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MYVERDICT:
For:
Great motorway car
Goodsafety and security
D5 Diesel engine is superb
Against:
Claustrophobic in the front
Heavy depreciation
2.5TD engine is terrible
Poor rear visibility
The carI tested had the worsed of both worlds - the old 2.5TD engine and an automatic gearbox. Added together this madeitfeel just too damn slow. Okay,I admit you generallydon't buy aVolvoto go racing off from lights,but this thingmade even normal overtakinga nail-biting experience- not what you'd expect from aluxury car like this.A manual gearbox would help abitbut thereal answer is to go for the newer D5 diesel engine - it completelytransforms the driving experience. Evenwith the better engine though don't expect to be hustling this car around the twisties because the steering is not that sharp andit does wallow about if your pushing on a bit.The interioris not that spacious eitherconsidering how big the car looks, but this is because you are cosseted by armchair like seatsand an imposing dashwhich willsatisfy even the most ardent button junkies. There must bestacks of insulation in there as well because it's a very quiet car. All this adds up to aformidable motorway cruiser. Icompleted a 350 mile journey with3 otheradults and it was amazing how fresh we all felt at the end.So in summary the S80 iswell built, wellequipped, and is very comfortable - making it a real alternative to the German competition.
WHICH ONE TO GO FOR:
As stated above the D5 is the only one to go for. If you really don't like the idea of a diesel the more powerful petrol 2.8 and 2.9engines suit the car as well but you will pay for it -they are thirsty and will depreciate more heavily than the diesels. Optional extras add desirability rather than value, but all S80's are well specced anyway.
RELIABILITY AND COMMON FAULTS:
The S80 came a very respectable 44th (out of 160 cars) in the biggest independent reliability survey of 2005 - which is a testament to Volvo's built quality. No major faults are reported but there are quite a few niggly recall issues that affect cars built betweencertain dates. Its worth checking theseon the Government's recall website (just search'vosa' in google) tocheck that the car youare buying isn't one of them, orif it is, therecall has been carried out.
SAFETY:
Volvo are famous for safety and the S80 lives up to this reputation. It scored a commendable 4 out of 5 stars in the Euroncap safety tests. Euroncap commented "the Volvo is a verysafe car and gave good all-round performance".
MODEL HISTORY:
Introduced in 1998 with equipment levels including ABS, PAS and air-con. Optional comfort or luxury 'packs' available at extra costs. 2001 saw the launch of the executive 2.8 and T6 versions, as well as the new 2.5 D5 diesel. 2003 saw revisions to the rear styling and the introduction of the 2.0T petrol.
HOW TO AVOID BUYING A LEMON BY USING OUR BUYERGUIDE BELOW.....
An old wise man with a strange hatonce told me "time spend on reconnaissance is time seldom wasted" - which whentranslated into buying a used car means"a little preparation can save you a lot of money and frustration". Seriously, if you are spending thousands of pounds its worth following a few simple points to help you avoid being dissapointed with your purchase......so i hope you find this buyerguideuseful.
Before seeing the car:
If it is a private sale make sure you view the car at the sellers premises - this will help determine if the seller is genuine
Always ask the seller to make sure the car is cold when you come to view it - warm engines can hide a multitude of sins
How to check the mechanics:
Before the car is warmed up check for a film of oil in the radiator - the presence of oil would signify internal engine leaks or a blown head gasket
Make sure the oil on the dipstick is smooth and has no bits in it or milky scum - again this could mean internal engine leaks
On starting from cold make sure the engine does not turn over sluggishly - this could mean a worn starter and or starter motor.
Check for oil leaks around the engine and on the ground where the car has been stood - any leaks could indicate expensive gasket replacement
Body and interior:
Worn drivers seat, pedal rubbers, and a shiney steering wheel all indicate a high mileage car - check these appear consistent with the indicated mileage
Evidence of scratches or tampering around the speedometer is a dead giveaway that the car has been 'clocked' and the mileage is not genuine
Check that the tyres have 1.8mm legal tread depth and the exhaust is silent when you cover the end with a cloth whilst the car is running - both can be price negotiating points of replacements are needed
Check that everything works such as switches, heater, a/c, windows, mirrors, stereo, interior and exterior lights - fixing any of these things can be a real pain
On older cars check for rust on the sills and floorpan (prod carefully with a screwdriver) - unless you are friendly with a welder rot can be expensive and messy to fix.
Check all body panels are consistent in colour and fit - if they are not it is likely that the car has been in an accident and has been repaired poorly
Road testing the car:
With the handbrake firmly on try to set off in 1st gear. The car should stall instantly - if it does not it is likely that the clutch needs replacing
After driving for a short while floor the throttle - a could of blue smoke out of the exhaust indicates worn bores or valve guides both of which are expensive to fix
The car should accelerate smoothly accross the rev range - flat spots or hesitation may signify fuel injection and /or computer problems which are notoriously hard to diagnose and fix
The car should pull away smoothly from a standing start - if it judders this may indicate oil contamination of the clutch plate and a new clutch will be needed
take the car to at least 70mph. The car should drive straight and not pull to one side. If there is significant vibration this may indicate any one of a number of hard to diagnose problems. Do not let the seller fob you off with "its just the wheels that need balancing".
When the car is stopped with the engine running turn the steering wheel from full lock to full lock - rough operation or hissing indicates the power steering is faulty
Finally, trust your instincts about the car and the seller and do not let your heart rule your head - if you are not happy just walk away!!
I hope you found this information useful. For a more comprehensive appraisal of theVolvo S80you can also downloadour full video road test. Want tosee how easythe seats fold down? how much boot space there is? what the interior is like? how much leg room there is? what its really like to drive and live with in the realworld?..... then just click on the link below
VIEW OUR FREE TRAILERS IN OUR EBAY SHOP
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