Still a very good looking a very fast ‘brick’ on wheels
In November 1996, Volvo presented a further development of the hugely popular Volvo 850 station-wagon. From 1996 to 2000, about 320,000 units of this new station wagon were built and sold around the world. It was called the Volvo V70 and it had a more aerodynamically efficient nose design. The exterior panels were somewhat more rounded and the interior was entirely new. The rejuvenation process involved about 1,800 new parts over the outgoing Volvo 850 (which was made popular by its BTCC racing wins) so it was far more than a cosmetic face-lift. In early 2007 an all new Volvo V70 was unveiled together with the all-new XC70 at the Geneva Motor Show.
But it is the earlier 1996 V70 that has hit the used car market with very sensible prices today and it is very tempting. Today a well restored and maintained unit can be yours for just RM24,000 or so. A ‘need some work’ V70 sells from RM15,000 onwards and a neglected unit between RM11,000 to RM14,000.
In the paragraphs below we are NOT looking at the off road version of the V70, the Volvo XC70 and instead we just want to offer some advice on buying the regular V70 as we think it is a hidden gem that has been forgotten my many Malaysians looking for a comfortable, spacious and very safe family car.
At its launch the V70 achieved the full five stars when it was crashed tested by Euro NCAP. Safety first with every Volvo.
Today you can find some for sale, not as many as you think and in various mechanical conditions. Once you find the V70 for sale that attracts your attention, you need to check a few issues.
On the test drive you need to drive at low speeds with a moderate acceleration. If you can hear any kind of whine sound coming from the front of the car this indicates a large degree of steering and suspension wear in the part. Spares are easy to get and all you need is a trusted mechanic; no Volvo specialist is needed as this is still a rather simple car when compared to its newer siblings which are far more complicated.
On the drive as you pick up speed you need to try a notice slow or lagging gear-changes which could be an expensive issue. There are various remedies, ranging from a gearbox fluid flush to a full reprogramming of the gearbox software.
Take your time when buying a used continental car like this Volvo and all you need is an experienced mechanic to keep it going for another few years. Remember, it is wise to spend on preventive maintenance when dealing with an older car like this.
PRESS RELEASE: Late in 1996, Volvo introduced a new estate car to the market, the V70. The Volvo V70 was developed from the concept of the successful 850 Estate which had then been on the market since February 1993. The exterior of the new V70 showed softer styling than its predecessor, but still carried a strong Volvo identity including the typical almost vertical rear end.
Inside the car, the dashboard was new, as was most of the interior. As regards safety, a number of important improvements were also made. An interesting and successful addition to the V70 models was the all-wheel drive V70 XC models. The first generation of the Volvo V70 was produced until 2000, when it was replaced by the second-generation V70.
