have a set of mats in the garage that would suit you V70 that might be for sale.
Email me if interested but i would need a £100 for them.

[smithy]

I spend money on my 940 but I like it .but it is my second car and I want to be a beast in Sheeps clothing.

[volvokid]

I spend money on my 940 but I like it .but it is my second car and I want to be a beast in Sheeps clothing.

I can't wait to hear how it goes.

[volvokid]

What decals have you bought,are they for the V40?
I have a set of mats in the garage that would suit you V70 that might be for sale.
Email me if interested but i would need a £100 for them.

you have an odd one there also,. You need them for your model car

[MIKESC70T5]

It sounds like you have done a lot for the money though. I have still my side hop issue to sort, my radio signal issue, and I would like a couple bits painted, but I'm putting it on the back burner

Must be a man thing lol. I only really needed the bonnet lip painting but it ended being the bonnet, bootlid, rear arches and front panel. The wife couldn't understand why as to her it was fine lol. All the remaining jobs are on the back burner as they were not vital like retrimming the steering wheel but once you start tidying up one area another area then looks bad so that was retrimmed in November as I was inpatient lol.

[smithy]

I can't wait to hear how it goes.
I cannot wait ether it should be wild and look nice too.and I want it to hit 12 sec on the quater too but we will see.but I know one thing it will be very quick.

[welderone]

Just got my first Volvo and spending money on things already to leave my mark and if its like my VW it will take along time and money toget to my standards. Peter

[LeeT5]

I will add mine up later and we'll see what I've spent!

[volvokid]

I will add mine up later and we'll see what I've spent!

You've probably spent more than me

[Santa]

I gave up counting and collecting receipts. I've been happier since lol.

[Jimmie]

I will add mine up later and we'll see what I've spent!

Please don't do that as it will only give the doubters (critics) more ammunition to come out against this model.

[volvokid]

Please don't do that as it will only give the doubters (critics) more ammunition to come out against this model.

I could spend just as much on the saffy if it was a daily driver and I only went to Volvo to get it fixed

[graemewelch]

thats a lot of money. mines the 2.4 t5 and in 28 months ive replaced the rear shoes and polybushed the wishbones and the replaced breather system. i dont inc cambelt and service as all cars need these.

[LeeT5]

You've probably spent more than me

Did your total include mods? Only, technically that's not classed as maintenance.

[volvokid]

Did your total include mods? Only, technically that's not classed as maintenance.

I wasn't just tottlng up the maintenance. It was a total lol

[stribo]

It sounds like you've been really unlucky, we've spent about £700 for the VVT, but other than that we've paid for a cambelt service, which we had taken off the price of the car when we bought it (also had the angle gear serviced at the same time) and I've bought a K&N filter for it, and some LED's for the interior lights, and the number plate lights, plus it's had some new tyres. So £700 for in a year is pretty good for the type of car it is IMO.

[volvokid]

It sounds like you've been really unlucky, we've spent about £700 for the VVT, but other than that we've paid for a cambelt service, which we had taken off the price of the car when we bought it (also had the angle gear serviced at the same time) and I've bought a K&N filter for it, and some LED's for the interior lights, and the number plate lights, plus it's had some new tyres. So £700 for in a year is pretty good for the type of car it is IMO.

I don't think it's an unreliable car , I hope I'm over the hump now

[M-R-P]

It sounds like you've been really unlucky, we've spent about £700 for the VVT, but other than that we've paid for a cambelt service, which we had taken off the price of the car when we bought it (also had the angle gear serviced at the same time) and I've bought a K&N filter for it, and some LED's for the interior lights, and the number plate lights, plus it's had some new tyres. So £700 for in a year is pretty good for the type of car it is IMO.

Same as a DIM then ;)

[LeeT5]

Well you lot better sit down.

Since my ownership 14 January 2010 i have spent the following:

Maintenance: £9815 (includes every nut, bolt screw and washer ever fitted to the car)
Modifications: £4334 (includes diagnostic tools and equipment totaling £330)

This includes all servicing and MOTS.

However, i will stress this point. My car would not look anything like the car it does today had a least half the maintenance NOT been spent on it. Also, if i had ALL the servicing done by a main dealer then the costs would have been a lot more. Most of the maintenance has been done by myself unless specialist tools and equipment needed inc 4 post ramps.

I may come back to this post in a years time and see what I've spent then. I bet its a lot less due to the fact the car is at such a high spec of maintenance and all done in a very short space of time.

The receipts i have go back to when the car was 4 years old. Start of the second owner. Prior to that it was a company directors car whom i believe was affiliated with a Volvo dealer. The car has a FULL dealer service history. I am going to have a Dealer service my car this spring to continue the trend. Its due a service in April. Will have all the oils replaced replaced on the transmission too.

[MisterC1501]

Rite so I thought I would have a quick look through all my receipts for my V70R, I totalled it up and without including insurance, tax, and fuel I have spent on my car in the last 16 months ( total time I have owned it ) .......... Siting down........... £6100 OMG now I bought this car knowing it had been maintained to a very high standard , I haven't counted all Matts receipts from when he had it from new, I don't think I want too! Is it really worth it? I don't know yet , after just getting the car to run almost perfect I want to start enjoying this car it has caused a lot of arguments. If life wasn't so short I would never have bought one knowing the true costs, but I love this car and I'm Volvo thru and thru got to start enjoying it now.

'kin hell chap, that's alot of money. I think you need to separate the bills from what was essential maintenance and those for the 'niceties' or mods you have done.

Maybe then you will have a more realistic figure which you should be able to gauge and compare with others

[silverhorse]

Well you lot better sit down.

Since my ownership 14 January 2010 i have spent the following:

Maintenance: £9815 (includes every nut, bolt screw and washer ever fitted to the car)
Modifications: £4334 (includes diagnostic tools and equipment totaling £330)



:jaw:

Its amazing that the cars on this forum are generally loved, pampered, fastidiously serviced, etc, and we still all have problems and big bills. Yet you see 15 year old Volvos running around quite happily that have quite obviously not seen a service or any preventative maintenance for years and they just plod on from one day to the next.
They know how to build a tough car, those Swedes

[LiamT4]

The car has a FULL dealer service history. I am going to have a Dealer service my car this spring to continue the trend.

