Let's start at the beginning. Mine is a C70 2.3ltr high pressure turbo, 240 bhp, automatic, in that gold colour on the front page, first register in 2000. I have owned it for 18 months and covered almost 40,000 miles. The seats and headroom are excellent for me (6'4''). Adjustable steering column (reach and height) nice long arm rest on door, and this is where the first niggle comes in, the centre arm rest is an inch lower than the doors, usually not a problem except on long journeys you finish sitting a little cock eyed. Niggle two how long does it take to get those electric front seats to move to let some one into or out of the back seats. Once in, excellently comfy and well sculptured two seats. That sound system...11 speakers Dolby prologicsurround sound and 4x100 watt amp, radio, CD and tape out of this world for a standard fit. The engine and gearbox work very well together, to give very smooth up changing and instant down when you put your foot on the go pedal. No waggling of sticks and messing with left foot pedals just instant go and lots of it. Tyres have been mentioned in other reports and the right choice for your driving style is a must. When I bought the car it had brand new Bridgestone's on all 4 wheels. 6,000 miles later it had Toyo on all four as the Bridgestone's had worn out (excellent grip, no life) The four Toyos lasted 8,000 miles (average grip and no life) and for the last 25,000 miles I have had Avon's on it, but just 6 of them.(average to good grip, good life)
The only thing that has gone wrong with it was the throttle pot packed in (its fly by wire, not a throttle cable) Volvodealers wanted a shade under £700 to put it right. However a scrap yard and 2 hours fixed it for £100. The Volvo dealers are very nice people but you don't half pay for it. So if you aren't mechanically minded be warned. So to sum up would I recommend one? You bet, do I want another when this one wares out? You bet. And they do not cost that much to insure if you shop around.
Fuel consumption is mind blowingly cheap as I converted mine to LPG (something Volvo say can't be done on a T5) Yes the conversion cost a shade over £2,000 but as I return 26 miles to the gallon, and my LPG is only 34 pence a litre, that means I am doing the equivalent of 65 miles to the gallon!!! However I do have the luxury of 20 mile plus journeys on open country roads and no town traffic jams.
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Saloon - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 143 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: S, SE, SE Lux, SE Sport, Sport
Convertible - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed - Manual 5 Speed Geartronic - Automatic - 2435 cc - Max Speed: 137 mph - 170 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Sport Premium, Sport, SE Premium, SE Lux Premium, SE Lux, SE
Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Electric Windows, Front fog lights, Full Service History, Heated Seats, Metallic paint, Multi CD Player, Leather Interior, Tinted Glass, Traction Cont..and more
Apr 16th, 2005
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