Shitting in the shallow end. *Arse friends electric*

[Jim Bell]

I drove this about 30 yards today.  Just shifting it around outside the house.  I love the sound of it starting up and I love driving it, even if its a few yards.  Its a mobile juxtaposition.  It looks and feels modern and new, but with the engine running out on the road it feels much older and longly basted in deep use and developed character. 

 

I'm probably going to turn into an awful s70 bore I'm afraid as I really like the thing.

 

 

Did I mention it also shifts?

 

It shifts.

 

Theres nothing not to like from where I'm sitting.  Which is hopefully for a long time and behind the wheel.

[Floatylight]

I drove this about 30 yards today. Just shifting it around outside the house. I love the sound of it starting up and I love driving it, even if its a few yards. Its a mobile juxtaposition. It looks and feels modern and new, but with the engine running out on the road it feels much older and longly basted in deep use and developed character.

 

I'm probably going to turn into an awful s70 bore I'm afraid as I really like the thing.

 

 

Did I mention it also shifts?

 

It shifts.

 

Theres nothing not to like from where I'm sitting. Which is hopefully for a long time and behind the wheel.

I drove one of the very first ones of these when the council used to run a drive it day with the car leasing company but that's a story for another day..

 

I loved it and thought it was a brilliant drive, loads of go, really free reving which was really unusual for diesels at the time, also handled really well for its size, my mate who had a Xantia at the time hated it..

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[bramz7]

One of the best things with these 5 pot diesels is their coasting ability. I've never driven a car that holds it speed for so long without any throttle before.

 

Ffs why did I sell mine?!

[Jim Bell]

Ffs why did I sell mine?!

If I had to guess is say because BRAMZ7 gotta BRAMZ7.

[Jim Bell]

I drove one of the very first ones of these when the council used to run a drive it day with the car leasing company but that's a story for another day..

 

Can that day be a day soon?

[paulplom]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S40-V40-S70-C70-V70-3-button-remote-Key-FOB-Case-Shell-replacement-Repair/302311105847?epid=1144637625&hash=item4663256537:g:dBMAAOSwhvFZEfGB

 

These are value if yours is tired

[brownnova]

Theres nothing not to like from where I'm sitting. Which is hopefully for a long time and behind the wheel.

A long time in the dictionary of Jim Bell... hmmm... I give it a month.

 

Well bought though it looks a belter!

[Floatylight]

Can that day be a day soon?

Yeah, go on then, I'll add it to my thread later..

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Ohdearme]

Saw this and thought of you...

 

 

Expertly* driven and parked by a giffer

[Jim Bell]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couple of pics just because it was looking handsome in the Saturday sun. The paint is actually pretty poor. Lots of scratches and chips, but the sun and the way the colour black photographs, really flatter it.

[Jim Bell]

Saw this and thought of you...

Expertly* driven and parked by a giffer

 

Think car boot sales and garden centres are the natural habitat for older Volvo's. Especially at the weekend.

[Shirley Knott]

Glad to hear this one's winning your affections Jim

 

There's something about a big Volvo that give's an enormous sense of well-being (But you know this already having owned them in the past IIRC?)

 

Unbelievably I still really like my 940 in spite of all the bother it's caused. This is the first one I've had and despite it being a bit of a pain at times I love it, Stockholm syndrome maybe...

 

I was thinking about it this morning and after applying some strange hung over logic to it I decided it actually fulfils three roles... It's a comfortable/luxury family tourer, a quasi 'modern classic' yo, it's also a van that ferries doors/furniture back to the house and vast amounts rubbish to the tip too... Three cars for the price of one! If it was't for the perpetual water ingress, intermittent coolant ingress and multiple esoteric running issues it would be perfect. The fact that I've forgiven it these sins and continue to devote time and drive space to it makes it clear that there must be something special about them.

 

A quick rub over with super resin polish, a layer of soapy wax and that paint will look grand I recon.

[Tamworthbay]

Think car boot sales and garden centres are the natural habitat for older Volvo's. Especially at the weekend.

The alarm is set for just such a purpose tomorrow.......

[Jim Bell]

The alarm is set for just such a purpose tomorrow.......

A car boot sale at a garden centre?

[Tamworthbay]

A car boot sale at a garden centre?

Indeed, well half of it. We are heading to a massive field to look at shite other people would happily throw in a skip but sell to the gullible like us instead. We will be off in five minutes or so when FiL shows up.

[loserone]

Too late, all the good stuff will have gone by now

[Amishtat]

Saw this and thought of you...

Expertly* driven and parked by a giffer

Until I looked more closely at the reg I thought you'd papped me!

[Tetleysmooth]

Looks like you've got yourself a little investment there JB.

 

Cop for the price of this one:

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S70-TDI/283457055565?hash=item41ff5b6b4d:g:ti0AAOSwBG9cXzjf

 

The saloons are getting quite rare now, so have a bit of a think before you kick this one into touch.