Why do you have to "continue the trend"?? Is it just because your so anal about that type of stuff?

Plenty of independents are as good, if not better, than main dealers. My bmw place has people which, as soon as the warrenty/maintenence runs out, take their M5/M6s etc to him because they don't just go through a list and tick things off like most main dealers will, they'll actually go over the whole car themselves and look to makes sure everything is a1.

[V70 Graham]

Plenty of independents are as good, if not better, than main dealers.....

It's true, my Volvo indie is head and shoulders above the local 'stealers'
Cheaper prices and better service, with (as Liam said) mechanics who don't simply 'tick the sheet' and actually look at the car.
I think a full dealer service history has lost a little of its value now because of this.

[MisterC1501]

Well you lot better sit down.

Since my ownership 14 January 2010 i have spent the following:

Maintenance: £9815 (includes every nut, bolt screw and washer ever fitted to the car)
Modifications: £4334 (includes diagnostic tools and equipment totaling £330)

Just think Lee, you have probably spent double the value of your car.........and counting

[silverhorse]

Plenty of independents are as good, if not better, than main dealers.

This is true. A main dealer has, to a certain extent, got a captive audience. All warranty work has to be carried out there, a 60 year old chap who has just bought his 10th Volvo from this dealer will always take it there and for a lot of people, it is just 'the easy option'.
An Indie has to survive on its merits. If they are no good, they won't survive. They have to be experts in everything and be cheaper and have good customer service too.
Add to this that a good indie will generally be populated with ex works staff and they will have all the correct gear/computers, etc, then as far as most of us here are concerned, they beat a main dealer every time.
However, there is still nothing to beat a book full of main dealer stamps. They also have most parts on the shelf and plenty of staff to get your car turned around quickly.
Also, rather disappointingly, my local indie who is very good indeed, is not actually massively cheaper than a dealer:worried:
Anyway, if someone wants to go to a dealer for servicing, good luck to them.
There!!

[LeeT5]

Why do you have to "continue the trend"?? Is it just because your so anal about that type of stuff?

I take offence to this statement thou I know you did not mean to offend intentionally.

You may of had bad service at a dealer but that does not mean you should tar them all with the same brush. I have a very good rep with my local dealer and they are only 10 minutes away. I also get up to 55% off labour costs and 12% off parts so actually it can work out cheaper for me to go to the dealer.

I am not a bloody idiot and I know when is best to visit my dealer or my Volvo Specialist garage whom happens to be a 45 minute drive away, so not always convenient or practical.

Bottom line is this, when I come to sell my car and the prospective buyer looks through the service book they will be chuffed that it has dealer stamps all the way through. The average punter will not know the difference and will always look for main dealer stamps, so they do actually carry some weight.

Also, I have maintained my car regardless of cost. Meaning - I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I can throw money at the car as and when it's needed. A lot of people are not in that position and would chose not to service there car and leave it till next year or not bother to replace that binding brake caliper and just put up with the noise! This basically boils down to absolutely NO 'Preventative maintenance' whatsoever! If you came and looked at my car today I know you will not find a single fault. That's because if something goes wrong I don't put it off, I get it sorted asap. My V70R is now in a place where I do believe the costs attributed to servicing will dramatically come down. I estimate spending less than £500 this year and less than £300 next year. That is because of the initial outlay to date. The previous owner was also not shy of maintenance. All stamped by MRG and one invoice alone came to £2100! There are a couple of other invoices that are several hundreds too.

Maybe I am anal but I don't care. I love my car and I look after it because I know it will look after me and not breakdown on the motorway because of some silly thing that could of been prevented by spending abit of money. Whilst I appreciate the sums I have divulged seem excessive I can assure you, in the grand scheme of things, they are not. Given the cars age, mileage and status I think after a wash and polish it would be considered showroom condition and not just on the outside. Being a daily driver it's bloody hard to maintain to that level but when the sun shines and I'm out driving, it always turns heads and that to me makes it all worth it.

[LeeT5]

Further to post #58, I think that people are forgetting the fact that a P2 R when new costs £40,000+ !!!

Just because 8 years later your car may not be worth 40K but the maintenance, parts and servicing are still going to be the same for that caliber of vehicle. I mean, you would not be naive to think that if you purchased a new Lambo/Ferrari/Maserati etc that the running costs would only be a couple of hundred a year....would you?? Come on guys!

If i bought a brand new Fiat punto or a crappy Hyundai Getz for less than £8k then its bloody obvious that the running costs will reflect the total cost of the car when new. I could buy 4 new calipers for a new Corsa for the same price as one on my R!
Likewise, if i owned a super car costing 100k- 250k then its bloody obvious that when it comes to servicing and maintenance I'm not going to get much change out of £5000. If anyone thinks otherwise then they are delusional. It stands to reason that the more expensive the car then the more expensive the running costs.

Now, if i had broke down the £9815 i have spent on servicing/maintenance and actually listed the individual costs then i dare say that most peoples reaction would be more appreciative and understanding. However, just because Martyn and I have given a total...ppl's reaction is one of Shock/horror/Gasp!! what did you expect from a car that costs £42,000 brand new? Surely you didn't expect it to be in the same price range as maintaining a £6000 Fiat Punto?

