It really is though? European wagons have this habit of making offroading trims but barely doing anything. It is indeed trying to play the CUV card without any benefits. Maybe if they took notes from the most successful station wagon on the globe, the Outback, they would sell more wagons.
@@putinslittlehacker4793 will your 04 caviler have incredible rust protection that will allow it to survive 20 years in countries with Winter climates where roads are poured with salt every year?
They are though. Not in a showroom appeal kind of way, or having something to show off about, but after a long day at work way, the sort of way where you accidentally own it for 12 years
@@chrisdavidson911 Honestly, if I thought my job was more secure than it is right now (it is not), I'd buy a Volvo S60 Recharge right now. With the environmentally friendly cloth seats. But alas...my job is not secure.
@@chrisdavidson911 That's how my aunt ended up in one. Went from owning a '98 Malibu to an '02 V70 because it was just comfortable enough that she had no curiosity about what was higher up the ladder and thus kept it until the transmission Fatman'd the gears through the bottom eight years later.
@@gordonmills2748same, even more so if it were a v60 but [1] that require even more financial security and [2] I think they’re killing off the v60 soon? Or am I thinking of something else?
I've sat in both leather and cloth ones, and the ones with cloth are significantly more comfortable. That being said the ones with leather were still good, even though they hadn't aged as well.
@@DrewLSsix Volvo used Conolly or Bridge of Weir leather depending on the year; the same two brands that supply Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. Volvo leather doesn't get hard unless it is neglected.
This is such a weird hot take on the V70. Every volvo I've sat in has been the most comfortable out of any vehicle I've sat in. Solid, well-built, slow, and relatively reliable.
Yup^ my best buds dad had one. Fun car, he was also using it for work, tools in it ALL the time. Going into Ontario to work at an airfield. He's often shorten the trip by driving 160km/h all the time. Even had a fleet at one point, Had the Cross Country V70 for the wife, then my buddie and I would cruise around in the regular V70 we bought for a 1000 bucks, we we're usually up to now good. Only pain with the base model was when it overheated. Then some local drug dealer still drove it around for another 2 years.
as a 4 time R owner and a ex-volvo enthusiast i can tell you the real R guys actually dont like the spaceball thing and they usually put on the regular shifter and boot.
Badmouthing the V70 has to be one of the worst takes I've heard in an RCR video. Also, these Volvos have literally THE most comfortable car seats EVER made.
It's understandable, the steering feel is god awful and driving one feels more like a chore. It's an okay car but it isn't this paradigm of swedish engineering that r/volvo users are making it out to be.
@@dohmies77 It's a chore only in city center driving. This car was made for the highway and country roads, cross country driving. You can drive this car for hours at a time without issue, it's like driving around in your living room recliner
I think Roman needs a snack, he might be hangry. The V70 is just meant to be nice enough inside and practical enough everywhere else. You know... a Volvo. This review is like complaining that a 1996 Corolla is boring.
Well then it’s crap, isn’t it? These weren’t cheap, Volvo never is, so if practicality is all you get, then why the hell should I buy one over a Subaru or a Honda Element?
@@nathanchildress5596Weirdly in EU you can get these cars for less than 2000€ (or even less than 1000€ of you dare) running and driving while getting through yearly inspection easily and depending on the condition of the car, you can drive these while only doing yearly oil changes without any other issues
@@DD_Vandal Sounds like a completely different car. Don't even worry about the engine, just the fact that it works and more than half the power doesn't just evaporate in the drivetrain.
@@Anirossadon't think I've ever seen a petrol one. Driven a few awesome diesel ones though. My only criticism is how damned awkward it was to change the clutch on one.
@@CarsandChris Had one and my dad tried two before gave up on volvos, they were all horrid, at least the S80 didn't rust, as the chassis wasn't steel, but went like crap and with crap milage. Felt like sitting in a poorly executed oversized lego car. I don't dislike the V70 chassis that much, I do like station wagons, just stock, the gasoline engines are not great.
I'm gonna defend the V70. I don't think it belongs in the bottom 5. Yes, it is boring. But it's supposed to be boring. It's a Presbyterian church pew. It's that guy at work who does his job better than anyone else and refuses to be promoted to a higher, more comfortable position. It's a boxy car built from thinking inside the box and only very rarely stepping out of it. "The seats are for sitting in. Can you sit in the seat? Good, it fulfills its intended function. Now we can focus on our passion; airbags." So it's on the list because it's boring. The other cars on the list are there because they are plain bad. As in poor quality and dumb design. Putting the V70 in the bottom 5 is as sad as putting the hyperfocused, awkward savant kid in Special Ed with all the glue sniffing delinquents and saying they belong together. And like that awkward savant Volvo has very specific interests. Safety, family and the environment. And it does those jobs excellently. You can stuff your family, dog and luggage into a V70, go far on a tank of gas, and probably not die. Those are three missions accomplished! Whereas cars like the Jeep Cherokee Laredo have no mission in life other than to generate profit, and can't even accomplish that. I truly hope the Roman reads this and considers moving it out of the bottom 5 for the next video.
There’s also the fact that, if you want it to be fun, they did do the 300hp V70/S60 R, which has the same basic engine as the mk2 Focus RS. However, I don’t know if that was available in the States.
It's still swedish, which makes it cool. They're like germans but effordlessly cool, even when boring. Because just look at Audi, BMW and Mercedes. They're trying to hard.
@@theothertonydutch I do have a soft spot for Volvos and Saabs, tbf. And you got to admire the engineering Christian von Koeniggsegg puts into his stuff.
@@RandomCarGuy17 Good to know if work ever wants me to relocate to the states, I’d imagine it’d work pretty well in upstate New York, given that’s where head office is. Doubt they will though, and I’m pretty happy staying home.
It’s the same issue with the PT Cruiser review. An older gentleman keeping it roadworthy will have a significantly different experience than the fourth buyer that drives with a broken power steering pump, which prevents you from enjoying the incredibly comfy seats. It’s not a car to go fast, just like the PT, it’s a car to be relaxed on while being on time to your responsibilities. It’s ok for you to point out that not all Volvos are the golden child the internet makes them to be, especially so long in the tooth
I mean... what is he supposed to do? You review the car you have. Imagine writing off the entire Cavalier family just because the ones you see are clapped out high-school beaters, what about the exceedingly rare Toyota TRD version?? Shouldn't that be considered???
@jonnykarkkainen9965 Volvos always have heavy steering, my 740 and 960 were the same way, and I was surprised when I drove a P80 S70 and found similarly heavy steering despite it being FWD.
@@justinschmidt1202 I could be crazy but my 2000 V70 has extremely light steering. It's not exactly buick riviera light, but it's definitely 3 point turn with one hand the wheel and the other on the shifter light.
