More than 6 tons on this 2.4 automatic transmission, can a Volvo V70 be broken?
Another Volvo V70 in this section? Yes, we just can’t ignore it and every owner has his or her own story. Peter Brak has been driving his 2002 Volvo V70 2.4 for almost seventeen years and there are no plans to draw a line under it anytime soon. Even after six tons, the Swedish tank never stops. Or is this examiner’s car awaiting major intervention soon?
We always count a lot of Volvos between the registrations in the mailbox of the used car section and that does not surprise us at all. They are cars that are built for a long life and to drive a lot, if only because of the excellent seats. The five-cylinder usually does not give up, even if you feed them with LPG. Judge Joep Schuurman: “In combination with the automatic transmission, this engine simply cannot be broken. It is in fact driven less often than in combination with a manual gearbox and is also more evenly loaded.”
Peter drives quietly with his Volvo V70
Now Peter is not the type to kick his V70 on the tail. On the contrary, he is a calm driver. You have to, because as an examiner at the CBR you cannot afford speeding. “Especially when the engine is still cold, I spare the technology as much as possible. But it also happens often enough that he does have to work hard. During holiday trips, for example, with the caravan on the hook. That was one of the reasons to buy a V70 at the time. I never expected to keep driving it for so long, but I don’t see any reason to look for a successor. In terms of the condition of the car, I think the automatic transmission is the biggest challenge. You notice the high mileage, because it starts to shift worse. Once you are up to speed, there is nothing to worry about.”
According to Joep, a revision machine no longer makes sense
Joep indicates that overhauling the machine is a pointless exercise, because all important parts are worn out. Finding a used copy with low mileage will also be quite a challenge, but there is bound to be a solution if it comes to that.
Several Volvos for Peter
The love for cars and the Volvo brand in particular runs deep with Peter, who is of course a member of the Volvo Club Netherlands. “Yes, quite a few cars have been reviewed over the decades. I still remember the Renault 5 I bought for my wife. A five-year-old car, but the holes were already falling in it. I myself once drove a Renault Fuego and then a Mercedes W123 200D. I don’t need to explain to anyone how slow that car was. My gas powered Amazon was not a success; it turned out to be a bad car. In 1996 I bought a beautiful 240 Estate, one of the last. I traded it in ten years later on this V70. Because I missed the 240 so much, I later bought a GLT as a hobby car. That’s not the only classic; there has also been a Catback in the garage for a long time. Not a car for long journeys, but very nice on nice days for trips through the province. And then there is the youngtimer, a yellow 850 T-5R sedan. I make all daily kilometers with the V70, nice and cheap on LPG.”
This Volvo V70 feels very weak
We can tell from his comments after the test drive that Joep looks at the driving characteristics with an objective and professional view. “Such a V70 is not such a tight steering car by nature. There is nothing wrong with that in itself, but in this case it all feels very weak. The front shock absorbers are really worn out. The automatic transmission does not always feel like it anymore and sometimes shifts with a big bang.”
No oil consumption despite mileage
Our technician’s criticism is not completely unfamiliar to Peter. He also knows that the 465,000 kilometers he has covered with the Volvo since 2006 have taken their toll. With three more of those fat Swedes under your wing, he has to divide his budget. “I make sure that I can drive safely and comfortably and so far the costs are not too bad. I do everything in good consultation with the garage that does all the maintenance. In addition, I come to a good LPG specialist, even though I rarely need it. Last year one cylinder did not run on gas and as an emergency solution he put it on petrol because the new injector was not yet there. And look at the bottom: bone dry. And the engine consumes virtually no oil. This summer we drove more than 4,000 kilometers and only needed 200 milliliters in the end. And I don’t switch from gas to petrol when the caravan is behind the car. On the long slopes in Luxembourg I shift myself and make sure that the speed remains around 4,000. Not a penny of pain. I would like to drive this Volvo to the million mark.”