2001 Volvo V70 S 2.4 petrol 170bhp
Summary:
A potentially excellent car, spoiled by the
Faults:
Wheel nuts went rusty after approximately 2,000 miles. Replaced under warranty.
Alarm remote control units extremely sensitive; repaired under warranty.
Internal door trim problems; door handles are all chipping away the painted areas of the "wood" inserts.
Spurious messages relating to phantom bulb failures from the " information centre".
Poor starting and engine misfiring in damp or foggy conditions.
Luggage compartment cover jams in extended position in warm weather.
Driver's seat sagging after 18,000 miles.
Exhaust resonance at 2000 RPM.
Rattles and squeaks from the centre console and roof lining.
Plastic components in load compartment very prone to scratching and scuffing.
General Comments:
Aesthetically better than previous V70, but dubious build quality and poor durability of internal fixtures worrying.
Too much torque for the Teflon Michelin tyres Volvo UK decided to fit in order to keep costs down/ profit up! This makes driving the vehicle in wet conditions very dangerous, in particular when trying to enter a busy road from a side road. (traction control and better tyres were an on cost option, not allowed on my company vehicle!). In snow, traction is so bad it's better to just leave the car at home.
Reasonable handling, even when fully loaded except when roads are wet.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 21st May, 2002
25th Feb 2004, 10:40
I agree with the comment about the tires. If you live in Canada, be sure to use four snow tires; otherwise you are putting yourself in grave danger when you drive on snowy and icy roads. Mike, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.