An urgent bit of buying advice required

[S1mon]

My Mum has recently written off her '99 V70 TDI. She absolutely loved the car and is pretty gutted. We're now looking around for a suitable replacement. Doesn't HAVE to be diesel, although she liked it. MUST however be auto. Our budget is around £1300. We've travelled around half the south of England and looked at some real sheds!

Today, I've been to look at a 2000 P2 V70 2.4 170bhp Automatic. 114,000 miles with 'full' history. (Stamped up book by various backstreet garages, but no receipts so can't see what's been done) It looks to need a cam belt as the belt looks a little worn, needs drop links and it has an 'SRS Service Urgent' message so I suspect early DIM failure! I've now been reading that these gearboxes are pretty rubbish. I haven't driven the car yet, will be tomorrow, but I've looked at the transmission fluid. Doesn't look fresh, but not bad. I'd best describe it as a browny translucent. She's no girl racer so won't be thrashing it. It's up for £1250.

Good buy with easily fixable issues, or am I setting my Mum up to hate Volvos????

I must also say, unfortunately Mum has recently been diagnosed with Cancer too! So, whatever I put her in needs to be as reliable as a second hand car can be! It needs to get her to and from hospital everyday for the next 2 months for Radiotherapy.

[M-R-P]

Sorry to hear about your mum dude, hopefully she makes a speedy and full recovery.

The car isn't worth anywhere near that much in that condition, I'd offer a grand. If the gearbox feels smooth, a fluid change will keep it that way (normally) but like you say they ain't good boxes. The fact that the fluid isn't fresh shows that it hasn't had recent trouble and someone has changed the fluid as a means of getting rid.
Droplinks are cheap and easy to change. If the engine runs nice that's a plus as it'll be the "denso " engine and things like the maf cost nearly twice as much.

If it's near my end of the south of England, I'll be happy to check it over with you (evenings only I'm afraid) as a second opinion from someone who knows the P2 could be invaluable.

[V70 Graham]

Sorry to hear about your Mums health problems.

I'm no expert on the P2 but early models do have their faults, DIM units are just one.

All I say is don't be rushed into it, if you can, take your time to find the right car.

[S1mon]

Cheers guys!

I'm taking my time as much as I can. We've been looking for two weeks now and as I said, seen some utter rubbish!!

I'm starting to think we should hold out for a decent Classic V70 or even a V40. They seem few and far between though.

Martin, it's in Wickham if that's any good? I'm supposed to be going to see it again tomorrow if I don't decided to pull out all together!

Another question, is it normal for the P2 to get a build up of thick sludgy oil under the filler cap?? We've seen three now and they've all been the same!

[M-R-P]

An hour's drive mate, by the time I finish work, I imagine I'll be too late? I doubt I'll be there before 6-6.30pm but still happy to have a look.

In terms of reliability, you might be better off with a classic V70 than an early P2.

[jdavis]

I wouldn't buy a 'cheap' early p2 expecting 100% reliability. You may henbetter of lookingbfor a classic v70 or even an 850. Having had an early p2 they certainly have their niggles.

[S1mon]

Ok, I think I've come to the conclusion that it's not worth the risk, so will leave it. Thanks for the awesome offer though Martin!! ��

[M-R-P]

No worries mate, good luck with your search.

If you spot anything else down this way and want me to take a look, just let me know

[S1mon]

Finally picked up a nice 04MY S60 2.0T for Mum on Saturday. Was in Bromley, so a bit far to take you up on your kind offer Mr P! Thanks again though. I am however pretty confident that it's a good car. AC compressor wasn't working at all at first so I insisted we took it to near by Kwikfit for a test / regas. It passed and recharged with no issues and works perfectly so the deal was done in the car park!

Quick photo at Clacket Lane on the way home. Red one is mine, green is Mum's.

[V70 Graham]

Glad you are both happy, looks a good car.

[M-R-P]

Superb

Good colour too... just needs some white stripes up the bonnet.

[S1mon]

Superb

Good colour too... just needs some white stripes up the bonnet.

Oh dear God, don't let my Mum read that! She's 60 and is already asking me to "make it go vrooom tcshhh!" Haha! She's all chuffed that she now drives a turbo car, but doesn't understand the whole LPT thing! Perhaps I should fit a pipe, filter and remap for her!!

[M-R-P]

Oh dear God, don't let my Mum read that! She's 60 and is already asking me to "make it go vrooom tcshhh!" Haha! She's all chuffed that she now drives a turbo car, but doesn't understand the whole LPT thing! Perhaps I should fit a pipe, filter and remap for her!!

Just pull the maf out of the airbox lid, stick a cone filter on the maf and sit it all in the bottom of the airbox.

Then pull the soundproofing off the bonnet

[S1mon]

Now you're giving me ideas for my D5!!

[M-R-P]

Now you're giving me ideas for my D5!!

ooohhh... don't do it on a derv, it'll just make stupid squelching noises.

Have a listen to this... 20 psi with a locked wastegate, 3" maf to turbo and an open cone filter...

[S1mon]

Sounds good. Don't think a LPT making what, 6PSI(???) will sound quite the same! Haha. Out if interest, how did you lock your waste gate? Also, just reading your sig, what does the car ride / look like on the -30mm Apex springs?? I'd like to tart that D5 up a little. Thinking of refurb'ing my wheels, dropping it a bit and spacing the wheels a little to fill the arches.

[M-R-P]

One-way valve, on a bypass valve spliced into the pipe that operates the recirc. Locking the recirc on an LPT would make it chatter nicely

I must update my sig - I think the springs are either 35 or 40mm...





Avoid Apex springs tho - they're bloody hard.