Another reason I think Volvo, VW survived while Saab died is that the entry luxury car market collapsed in 2008. Either you had money and bought luxury or didn’t and bought entry level. Volvo moved upmarket and survived VW moved downmarket and survived Saab didn’t adapt and died
Saab was actually bought out from GM by swedish company and that swedish company never restarted production. So not sure what happened there. GM sold saw because they couldn't afford it, Ford sold Volvo because they couldn't afford it. Volvo was lucky enough to find Geely who was willing to infuse tons of cash into Volvo while giving independence in design. Apparently Geely had a pretty lucky spot in the market selling their own designs and making a profit and was able to give some to Volvo
@@AzazelCain theres one in my neighborhood i tried to buy for my first car. Owner wa all "i know what I have" and refuses. Its been sitting unmoved for 4 years now, rotting away. Makes me sad.
I've driven a V70 a few times and it was a tremendously comfortable, altogether pleasant experience. Maybe I had a better variant, but it's interesting to see the comment section pretty rabidly backing that up. It wasn't just me, then.
Laughed out loud when you asked where the rest of the funeral went. I'm a hearse driver by trade and we're only just retiring our fleets of V70 hearses and S80 limousines. All diesels. Brilliant workhorses.
Rare miss from The Roman. I owned four P2's in the early 10's and they were all great. He chose to drive a non turbo version which aren't that common. So you get gas mileage for great size and power everything, great creature comforts for its age. If you go turbo then you get power and cool sounds at the cost of some mpgs.
True. That's why I owned a '95 850 Turbo with a chip (paid $1200 for it and drove the heck out of it), and later a '97 850R with a larger 19t turbo, bosch blue 395cc injectors, 255lph fuel pump, aluminum intercooler, aluminum radiator, silicone intercooler hoses, lowering springs, and a stage 4 chip. Both cars came with all aluminum, 20 valve dual over head cam, 5 cylinder engines that found their way into the Ford Focus RS and needed to give Volvo (and Porsche who helped design it) credit. The "R" was fast with ergonomically designed comfortable heated alcantara suede seats. I agree with your rule about Volvos. And yes, my mom drove an old Volvo when I was a kid so I wasn't any different. But today my DD is an '04 C5 Corvette with over 400hp, and no the seats are not nearly as comfortable, and really I never have felt like the Vette was as "cool" as the 850R.
I have a 2007 2.5T- it kind of corrects all the things he hates about them. The turbo makes up for the lack of power in the NA model, and the struts go out on those tend to go out often. I will agree that the 5 speed auto is absolutely atrocious
Saab died and volvo didnt because volvo was in a much better financial and staff position. The gm years of saab were nothing but life support while the patient activiely kept trying to pull their own plug
@@theothertonydutch not particularly, no. GM gave Saab access to the best resources they had. The 9-3 ii was the debut platform for Epsilon, and Saab went and reengineered the 90% platform anyway to make minor changes, driving the slave price of the vehicle up to BMW levels where it had no chance to compete.
@@iceman5117 Except the best GM had was a dogs dinner. The Epsilon platform was bottom of the class. It was barely good enough for the Vectra, a car which nobody bought for its driving experience.
@@iceman5117 Neither do you, apparently... GM gave it to Saab unlubricated and nonconsentually, without even the courtesy of a reach-around. The second gen Saab 9-3, for instance, was a soulless blob of a vehicle that effectively said "I want the _appearance_ of a premium vehicle without the premium vehicle experience, and I want it to be quirky and unreliable, and I also want to pay BMW 3 Series money for it."
honestly 2004 was 20 years ago. I had a relative who got basically the same car but in white. It was nice, spacious, safe, practical. perfect car for a soccer mom who didn't want a suburban or a minivan. And with some decent reliability it would make a perfect first car for a high school kid. Boring safe and economical.
What you were missing was that this is one of the safest vehicle to take a crash in. You want your kids to be protected from other drivers and this is why my family was into Volvos up till after the p2. My uncle took a 70mph rear end accident in a p1 and walked away no injuries. The person behind him in the other vehicle did not.
Holy crap, I never would have expected that this would be the car to evoke this much reaction from Roman, who appreciates even a beat-up Nissan somehow. Happy birthday, man. Cheers! Edit: also I remember catching a different saga of a dude restoring a V70R, fascinating for sure (and was a cool project). Same dude also fixed up his partner's V70 and that one was in a significantly better shape than what Roman had to drive here for sure.
Just sold my 2006 V70 with the 2.5t. I tell you, I was genuinely surprised with the car. It was fast for its age and it had nice little luxury touches that I enjoyed.
I never drove the V70, but I remember driving the S60 of that generation. With the 2.5T engine. And it drove quite nicely, I liked the acceleration, it was very stable, didn't tramline or anything. The climate controls were pretty weird though, I don't remember what the issue was exactly, because this was maybe about 13 years ago, but I remember I was getting really annoyed using it.
In all honestly I think you lose all credibility as car reviewers when you shit talk a P2 Volvo more than the god awful tesla models you've driven. I loved my 2002 V70 XC, it had some electrical issues but if I could find another in this condition I would be happy with it and that's more than i can say for most 20 year old cars. I genuinely don't know what's wrong with you guys.
I work at a Volvo specialist shop and own a P2 V70R and have driven many Volvos over the years and this is the first time I have ever heard someone say the steering is too heavy. This sounds like it was not well taken care of. Really am surprised how badly Roman disliked this. I would straight recommend driving another, better taken care of, P2 V70 or X/C 70.
That one might need a power steering fluid flush. My dad's XC70 has super light steering But my S60 is steering is heavy and I think that's because it needs fluid flush or some other issue
@@zzoinks I have seen anything from rodents eating the wires to the electronic control to the fluid being bad. So there’s a few things to look out for on them.