Sod it, I'll list the maintenance parts then it will be clearer for ppl to understand: (Remember i get big discount on labour)

F/N/S Fog lamp - £54
(Volvo fit) OE Alternator - £526
(Volvo fit) Aux belt and Headlamp adjustment - £55
4 x Dunlop Sport maxx RT tyres (fitted) - £604
4 wheel alignment - £59
Supply and fit DMF, Clutch kit, slave cylinder - £1386
(Volvo fit) OE brake calipers x 2 + Brake pads + Dot 5.1 ATE Blue fluid - £968
(Volvo fit) OE rear brake caliper - £489
Terraclean - £84
(Volvo fit) Steering shaft - £106
Bonnet catch - £37
Engine mount oe - £50
(Volvo) SUM calibration and headlamp adjustment - £28
Supply and fit inner track arms - £142
Supply and fit anti roll bar links and track rod ends - £149
(Volvo fit) FPS and WHIPS bracket - £358
Supply and fit 4 x OE shocks, support plates and wheel balance - £1400
Air Quality sensor - £162
Air inlet - £49
4 wheel alignment inc Subframe shift - £105
Supply and fit Rear lower arm bushes - £160
Steering control relay - £85
Cup holder (center console) - £85
SUM update and fix faulty software (2 days at Volvo) - £304
(Volvo fit) Rear anti roll bar links - £138
4 x Vredestein tyres + alignment - £420
Supply and fit outer CV joints - £324
Supply and fit front top mounts - £429.......................:blahblah::blahblah::bl ahblah::blahblah::blahblah:

I've not exhausted this list and not listed every nut, bolt, washer and trim clip, nor have i included actual costs of service items like oil and filters, plugs etc etc (which were inc in total costing)- but i think I have made my point. Haven't I?

[LeeT5]

Just think Lee, you have probably spent double the value of your car.........and counting

Stick to your P1 then and you'll be ok :wink:

[LeeT5]

Plenty of independents are as good, if not better, than main dealers. My bmw place has people which, as soon as the warrenty/maintenence runs out, take their M5/M6s etc to him because they don't just go through a list and tick things off like most main dealers will, they'll actually go over the whole car themselves and look to makes sure everything is a1.

I totally agree with you mate.

The same could not be said for Main dealers such as MRG and Lipscomb. I know, my car has been and does visit both.

[LeeT5]

:jaw:

Its amazing that the cars on this forum are generally loved, pampered, fastidiously serviced, etc, and we still all have problems and big bills. Yet you see 15 year old Volvos running around quite happily that have quite obviously not seen a service or any preventative maintenance for years and they just plod on from one day to the next.
They know how to build a tough car, those Swedes

I agree mate - but if you look closer then you will see they are a complete bag of s*ite and probably won't get through the next MOT without spending more than the car is worth.

I sincerely hope that i never let any car i own get in such a sorry state. When i do, make sure you rob me of the keys and burn my driving license and ensure I'm never allowed to drive a Volvo again - :nono::buttkick:

[Santa]

Why feel you have to explain why you spend? Each to their own and all. (I'm also one of those people who has spent far more than the cars market value, it's a hobby though. Personally I've given up on resale value.....no point selling the car for what I'd get back.)

[LeeT5]

Why feel you have to explain why you spend? Each to their own and all. (I'm also one of those people who has spent far more than the cars market value, it's a hobby though. Personally I've given up on resale value.....no point selling the car for what I'd get back.)

I don't feel like i need to explain, it's just obvious that some people don't understand. I just needed to make the point. I think i did that? SO everybody should be clear that it really doesn't matter. At the end of the day, if you own an R or are thinking of getting one, you must be prepared to spend a heck of a lot keeping them sweet. It goes with the territory. If you don't want to spend or feel you can't manage then clearly an R is not for you. That not to say one could buy one and then spend the bare minimum or have a sealing as to what they will spend. If you do that then be prepared for the cars maintenance to overtake you and the car will invertibly suffer. Meaning, when you come to resell it will not fetch nearly as much as you would like.

[LeeT5]

I don't think it's an unreliable car , I hope I'm over the hump now

The hump is a mere dot in my rear view mate :cool:

[iancho]

When i bought mine a few years ago i never dreamed i would have come this far with it or the money i would spend. Like Santa said its a hobby that we enjoy a guilty one at times maybe but i love mine more everyday and wouldn't be witout it :)

[silverhorse]

I don't think anyone on here is out to turn a profit on their car. We have all spent irrational amounts of money, and any non car person or an accountant would think us mad. Resale value is not really in any of our minds.
As has been said, it is a hobby, if we did not love our cars we would not spend our hard earned on them. And we would only spend on something else if not our Volvo's.
I for one am not going to think about the silly amounts I have spent any more. I am just going to enjoy my car and make it the envy of my friends and not let the wife see any invoices!!:worried:

[p fandango]

you see 15 year old Volvos running around quite happily that have quite obviously not seen a service or any preventative maintenance for years and they just plod on from one day to the next.
They know how to build a tough car, those Swedes
ah that'll be me, but i don't buy them with the intention of being concours examples. Bonny was bought to be a cheap economical daily driver & only time the bonnet gets opened generally is when i get a security check leaving work lol. Anything advisories on the MOT get sorted & normally uprated when i do change parts

i've got £13k of receipts for BT, but thats from 14years ownership

[silverhorse]

ah that'll be me,

If she ain't broke..................!!

[Jimmie]

I don't feel like i need to explain, it's just obvious that some people don't understand. I just needed to make the point. I think i did that? SO everybody should be clear that it really doesn't matter. At the end of the day, if you own an R or are thinking of getting one, you must be prepared to spend a heck of a lot keeping them sweet. It goes with the territory. If you don't want to spend or feel you can't manage then clearly an R is not for you. That not to say one could buy one and then spend the bare minimum or have a sealing as to what they will spend. If you do that then be prepared for the cars maintenance to overtake you and the car will invertibly suffer. Meaning, when you come to resell it will not fetch nearly as much as you would like.

