inmediate

Hi!

Now I have a 535D Touring since July 2005. Before I had a SAAB 3.0 DTI SW, and a VOLVO 850 TDI SW too

As you can see, the same concept once and once again

To me, VOLVO 850 TDI ( 140 hp, 5 cil, VW engine) was a great car. More than 300.000 km and absolutely no problem at all. After 10 years i continue to see it occasionally with new owner.

SAAB (177 hp, 3.0, 5 cil, ISUZU engine) a disaster. I had to change whole engine, clutch, and two times turbo.

535d Touring is at higher level. Not only a family car but a performance car. Absolutely happy with it.

ipp

That's very very wrong. The V70 that came 2000, has nothing to do with the 850/older V70. It's built on a completly new platform (think it's called P23) roughly it's the same as XC90/S80/S60.

albmag

Ok, it might be.

But lets not forget that the actual V70 is still 6 years old and, to be honest, it reminds me a lot of the 850...
But then its also not "just" 6 years old when we talk abut platforms .

The S80 was the first car to use that platform and it was launched in July-1998, therefore this V70 base platform is already 8 years while the E60 was launched in 2003, therefore making the platform of E61 with less than half this age.

Still a great car the V70, but effectively it starts to feel its "high" age, which completely brings it down when directly compared with the E61 or the new-A6...
And its just very partially compensated in the new price, and to finish, lets not talk about VOLVO depreciation rates ...

Ricracing

You must be kidding?

A V70 Volvo is like from the history books!

Old Romans...

2wheels

Had both V70 models for 8 years Now an E61 convert (since December) and would agree current V70 is now getting long in the tooth

They are quite simply totally different cars. V70 is extremely practical taking dog, canoe, family, house and is still fun. E61 has more poise, quality and has remained true to its roots. The simple test of the practicality test: the rear roller blind on the E61 houses the verticle net. If you really want to load the trunk this needs to be removed. Now where is the net?? On the Volvo the net pulls from the top of the rear seat. This is not to mention the fact that the Volvo has a totally flat floor when the back seats are dropped, plus a square rear profile to best make use of it's tight rear end .

If it's a practical car your after, then the Volvo wins hands down. If it's a more practical alternative to an E60, with style and quality then go for the E61.

I am extremely satisfied with the E61, but still have respect for the virtues of the V70, which in R form must be the best of most worlds.

Not Easy

ipp

I'm not saying that I would prefer the Volvo, in fact I would take the E61 as I did. I'm just saying your 'facts' were wrong. And yes again, a six years old constructions is also too old. And I would not spend my money on a V70R now when it will be replaced 2007.

ipp

Who are you talking to? And what are you trying to say?

2wheels

Spot on

I had an Old V70 (face-lifted 850) and current V70 (New Platform). The old one had a shorter wheel base and a firmer ride. This gave a lively drive and in T5 was a wolf in sheeps clothing. True Character Reliabity was questionable, but overall quality of construction was high. The current one is more of a Ford imposed compromise, which removed the "Volvo" character of the old one.

There really is a big difference in the drive of the two, but both were still very practical.

I opted to change for the E61 this time as the BMW has not been as compromised in critical areas, being outside the GM & Ford families. These are killing the Character of such great cars like the Saab, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover

I think the perfect car would be the Old V70 with an upgraded D5 Motor, BMW reliability and I-Drive

2007 V70 model is unlikely to answer this call, so IMO go for the E61.

wales34part

Until Mr Bangle came along the deja vu approach was the evolutionary approach BMW adopted.

BMW took a huge gamble with the latest revolutionary styling and in some areas it works well The e61 for example but if it wasnt for the engineering behind the skin i'm not so sure they would have got away with it personally. Mind you, they did i feel experiement with the quality/styling of the x3 and that has failed misserably and the revamp couldn't come soon enough. The only bmw i've ever sat in where if it wasnt for the badge i'd be convinced it had been created in Korea (No offence to Kia / Hyundai intended.)

The poor V70 's getting a bit of a rough ride on this post. Its not a bad car just delivers the same basic package in a much more utilitarian way.

Andy E61

For me the V70 is just too cramped in the cabin.

And who the heck wants to drive a Ford, anyway....