I have a P2 Volvo, it is a base 2002 S60 with a 2.4 inline engine. She has blue exterior and black leather interior. I have 203k miles on it and I know she can go a lot further, as long they make parts my car. I will keep on repairing it
When i was 10 years old, my parents bought an 04 v70 base. I hated it. I wanted my dad to buy something cool, fast, like the cars i idolized in need for speed. I didn't want the car that all the douchy parents in "school of rock" drove. Then i went to college. And suddenly i realized, "this car rocks!" Tons of space to haul my stuff to my dorm. Cold ac, good on gas, comfortable seats, impeccable reliability, and just enough power that i wasn't a rolling roadblock while hauling all my shit. I fell in love with the v70 due to its fantastic utility and what it enabled me to do. When freshmen without cars needed a walmart run, they called me. Not the dude with the Pontiac sunfire. Today, that car is an oil change away from 400k miles. My parents still have it, and it honestly has a good chance of making 500. No major mechanical failures, just doing the routine service intervals and replacing a few parts (pcv, starter, shocks, etc.). I now own a V70R. That is NOT boring. Sure, its not an M3, but it gets up and moves. The steering is a bit light for my taste (the car you drove had power steering issues, guaranteed. Heavy steering on a v70? Seriously?) but it handles very well, the presence of snow is a non-issue, it hauls ass when you want it to, but remains quiet, comfortable and civilized. I love THAT car for the excitement it brings, for the smooth transmission, for the massive stopping power, for the quirky and weird features, the unique exhaust note, and the feeling of driving pleasure it gives me. Oh, yeah, Im not a dad either. Family hauling is not on my radar. And I am an S13 owner. A car that, by RCR'S own proclamation, invites people that "go hard." (Read: douchebags). Dollar-for-dollar, a V70R or 2.5T delivers way more driving fun than an S13 imo. In fact, i sold one of my S13s to buy my V70R, and I ended up with $1000 extra at the end of it. Yes, im a bit of a volvo fanboy, i am aware of my bias. And i do not claim them to be perfect cars. They definitely have issues, especially my R. But Roman, this review was disappointing. You shit all over a car for doing exactly what it was made to do. Haul a lot of stuff, do it safely, do it reliably, and be versatile. (The V in V70 literally stands for versatility. Thats the point of the damn car). If you want it to be less boring, buy a turbocharged car. (Also, the particular car you drove clearly had issues. Flimsy doors? Hard seats? Heavy steering? That is not normal.) Come drive my V70R before you go shitting on an entire platform based on an entry level offering being reviewed against enthusiast standards. Im not mad, i dont feel insulted that you didn't like what I like. But this feels poorly researched, and the fact that this is on your bottom 5, rubbing shoulders with a fricking dodge journey is unbelievable. Do better Roman. I usually love your reviews, but man....
My ex's dad, a socially alienated moon landing truther from the French countryside, had one of those, a manual. felt like it was on the cusp of dying for hundreds of thousands of kilometers before it eventually died. He then quickly replaced it with... another V70, an automatic this time. obviously both had dead window electronics and the starters were begging for their own life. For me, this car is forever linked to him. it's the "can't wait for this vacation to be over" car. but I like it.
Just sold my 2005 V70 2.5T with 320,000 kms to a student. My experience with it was almost completely positive. If it wasn't then I wouldn't have kept it for 19 years.
An american bad mouthing a robust, well built and refined european station wagon. Doesn't make sense. Flimsy doors?! What is this dude even talking about?!
Roman was clearly having a bad day🤦♂😆 To be fair though... the early P2's were troublesome, post 2005 were way better, lots of little bugs fixed. That fuel system issue... I know it's too late now, but I'd bet they needed a fuel pressure sensor, and replaced it with the wrong one and assumed the problem was elsewhere. The sensors look identical on several models, but are in fact slightly different on the inside, gotta check part numbers, not just fit.
I had one of these and sold it with 280,000 miles on it. Mine was in good shape and it was the most comfortable and durable vehicle I’ve ever been in. Slow as hell and ugly tho
I had a V50 with the turbo five cylinder which was occasionally fun, but plagued with issues. Those parts are super expensive and that's what essentially killed it. The V50 is actually what people are talking about when they talk about a Forvo kind of car. It spent six months in the shop before we finally decided to pull the plug. Sold it to some guy who claimed he could resurrect it. Best of luck to him.
Gotta throw some shade at Roman. He seems to not internalize that there are a lot of people who take great satisfaction in things so purpose-built, that the thing almost laughs at the user for demanding anything more of it. A simple, reliable workhorse fullfilling it's role is, in and of itself, satisfaction. It represents things falling into their proper place, or perfeclty fulfilling their expectations, in terms of duty. The fact that the act of driving the V70 does not offer enjoyable haptic feedback is irrelevant. As a man who likes so many AMC cars, I'd think Roman would understand the romanticism born from uncompromising practicality.
"so purpose built" as in it's a wagon? Pray tell, what highly specialized task is this 140hp FWD wagon far superior at? What can this do that a 220HP AWD Subaru Outback can't for the same money?
@@nathanchildress5596 it won't go through headgaskets like a moneypit Subaru with the EJ25 engine would do at age 10. Let's also not forget that base Outbacks came with a buzzy, wheezy NA 2.5 liter with 170 or so HP. What a miserable experience it was to drive one of those, especially when paired to a CVT or the power sucking 4 spd . But hey to each their own, and if there's a 220hp Turbo Subaru Outback then we can all agree there was also a V70 with a 2.5T with 210, 250hp or 300hp to choose from.
wait wait wait... you ALMOST bought a V70R? Are you insane?... Was it overpriced? That'd be the only reason on earth NOT to buy one. They're basically the ultimate sleeper.
Noooooooot Roman AGAIN. He's like a little weird sounding copy of the original. He doesn't even have his own original take or style or anything. WHY TORTURE US WITH THIS.
God must be smiling upon Drew if that 5spd transmission is still working. Couldn't believe you called its doors flimsy, every P80 and P2 Volvo I've ever encountered had doors that felt sturdy enough to withstand nuclear armageddon.
Race to the Bottom is one of my favorites right now. It’s such a perfect contrast to Brian’s reviews. This is a solid formula, fellas. Keep up the great work.
OK. The content of this video has a few explanations to be made: 1. This is a quality car. Yes, leather on the seats is prone to cracking under heat and high mileage, but overall build quality is one of the the best in class. They sold way better than SAABs at the time and there are way way more of them still alive. And residual values are much better than SAAB (unless R and Aero are compared, but that down to actual condition of a certain car). 2. Your fuel is SHIT. 2.4 N/A makes 170HP in European guise and is plenty enough to survive in traffic. This is made for reliable commuting to work and with capacity to bring You next purchase from IKEA with a possibility to travel abroad with Your family and a dog. If You want to go fAAAAAst, get the Turbo and fly. 3. Automatic transmission has never been fast in Volvos. It is made for smoothness and (lately) CO2 norms. 4. With proper care, this thing will outlast ALL other cars from Bottom 5. Combined. We have plenty of them still running with >500k and even above 700k kms in both petrol and diesel variants. 5. Toyota benchmark. Look what Toyota has made at the time, compare it and FUCKING chill.
Bravo. and it was ~170HP in USA too. They got that wrong. they used to sell it as "can use 87 octane" because of the lack of turbo but I never did that.
@@kylemontano228 I'm shitting on Volvo because I can't believe how triggered the fans are over this dull ass wagon. I drive Japanese cars, some vintage some modern, and they're all reliable fun and affordable, because of course they are.
Had a 2001 V70 and aside from the problematic transmission, it was a great car. Usually agree with most hot takes you post but this one is so, so wrong. These cars require a little more maintenance than others and the end result is usually clapped out models which is likely what happened here
@@tobias_dahlberg Very difficult to mess up a manual transmission, especially in a European car. I'm from Finland and even though Volvos are very common (3rd best selling brand last time i checked), they're not exactly all as reliable or good as people would think.
Family has owned four cars on the P2 platform and the two R cars I have had do need a lot of extra attention. They are both high mileage but the real big problem is the transmissions. Need a manual one for it to not break.
@iamdiscothedrunkhippo5380 The M66 has its own host of massive issues. Both the Auto offerings were decent for the R, although the AW-55 is massively lacking in performance.