Lee;A few good posts there following on from the original poster whom i believe you have met and compared motors. I think you are both NUTS .:smile:

Did you need to change all those components that you mentioned or was it a case of just preventative measures.
For example:Steering shaft--
Alternator-Bonnet catch-Outer CV joints -Front top mounts-Inner track arms -
Anti roll bar links and track rod ends etc.A lot of the other stuff are just running repairs.
But like you inferred scrimp on maintenance is a nono which i agree with on any motor.Even more important if it's your bread and butter vehicle.
You also mentioned your labour rates that you enjoy not everyone are in that lucky position.That is not a criticism therefore do not take it the wrong way.
I doubt very much when the day comes to sell, your car will command much more in price it will only be easier to sell.A bit like putting a new kitchen in a house etc it wont make more money either as you need a kitchen unless you don't cook that is

[MisterC1501]

Stick to your P1 then and you'll be ok :wink:

I think you have made an excellent comparason there Lee. Both Series 1 and Series 2 V70R's cost when new in the region of £40k, but in the late 90's, £40K was worth more than the £40k in mid 2005, so you actually got more car for your money. Your car possibly cost £10k to buy, and now you have spent approaching £15k on it for it to be worth , what, say £8k tops??

Has anyone really spent £10k on maintenance on a Series 1.....and by that I mean essential maintenance, that is, jobs that need to be done, rather than changing things just for the sake of it

[MisterC1501]

I could spend just as much on the saffy if it was a daily driver and I only went to Volvo to get it fixed

Mate, I ran my Saffy for 7 years as a daily driver with essentially routine maintenance, and it was in excellent condition when I sold it @ 158k.

As an owner of both Series 1 and 2 cars, you and Lee are possibly the best people who can compare the essential maintenance costs for both models. I think when you do this, you can objectively look at the results and the true cost will be revealed

[MisterC1501]

Why feel you have to explain why you spend? Each to their own and all.

I think by Lee itemising his costs for routine maintenance, this has actually highlighted how maintenance reliant these cars actually are.

Personally, I thank both Lee and Martyn for doing this, since although my heart longs for a Series 2, my bank account would need a defibrilator to keep the thing alive!!

[V70 Graham]

I can understand totally what Lee is saying, these cars need money spending on them to bring them right up to scratch, and as he says he is not expecting to spend anywhere near as much this year or indeed next year.
I have done similar with my P1, it's now at a stage where I have her just right and she should not cost me much this year at all......I hope :saint:

[MisterC1501]

I can understand totally what Lee is saying, these cars need money spending on them to bring them right up to scratch, and as he says he is not expecting to spend anywhere near as much this year or indeed next year.

£3.3K a year in maintenance, that's approx £275 a month before the car has travelled a single mile...........let's be realistic.

When will the essential maintenance ever end..................or will it

Have all the parts and component replacements been done to them wearing out or failing? Is Lee's car typical of EVERY Series 2 V70R or has he been unlucky?

Please note, I use Lee as an example and this is not about Lee, but the maintenance costs for one of these cars.

Above everything else, Lee and Martyn are enthusiasts and maintain their cars regardless of costs.........but lets be realistic, £10K is £10k whether for some it is loose change or the total lifes savings.......it's still alot of money.

[Santa]

£5K a year in maintenance, that's approx £415 a month before the car has travelled a single mile...........let's be realistic.

When will the essential maintenance ever end..................or will it

Have all the parts and component replacements been done to them wearing out or failing? Is Lee's car typical of EVERY Series 2 V70R or has he been unlucky?

Please note, I use Lee as an example and this is not about Lee, but the maintenance costs for one of these cars.

Above everything else, Lee and Martyn are enthusiasts and maintain their cars regardless of costs.........but lets be realistic, £10K is £10k whether for some it is loose change or the total lifes savings.......it's still alot of money.

To be fair though some people will spend £10k on a skiing holiday (on the other hand though some people don't pick that up a year), its just spending money on a hobby.

[LiamT4]

Further to post #58, I think that people are forgetting the fact that a P2 R when new costs £40,000+ !!!

Just because 8 years later your car may not be worth 40K but the maintenance, parts and servicing are still going to be the same for that caliber of vehicle. I mean, you would not be naive to think that if you purchased a new Lambo/Ferrari/Maserati etc that the running costs would only be a couple of hundred a year....would you?? Come on guys!

If i bought a brand new Fiat punto or a crappy Hyundai Getz for less than £8k then its bloody obvious that the running costs will reflect the total cost of the car when new. I could buy 4 new calipers for a new Corsa for the same price as one on my R!
Likewise, if i owned a super car costing 100k- 250k then its bloody obvious that when it comes to servicing and maintenance I'm not going to get much change out of £5000. If anyone thinks otherwise then they are delusional. It stands to reason that the more expensive the car then the more expensive the running costs.

Now, if i had broke down the £9815 i have spent on servicing/maintenance and actually listed the individual costs then i dare say that most peoples reaction would be more appreciative and understanding. However, just because Martyn and I have given a total...ppl's reaction is one of Shock/horror/Gasp!! what did you expect from a car that costs £42,000 brand new? Surely you didn't expect it to be in the same price range as maintaining a £6000 Fiat Punto?

Sod it, I'll list the maintenance parts then it will be clearer for ppl to understand: (Remember i get big discount on labour)

F/N/S Fog lamp - £54
(Volvo fit) OE Alternator - £526
(Volvo fit) Aux belt and Headlamp adjustment - £55
4 x Dunlop Sport maxx RT tyres (fitted) - £604
4 wheel alignment - £59
Supply and fit DMF, Clutch kit, slave cylinder - £1386
(Volvo fit) OE brake calipers x 2 + Brake pads + Dot 5.1 ATE Blue fluid - £968
(Volvo fit) OE rear brake caliper - £489
Terraclean - £84
(Volvo fit) Steering shaft - £106
Bonnet catch - £37
Engine mount oe - £50
(Volvo) SUM calibration and headlamp adjustment - £28
Supply and fit inner track arms - £142
Supply and fit anti roll bar links and track rod ends - £149
(Volvo fit) FPS and WHIPS bracket - £358
Supply and fit 4 x OE shocks, support plates and wheel balance - £1400
Air Quality sensor - £162
Air inlet - £49
4 wheel alignment inc Subframe shift - £105
Supply and fit Rear lower arm bushes - £160
Steering control relay - £85
Cup holder (center console) - £85
SUM update and fix faulty software (2 days at Volvo) - £304
(Volvo fit) Rear anti roll bar links - £138
4 x Vredestein tyres + alignment - £420
Supply and fit outer CV joints - £324
Supply and fit front top mounts - £429.......................:blahblah::blahblah::bl ahblah::blahblah::blahblah:

I've not exhausted this list and not listed every nut, bolt, washer and trim clip, nor have i included actual costs of service items like oil and filters, plugs etc etc (which were inc in total costing)- but i think I have made my point. Haven't I?

