23 replies to this topic

[steveo82]

Hi all its been a while since i've been on here!

Being drawn back to a volvo, namely the above and would just like to ask any P2 D5 owners ( especially the 7 seater version) out there about how they are on fuel in general as where i live you experience all types of roads and traffic conditions, just to give me an idea of what they are like to live with??

and if anyone can recommend a good roof box that will be a great help.

Thanks
Steve

[tingymagig]

what year it is (or more precisely what engine it has) will have a fairly large differance on ur mpg an potential problems

[steveo82]

I haven't bought one yet but its a strong possibility. Comments on both would be very helpful, but the one we like best in terms of condition and spec is a 06 185 SE geartronic

The roof box question is if we do decide to go for it, we will need one for sure!

Edited by steveo82, 01 February 2012 - 21:57 .

[tingymagig]

exact same as mine then (minus the 7 seater bit)

they arnt great on fuel due to the auto and the DPF i drive mine terribly and average 30mpg with around 50/50 motorway to town driving im sure more is possible but its boring i would say 30mpg is the worst you should expect

the gearbox is good for an auto (much better then the earlier 5 speed autos) and they do benefit massively from remapping been driving mine without the map over winter and its really getting on my nerves now constantly kicking down when you go near the throttle rather then using the engines torque. the gearbox is also in my experience so far the cars biggest weak point mine had to have its valve bodies replaced at a cost of around £2k (luckily under warrenty) try and get the car on a long test drive (at least an hour) and get the box really hot then boot it a bit if it misses gears walk away immediatly

the facelifts (05 onwards) are better looking then the prefacelifts

the 185s are i believe a stronger package then the 163 they dont seam to eat intercoolers or turbos as badly but with the DPF they do not like short hop driving you will need to give the car a regular good moterway run to allow the dpf to get fully up to temp and regenerate

cant help on the roof box im afraid

Edited by tingymagig, 01 February 2012 - 22:10 .

[steveo82]

Thanks alot tingymagig, there are some good points there mate especially the DPF issue our 807 has one and its been nothing but trouble and the bit about short hops is something we do not regulary but someting to bear in mind.

The auto box point about the valve bodies does give a little cause for concern as i would be paying top dollar for this car and that expense would be crippling.

I must say your honesty on the MPG is welcomed as i didn't expect miracles but if 30 is the worst i could live with that!

Remapping has already entered my mind but i haven't mentioned that to the missus yet, as you say it seems to do alot for the driveability of these cars aswell as the performance hike

Many thanks for reply and i shall have to get a good test drive sorted before committing to anything

Cheers
Steve

[tingymagig]

mine had the valve body issue at around 25k miles i think so if the car has more miles then it should have shown up by then and if it has less miles id be worried someones clocked it somehow lol but definatly something to watch out for that issue alone has put me off autoboxs forever there just too dam pricy to fix and too tempremental

actually i lied about the worst being 30mpg i averaged 20mpg on track so if you can drive it like that on the road then you will average less

imho the way my car drives with the MTE map is how it should have left the factory

[steveo82]

tingymagig, on 01 February 2012 - 22:27 , said:

mine had the valve body issue at around 25k miles i think so if the car has more miles then it should have shown up by then and if it has less miles id be worried someones clocked it somehow lol but definatly something to watch out for that issue alone has put me off autoboxs forever there just too dam pricy to fix and too tempremental

actually i lied about the worst being 30mpg i averaged 20mpg on track so if you can drive it like that on the road then you will average less

imho the way my car drives with the MTE map is how it should have left the factory

This car has more than 25k on it so hopefully its been sorted! 20 mpg you say, i could achieve that but as you did on a track I will have to bear the MTE map in mind if we do go for it, nothing set in stone yet as one more try will be carried out to try and make the crappy 807 achieve better consumption as she doesn't want to change if it can be sorted  

Thanks again for your comments
Steve

[exploddustbin]

Cant comment on the d5 as mine is t5 but the roof box i can!!!!!! Halfords ones are crap , dont care what anyone says they are crap!!! I have had one and it actually opened on the roof a few times whilst going down the motorway in the end had to put strap around it to stop this problem. I then purchased a thule one which is a far better box with better clamps to fix to roof bars which are adjustable and quick to remove from inside box only i might add. It has never come open and doesn't whistle like the halfords piece of crap did. Hope that helps

[RobbieH]

I can't comment on either 7-seats or roof box and I have one of them nasty pre-facelift versions that Aiden refers to

But I will agree on the MTE map, everything the D5 engine should have been when it left the factory.

If you look in the D5 tuning section there is quite a bit of info from me, Redbrick and Tingy on our verious versions and maps. Worth a read.

The >05 D5 engine uses an electric actuator for the VNT turbo (as well as different turbines and water cooling) compared to the vacuum operation of the earlier lump which might account for better boost control and less tendency to pop the intercooler. But then you you have the attendant possible issues with the DPF, swirl arm and "throttle" butterfly (quite a few threads on VOC about those little beauties).

Mike (outnumbered on here if he hasn't changed his forum name ala VOC) does have a roof box almost permanently mounted on his V70 (as well as draggin' a tin shack) so might be worth contacting for his thoughts.