This review is honestly an L. I've owned a P2 2.5t v70 and now a P2 2.5t S80 and they are the best cars I've ever owned. I can see where your coming from with power. You drove an NA 2.4 of course it's slow. NA P2 Volvos are not worth owning tbh. Everything else from the doors to the trans is flat wrong. The 5 Speed auto is great if it had all the dealer updates to the computer and has had proper maintenance. And the doors are thick as hell and heavy as shit so I don't know where he's getting that from.
I'm about to buy a 2001 V70 XC CROSS COUNTRY with 196,000 miles for my son in law it was obviously taken care of for at least the majority of its life. I've driven it for a couple of days and it seams like a well engineered well built vehicle, the interior is sparse and utilitarian, the seats are about as comfortable as I've ever sat in, and I've worked in the "car sales and service industry" for the last ten years... New and used, and the interior of this vehicle is immaculate, the electronics all work except for a "service security system warning" that goes away a few seconds after starting the vehicle. I figure it's a good first car for a young guy, It's not quick so street racing is absolutely out of the question it's AWD and one of if not the safest brand in the world for the price... And for $2,000 USD and the one I'm potentially buying is the low pressure turbo version with 197hp... Sure its not quick but as a utility vehicle to carry people and cargo from point to point safely its second to none...
@@nathanchildress5596 AWD is XC70, this is FWD. Its fuel savvy, the service is reasonably priced. Its spacy and comfy. Im not a Volvo fan, I just like some of them. Seems to me you didnt do your research
@@H34D5H07 Ah, so it's even less appealing than I thought. Sorry, my mistake. What I know is this thing was $30,000 in 2004, and it does nothing better than any other wagon you could have bought.
There is an old 1980's Dudley Moore movie where he is an ad executive that has a mental breakdown and is sent away for treatment. He starts working with others that are there for the same reason and they start doing "truth in advertisement" and the Volvo was one of the first ones they did. They started the ad with " We're boxy but we're good" .
It's a great car, for the person of the matching mentality. That being the 'seat on wheels that takes me places' school of automotive thought. The opposite sort of person, who distinguishes one car from another by pedal and steering and gear lever feel, and seeks driving enjoyment as defined by the total of all the sensations involved, will find 'dull but competent' to not be an especially good car.
@@danyoung8392 What the hell does that mean? So it's good because it's a car? It's not cheap, or fun to drive, or particularly luxurious, or particularly reliable, or attractive, or more practical than any other wagon.
You must've woken up on the wrong side of the bed for this review. This is a horrible review and easily your worst race to the bottom, somehow beating the gmc 1500
@@danielcarroll5667 Yeah somehow a good amount of them is "nah man we gotta get you in the V70R/the Turbo'd one!" which is pretty heartwarming in a sense
@@GuntanksInSpaceR vs base model is a night and day difference. My mom’s base v70 feels like a camry in terms of performance but my s60r feels more like an s4 from the time period
First of all, he's driving a naturally aspirated 2.4L versus a 2.5L engine. That's a difference of about 39hp. Secondly, it's FWD versus AWD. And the seats are meant to be anti-fatigue. This keeps the driver awake and alert while driving. And the doors? Well compare closing the door of a Kia which sound like aluminum Coke cans to the solid-sounding doors of a Volvo.
The problem here is you have a non-turbo automatic model. Even a 2.5T would be better, or even if this one just had a manual transmission. The AW55 auto transmissions are pretty lame.
The autos are okay if taken care of. I'm not sure how much did it comes down to luck But mine is still fine at 225,000 mi. Doesn't shift perfectly all the time but sometimes it does and it keeps the car moving. I think the issue is the fluid was never changed or fluid was neglected. Now if you're talking about the very early 2000s like maybe before 2004 or 2003, those autos had known issues unrelated to the fluid. If it's not too late, they can be fixed for cheaper then a whole new transmission but it is still not great
MY SON WAS INMATE OF THE MONTH. Reminds me of the Podel Video with Squidward working on a oil rig, when Mr Krabs is driving the red sports car it had a sticker like that on the rear bumper that said MY CHILD IS AN HONOR STUDENT AT THE ALABAMA STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
When I snapped one of the front axels on my 2005 S60R, there was literally only one new replacement available in the country and it was over $900. When it was time to send that car off to its next owner, part of me was relieved to see it go, almost like I was tossing a live hand grenade off to some poor unwitting soul who really didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
This review is all wrong total rubbish from start to finish. Build quality of a 20 year old Volvo is better than any American made car and the p2 V70 set the bar in terms of the V70 becoming a popular reliable work horse. This guy has no idea what he’s on about.
Ever watched the movie or read the novel, "A Man Called Ove"? Not the Tom Hanks US remake. The original Swedish one. It's true in real life as well. People were either a Volvo stan and thought SAAB was the most mid car ever made, or they were a SAAB stan and truly believed Volvo was everything that is wrong with the world. The truth is. It usually takes someone who've been around either, and is unbiased because they're likely to be a fan of a much better marque than either anyway, to realize that both brands from a certain point on was benchmarked with each other so much they're incredibly similar in feels, performance, ergonomics, and target demographics. Yes, the main structure, suspension and the engine won't be the same, and you won't be swapping parts like Lego. But the tiny little things such as the relays, plastics, bushings, transmission design, electric motors in every little components, turbocharger, materials etc. were from the exact same bunch of suppliers that they had in mind that week. Because Sweden is not a big country with vast amount of option, and either companies weren't big enough to take things in house. Yes I've taken the worst route, pissing off both fanbase at the same time. I have a Volvo.
I drove a new XC 90 mild hybrid for a rental car. Mid trim. It was a perfectly adequate car. However, it seemed really expensive for what it offered. It was not a good choice for a highway car, being it was a super and turbocharged 4 cylinder trying to push 5k pounds brick through the air at 75 MPH.
I have a 2008 93 Aero V6 and I have a great love for both brands, if I was to buy a 2nd car it would likely be a XC90 or V70R/T5. They are both great brands with a history of amazing models.
I've heard another problem with the newer Volvos is that they use huge rims that crappify the ride quality. So something like a SUV should be comfortable but it isn't. Could you confirm?
Happy birthday Roman, I respect you for challenging the popular opinion of this Volvo. I am a Volvo fan and I'd love to have this car. But in Malaysia, somehow they are a NIGHTMARE to maintain. parts are expensive and the cars just DO NOT last. maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the lack of maintenance expertise but they are NOT popular here.
All Volvos remind me of that time I was at Wendy's and I was eating at the SuperBar and I saw this post-menopausal lady, she got on top of the SuperBar and just dropped her pants and started queefing on everything she was queefing on the garbanzo beans, and then she got a turkey baster and just filled up her snatch with some old pool water and then just queefed again and again and again and again and again-
I've road tripped with my friend's V70 XC and it was great. Certainly not fast, but plenty of power to pass and merge safely. If you want to see a _real_ slow bucket from this era, drive an '01 Caravan with the 2.4l and 3AT.
