Volvo C70 4x4 Country 1998

Hightower · 04 March 2008, 21:23

Any good for launching/recovering with?

ADS · 05 March 2008, 00:11

The C70 is the coupe so I imagine your referring to the V70 estate, I shouldn't think it will be too bad but I wouldn't think theres low range and its only as good as its standard road tyres.

Searider · 06 March 2008, 08:20

I'd be interested to hear of anyone's experiences with these.

I'm considering getting rid of my elderly Discovery which is used purely for towing the boat and replacing it with an XC70 as a daily car.
Having it parked on the drive takes up space and always seems to cost a grand a year for MOT, service, Tax and insurance and being 12 years old it doesn't get any less rusty!

Have done some research and the diesel (163hp version) XC70 is rated to tow 1800kg. (The new one can do 2100kg but i'm somewhat short of the £40k odd required!)

No low range box but perhaps would be OK with an automatic gearbox?

As another oddball the Passat can also be had in 1.9tdi 4motion form, but only with a manual gearbox as far as I can tell. Not sure of the towing weight.

Any thoughts?

BumbleAbout · 06 March 2008, 09:52

We have had a V70 D5 manual (the 5 cylinder diesel) for the last four years and they are fantastic cars which handle very well indeed and still return 60mpg on a longer run. The cross country variant simply has higher suspension and some add on plastic bits to attempt to reduce the stone chips. They are also much quieter than a D2, but we don't use it for towing (the 110 copes with all that).

Nasher · 06 March 2008, 19:37

Andy

I may be wrong, but I seam to remember hearing that the early 4x4 V70s, which may well have still been badged as 850s, had a reputation for 'winding up' centre diffs which then let go.
Something to do with the electronic control of the viscious couplings or something.

The 2WD cars are excellent apparently, and I'd imagine that the 4WD estates would tow very well, but as mentioned already would not have a low ratio box. But hey, how often do we use it?

Nasher.

Searider · 06 March 2008, 19:44

They have the Haldex system as used on some transverse engine Audis with Quattro. 1.9tdi A4s, S3s etc.

Electrically operated clutch pack in the rear diff engages the rear wheels when slip of the fronts detected. No centre diff.

I have a friend with an early 1996/P 850 AWD 2.5T manual and still going strong but not really used for towing. Used it to pull his Victory up the slip at the Camber once and the clutch was a bit unimpressed! Very heavy boat and steep slip!

Never owned an automatic so not sure how it all behaves at low speed - on a slip.

Just wondering if anyone has experience of pulling a boat up a slip with one - is first gear low enough to do the job?

Hightower · 06 March 2008, 20:22

Well I decided not to go for it because the insurance costs would be too high, I also wasn't going to gamble on it towing the Vipermax better than the Kia.

Here's the link: Click

Sold for not a lot of money....

codprawn · 07 March 2008, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searider

I'd be interested to hear of anyone's experiences with these.

I'm considering getting rid of my elderly Discovery which is used purely for towing the boat and replacing it with an XC70 as a daily car.
Having it parked on the drive takes up space and always seems to cost a grand a year for MOT, service, Tax and insurance and being 12 years old it doesn't get any less rusty!

Have done some research and the diesel (163hp version) XC70 is rated to tow 1800kg. (The new one can do 2100kg but i'm somewhat short of the £40k odd required!)

No low range box but perhaps would be OK with an automatic gearbox?

As another oddball the Passat can also be had in 1.9tdi 4motion form, but only with a manual gearbox as far as I can tell. Not sure of the towing weight.

Any thoughts?

Do NOT get a Passat with an electric handbrake unless it's an auto - you have been warned!!! Also the 1.9tdi is very sluggish - the 140bhp versions are much better.

Tim M · 07 March 2008, 21:49

For reference, I have a friend who tows a 7.5m Ribeye - launches and recovers it at the Camber slip with a knackered looking old V70 and he doesn't seem to have any trouble with it.

Searider · 08 March 2008, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Do NOT get a Passat with an electric handbrake unless it's an auto - you have been warned!!! Also the 1.9tdi is very sluggish - the 140bhp versions are much better.