What i said was "Why do you have to "continue the trend"?? Is it just because your so anal about that type of stuff?" because it sounded as though you only got it serviced at a main dealer to "continue the trend". All you had to say was that the dealer you use is actually very good and they aren't that expensive either, but instead you go into a rant that drags on and on.

From reading threads like these and speaking to people who own M cars, it seems that the s60/v70r is the more expensive one to own. So your "what do you expect, it cost over 40k new" argument, doesn't hold up.........but its not the parts that are more expenive, its the fact that it seems to be a much more fragile car.

Now i'm sorry i couldn't produce a rant as impressive as yours but, as i don't get as worked up over these things as you do, i simply couldn't be bothered to carry on :funkybana

[Jimmie]

£5K a year in maintenance, that's approx £415 a month before the car has travelled a single mile...........let's be realistic.

When will the essential maintenance ever end..................or will it

Have all the parts and component replacements been done to them wearing out or failing? Is Lee's car typical of EVERY Series 2 V70R or has he been unlucky?

Please note, I use Lee as an example and this is not about Lee, but the maintenance costs for one of these cars.

Above everything else, Lee and Martyn are enthusiasts and maintain their cars regardless of costs.........but lets be realistic, £10K is £10k whether for some it is loose change or the total lifes savings.......it's still alot of money.

My R cost in excess £4000.00 last year to repair which i think is very reasonable from a main dealer. If they had charged for everything e.g. diagnostics it would have even been more.
I do know that to keep any car or any road going vehicle in top condition it will cost you money which any experienced motorist should expect to pay imo.Even works vehicles cost money it's just that some people don't appreciate that fact!

Personaly speaking i would buy another R in a minute and that is after six years of ownership of this one.I have had volvo's for more years than i can count and not one has not cost money to maintain to a certain standard.
Fitting inferior components or secondhand parts is usually a false economy but it happens then people complain that things don't last long.


The Kid and Lee are fanatics (maybe too strong a word)about there cars but at least they do not break them at the drop of a hat like some people.
I don't know how long Lee has been into volvo's but the Kid has had a life time of that marque,poor soul.

Keep up the good work both of you.
But you are both still NUTS.:beer:

[Jimmie]

From reading threads like these and speaking to people who own M cars, it seems that the s60/v70r is the more expensive one to own.
.
The people you spoke to must be very lucky because the beemer owners that i know and have spoken to say the beemer costs a fortune to maintain.
That is the reason they have got rid off them.

[LiamT4]

.
The people you spoke to must be very lucky because the beemer owners that i know and have spoken to say the beemer costs a fortune to maintain.
That is the reason they have got rid off them.

Really? I'm talking e36/e46 m3s and e39 M5s and alpinas and they seem to be a lot less fragile than the s60/v70r.

Obviously i'm not bringing e60 M5s and newer M cars into this as they are are in a different league to the s60/v70r.

[Santa]

Really? I'm talking e36/e46 m3s and e39 M5s and alpinas and they seem to be a lot less fragile than the s60/v70r.

Obviously i'm not bringing e60 M5s and newer M cars into this as they are are in a different league to the s60/v70r.

Just on the E36 M3. A mate of mine had to replace his SMG gearbox twice and the third time gave up and had a manual conversion done. Also had numerous Vanos issues. I know I've had transmission issues with Angle Gear and DEM unit but touch wood the gearbox is still good.

[MisterC1501]

, it seems that the s60/v70r is the more expensive one to own. So your "what do you expect, it cost over 40k new" argument, doesn't hold up.........but its not the parts that are more expenive, its the fact that it seems to be a much more fragile car.

Is this one of the reasons WHY Volvo dropped this model from their range?

[LiamT4]

Just on the E36 M3. A mate of mine had to replace his SMG gearbox twice and the third time gave up and had a manual conversion done. Also had numerous Vanos issues. I know I've had transmission issues with Angle Gear and DEM unit but touch wood the gearbox is still good.

Ahh good point there. I don't know anyone thats had an e36 m3 with the smg box, because that is the only real weak part on the m3 thats very expensive to fix and most people know that and just get proper manuals.

and vanos isn't that expensive to fix when compared to some of the issues that have been listed on here.

[LiamT4]

Is this one of the reasons WHY Volvo dropped this model from their range?

More that it was a lack of money to spend on "halo" cars, so just concentrated on the normal stuff unfortunatly.

[Jimmie]

Really? I'm talking e36/e46 m3s and e39 M5s and alpinas and they seem to be a lot less fragile than the s60/v70r.

Obviously i'm not bringing e60 M5s and newer M cars into this as they are are in a different league to the s60/v70r.

Well explain why the former beemers have also had a lot of engine problems etc got the info from a tech at the time.That is one reason why i never jumped ship a few years back.
They were just too much money to keep maitained imo.
But hay ho this is a friendly volvo community and long may that last.

[LeeT5]

Lee;A few good posts there following on from the original poster whom i believe you have met and compared motors. I think you are both NUTS .:smile:

Did you need to change all those components that you mentioned or was it a case of just preventative measures.
For example:Steering shaft--
Alternator-Bonnet catch-Outer CV joints -Front top mounts-Inner track arms -
Anti roll bar links and track rod ends etc.A lot of the other stuff are just running repairs.
But like you inferred scrimp on maintenance is a nono which i agree with on any motor.Even more important if it's your bread and butter vehicle.
You also mentioned your labour rates that you enjoy not everyone are in that lucky position.That is not a criticism therefore do not take it the wrong way.
I doubt very much when the day comes to sell, your car will command much more in price it will only be easier to sell.A bit like putting a new kitchen in a house etc it wont make more money either as you need a kitchen unless you don't cook that is

Of course I needed to replace the parts, they were all worn! The steering shaft, for example, is a nylon bush. My steering had excessive play left to right. Not anymore.