I'll qualify that I like Volvos, but I'm not a fanboy. When Volvo fucks something up, I'm more than happy to call them out (like putting that 4-speed auto with the highway-est of gearing in the XC90 T6. Absolutely insane). That said, I really don't know where Roman is coming from, on this one. My family owned two V70s (a standard gen 1, and an XC gen 2), and we all collectively agree that they were the best cars we owned as a family. They're comfortable, well-made, reliable, efficient, and if you get the right version (looking at you, V70R), they have some real pep in their step. Even *Ford* didn't manage to ruin them. Influence some bad decisions, maybe, but definitely nothing bad enough to ruin the car. I genuinely think Roman just drove a lemon in this case. Of course, he's entitled to his opinion, and I completely respect that. Maybe the V70 just doesn't work for him, and I'm wrong about this one being a lemon, and that's fair. But what he's describing just doesnt line up with the extensive first-hand experience I had with them.
Bad take. It's a utilitarian vehicle that's comfortable, reliable, superbly practical. It IS refined. It is an excellent car, and does exactly what it's supposed to. A lot of your accusations are just flat out wrong. The power steering in these cars is by far the lightest of any car I've driven. Not a fan of this review.
This is complete trash review. I had a 97' V70 AWD wagon and it was the most comfortable car I have owned. I have owned A LOT OF cars. For a brick wagon damn thing could handle corners pretty good and Highway mileage was actually quite pleasing.
I could understand a fair bit of the criticism until you came after the seats…Volvos have the best seats. Full stop. If they were rough, that’s nothing to do with the design.
Worst take i've heard in a while lol, never heard anyone bad mouth a v70 like that and obviously almost no one agrees with this trash, but I cant knock him for speaking his mind, i'm just shook because this is unheard of levels of Volvo bashing. good gas milage nice power plant plenty of room timeless exterior super safe cheap to insure plenty of modding capability comfy seats good community good value $ (now that they aren't new) Volvo ...nice prank but ya aint foolin me RGR
The V70 is a unexciting station wagon/estate? Compared to what in the US at that time. Not a lot of competition in that segment then. The S40 T5 or S60 R are the "exciting" options from the era. I dont think I've ever heard of a Saab fan that dislikes Volvos. Weird.
I suppose that the US-centric viewpoint is where this review went wrong. Fuel economy is actually one of the biggest downsides of this car in Europe, especially for gasoline versions. Of course the base model automatic car is helplessly sluggish. 20 years ago in Europe automatics were meant for disabled people or retirees, so speed was not really a concern. I have got the same 2.4 engine but with 170bhp and as a manual. The gearbox has held up remarkably well, allowing for a lot of fun to be had. It really moves in the upper parts of the rev range. The doors are anything but flimsy; they are quite heavy and I find myself "slamming" the doors of other cars shut accidentally when they aren't as heavy as the Volvo. Obviously the steering was broken on this particular example, normally the steering is a little bit heavier than modern standards but it's very responsive and accurate still. You know that something is wrong when the strengths of this car are listed as weaknesses (comfort, build quality, driving experience) and weaknesses as upsides (fuel economy)
Ohh This time, wrong😢 I used to own this car with 2.4 diesel built in the Netherlands. it's surprisingly good for the price and dirty reliable. I travelled the EU with this thing. You can sleep in this thing, fuel consumption is good 👍, ac, comfy enough, dedicated diesel heater, full plywood sheet, or king-size mattress fits on the roof, full-size refrigerator fits... It is possible to chip tune the diesel version... Pure utility, safety, and reliability for the cheap. It is super popular in baltics, plenty of parts available, and most of them are diesel.
Rented a newer Euro spec one in Europe in 2014, had a diesel with 8 speed auto. It was an impressive car - getting nearly 40 mpg and cruising at 100 mph all day long. It was whisper quiet inside even at high speed. The seats weren't super comfortable but neither did you have a hard time getting out of them after an hour. A difference of years and specifications, but we really liked the car and I'm surprised this one could be so bad.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
if you're complaining about uncomfortable seats in a Volvo then something is wrong with it.
Or the one who is complaining
Mk2 V70 is literally the comfiest car ive ever been in
I think it’s nice to see a station wagon on the road today that isn’t a hatchback pretending to be an SUV tbh.
It really is though? European wagons have this habit of making offroading trims but barely doing anything. It is indeed trying to play the CUV card without any benefits.
Maybe if they took notes from the most successful station wagon on the globe, the Outback, they would sell more wagons.
I like these better than those cheap looking Subarus. The quality difference is night and day
@@Hairybarryy Subaru wins in affordability and reliability though. Volvos are quite unreliable now
@@Realwessharpe a Boxer engine and a cvt will never be reliable
@@Hairybarryy Boxers with 5MT or 4EAT always were.
They start, they drive, they get 30 mpg on the highway, you can fit a fridge in the back.
The insurance for my 04' V70 is $38/Mo
Do you have full coverage? My 00 V70 is $17 a month for the bare minimum liability.
@@Grafyte Might be full coverage, all I know is it's $100 cheaper than my 08 E91 BMW wagon. When i added the Volvo to my policy I had a good laugh.
Same could be said about a 04 caviler.
@@putinslittlehacker4793 will your 04 caviler have incredible rust protection that will allow it to survive 20 years in countries with Winter climates where roads are poured with salt every year?
@@crabyman3555 my mom drives a caviler in upstate NY sence 04. So yes.
I knew I was getting old when I went to an auto show in 2018, sat in a Volvo wagon, and thought "hey...this is nice." Happy birthday, Nick.
They are though. Not in a showroom appeal kind of way, or having something to show off about, but after a long day at work way, the sort of way where you accidentally own it for 12 years
@@chrisdavidson911 Honestly, if I thought my job was more secure than it is right now (it is not), I'd buy a Volvo S60 Recharge right now. With the environmentally friendly cloth seats. But alas...my job is not secure.
@@chrisdavidson911 That's how my aunt ended up in one. Went from owning a '98 Malibu to an '02 V70 because it was just comfortable enough that she had no curiosity about what was higher up the ladder and thus kept it until the transmission Fatman'd the gears through the bottom eight years later.
@@gordonmills2748same, even more so if it were a v60 but [1] that require even more financial security and [2] I think they’re killing off the v60 soon? Or am I thinking of something else?
@@RobCamp-rmc_0 They are definitely killing off the S60, but maybe(?) the V60 will continue in Europe.
Heavy steering? flimsy doors? uncomfortable seats? Something's seemingly wrong with this example, compare it to one that isn't clapped out.
Something is wrong with him. The seats are renowned for being among the most comfortable ever made.
@@TheMainCorenah, that volvo leather is notorious for going hard and slick.
@@DrewLSsixand thats bad?
I've sat in both leather and cloth ones, and the ones with cloth are significantly more comfortable. That being said the ones with leather were still good, even though they hadn't aged as well.
