LOGIE Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Hi all! Im on the lookout for another family runabout. Needs to be spacious reliable and awd so a volvo v70 sprang to mind. I seen a nice low milage T5 awd auto but the more research i do the more im hearing about the awd system sounds pretty fragile... something to do with a haldex diff. Ive even read that all 4 tyres have to wear down evenly to prevent stressing the diff? Is this true? Surely volvos are better made than that or am i reading crap info? My 2nd choice is a subaru legacy estate which doesnt have as many toys but seem like a good alternative. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I'd go for the legacy mate. Reliability wise, provided you're not using it as a rally car and keep on top of maintenance, they're not too bad. Volvo, on the other hand, went through a bit of a phase of producing crap. The auto boxes are made of cheese and all you mentioned above is more common than you'd think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Id go with the subaru. Or a older volvo with out the awd. I had a volvo as work car for a short stink as the van beeded fixing and i wabt the volvo back was lovely to drive long distance but it needed to be auto and not leather seats. I sliped alot with the seats as im a short fuy haga would much prefured a seat that huged me ans kept me in the seat not slidding down it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOGIE Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Cheers for the info guys. The volvo does look more luxurious but the subaru seems more reliable.. are the fwd manual V70s reliable then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Cheers for the info guys. The volvo does look more luxurios but the subaru seems more reliable.. are the fwd manual V70s reliable then? Sorry for my previous post using my phone abd there are so many errors and spelling mistakes.... As far as im aware in thought all v70s were rear wheel drive inless they are stated as AWD? But id say that the RWD v70`s are more reliable than there AWD counter part. one being theres less to go wrong on the RWD version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOGIE Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Sorry for my previous post using my phone abd there are so many errors and spelling mistakes.... As far as im aware in thought all v70s were rear wheel drive inless they are stated as AWD? But id say that the RWD v70`s are more reliable than there AWD counter part. one being theres less to go wrong on the RWD version. Hah i got your meaning mate... i just thought youd been drinking.[emoji12] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Hah i got your meaning mate... i just thought youd been drinking.[emoji12] Haha me drunk never and Ive googled as I thought v70 were rwd but there not there fwd but as said again I would say there more reliable as theres less to go wrong. Have you taken any out on test drives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 The AWD is indeed Haldex and the rear wheels are thus rarely driven, so not a proper 4 wheel drive set up with an active centre diff. All V70's are either FWD or all wheel drive. Unless you feel a need for the AWD set up I would say go for the FWD base model. Personally I don't buy FWD cars as I consider them fundamentally flawed, like 911's The V70 is considered safe and reliable, but the newer Volvos are not a patch, build quality wise, on the last of the (proper) RWD models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I looked at V70 T5's for a while, but went with Audi A4 Avant 2.0T Quattro instead. Don't regret it for a minute. A remap makes a big difference too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Manual FWD V70's aren't too bad reliability-wise, but in a car like that, you'd want a lazy man's box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I loved my XC70. It was a D5 one of the last before Ford cheapened the Volvo brand. The car was bullet proof right up to the point of transfer box failing, but it had 192k miles on it and was not economical to repair. I actually miss that car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 192K? That's just getting the newness worn off for a RWD white block model. Last 960 had 400K + on it, same engine, gearbox and axle, never had the head off. Current V90 is on 280K, probably due its first oil change soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 192K? That's just getting the newness worn off for a RWD white block model. Last 960 had 400K + on it, same engine, gearbox and axle, never had the head off. Current V90 is on 280K, probably due its first oil change soon 100% agree, I was gutted when the transfer box failed as the car was faultless otherwise. Cleanest engine bay of any car I have had, not a single sign of oil anywhere. If it was not for the near £2k price tag to get it fixed (new parts) I would never have sold it on. Tried 2nd hand boxes, but the 2 I bought I was dubious on fitting them as they did not look good enough to take a gamble on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spunkmeyer Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I had a v70 R a while back 53plate and indeed the AWD gave up and £2300 later I had AWD back again. Not long after it was sold (funnily enough I saw it in ebay again 3wks ago almost 4yrs after selling it - only done 10k miles but 3 owners after me.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOGIE Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 Cheers for the info guys. Been looking at subaru legacy estates but they seem to command a higher price. So might have to consider a fwd volvo and prob manual going by above statements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOGIE Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 Actually just seen T5 manual near me for £2200 but its done 186k miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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