Lets not forget also that these parts have been since ownership, that's three years.

[Jimmie]

Just on the E36 M3. A mate of mine had to replace his SMG gearbox twice and the third time gave up and had a manual conversion done. Also had numerous Vanos issues. I know I've had transmission issues with Angle Gear and DEM unit but touch wood the gearbox is still good.
Have you run out of thanks buttons?lol

[Jimmie]

Is this one of the reasons WHY Volvo dropped this model from their range?
Ask America!

[Santa]

Have you run out of thanks buttons?lol

I have unlimited thanks.....so much to be thankful for.

[LiamT4]

Well explain why the former beemers have also had a lot of engine problems etc got the info from a tech at the time.That is one reason why i never jumped ship a few years back.
They were just too much money to keep maitained imo.
But hay ho this is a friendly volvo community and long may that last.

Well, what can i say?? You have different views/experiences that i have, bloody hell the worlds coming to an end!!!!!!

[Jimmie]

Well, what can i say?? bloody hell the worlds coming to an end!!!!!!
Nah as long as we keep breathing and wake up in the morning then we have nothing to worry about!!

[Pinup_gal]

Well, what can i say?? You have different views/experiences that i have, bloody hell the worlds coming to an end!!!!!!


Liam you drama queen ;)

[volvokid]

The biggest mistake I think Volvo made with the last R range IMO was the engine, and that's a pretty bad one, Yeah the angle gear can go but can be replaced easy enough and i dont think mine will need replaced again but a engine is a different story. I don't know why they continue to produce cars with it, but if you have noticed none are as powerful as the R. One of my mates cracked a liner on his ST.
THIS is the ONLY scary thing about owning my R, from what i have noticed with this issue it only seems to happen on cars that have been heavily driven on a regular basis .
Other than my angle gear going on the car, my car would have probably been fine for most people, but when I have a niggle I try my best to get it sorted, hence my efforts at trying to sort my radio signal, it never bothered the previous owner he never even noticed it but it does my head in.
And Jimmie its all your fault!! If you had been interested in football, I might not have given a dam about cars.

[Jimmie]

And Jimmie its all your fault!! If you had been interested in football, I might not have given a dam about cars.
Why blame me i think you should blame your dad!!!!!
Oh and are you still buying toothbrushes by the box for your housework chores e.g. kitchen and bathroom?
You are so bleedin fussy but people would never know would they?.lol

[volvokid]

Why blame me i think you should blame your dad!!!!!
Oh and are you still buying toothbrushes by the box for your housework chores e.g. kitchen and bathroom?
You are so bleedin fussy but people would never know would they?.lol

Haha

[volvokid]

I'm cleaning the kitchen as we speak ;-)

[smithy]

The engine is fine aslong as you don't boost them too heavy.its the heat that cracks the liners .

[volvokid]

The engine is fine aslong as you don't boost them too heavy.its the heat that cracks the liners .

That's a thing why have a car with that power that you ain't supposed too boost to heavy, that's why everyone changes them for the 2.4

[t5 pete]

What are the 2.5's like in standard form do they still suffer from the liners

[MIKESC70T5]

.
The people you spoke to must be very lucky because the beemer owners that i know and have spoken to say the beemer costs a fortune to maintain.
That is the reason they have got rid off them.

My car was over £40000 new and I've spent about £4000 on her since having bought her but a lot of this wasn't essential. I've done 12000 miles in 15 months and its been very reliable. I often drive her vigorously as it was meant to be so I think it's a lot stronger then an s60, v70r.

[MIKESC70T5]

Just on the E36 M3. A mate of mine had to replace his SMG gearbox twice and the third time gave up and had a manual conversion done. Also had numerous Vanos issues. I know I've had transmission issues with Angle Gear and DEM unit but touch wood the gearbox is still good.

The smg gearbox was a terrible idea by Bmw in the first place and no one wants them when they were new or now hence why people do the manual change. Vanos issues were a design flaw but easily upgraded and once upgraded will be fine for the remaining life of the car. Nothing else, mine now on 87000 miles with upgraded vanos unit for the past 10000 miles.

[volvokid]

The engine is fine aslong as you don't boost them too heavy.its the heat that cracks the liners .

That's a thing why have a car with that power that you ain't supposed too boost to heavy, that's why everyone changes them for the 2.4

[volvokid]

What are the 2.5's like in standard form do they still suffer from the liners

Yip it has been known.
Will I throw another spanner in the works? The R never made 300bhp from factory, more like 285bhp there was legal preceding's that took place against Volvo in other country's regarding this, I guess that's why people who have driven both P2 T5 and R model cars often don't find the R that much faster.

[M-R-P]

Now you've done it!

[volvokid]

Now you've done it!

Haha, I think it's funny, it's still the best Volvo I have driven

[M-R-P]

Haha, I think it's funny, it's still the best Volvo I have driven

You wanna try mine...

The thrill of something falling off at any second and the possibility of imminent death...

Gets the adrenaline going!

[volvokid]

You wanna try mine...

The thrill of something falling off at any second and the possibility of imminent death...

Gets the adrenaline going!
The joys of an explod , you have done it Well though :-)

[M-R-P]

Thanks ;)

So far, nothing I've done has failed but I seem to be constantly chasing the bits that are due to drop off.

[silverhorse]

The joys of an explod , you have done it Well though :-)

At a price!!!

[M-R-P]

At a price!!!

If I was to work out the main stealer price of what's been done...

Clutch, slave, DMF and RMS... indy £1100, stealer £2300
Timing belt... indy £183, stealer £400 or so
Shocks.. me £190, stealer £180 each + fitting
Front disks... me £86, stealer 160 + fitting
Interior.. me £55.50, stealer oooh anybody wanna guess?
Then there's tranny flush, brake flush, brake lines, pads, trims, wishbone bushes, front and rear sports springs, body repairs, BCS, wastegate repair, new vac hoses, faulty wiring, steering stops, steering wheel, interior trims, battery, wheel bolts... the list is endless.
Then there's general servicing - I do the oil and filter every 4k (she does 12k a year).

