New member, possible owner...!

Post 462599 by 982 on 2012-02-13 15:18:16

Hello all, this being my first post, go easy...! :wink: I'm currently looking for a new vehicle, and have my eye on a phase 1 V70R estate with the 4spd auto box. Im coming from M3 ownership, and although i appreciate that the Volvo is never going to be as involved or as quick as the Bmw, has anyone here regretted going from a powerful manual car to an auto box....? Especially a 4spd...? I would go for a test drive, but the car is located a fair distance away. To be honest, balls out speed doesnt really interest me anymore, been there done it, however i still like to drive an engaging car and ive always had a soft spot for Volvos. The estate ticks all the boxes, and nothing else is floating my boat at the minute. Anyway, i hope that someone has a reply in the positive, as ive got my heart set on a V70R...! thanks, Gordy.

Post 462601 by Wobbly Dave on 2012-02-13 15:30:35

:welcome: Gordy, Where abouts in the world do you find yourself?

Post 462602 by M-R-P on 2012-02-13 15:30:58

Welcome! The P1 R is a nice motor, there's one near me and I like it a lot. The owner never stops to talk to me tho;) I must stop dancing naked round his garden.

Post 462603 by 982 on 2012-02-13 15:34:39

[quote=Wobbly Dave;462601]:welcome: Gordy, Where abouts in the world do you find yourself?[/quote] Im around 20 miles from John o' Groats, the lovely wee town of Thurso to be precise. Thus you can imagine that any potential test drive is going to be a bit of a distance to go to, as most of the vehicles ive seen for sale are way down south...! Oh, cheers for the welcome mate :biggrin:.

Post 462604 by Nealevo on 2012-02-13 15:38:36

Welcome to the mad house... I had the same sort of reservations, i came from BMW M5. subaru STi, EVO 6 TM edition and because i now get a company car (JAG XFR) i needed an estate for my bikes and dogs, so i brought a tidy 850R auto, i have never regretted it. obviously i do miss the down change and control of the manual, but i have just adapted to use the box. If you have any problems the members on here are first class and will go out tof their way to help.

Post 462605 by 982 on 2012-02-13 15:45:54

Thanks for the reply mate. I guess that im having the same reservations that you did. I was thinking that a 5spd auto would'nt be an issue, but a 4spd would be a pain. Does the auto box hold the gears ok when accelerating...? However, i might just bite the bullet and try a trip down to view a few cars, when work allows me the time off.

Post 462610 by cherry1809 on 2012-02-13 16:07:11

I would personally have gone for the manual, But if the auto suits your needs better then so be it. I've had a T5 850 auto and was quite happy with the auto to be honest. Suits the engine 100%. I think you'll be pleasantly suprised that the Volvo isn't slow though. Get it up to speed and it'll give the beemer a run for it's money. :)

Post 462613 by cherry1809 on 2012-02-13 16:09:45

Oh and welcome. :D

Post 462617 by Wobbly Dave on 2012-02-13 16:17:00

I have been to J'OG in October 2010 just after Ellen & I were married in Inverness. I could've given a test drive just then but sadly it will be a while before I find myself that far North again (perhaps this October)

Post 462621 by 982 on 2012-02-13 16:20:38

[quote=cherry1809;462610]I would personally have gone for the manual, But if the auto suits your needs better then so be it. I've had a T5 850 auto and was quite happy with the auto to be honest. Suits the engine 100%. I think you'll be pleasantly suprised that the Volvo isn't slow though. Get it up to speed and it'll give the beemer a run for it's money. :)[/quote] I would go for a manual myself, but most are sitting on quite high miles. My M3 only has 38K. I know that mileage isnt really a factor if the car has been well maintained, but i would prefer a lower mileage car, if only to satisfy my OCD...! :cuckoo: As for speed, i have had a play with a T5 before in the M3, and yes it was quite quick. Im actually looking forward to possibly going back to forced induction again, i miss the kick in of the turbo when they spool up...! And thankyou for the welcome.

Post 462623 by 982 on 2012-02-13 16:24:44

[quote=Wobbly Dave;462617]I have been to J'OG in October 2010 just after Ellen & I were married in Inverness. I could've given a test drive just then but sadly it will be a while before I find myself that far North again (perhaps this October)[/quote] A very kind offer, thankyou. However im looking to buy in the very foreseeable future, October is too far away to wait for a test drive...! :biggrin: If you do ever find yourself up this way, drop me a pm, hopefully be an owner by then and have a bit of chat over a pint...!