@@DrewLSsix Volvo used Conolly or Bridge of Weir leather depending on the year; the same two brands that supply Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. Volvo leather doesn't get hard unless it is neglected.
This is such a weird hot take on the V70. Every volvo I've sat in has been the most comfortable out of any vehicle I've sat in. Solid, well-built, slow, and relatively reliable.
The B5 engines were prone to being oil hogs
Now get in a clean low mileage V70R with the 6 speed *S P A C E B A L L*
Yup^ my best buds dad had one. Fun car, he was also using it for work, tools in it ALL the time. Going into
Ontario to work at an airfield. He's often shorten the trip by driving 160km/h all the time. Even had a fleet at one point, Had the Cross Country V70 for the wife, then my buddie and I would cruise around in the regular V70 we bought for a 1000 bucks, we we're usually up to now good. Only pain with the base model was when it overheated. Then some local drug dealer still drove it around for another 2 years.
rcr roasted the s60r so i don't think the odds are good, enjoy the pain fellow p2 volvo lover
Even the turbo model or the t5 these cars are great
as a 4 time R owner and a ex-volvo enthusiast i can tell you the real R guys actually dont like the spaceball thing and they usually put on the regular shifter and boot.
Might as well be asking him to find Bigfoot
"Don't shoot me in the face and then tell me it's just a flesh wound "
Oh... That's some timing eh? 😅
I came here to say this, but checked the comments first lol
damn
I bet he wrote it and recorded it before it happened, but bro… he was REALLY close to having a Simpsons prediction moment
Badmouthing the V70 has to be one of the worst takes I've heard in an RCR video.
Also, these Volvos have literally THE most comfortable car seats EVER made.
It's understandable, the steering feel is god awful and driving one feels more like a chore. It's an okay car but it isn't this paradigm of swedish engineering that r/volvo users are making it out to be.
@@dohmies77Gotta be a better built car than the Camry of the same vintage.
@@dohmies77The P2 platform was so good even Ford took cues from it.
@@dohmies77 It's a chore only in city center driving. This car was made for the highway and country roads, cross country driving. You can drive this car for hours at a time without issue, it's like driving around in your living room recliner
@@dohmies77 It's a pain because his power steering pump doesn't work and the base model is slow. End of story.
I think Roman needs a snack, he might be hangry. The V70 is just meant to be nice enough inside and practical enough everywhere else. You know... a Volvo.
This review is like complaining that a 1996 Corolla is boring.
If it was a 2.5t I'm sure it would have a better review.
the Corolla review would be age restricted on this channel.
i have one of these, they’re dreary as hell without a turbo
Well then it’s crap, isn’t it? These weren’t cheap, Volvo never is, so if practicality is all you get, then why the hell should I buy one over a Subaru or a Honda Element?
@@nathanchildress5596Weirdly in EU you can get these cars for less than 2000€ (or even less than 1000€ of you dare) running and driving while getting through yearly inspection easily and depending on the condition of the car, you can drive these while only doing yearly oil changes without any other issues
i own this car, its a blast and this video is wrong
wait i forgot i own a 2.5t and its way better than the stock one
@@NefariousNumbskullNice bait and switch
Got a loaded 2000 T5, it’s great :)
I was like wtf but then again I own 2.5t manual with a working power steering pump lol
@@DD_Vandal Sounds like a completely different car. Don't even worry about the engine, just the fact that it works and more than half the power doesn't just evaporate in the drivetrain.
Holy shit are these cars good. We still have a shit ton of them driving around in sweden. The diesels are unkillable.
the gasolines engines are not usable, they drink like crazy, and go like crap.
@@Anirossadon't think I've ever seen a petrol one. Driven a few awesome diesel ones though.
My only criticism is how damned awkward it was to change the clutch on one.
Thats just not true @Anirossa
@@CarsandChris Had one and my dad tried two before gave up on volvos, they were all horrid, at least the S80 didn't rust, as the chassis wasn't steel, but went like crap and with crap milage. Felt like sitting in a poorly executed oversized lego car. I don't dislike the V70 chassis that much, I do like station wagons, just stock, the gasoline engines are not great.
@Anirossa what gasoline engine did you have? I have a T5 2.3 and it's wonderful
flimsy doors? weird i've never been in a volvo where the doors didn't feel like blast doors.
I'm thinking Roman was sniffing glue before he did this one. It's way too WTF. And I'm a Roman fan.
@@kentalanlee no stupid he analyzed the car as it was. stop being such a volvo fanboy.
I'm gonna defend the V70. I don't think it belongs in the bottom 5. Yes, it is boring. But it's supposed to be boring. It's a Presbyterian church pew. It's that guy at work who does his job better than anyone else and refuses to be promoted to a higher, more comfortable position. It's a boxy car built from thinking inside the box and only very rarely stepping out of it.
"The seats are for sitting in. Can you sit in the seat? Good, it fulfills its intended function. Now we can focus on our passion; airbags."
So it's on the list because it's boring. The other cars on the list are there because they are plain bad. As in poor quality and dumb design. Putting the V70 in the bottom 5 is as sad as putting the hyperfocused, awkward savant kid in Special Ed with all the glue sniffing delinquents and saying they belong together.
And like that awkward savant Volvo has very specific interests. Safety, family and the environment. And it does those jobs excellently. You can stuff your family, dog and luggage into a V70, go far on a tank of gas, and probably not die. Those are three missions accomplished! Whereas cars like the Jeep Cherokee Laredo have no mission in life other than to generate profit, and can't even accomplish that.
I truly hope the Roman reads this and considers moving it out of the bottom 5 for the next video.
There’s also the fact that, if you want it to be fun, they did do the 300hp V70/S60 R, which has the same basic engine as the mk2 Focus RS. However, I don’t know if that was available in the States.
It's still swedish, which makes it cool. They're like germans but effordlessly cool, even when boring.
Because just look at Audi, BMW and Mercedes. They're trying to hard.
@@Jo3man96 It was available in the US.
@@theothertonydutch I do have a soft spot for Volvos and Saabs, tbf. And you got to admire the engineering Christian von Koeniggsegg puts into his stuff.
@@RandomCarGuy17 Good to know if work ever wants me to relocate to the states, I’d imagine it’d work pretty well in upstate New York, given that’s where head office is. Doubt they will though, and I’m pretty happy staying home.
A lot of mental gymnastics for a base model Volvo.
Roman's biggest miss of 2024
It’s the same issue with the PT Cruiser review. An older gentleman keeping it roadworthy will have a significantly different experience than the fourth buyer that drives with a broken power steering pump, which prevents you from enjoying the incredibly comfy seats. It’s not a car to go fast, just like the PT, it’s a car to be relaxed on while being on time to your responsibilities. It’s ok for you to point out that not all Volvos are the golden child the internet makes them to be, especially so long in the tooth
To compare any Volvo to a PT cruiser is an absolute joke. PT cruiser one is the worth quality cars of the past 20 years.
are you guys really upset that he didn't praise a 20 year old station wagon? get over it
God I've replaced so many PT cruiser power steering pumps and 2 of those horrible steering racks. Good money but a terrible car to work on.