Oh, and that fekkin DIM, which I did actually pay a stealer £732.50 to fit and they didn't even screw the fekker down!

I recon £6k wouldn't be a difficult number to reach ;)

[LeeT5]

Lee;A few good posts there following on from the original poster whom i believe you have met and compared motors. I think you are both NUTS .:smile:

Did you need to change all those components that you mentioned or was it a case of just preventative measures.
For example:Steering shaft--
Alternator-Bonnet catch-Outer CV joints -Front top mounts-Inner track arms -
Anti roll bar links and track rod ends etc.A lot of the other stuff are just running repairs.
But like you inferred scrimp on maintenance is a nono which i agree with on any motor.Even more important if it's your bread and butter vehicle.
You also mentioned your labour rates that you enjoy not everyone are in that lucky position.That is not a criticism therefore do not take it the wrong way.
I doubt very much when the day comes to sell, your car will command much more in price it will only be easier to sell.A bit like putting a new kitchen in a house etc it wont make more money either as you need a kitchen unless you don't cook that is

Steering shaft (as Volvo call it) was replaced last year due to excessive play in the steering. Its just U/J with a nylon bush built into it. It was clonking left /right and it really pis*ed me off.
Alternator pulley bearing started squealing like a banshee one morning last year. i put up with it for a week. new Alternator was fitted and Aux belt.
Bonnet catch (was replaced for cosmetic reasons). Mine was filthy even after cleaning it. Cost £30 for a shiny new one.
Outer CV joints were worn and one of the Boots was split. I don't risk CV's Once the boot split the grease migrates very quickly and the damp and water can get in very easily driving through puddles. Water contamination is not good and so i thought for peace of mind, new CVs were the best bet.
Front top mounts should always be replaced when renewing shocks. Its a big rubber bush and they do wear. If you don't, then your a fool because to replace you'll have to strip out the entire assembly again and have the wheel alignment done...again. Why shell out twice!?
Inner track arms were worn slightly and to get the front geometry spot on you need to eliminate as much free play as possible. Track rod ends were done at the same time as were the front anti roll bar links, mine were very slack so they were replaced.




I think you have made an excellent comparison there Lee. Both Series 1 and Series 2 V70R's cost when new in the region of £40k, but in the late 90's, £40K was worth more than the £40k in mid 2005, so you actually got more car for your money. Your car possibly cost £10k to buy, and now you have spent approaching £15k on it for it to be worth , what, say £8k tops??

Has anyone really spent £10k on maintenance on a Series 1.....and by that I mean essential maintenance, that is, jobs that need to be done, rather than changing things just for the sake of it

P1 V70R awd was about £37,000 new
P2 V70R awd was £38,500 in basic form (No packs added) but if you added Family pack, Comms pack, Winter pack then that ramped the price up to £42,000.



£3.3K a year in maintenance, that's approx £275 a month before the car has travelled a single mile...........let's be realistic.

When will the essential maintenance ever end..................or will it

Have all the parts and component replacements been done to them wearing out or failing? Is Lee's car typical of EVERY Series 2 V70R or has he been unlucky?

Please note, I use Lee as an example and this is not about Lee, but the maintenance costs for one of these cars.

Above everything else, Lee and Martyn are enthusiasts and maintain their cars regardless of costs.........but lets be realistic, £10K is £10k whether for some it is loose change or the total lifes savings.......it's still alot of money.

Mostly wear and tear and ties in perfect with the mileage. Some owners, like Martyn says, wouldn't be put off by or even notice certain things wearing out and they would only be replaced if picked up and deemed unsafe on an MOT and so in most cases would go unnoticed. I, on the other hand, having been trained as a mechanical engineer, so would find it impossible to let such minor things go and it would go against what i have been taught and on my own vehicle they would just pi*s me off, so they get replaced. Simple. Only a handful of things have failed since i took over ownership. Namely FPS, Alternator, TCV, CV gaiter, 3 x binding caliper, MAF....oh and vehicle battery.

From what i know about P2 R's, most of the things that have failed so far a typical and invariably mileage related. For example, Bevel boxes typically fail between 70k - 120k.




Fitting inferior components or secondhand parts is usually a false economy but it happens then people complain that things don't last long.

The Kid and Lee are fanatics (maybe too strong a word) about there cars but at least they do not break them at the drop of a hat like some people.
I don't know how long Lee has been into Volvo's but the Kid has had a life time of that marque,poor soul.

Keep up the good work both of you.
But you are both still NUTS.:beer:

I bought my first Volvo (Black 440 GLT 1990) when i was only 18. It was the 'star car' at my local Dealer. I have never looked back since.
My Volvo's that followed were; White '89 440 GLT Turbo, Gold '91 440 Turbo, White '93 850 GLE 2.0 10v, Red '94 850 GLT 2.5 20v (concourse condition) and thee most reliable Volvo I've ever owned, Black '96 850 GLT T5 Est (Had for 4 years, original engine and Turbo and never let me down - sold with 196k on the clock), Laser blue 'Phase 2' V70R awd '99 (owned for 4 years) and now current V70R. You could say i know a little about Volvo's!
Never will fit or have fitted patent parts. OE all the way.


More that it was a lack of money to spend on "halo" cars, so just concentrated on the normal stuff unfortunatly.