[Tamworthbay]

Too late, all the good stuff will have gone by now

Not even close, tons of high quality tat to peruse and a few buys. Most of the early people are after specific things like gold or antiques, for those of us in the know the best deals come later...........

[Shirley Knott]

Interesting fact.

 

Car only came with the one key.

 

IMG_20190418_174855.jpg

 

 

Just looks like a normal key I thought. And it's pre-millenium. I'll just get another key cut.

 

And I did.

 

IMG_20190418_183802.jpg

 

 

 

Then I got a surprise. The new key unlocks the doors, boot, glove box, and operates the ignition, but won't start the car. It'll spin but won't catch. So guessing there actually is a transponder in the key and the car is witholding fuel?

 

Shame like. But interesting to know.

 

Gosh, that original key looks like those pebbles you see on the beach that have been 'washed' round at the edges. Replacement= a decent plan I recon.

 

Meanwhile 4 days with no updates.... Wagwan?

[Jim Bell]

Looks like you've got yourself a little investment there JB.

 

Cop for the price of this one:

 

white s70.jpg

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-S70-TDI/283457055565?hash=item41ff5b6b4d:g:ti0AAOSwBG9cXzjf

 

The saloons are getting quite rare now, so have a bit of a think before you kick this one into touch.

 

 

 

Yeah there's not many left it seems so values on the up. I paid a lot by my standards, but not that much!!

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Gosh, that original key looks like those pebbles you see on the beach that have been 'washed'.

 

Meanwhile 4 days with no updates.... Wagwan?

I've not been even able to get another key cut so far. None of the usual places I go to can code one. It may require a further trip to the stealers.

 

 

[Jim Bell]

So there's not really been much to update, as the 5-potter has been zooming along with no issues.

 

 

Space wise, you can definitely get a disassembled desk and two tables in the boot.

 

[Jim Bell]

And if you do THIS......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can definitely get four of THESE in the back and still leave room for the big shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's nothing really wrong with the standard 15s that are on the car, but a set of 16 inch T5 perfos? Popped up on eBay local to me. They've recently been refurbed and have nearly new Hamkooks (or whatever you call them) fitted so that would be an upgrade from the fitchfinders it's currently shod in.

 

 

 

You'll be coming off then.

[Jim Bell]

Now would you look at the size of this ABSOLUTE HONKER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The downturned wide tip reminds me of my favourite Muppet.

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

Also done a bit of "detailing". With a white marker I found the Mrs Bellpeas's craft box.

Before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pointless really as nobody will ever see it but me. Made me smile though.

[Jim Bell]

One of the few things the car lacked was a cup holder. I took the advice of a helpful shitter and grabbed one of these. Fits ok in the seat crevice but blocks the hand break lever a bit. Sits well in the rear seat pocket too so there's more than enough options for transportation of wake up juice.

 

Before.

 

 

 

 

 

After.

 

 

 

 

Even more afterer.

[Jim Bell]

Restocked the rear shelf cubby with dangerous guy essentials.

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

The wiper blades were "past peak performance" so I had a run down to Halfords then ECP.

 

 

 

Halfords for some wiper blades and ECP for some service essentials as there was a 50% Easter sale on. Even blagged some free screenwash as I watched the counter while the counter lady popped out for a quick fag.

 

 

 

 

So next up is a good service and wheel swap.

[Jim Bell]

All in all its been ferrying us round without fault or complaint. There's been about 300 miles covered in it so far and the RANGE CALCULATOR O TRON reckons with a fair wind and crossed legs, there'll be another 300 miles to go till next fill up.

Impressions thus far are that I could only like it more if it was yellow.

 

 

 

It drives like I would expect a van to drive. It does feel (and sound!) Like you're piloting something large and heavy. The steering is very light though, perhaps too light. Brakes are more than adequate and feel sharp. Had a couple of brown trouser incident where folk have pulled out from junctions without looking and I've had to slam the wanker anchors on and she pulls up reassuringly well in a pinch.

 

It rides like a nice old Volvo should and eats up bumps and holes pretty well. Visibility is ok all round but the missus doesn't like the lack of a rear wiper. I don't mind as I just pretend is a van if rearward vision is less that perfect. The seats are supreme in their comfort and plushness and even the dog enjoys having a lie down in the back. She usually likes to stay standing in vehicles of lesser comfort.

 

The stereo is good and booms out Radio 2 with more than acceptable quality. I'm thinking about getting one of those Pure Highway Dab boxes as I really miss the Dab in the SLK.

 

The boot is massive and with the back seats down you could haul a decent amount of tats.

 

Gearbox seems ratio'd for making progress rather than cruising, which suits me well. It's comfy enough on the motorway but just feels like it could do with a sixth cog. I might just be spoiled from driving six speeds though.

 

She can pick up her pettycoats and jog on when you poke the loud pedal and it 5 pot sounds amazing on full chat.

 

All in all, I'm over the moon with it still and shall probs keep it. (insert the rolling of eyes here).