Halcyon Motors

Volvo V70 SE 2.4 litre 10v Estate – 5 speed manual 7 Seater Photos below.

Date of registration: 1997 (P plate)

MOT: new

The car has had one previous driver (originally a Shell company car purchased from them by the driver) then sold by him to a gentleman living in Bournemouth in 1999. He has owned it ever since. The V5 therefore shows two previous owners but in reality it is only one. It has a recorded 137,000 miles and comes with full service history (7 stamps plus other services written into the book – presumably by the last owner). There are 16 recorded services with the last in July 2011. 137,000 may seem a lot but for one of these cars it is relatively small beer - I have seen similar cars do well over 400,000 miles and have owned and sold more than one that has done over 200,000.

It is faultless to drive. Outside it is nearly immaculate. There are a few light scratches to the bumpers and one or two very minor dents but otherwise it is virtually unmarked. And it is finished off with the very smart Volvo alloys.

Inside, the upholstery is nearly perfect with the exception of the driver's seat where two seams have come undone – a common fault. But you can’t see it when you are sitting on it! The rest is completely unmarked which is testament to the relatively easy life the car has led. It has three point belts all round. It has a built in child seat in the centre armrest but the mechanism is damaged and so it really only works as an armrest. The boot is, of course, cavernous which is one of the main reasons these cars are so sought after. It also has the two extra seats with three point belts which fold down into the load area with no loss of space. The car has a full size spare wheel and a space saver to allow a bit more leg room in the boot section.

Volvo have always made some of the safest and most reliable cars around but the V70 (previously the 850) was the first Volvo to actually look good and be fun to drive. The superb 5 cylinder 2.4 litre engine provides bags of power and with reasonable fuel consumption for such a large car (trip computer shows over 31 mpg). It does not have the hugely complex and not very reliable four wheel drive system fitted to the AWD Cross Country models. If you need four wheel drive, you are better going for the more reliable Subaru Legacy.

It is incredibly well specified with power steering, ABS, air conditioning, dual zone climate control, electric windows all round (switch missing to the nearside rear door – soon to be replaced), electric mirrors, a superb RDS stereo radio cassette, remote central locking. The car drives without fault save for a couple of minor glitches. The fuel cover flap is not secured with the central locking – just a catch missing. The driver’s door handles do not spring back correctly but it does not affect the operation of the door.

A full inspection is welcomed.

Power Assisted Steering

Alloy wheels – all with good tyres.

ABS

Stereo RDS radio cassette
Electric windows all round (NSR inop due to missing switch)

Climate control – separate controls for driver and passenger sides

Air conditioning (needs regas)

Airbags 2 front, 2 side

Rear head rests (x3)

Split folding rear seat

Centre armrest which converts to a child seat which is faulty

Two rear facing seats in the boot
3 point belts all round