@@Jessecwebb please go rewatch the RCR review of the PT cruiser I was referring to and you’ll understand the point of my comment
Probably not the pump. the steering gear is exposed so if no one lubricates it they get hard and bumpy.
Imagine writing off an entire model line/platform because of an early production base model with what is likely a bad maintenance history
I mean... what is he supposed to do? You review the car you have.
Imagine writing off the entire Cavalier family just because the ones you see are clapped out high-school beaters, what about the exceedingly rare Toyota TRD version?? Shouldn't that be considered???
Chill out, I’m sure if I drove an absolutely mint example it would feel….fine, at best.
@jonnykarkkainen9965 Volvos always have heavy steering, my 740 and 960 were the same way, and I was surprised when I drove a P80 S70 and found similarly heavy steering despite it being FWD.
@@justinschmidt1202 I could be crazy but my 2000 V70 has extremely light steering. It's not exactly buick riviera light, but it's definitely 3 point turn with one hand the wheel and the other on the shifter light.
Reminds me of VW 99-05 models
Another reason I think Volvo, VW survived while Saab died is that the entry luxury car market collapsed in 2008. Either you had money and bought luxury or didn’t and bought entry level.
Volvo moved upmarket and survived
VW moved downmarket and survived
Saab didn’t adapt and died
Saab was actually bought out from GM by swedish company and that swedish company never restarted production. So not sure what happened there. GM sold saw because they couldn't afford it, Ford sold Volvo because they couldn't afford it. Volvo was lucky enough to find Geely who was willing to infuse tons of cash into Volvo while giving independence in design. Apparently Geely had a pretty lucky spot in the market selling their own designs and making a profit and was able to give some to Volvo
imagine the crime of not mentioning the turbocharged models or the XC models
I love my XC70
@@AzazelCain theres one in my neighborhood i tried to buy for my first car. Owner wa all "i know what I have" and refuses. Its been sitting unmoved for 4 years now, rotting away. Makes me sad.
I know right?
I love my 2013 t6 xc70. I had an 04 xc70 and that's was a blast too!!
XC models are really crossovers, aren't they?
I've driven a V70 a few times and it was a tremendously comfortable, altogether pleasant experience. Maybe I had a better variant, but it's interesting to see the comment section pretty rabidly backing that up. It wasn't just me, then.
Best seats in any car I've ever driven long distance and it's not even close.
yup, one of the most comfortable cars I've ever owned.
Laughed out loud when you asked where the rest of the funeral went. I'm a hearse driver by trade and we're only just retiring our fleets of V70 hearses and S80 limousines. All diesels. Brilliant workhorses.
Rare miss from The Roman. I owned four P2's in the early 10's and they were all great. He chose to drive a non turbo version which aren't that common. So you get gas mileage for great size and power everything, great creature comforts for its age. If you go turbo then you get power and cool sounds at the cost of some mpgs.
no miss here
@@samueldawkins wow great arguments mind changed 👍
@@PNWTruckCamper cry
@@samueldawkins slept 💤
@@PNWTruckCamper 🌽
My rule with Volvos - gotta get the Turbo model.
True. That's why I owned a '95 850 Turbo with a chip (paid $1200 for it and drove the heck out of it), and later a '97 850R with a larger 19t turbo, bosch blue 395cc injectors, 255lph fuel pump, aluminum intercooler, aluminum radiator, silicone intercooler hoses, lowering springs, and a stage 4 chip.
Both cars came with all aluminum, 20 valve dual over head cam, 5 cylinder engines that found their way into the Ford Focus RS and needed to give Volvo (and Porsche who helped design it) credit. The "R" was fast with ergonomically designed comfortable heated alcantara suede seats.
I agree with your rule about Volvos. And yes, my mom drove an old Volvo when I was a kid so I wasn't any different. But today my DD is an '04 C5 Corvette with over 400hp, and no the seats are not nearly as comfortable, and really I never have felt like the Vette was as "cool" as the 850R.
The non turbo models are super easy to work on and are very understressed. But it's definitely no secret that they're super lethargic.
@@noobeenautOwning a quick Volvo kinda screams "How to tell me you're impatient without telling me you're impatient."
My cheap self has the opposite rule.
Yup, the 2.4i automatics are only fun if you're constantly kicking down, otherwise it's good for fuel econ as Roman mentioned.
The Roman: “I like Saab better because Ford didn’t make Volvo worse.”
Happy birthday, friend.
Let me bring you my 2005 Volvo V70R instead. Such a good car
Do you remember their S60R video?
I have a 2007 2.5T- it kind of corrects all the things he hates about them. The turbo makes up for the lack of power in the NA model, and the struts go out on those tend to go out often. I will agree that the 5 speed auto is absolutely atrocious
Please do, it might help shed some more light on these awesome cars!
how much you spent on maintenance of that hunk of junk??? ( dont hurt me I owned 2 S60Rs and 1 XC70) (My 07 S60R cost me 18 grand to maintain)
Saab died and volvo didnt because volvo was in a much better financial and staff position. The gm years of saab were nothing but life support while the patient activiely kept trying to pull their own plug
No, they actually really tried, which GM did not like. Basically a long con to take a competitor out of the game.
@@theothertonydutch not particularly, no. GM gave Saab access to the best resources they had. The 9-3 ii was the debut platform for Epsilon, and Saab went and reengineered the 90% platform anyway to make minor changes, driving the slave price of the vehicle up to BMW levels where it had no chance to compete.
@@iceman5117 Except the best GM had was a dogs dinner. The Epsilon platform was bottom of the class. It was barely good enough for the Vectra, a car which nobody bought for its driving experience.
@@thegearknob7161 by what measure? You're just saying words right now, but you don't actually know what they mean.
@@iceman5117 Neither do you, apparently...
GM gave it to Saab unlubricated and nonconsentually, without even the courtesy of a reach-around. The second gen Saab 9-3, for instance, was a soulless blob of a vehicle that effectively said "I want the _appearance_ of a premium vehicle without the premium vehicle experience, and I want it to be quirky and unreliable, and I also want to pay BMW 3 Series money for it."
Thank you Gus Fring for providing your car for the review.
Exactly what I was thinking!
🤣😂😅
The perfect example of casting with car
Gus has previous gen, P80
not even close to the same car.
honestly 2004 was 20 years ago. I had a relative who got basically the same car but in white. It was nice, spacious, safe, practical. perfect car for a soccer mom who didn't want a suburban or a minivan. And with some decent reliability it would make a perfect first car for a high school kid. Boring safe and economical.
At 15-20 years old they aren't reliable anymore, and they cost just as much to run as a BMW. So what's the point? BTDT, never again.
