New shape Volvo V70

[glojo]

What about an A6 Avant, or even a dreaded BMW....

We have an estate car for our pooch and the A6 rear window has a horrible slope to it. The BMW looks butt ugly.

regards
John

 

[TomTanderson]

I drove a V70 (petrol 2.4, the model before the current new one) for six years before snow, ice, water and a brick wall prematurely and very sadly ended our relationship.

The whole family were very happy with the car and we would have been happy to keep it for many more years.

When looking for a replacement I considered the usual options; new V70, MB E class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.

What follows is a few of my impressions (some repetitions of what has already been said) rather than a review!

V70 was first. Still the best seats in any car. I thought about buying back my write-off just so I could put the seats in our lounge. Turning circle is the worst of any car I have driven. I don't like the front of the new V70 - too bullet shaped and 'ordinary', prefer the previous shape. Drive (a D5 automatic) was very ordinary, not as much fun as my manual 2.4 petrol but better than I expected a diesel or an automatic to be (never owned either). Fell in love with the red leather interior. Liked the overall interior styling best.

E220CDI Aventagrde automatic next. Why do Mercs come in such BORING colours? 99.99% come in one of 27 varieties of silver the other two cars are grey and black. Loved the drive (as did the boss who accompanied me on all the test drives). Really smooth but not as sloppy around bends as reviews sometimes suggest. Very impressed by engine and gearbox, a revelation as to what an automatic/diesel can be like. Interior is a bit on the conservative side for someone under a 100 years old but not completely unattractive. Price was about £1000 more than the V70 for what to us seemed a significantly better car.

Audi A6. I've never liked the styling/finish of Audis but felt duty bound to have a look. Got as far as the outside of the showroom and just knew I couldn't live with the looks (however good the car) and turned around again.

BMW 5 Series. Would have been fun for the 5% of the time you feel like really pushing a car but for the other 95% of my driving the E Class would be more comfortable. Interior is a bit 'Bachelor'. Exterior is a bit undistinguished. Boss hated the ride and looks.

Having read this and bearing in mind this is a MB forum you don't get a prize for guessing which we went for - actually it was a 280CDI estate rather than the 220CDI that we test drove (after negotiating a 15% discount on the list price). It's only been a couple of months and I know that I am comparing it with the older V70 but the whole family definitely prefer the MB.

 

[television]

Re any problems with the AWD gearbox, this was sorted out years ago, and no comments are to be found now, interesting how others comment on the seats as well, amazing as they seem to fit all

 

[robert.saunders]

Agree re: seats. I have driven the old 960 (petrol) and newer V70 (petrol), plus been a passenger in high-speed driving (back roads, not just motorway ) in a police T5 - comfortable and supportive seats.

I have driven the smaller V50 with the D5 variant; superb engine!

 

[TomTanderson]

While we seem to be focussing on seats, the only disadvantage I find with the Volvo seats is that when I am 'enjoying' my driving I tend to slip around in them more as they are of the smooth shiny sort of finish rather than the mat textured finish of the MB seats.

 

[television]

While we seem to be focussing on seats, the only disadvantage I find with the Volvo seats is that when I am 'enjoying' my driving I tend to slip around in them more as they are of the smooth shiny sort of finish rather than the mat textured finish of the MB seats.

I have the exclusive alecata in my R version,, shame they stopped using it as its non slip and very comfortable

 

[glojo]

Audi A6. I've never liked the styling/finish of Audis but felt duty bound to have a look. Got as far as the outside of the showroom and just knew I couldn't live with the looks (however good the car) and turned around again..

I know exactly what you mean and they have no character at all. The rear sloping window is my excuse as looks are down to individual tastes.

Having read this and bearing in mind this is a MB forum you don't get a prize for guessing which we went for - actually it was a 280CDI estate rather than the 220CDI that we test drove (after negotiating a 15% discount on the list price). It's only been a couple of months and I know that I am comparing it with the older V70 but the whole family definitely prefer the MB.

I think you have given a very balanced and fair report of your experiences with the older V70 and I thank you for it.

Regarding seats, then we have excellent seats in our E-class, they have all the bells and whistles and are by far the most comfortable seats we have had in any car. Are we suggesting that the seats in the new V70 are even better? My wife regularly drives up to Lincolnshire and is as fresh as a daisy on arrival. I accept a test drive would answer my questions but suffice it to say that is not an option.

The turning circle is an eye opener and in general driving what is the D5 like. I am talking about acceleration between everyday speeds, perhaps 30 - 50, or 40 - 60. These figures are far more practical than meaningless 0 - 62.5mph specially rigged figures. It is also a reason why I have the 320CDI. I'm not fussed about top speed, I'm even less fussed about how quickly I can wear out a set of tyres when pulling away from a set of traffic lights. I want to hear about practical performance when overtaking

Thanks again for the inputs

Regards
John

 

[crockers]

John...

Please check out the turning circle and parking --- it may not seem bad intially but it is HORRENDOUS....and makes parking a pain in the A55...

May be compensated by the seats -- but really in 2008 it is unacceptable..

 

[Dieselman]

The best driver's seat I've ever sat in and good ergonomics

That's because Volvo are the only company to use real people to model seats around instead of using mannequins like all other car companies do.

 

[C43AMG]

That's because Volvo are the only company to use real people to model seats around instead of using mannequins like all other car companies do.

The MB 221 seats are quite comfortable too.

 

[Rory]

Oh and they have a light metallic blue as an option

I live a very short distance from our village school and one of the teachers regularly parks a V70 in light metallic blue outside my house. It does look very smart in that colour, and it also seems to wear being dirty very well!

 

[TomTanderson]

Are we suggesting that the seats in the new V70 are even better?

Yes

But that is only a personal opinion and although important it is not the only feature of a car and as you point out, the MB seats are not exactly terrible.

I understand entirely what you say about performance counting more for overtaking and in the mid-range etc. I can't really comment on the D5 as the test drive I had was with the dealer - this always inhibits pushing the car and limits the time. I did know that once I drove the 220CDI that I wasn't going to be going back asking for a loan of a D5 for a better test drive.

 

[Howard]

There is a brand spanking new V70R in shocking light blue just round the corner from me ...

They had the old model V70R is that funny burnt orange colour before ...

It actually looks very nice in the light blue ..... surprisingly ....

God , i sound like a girl .....

 

[jeremytaylor]

John, I have no experience of the current V70, but I do remember a couple of years ago looking at the old V70 and being shocked at how small the boot was. I went on to buy an E320 estate. I think the boot volume of the new one is a little over 1500 litres, whereas the E is 1900 litres.

If a boot that size is sufficient for the pooch, how about a W204 C-class estate? Their boot is 1500 litres and the tailgate is more upright and dog-friendly than the W203 C-class estate (and can come with your favoured electric operation). Plus it has a little something on the bonnet that the Volvo doesn't have ...

 

[glojo]

John, I have no experience of the current V70, but I do remember a couple of years ago looking at the old V70 and being shocked at how small the boot was. I went on to buy an E320 estate. I think the boot volume of the new one is a little over 1500 litres, whereas the E is 1900 litres.

If a boot that size is sufficient for the pooch, how about a W204 C-class estate? Their boot is 1500 litres and the tailgate is more upright and dog-friendly than the W203 C-class estate (and can come with your favoured electric operation). Plus it has a little something on the bonnet that the Volvo doesn't have ...

Good advice,
Wife was not that impressed with the older C-class (personal taste) but she has not seen thenew one.

Regards
John

 

[peterg1965]

They had the old model V70R is that funny burnt orange colour before ...

I think it was/is called 'Saffron'. I personally like it!