Economy wise, if you fill up all 7 seats it might make a difference to the mpg. I generally only have two people in the car (plus assorted bikes and skis) when "fully loaded". Trundling round town (lots of stop, start stuff) gets about 20-30mpg. Sticking to the motorway limit in the UK gets 45mpg or more. But once on the (French) motorway crusing at 80-85 around 40mpg is normal.
IIRC last year, driving from home to the Combe track day, driving on track, visting local relatives and getting home still got an average of over 30mpg.

[Redbrick]

Euro 3, 163 D5 running custom RICA map. With 205/55 16 winter tyres my average off the computer is now 45mpg doing the 50 mile commute every day on A roads, that drops to 42 running 235's on 18's. The blitzkrieg journey to Austria on Saturday saw an average 40 but that was with skis and snowboard on the roof and 90+ speeds.
You can keep your facelift metal plastic tat on the bumpers and give me 40+ mpg thanks.  

[tingymagig]

i thought the prefactlifts averaged a lot more then that on the moterway tbh i can average 45 easy enough on a long motorway haul (assuming i keep it below 80 most of the time)

think il keep my nicer interior, nicer front lights, nicer back lights, body coloured trim AND metal plastic tat bling on the bumpers though

[RobbieH]

tingymagig, on 02 February 2012 - 17:59 , said:

i thought the prefactlifts averaged a lot more then that on the moterway tbh i can average 45 easy enough on a long motorway haul (assuming i let a lighter person drive it for me and I stay at home)

Fixed

and

is that an honest 45mpg (from tanking calculations) or just taken from the liar liar dash display? Mine's been proven to be 4mpg out (to the poorer) now over a couple of 2000 mile runs through France.

Edited by RobbieH, 02 February 2012 - 18:18 .

[tingymagig]

last time i did an ireland run with the boot full to the brim and 3 people in the car (the other too being miss tingy and my mum meaning i got more ear ache then it was worth every time i went above 80) i averaged 47mpg calculating it the dash said 45mpg

once on the moterway and the autos locked up or whatever it does theres more then likely very little in it between the cars tbh its the stop start round town stuff that kills the 185's mpg

[Redbrick]

tingymagig, on 02 February 2012 - 17:59 , said:

think il keep my nicer interior

What other noticeable differences are there?

tingymagig, on 02 February 2012 - 17:59 , said:

nicer front lights

I've got factory fit zenons that illuminate the road unlike the later notoriously bad tea lights

tingymagig, on 02 February 2012 - 17:59 , said:

nicer back lights

LED's?!  Cutting edge them. lol

tingymagig, on 02 February 2012 - 17:59 , said:

body coloured trim AND metal plastic tat bling on the bumpers though

Mines black so not really an issue.

Think mine had every option other than nav and phone which is why I traded the red brick in for it. It was up for £14000 as it was and the later ones were £20000+.  I'm sure I'd have bought a later one if it had been in my budget but it wouldn't have been a gaytronic under any circumstances.

[tingymagig]

Redbrick, on 02 February 2012 - 19:42 , said:

What other noticeable differences are there?

whole centre consoles a differant design

I've got factory fit zenons that illuminate the road unlike the later notoriously bad tea lights

never had a problem with my lights, zenon units may be the execption but otherwise its


vs


hence so meny people wanting to update



LED's?!  Cutting edge them. lol

whats LED's got to do with it they just look better



same as the fronts they look cleaner


Mines black so not really an issue.

with grey trim

Think mine had every option other than nav and phone which is why I traded the red brick in for it. It was up for £14000 as it was and the later ones were £20000+.  I'm sure I'd have bought a later one if it had been in my budget but it wouldn't have been a gaytronic under any circumstances.

i feel i may have hit a nerve with that comment

[V70Ben]

Who are the extra 2 seats for?

It limits the space available in the boot when they are unfolded - but they do have limits on size/weight.

[steveo82]

Well bit of comment war going on here Thanks to exploddustbin very helpful on the roof box scene, i just knew from having a volvo prior, that very little universal stuff actually works on these cars so to get a brand that works and has been used by yourself is good to hear!!

V70Ben, its me, the missus and four kids so 7 seats are a must, granted when im at work or in my own motor she can fold the rear seats flat for boot space but any days out or holidays etc we need them and i doubt my eldest will bother the weight limit on them!

[V70Ben]

steveo82, on 02 February 2012 - 22:08 , said:

i doubt my eldest will bother the weight limit on them!

They are an expensive option (aftermarket dealer price is over £500, plus fitting, plus a spacesaver)

As for the limits on them:

Quote

Approved for children between 15-36 kg (33-79 lbs) and max height 140 cm (55 in) each.
The booster cushion is not approved in combination with the auxiliary seat

Quote

Although in Japan you can use them up to
15-55 kg (33-121 lbs) and max height 150 cm (59 in) each.

Gives you an idea spacewise.


As I know you'll be interested

You can't use a booster seat with these (ie, they are approved for use without boosters) and the uk "booster seat law" doesn't apply.

[RobbieH]

steveo82, on 02 February 2012 - 22:08 , said:

Well bit of comment war going on here

Beats the usual willy waving, dyno wheel power competitions that go on at times

[GazT4R]

It's a matter of taste, Robbies looks nicer.
Don't mind the colour coding, in fact I quite like it but I don't like the chrome bits plonked on which ruined it for me and reverse park sensors for people unable to park their cars look crap.