As many of you will know, after 15 years of diehard FFRR ownership and repair ( ) I have decide to move away from the marque (mainly so that SWMBO can drive my car, but also to get away from the worry and complexity of JLR product). I needed something I didn't have to worry about too much, was fairly straightforward to maintain and was capable of lugging/tugging just about anything. Also I counted, on the fingers of one hand, the number of times I actually needed 4x4 capability (3 of those in one 24 our period) and that helped me to move away from the idea of needing a 4x4.

Weapon of choice? A 2006 Volvo V70 Estate, Petrol 2.4 litre 170 bhp Automatic (5 Speed)

Some photos of the beast:

Click image to enlarge

I ran 3 of those, from 2004, through to 2011, driving over 250,000 miles between them (although they were all D5 diesels). My (very) old man still has a 2005 D5 which I need to manoeuvre around his drive when I visit.

marvellous cars and it’s always a pleasure to get back in his to drive it, although it’s a pain being so VERY low to the ground, while the space in the back row is a but tight. Love the driving position and the ergonomics.

A word of warning from many, many years of experience with them - never, ever, let the drainage from the scuttle pan at the base of the windscreen fill up with leaves, as the water will eventually find a much more expensive route back to earth, via an ECU. And that’s around £1,000.00 a go shock: Also, as a facelift car, good luck changing the headlamp bulbs!!!

Apart from that, a great car

Last edited by Red Merle on 22nd Jun 2019 9:35pm. Edited 1 time in total

I'll give you six months...

..

@ Red Merle

Scuttle drains were blocked up on arrival! Immediately cleared and are on my regular check list with a sycamore tree hanging over the house. (something I got used to doing on the FFRR)

Also, because I am vertically challenged, rear seat passengers probably have more leg room than me

I have a "split the headlamps in the oven" job on the list to remove crazing on the inside. I read that to get the clusters out requires front bumper removal! (I also need to do this for fitment of front parking sensors for SWMBO).

It is odd "getting in" rather than "climbing in"

@ stu1

262800 minutes and counting....maybe a Christmas present  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

We had the D5 version. Absolutely brilliant car tonnes of space and until the RR ir was the most comfortable car ever owned. I’d say it’s not a million miles away in seat comfort. Wishbone bushes I believe need checking and the handbrake shoes falling off that’s about it. I’d have another tomorrow.

Steve.

We had an XC70, seats are super comfortable, nice car , quick enough , 7 seater as well if i remember correctly and the ex wofe loved it compared to my CLS320 that i had at the time. Imho certainly not a patch on a FFRR but what is ?? 2015 4.4 AB
GSXR 1000 K5
R1 1998

As part of my new owner servicing also had some repairs/replacements:

Coolant change 5.5 litres out, but capacity is 8 litres ! You have to flush and flush until clear then calculate the 50/50 because you already have 3 litres of clean water in the car....

Power Steering Fluid Exchange, using the syringe and refill method, 250ml a time, done 5 times

New handbrake shoes, both sides the linings had de-laminated from the shoe !
New rear brake pads, one of the found MOT failures
New FR CV gaiter, another MOT failure item

Oh, and car came fitted with a Westfalia towbar (integral receiver) but no tow hitch. Exact match not found but grabbed one for a Merc E Class Estate from eBay, which on fitting gives correct height. Also correct capacity for braked / unbraked towing

Car got its first full run out over the weekend, 100 mile round trip. Trouble free, good air con, but no "King of the Road"  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Last edited by Joe90 on 26th Jun 2019 3:19pm. Edited 1 time in total

Sven of the road?  David

Please let me know if my comments upset you, I may wish to upset you again.

@ boxbrownie .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Boxbrownie wrote:

Sven of the road?

All three of my V70’s were called “Sven”!

I had one of those before my Rangie. it was a T5 tuned to 320 bhp. very quick. great cars. reliable

I've just remembered, I've still got by Thule roof bars from my V70 days. They've been in storage since 2010!

Please let me know if you ever need to source a pair...

A little update after a month of ownership:

Was getting an intermittent ABS warning, which turned out to be a completely loose driveshaft bolt just flopping around between the hub and the the wheel centre cover. These are "stretchy bolts" which really need replacing if ever undone, but for now is tightened and torqued up, and OK. I had purchased new reluctor rings, but they were not required.

Since then, not a squeak from the message centre, and a recent read of codes with the icarsoft drew a blank

Rear brakes were giving me judder, so they were stripped down again, given a serious de-rusting and clean, and the caliper pistons got a good dousing of WD40 along with 3/4 "in and outs" without the pads in. Will see how they go, may need new calipers....

After 500 miles, engine oil is still golden.

All the crazing on the plastic headlights was on the outside, but "deep"! Wet and Dry 240/400/800/1200 then Meguairs Ultimate with the polisher brought them back to new

Fitted the electro-conductive strip type parking sensors to the front, having removed the front bumper to get the headlights out (yes, you need to remove the bumper to properly change the bulbs as well!) but when done once it is actually @ a 20 minute job thereafter. The range for the strip sensor is only @ 2ft, but works well enough for my purposes. I fitted a switch into the centre console, with an ignition live feed. All for a fiver. Now SWMBO car park safe.

Driver's door main speaker was buzzing so picked up a 2nd hand replacement on eBay, along with a engine undertray, and rear load space cover.

Have done a decontamination wash (never seen a bucket of water so filthy) and clayed the car, which now awaits paint cleaning and polishing.

So we are getting there, need some long trip / long term use confidence yet for the engine/ancillaries but so far all is well

Still get annoyed that I can't see the traffic ahead so well, or see over the over grown verges at junctions! I still "drive" like I have a Range Rover (King of Road, Lord and Master of all, get out of "my" way peasant!), and have to slap myself every now and then, and get back in Lane 1  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Rather than hijack this thread, I have made my small contribution echoing in part Joe90’s experience in a new thread: https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post522272.html#522272 (for anyone interested). It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)