Can't afford the £25k plus for a new passat. - so no problems with electric handbrakes.

About £7k for the few 1.9tdi 4motions i've seen advertised. All manual as far as I can tell with the 130hp engine.

Have driven an A4 1.9tdi 130 and it was anything but sluggish. Depends what you're used to I guess. As it will be replacing a Disco 300tdi and a 1.0l Peugeot 106, in comparison it will be like a sports car!

Tim, thanks for the info on the V70. Sounds like it could be worth investigating.

Duncan

Nick Hearne · 08 March 2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Well I decided not to go for it because the insurance costs would be too high, I also wasn't going to gamble on it towing the Vipermax better than the Kia.

Here's the link: Click

Sold for not a lot of money....

That is a hell of a lot of car for not a lot of dosh!

Hightower · 08 March 2008, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

That is a hell of a lot of car for not a lot of dosh!

Certainly is Nick, I was tempted I can tell you! Mrs Hightower was less impressed though

Searider · 02 April 2009, 13:00

Just bought an XC70 diesel auto.

Towbar going on next week and i'll let you all know what I think when I put the boat in.

Seems ok when not towing!

chewy · 02 April 2009, 13:13

The Volvo AWD system was renound for breaking propshafts. You have to rotate the tyres front to bac every 6 months to keep it happy.

The V70 was based on the 850 but had colour coded bumpers and more power.
On proper slips you should be fine. If you get a T5 you'll have lots of power and still 30mpg. You can get an R AWD which is a bery fast car for the money.

I just bought a 2000 T5 with 71000 miles on the clock and in very good condition for £3400. I think the only things it hasn't got is a cd changer and electric seats.

Chris · 02 April 2009, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Do NOT get a Passat with an electric handbrake unless it's an auto - you have been warned!!! Also the 1.9tdi is very sluggish - the 140bhp versions are much better.

If you can find one the passat V6 TDI is a great car and even in 2WD could tow my Vipermax up some fairly nasty slips.

I should imagine a 4-5YO well looked after high mileage one would fetch about 3-4K

Hightower · 02 April 2009, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searider

Just bought an XC70 diesel auto.

Towbar going on next week and i'll let you all know what I think when I put the boat in.

Seems ok when not towing!

Yes, I would be very interested in how the Auto copes with the slip. What year is it? Have you got some pictures of the car you could post?

Searider · 14 April 2009, 10:43

Well,

Used the new XC70 to tow the boat around this weekend and launced and recovered on the muddy Hamble slipway without bother.

Not gone any distance yet but I think i've made a good choice.

It's a 2005/55 with the 163hp diesel engine and 5 speed auto. The auto is great on the slip - just squeeze the pedal gently and up she comes! I went for the auto due to the lack of a low ratio box - hopefully the torque converter is up to the job. The auto is also very good for reversing.

Chris, I did think about a 2.5TDI V6 Passat a while ago but they don't do the V6 in 4WD. Started looking at Audi A4 Quattros and got seduced into an old (2000) S4. Fast as you like but a little low for going into the water.

Duncan

chewy · 14 April 2009, 20:39

Now you need to get it remapped to 195bhp with 410nm.

Jelly · 15 April 2009, 11:37

Duncan
Please which boat the searider or the Scorp where you moving?
Rgds
James

Searider · 21 April 2009, 22:43

Hi James,

It was the Scorpion I was launching / recovering.

The Avon i'm happy to move with the Audi. Used to use a 205GTI to tow a 4m searider a few years ago!

Chewy

Interesting what you say about the Volvo 4WD system prone to failing. Have read around the forums a bit and some of the American sites mention auto gearbox problems due to the oil not being changed but 4WD failures seem to be almost exclusively XC90.
I think i'll leave the Volvo at its 163hp - its not worth the money to make a slow car slightly less slow - and if there are any drive shaft weaknesses I don't want to tempt fate!

If I want to go fast i've got the Audi - and that IS remapped

Need to get the trailer serviced next. Was happy with iffy brakes when using the Discovery but the Volvo is a little lighter.