Close but actually the reason Volvo ditched production of the R in 2007 was because the World was changing and governments were piling on the pressure for Manufacturers to be more 'Green'. Continuing production of a £42k car that did 25mpg (on paper) was not considered green enough and neither was the demand for these cars. So Volvo ditched it. A few years later and Volvo quickly realized they had made a huge mistake. Volvo, for years, since production of the 850 in 1993 were trying to lose the boxy pipe and slipper image hence the T5 was born and joining forces with TWR and BTCC helped Volvo lose this image. When they stopped production of the R, Volvo realized that they had just told 20% of it's buyers to F*CK OFF and look elsewhere for a fast, performance car. At this time when you looked at other manufacturers, Audi were doing well with the RS4/6, BMW had the M3/M5, Merc had AMG models and ALL of these manufaturers were telling the government to stick their green policies where the sun don't shine! Volvo wanted to get on the same band wagon and so the R-Design was born. Not really an R and too be honest, not even close but lets face it....better than nothing. Realizing that a few plastic badges, some clever seat stitching and a rear spoiler wasn't going to cut the mustard, they looked to the performance world of tuning. RICA (Already affiliated) were replaced by Polestar and so the saga goes on.

Will they ever bring back a true R AWD?? Lets seriously hope so because i for one am already on the edge of my seat! :B_thumb:



I'm cleaning the kitchen as we speak ;-)

OCD mate?



Yip it has been known.
Will I throw another spanner in the works? The R never made 300bhp from factory, more like 285bhp there was legal proceeding's that took place against Volvo in other country's regarding this, I guess that's why people who have driven both P2 T5 and R model cars often don't find the R that much faster.

Really? Where's the evidence of that cos I've never heard of that before?

Isn't the real reason because the P2 R is heavier due to the awd drive-train? besides, a P2 R will annihilate a P2 T5 in the wet so really it boils down to affordability and what you want.

To summarize, i think it's completely unfair to compare a P1 to a P2 anyway. They are not the same car and despite the P1 R AWD has the mechanical Haldex system and is a lot more robust, so long as you obey the 2mm tread rule, service the prop shaft U/Js and replace gear oils yearly you won't have any trouble. If you take the awd out of a P1 then all you got is a fast, next gen T5 with a bigger turbo and a tuned MAP. I'm not doing down the P1 Rs in FWD at all, i think they are stonkingly great cars and had Volvo made a P1 fwd in Laser Blue, then i wouldn't have batted an eyelid at getting one.

The P2 R, however, is NOT the same and should not even be compared. Chassis is different, Brakes, speed sensitive steering, Suspension, 4C, interior, Engine, manifolds, Turbo, Exhaust, lights, gearbox, 2nd/3rd Gen Haldex system, Fuel system, 2 inter coolers etc etc. Volvo didn't just add a few bits they completely started again and improved what was a great car and made it greater. Obviously, all this extra stuff means extra maintenance and costs.
It doesn't mean its unreliable just because it costs more to maintain.

Grahams car is one shining example of what all Volvo owners can achieve if they put in the wedge and the work and don't shirk on maintenance. I know he will enjoy many years of trouble 'less' motoring because of the time, money and maintenance getting the car to it glorious state now. That's exactly what i have tried to achieve. It's bloody expensive i know but in the end i know it will be worth it cos i already did it with my Laser Blue R. :)

[stribo]

Yip it has been known.
Will I throw another spanner in the works? The R never made 300bhp from factory, more like 285bhp there was legal preceding's that took place against Volvo in other country's regarding this, I guess that's why people who have driven both P2 T5 and R model cars often don't find the R that much faster.

We'll find out in a couple of weeks, when it's strapped to the rollers. ;)

[Jimmie]

Lee i think you will find it was because of the collapse of the ameican sales of the R that the model was dropped.
America was there biggest customer at the time and they could not afford to keep it in production.
I agree you can not compare a P1 to a P2 total different breed of car.



i'll will bet you are glad that some people do not keep there cars up to your standard,you might not have a job.lol

[Santa]

Interesting about the liners, touching wood whilst writing this (or whatever these B&Q shelves are made out of) mine are still OK. Even if they weren't though, I can't go smaller, its not the way I'm built so would be sorting the 2.5 as a minimum.

[volvokid]

Interesting about the liners, touching wood whilst writing this (or whatever these B&Q shelves are made out of) mine are still OK. Even if they weren't though, I can't go smaller, its not the way I'm built so would be sorting the 2.5 as a minimum.

Did you not know about it Santa? Tim Williams does a mod on the liners so you can keep your 2.5, give him a shout. Cheaper than a new engine

[volvokid]

We'll find out in a couple of weeks, when it's strapped to the rollers. ;)

Yeah it will be, it's a well known fact on t5d5. I don't have evidence, this is only What I have read and heard.

[M-R-P]

We'll find out in a couple of weeks, when it's strapped to the rollers. ;)

And I'll be there to calculate your power to weight ratio ;)

[Santa]

Did you not know about it Santa? Tim Williams does a mod on the liners so you can keep your 2.5, give him a shout. Cheaper than a new engine

I did know about other people having the issue, not sure if they are tuned or standard cars though. Of all the other failures I've had though (still touching the B&Q shelving) the engine has been/is remarkably strong. (But yes I have investigated new liners and if it happens and I decide to keep the 2.5 I'll get them done).

[lance]

I've been around these forums since 2004 and yes most Rs made a little less than 300 bhp but hey a remap soon sorts it.

[stribo]

And I'll be there to calculate your power to weight ratio ;)

I can work it out myself.

[volvokid]

I did know about other people having the issue, not sure if they are tuned or standard cars though. Of all the other failures I've had though (still touching the B&Q shelving) the engine has been/is remarkably strong. (But yes I have investigated new liners and if it happens and I decide to keep the 2.5 I'll get them done).

MRG has seen it happen time both, alot of it comes down to to your driving style i think. I have found since having myremap, o have been holding my revs longer just because it keeps pulling, this can't be good if your doing it all the time

[volvokid]

Check the state of my last post Haha mess

[Santa]

MRG has seen it happen time both, alot of it comes down to to your driving style i think. I have found since having myremap, o have been holding my revs longer just because it keeps pulling, this can't be good if your doing it all the time

I've had a "bit" more done than a remap and I'm not exactly the softest driver.

[volvokid]

I've had a "bit" more done than a remap and I'm not exactly the softest driver.

That's exactly What I thought