VOLVO Running Costs.

BYALPHAINDIA

Have a Volvo V70 2.4 1998, 133, 000 miles.

Insurance = 952.00 per anum mainly because of 6 points on licence.

Fuel = Thousands Per anum. Do about 3,000 miles per anum.

Reliability = 100 % Of 2 years running.

No Maintainance costs In 2 years Just changed a tyre.

She is getting on a bit now, But still in good 'Nick' for her age not a single 'rust' mark on her.

Now coinsidering getting her changed for a V70 Diesel, But I know this car in and out, And it would be a complete new fault finding mission on another vehicle, I don't enjoy fault finding.

Obviously the Diesel V70 would be 'alot' more economical, And good value on the return.

But obviously been a 'petrol' version of the V70 she has cost Thousands per anum in fuel to run !!

Last year I must have spent well over 2,000 in petrol just going around W & N Yorkshire.

I can't even run her upto the coast really now as that would cost 'Silly money'

She is 100 % (Touch wood) reliable all the year round, But obviously if it is costing too much to run then a decision has to be made at some point.

A - Do I cutback more journeys
B - Try and get my garage to see if they can 'Lean' the mixture (I wouldn't think this could be possible as the sensors do all that )

C - Swap her for a V70 Diesel.

But the price of Diesel is also VERY high, And I am told Diesels need alot more maintainence etc.

It is a shame that Volvo decided not to just produce the V70 Version in an all Diesel variant, Instead of the earlier versions being Petrol versions.

harveybobbles

I think they brought the 2.5diesel out around 1999/early 2000. It was the 5 cylinder Audi unit and was rather good and sounded nice. Hard to find though as people keep them for ever and a day.

The later D5 is awsome, but they suffer with even worse tyre wear than your shape V70. Intercoolers are problematic. Door locks and fuel flaps are niggly too.

Plus the overall cost of buying a newer car v's your current cost = keep your 1998 one.

You don't need a diesel if you're only doing 3000 miles a year. Infact getting a diesel only really makes sense when your annual mileage gets upto about25/30k...

Hammyman

If you do 3000 miles a year and your fuel costs £1000's, your car is broken. I used to drive 44 tonne trucks and they'd cost £2k in fuel to do 3000 miles AT EIGHT MILES A GALLON. Yours should be able to do at least 20MPG.

scheming_gypsy

BYALPHAINDIA wrote: »

Fuel = Thousands Per anum. Do about 3,000 miles per anum.



But obviously been a 'petrol' version of the V70 she has cost Thousands per anum in fuel to run !!

Last year I must have spent well over 2,000 in petrol just going around W & N Yorkshire.

i think you need to check your maths.
A V70 will take about 70 litres, so at £1.35 a litre it'll cost you £94.50 to fill up. So if you get 300 miles to a tank (way under estimated) then for your 3000 miles it'll be 10 full tanks or £945.00
If you get 500 miles to a tank then it's only 6 tanks at £600

BYALPHAINDIA

She is an 'End of life' machine so I should stick with her until the very end !!

She does average 24 / 26 around town etc.

Or on 20.00 she returns = 45 miles.

I don't fill her up fully, Never have done with cars, The logic seems that you use more fuel to carry more and then there is always a chance of a crowbar under the filler flap !!

BYALPHAINDIA

No other day to day issues with Volvo cars, Other than the fuel factor.

Volvo got their designs 100 %

inkie

That's not a lot of mileage for the year of the car. We have a 96 850R, which has just done 254,000 miles. We got it 3 years ago, but had an LPG conversion done as soon as we got it. Is this something that you could consider. I know due to the mileage that you are doing it would take longer than it has for us to get the money back (hubby does 140 miles commute everday).
If you are needing a big car, then i'd stick with it. Otherwise go for something smaller and more economical.

BYALPHAINDIA

Could coinsider the LPG road, But she may only have another 1 - 2 years left, Major things like Exhaust Manifolds, Belts, etc may wear out.

She cost me 1,050 in Sept 2009.

I could probably still sell her for 800 + now.

But she is my godsend Lol !!

motorguy

You will lose far more in depreciation on a younger car than you will save on fuel.

BYALPHAINDIA

I am defo sticking with Volvo whatever, Had a few Ford's over the years, A Citroen !!! and others but these have all been No comparison to the Volvo.

And the parts upto press have been moderately priced, Many people still have the 'image' that Volvo's are expensive on parts - Wrong.

You can guarantee that 99.9% of Volvo's have been immaculately cared for and maintained.

Hammyman

BYALPHAINDIA wrote: »

She is an 'End of life' machine so I should stick with her until the very end !!

She does average 24 / 26 around town etc.

Or on 20.00 she returns = 45 miles.

I don't fill her up fully, Never have done with cars, The logic seems that you use more fuel to carry more and then there is always a chance of a crowbar under the filler flap !!

So it costs well under £1000 a year in fuel then.