Descrição
Plus Points:
-Nautic Blue
-Factory manual
-BRC LPG conversion with certificate - Cost £2k - Works perfectly and I recently rebuilt the condenser with all new diaphragms and seals. I average 13p a mile on LPG which is an equivalent cost to run as a petrol car getting 50 miles to the gallon.
-Brand new ETM throttle body from Volvo with contactless sensors
-V70R front bumper (£400)
-Genuine Volvo floor mats
-BC Racing adjustable coilovers (£1000+)
-New lower control arms and ARB links at ~240k
-Oil and filter changed at 260k (genuine Volvo)
-New brakes and fluid all round at 260k (all Brembo with painted bells and vanes)
-New front brake calipers at 260k
-New genuine Volvo coolant at 250k
-Gearbox oil changed at 235k
-Solid aluminium front subframe mounts
-IPD front and rear ARBs (£200) - rear not fitted yet as I haven’t had to do anything to the rear Delta-links during my time with the car
-C70 crystal headlights
-“Egg crate” front grille
-BSR intake kit (£180)
-Front strut brace
-Recent MOT - no advisories since 2018
-Incredible history file
-Both sets of keys and book pack
-17” refurbished comet wheels (correct 7J width for V70s) wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 (205/ 45/ 17) (£700)
-16” perfo wheels with winter tyres
-Space Saver spare wheel
-Thule flush roof bars (optional)
-DO88 Intercooler (£412)
-16T Turbo replaced at ~200k (£600)
-Clutch and flywheel at ~200k along with new shifter bushes - gear change is fantastic.
-Stainless steel Scorpion exhaust (£600)
-IPD Turbo control valve
-Injectors ultrasonically cleaned
-Powerflex silicone upper engine mount
-Recent lower offside engine mount (genuine volvo)
-New rear bumper brackets
-Inspected under rear wheel arch liners and found no rust on seat belt anchorage - common place on these. Re-undersealed anyway for future-proofing (photos available)
-Witter tow bar with factory volvo electrics and factory Volvo towball cover
-New coolant and power-steering bottles
-Tailgate trim kit fitted to stop rattles
-Metal flip down dog guard
-Factory retractable boot cover - rebuilt with kit and still retracts
-6 CD multichanger (not fitted)
-Bluetooth fitted to original head unit
-Hardwired dash cam
-Rebuilt rear wiper mechanism
-Aircon re-gassed mid 2023
-New tailgate boot struts
-Cheap classic insurance
-Child seat integrated into rear armrest
-Genuine OEM Volvo boot cushion set
-New Bosch wipers front and rear in the last month (new aftermarket headlight wiper blades too)
-Original Tamplins Volvo dealer number plates remade with period correct font
Negatives:
-Couple of scratches on front and rear bumpers
-Small tear in drivers seat
-Some wear on side of centre console
-Small scrape on passenger rear wheel arch - minimal and was touched in. Continually inspected during my ownership and it has remained exactly the same. This car has been enthusiast owned its entire life. I have the original sales paperwork and every bit of service/ MOT paperwork since it was new. Just look on the passenger seat to see the size of the history folder this car comes with. It hasn’t had an MOT advisory since 2018.
I have owned this car over 3 years now and it has been the best modern classic daily driver I could have asked for. I have averaged 16, 000 miles a year in my ownership and it has never let me down which is testament to old Volvos and this car in particular.
There is the added bonus with this vehicle that it was professionally converted to run on both LPG and petrol. The system is a high quality sequential BRC system with 5 individual injectors and currently costs me about 13p a mile in fuel. That is the cost equivalent to a petrol car returning ~50 miles to the gallon. There is a 50L tank under the boot floor in the spare wheel well and gets approximately 240 miles of mixed range. When driving to the french alps on the autoroutes I have seen ~320 miles from one tank of LPG though. Not bad running costs for a 230+bhp five-cylinder bus. LPG also keeps the catalytic converter and engine oil a lot cleaner than petrol as it has a much cleaner burn, which is nice.
However, because I am an enthusiast for these cars and this car in particular, those fuel savings have been reinvested in the car and every problem has been fettled and repaired and multiple upgrades have been made to the car.
I have written out a list above including all the important things that have been done to the car, but most notably it has had all the big ticket items done relatively recently. The cambelt is not due, the problematic ETM module has been replaced with a new contactless one from Volvo, the turbo has been replaced and the clutch and flywheel have been changed too. I have also rebuilt the LPG condenser with all new seals and a new diaphragm under the tuition of Solihull Autogas LTD.
The bodywork, for a 25 year old, 260, 000 mile car is really very good, there are a few car park dings and scrapes, but the dark Nautic Blue paint means that they kind of disappear, as the bumper underneath is dark too. However they would benefit from a localised repair. I had the paint professionally detailed last year and the results are fantastic. It presents incredibly well. I had the alloys powder coated when the car was new to me, and it looks like they need doing again unfortunately.
I have taken the car on many road trips to Scotland, France, Wales, Scotland again, Yorkshire, and France again. It has been a wonderful companion and I will really miss it. Each time it was fast, unassuming, reliable and cheap.
I would really love this car to go to another car enthusiast who can keep loving it and most importantly using it.