Post 462628 by t5 pete on 2012-02-13 16:36:59

There is absoutly nothing wrong with the 4speed auto boxes at all ive got a p1 R and this smooth ness and ease is brilliant with the auto box you deffinatly wont regret it.

Post 462629 by T5frankie on 2012-02-13 16:39:03

welcome to the forum mate

Post 462636 by Nealevo on 2012-02-13 16:57:22

[quote=982;462605]Thanks for the reply mate. I guess that im having the same reservations that you did. I was thinking that a 5spd auto would'nt be an issue, but a 4spd would be a pain. Does the auto box hold the gears ok when accelerating...? However, i might just bite the bullet and try a trip down to view a few cars, when work allows me the time off.[/quote] It holds in gear quite well, smooth when cruising and it downshifts very quickly, there is the sport button which holds till 6500 ish so they do fly when wound up, not the quickest off the line but once rolling, they suprise a few unsuspecting so called faster cars, you can play the forum game.... Motorway sliproad assault!!

Post 462637 by LiamT4 on 2012-02-13 16:58:42

[quote=982;462605]I was thinking that a 5spd auto would'nt be an issue, but a 4spd would be a pain. Does the auto box hold the gears ok when accelerating...?[/quote] Welcome to the site. When you've got your foot to the floor the auto box will hold the gear untill it gets to the red line and then change. Also when my S70R is in sports mode (also a 4 spd auto) its more responsive than you'd think for an old 4spd box.

Post 462641 by PHIL V70R on 2012-02-13 17:04:31

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]hi mate and a big welcome,,i have a v70r auto...had bmw,cosworth, and some other bits of c**p..had the v70 4 about 3 years had probs but all ok now thanks 2 the lads on here mate...your in the right place on here...[/COLOR]

Post 462644 by 982 on 2012-02-13 17:35:27

Many thanks to everyone who has given a very warm welcome...! I will hopefully be taking up your kind offers of Volvo knowledge, if i cant find them through search, so that i wont be :wallbash: ...! I'll keep you all posted as to how i get on with the possible purchase, and then the mischief will begin...! Oh, i almost forgot. I've seen a few threads on various forums that with careful modifications these cars can be taken to 'around' 300Bhp. In regard to tuning the V70R, does the auto box cope with the power increase ok...? thanks again. Gordy.

Post 462645 by Wobbly Dave on 2012-02-13 17:39:40

That will depend on what transmission version of V70R you get, namely FWD or AWD. You can fit additional ATF radiators to them to stop the fluid getting to warm. However if you don't plan on going much over 300 horses you should be OK.

Post 462646 by Santa on 2012-02-13 17:41:25

Welcome :-)

Post 462649 by Pinup_gal on 2012-02-13 18:00:21

Welcome aboard :)

Post 462650 by smithy on 2012-02-13 18:02:36

welcome mate to the forum you are in the right place for modding volvos but ive got a slow 136 bhp rwd volvo 940.

Post 462654 by 982 on 2012-02-13 18:09:07

[quote=Wobbly Dave;462645]That will depend on what transmission version of V70R you get, namely FWD or AWD. You can fit additional ATF radiators to them to stop the fluid getting to warm. However if you don't plan on going much over 300 horses you should be OK.[/quote] Being realistic, i think a remap and free flowing exhaust will all i'll be after. I've noticed that there are not too many volvo tuners north of the border, either that or i've not looked hard enough...! I was thinking of a custom remap, but have noticed the Rica option. I take it the Rica chip is a generic map...? and would it benefit from having an exhaust fitted beforehand...?

Post 462656 by T5frankie on 2012-02-13 18:11:08

[quote=982;462654]Being realistic, i think a remap and free flowing exhaust will all i'll be after. I've noticed that there are not too many volvo tuners north of the border, either that or i've not looked hard enough...! I was thinking of a custom remap, but have noticed the Rica option. I take it the Rica chip is a generic map...? and would it benefit from having an exhaust fitted beforehand...?[/quote] an exhaust fitting won't make any difference to a generic map, only a custom mapping session

Post 462660 by t5 stealth on 2012-02-13 18:18:03

welcome :)

Post 463068 by julek780 on 2012-02-14 17:14:32

Hi great choice of car, much cheaper parts than M3 . As regards gearbox choice the 4 speed auto is very robust, and much better than the 5 speed auto in the last 265 bhp model. I have had mine tuned, it is an AWD model and is very smooth, and reliable. Hope you enjoy the car. Julian