What you were missing was that this is one of the safest vehicle to take a crash in. You want your kids to be protected from other drivers and this is why my family was into Volvos up till after the p2. My uncle took a 70mph rear end accident in a p1 and walked away no injuries. The person behind him in the other vehicle did not.
Yup, structurally these are just as if not safer than many new cars.
i once described driving one of these as "more like driving an old pickup truck than actually driving an old pickup truck"
That's what I thought of the VW bug.
Did you just quote yourself?
It's like driving an f150 without any of the ground clearance or off road capability
Holy crap, I never would have expected that this would be the car to evoke this much reaction from Roman, who appreciates even a beat-up Nissan somehow.
Happy birthday, man. Cheers!
Edit: also I remember catching a different saga of a dude restoring a V70R, fascinating for sure (and was a cool project). Same dude also fixed up his partner's V70 and that one was in a significantly better shape than what Roman had to drive here for sure.
that’s wheelemverb correct? i watched the same youtube series
@@kylemontano228 yeah, that one lol. He worked on two of the Turbo ones IIRC (his and his GF's)
Just sold my 2006 V70 with the 2.5t. I tell you, I was genuinely surprised with the car. It was fast for its age and it had nice little luxury touches that I enjoyed.
I never drove the V70, but I remember driving the S60 of that generation. With the 2.5T engine. And it drove quite nicely, I liked the acceleration, it was very stable, didn't tramline or anything. The climate controls were pretty weird though, I don't remember what the issue was exactly, because this was maybe about 13 years ago, but I remember I was getting really annoyed using it.
In all honestly I think you lose all credibility as car reviewers when you shit talk a P2 Volvo more than the god awful tesla models you've driven. I loved my 2002 V70 XC, it had some electrical issues but if I could find another in this condition I would be happy with it and that's more than i can say for most 20 year old cars. I genuinely don't know what's wrong with you guys.
1000% this. The P2 is not without faults, but it's widely beloved for a reason.
I work at a Volvo specialist shop and own a P2 V70R and have driven many Volvos over the years and this is the first time I have ever heard someone say the steering is too heavy. This sounds like it was not well taken care of. Really am surprised how badly Roman disliked this. I would straight recommend driving another, better taken care of, P2 V70 or X/C 70.
That one might need a power steering fluid flush. My dad's XC70 has super light steering But my S60 is steering is heavy and I think that's because it needs fluid flush or some other issue
@@zzoinks I have seen anything from rodents eating the wires to the electronic control to the fluid being bad. So there’s a few things to look out for on them.
I have a P2 Volvo, it is a base 2002 S60 with a 2.4 inline engine. She has blue exterior and black leather interior. I have 203k miles on it and I know she can go a lot further, as long they make parts my car. I will keep on repairing it
Got a 1998 with 340k mi. It's a reliable tank and i will never sell it.
When i was 10 years old, my parents bought an 04 v70 base. I hated it. I wanted my dad to buy something cool, fast, like the cars i idolized in need for speed. I didn't want the car that all the douchy parents in "school of rock" drove.
Then i went to college. And suddenly i realized, "this car rocks!" Tons of space to haul my stuff to my dorm. Cold ac, good on gas, comfortable seats, impeccable reliability, and just enough power that i wasn't a rolling roadblock while hauling all my shit. I fell in love with the v70 due to its fantastic utility and what it enabled me to do. When freshmen without cars needed a walmart run, they called me. Not the dude with the Pontiac sunfire.
Today, that car is an oil change away from 400k miles. My parents still have it, and it honestly has a good chance of making 500. No major mechanical failures, just doing the routine service intervals and replacing a few parts (pcv, starter, shocks, etc.).
I now own a V70R. That is NOT boring. Sure, its not an M3, but it gets up and moves. The steering is a bit light for my taste (the car you drove had power steering issues, guaranteed. Heavy steering on a v70? Seriously?) but it handles very well, the presence of snow is a non-issue, it hauls ass when you want it to, but remains quiet, comfortable and civilized. I love THAT car for the excitement it brings, for the smooth transmission, for the massive stopping power, for the quirky and weird features, the unique exhaust note, and the feeling of driving pleasure it gives me. Oh, yeah, Im not a dad either. Family hauling is not on my radar.
And I am an S13 owner. A car that, by RCR'S own proclamation, invites people that "go hard." (Read: douchebags). Dollar-for-dollar, a V70R or 2.5T delivers way more driving fun than an S13 imo. In fact, i sold one of my S13s to buy my V70R, and I ended up with $1000 extra at the end of it.
Yes, im a bit of a volvo fanboy, i am aware of my bias. And i do not claim them to be perfect cars. They definitely have issues, especially my R. But Roman, this review was disappointing. You shit all over a car for doing exactly what it was made to do. Haul a lot of stuff, do it safely, do it reliably, and be versatile. (The V in V70 literally stands for versatility. Thats the point of the damn car). If you want it to be less boring, buy a turbocharged car. (Also, the particular car you drove clearly had issues. Flimsy doors? Hard seats? Heavy steering? That is not normal.)
Come drive my V70R before you go shitting on an entire platform based on an entry level offering being reviewed against enthusiast standards. Im not mad, i dont feel insulted that you didn't like what I like. But this feels poorly researched, and the fact that this is on your bottom 5, rubbing shoulders with a fricking dodge journey is unbelievable. Do better Roman. I usually love your reviews, but man....
My ex's dad, a socially alienated moon landing truther from the French countryside, had one of those, a manual. felt like it was on the cusp of dying for hundreds of thousands of kilometers before it eventually died. He then quickly replaced it with... another V70, an automatic this time. obviously both had dead window electronics and the starters were begging for their own life. For me, this car is forever linked to him. it's the "can't wait for this vacation to be over" car. but I like it.
I remember Volvo V70 and S60 seats being really comfortable...
Just sold my 2005 V70 2.5T with 320,000 kms to a student. My experience with it was almost completely positive. If it wasn't then I wouldn't have kept it for 19 years.
Anyone who has owned one of these can point out that this MUST be a bad example. So much wrong with the things that were said.
An american bad mouthing a robust, well built and refined european station wagon. Doesn't make sense. Flimsy doors?! What is this dude even talking about?!
It's nationalism. RCR hates Volvos because the have not got 300+ hp V8s. Flimsy is the first word I think of anytime I sit in anything american.
Roman was clearly having a bad day🤦♂😆
To be fair though... the early P2's were troublesome, post 2005 were way better, lots of little bugs fixed.
That fuel system issue... I know it's too late now, but I'd bet they needed a fuel pressure sensor, and replaced it with the wrong one and assumed the problem was elsewhere.
The sensors look identical on several models, but are in fact slightly different on the inside, gotta check part numbers, not just fit.
I had one of these and sold it with 280,000 miles on it. Mine was in good shape and it was the most comfortable and durable vehicle I’ve ever been in. Slow as hell and ugly tho
I had a V50 with the turbo five cylinder which was occasionally fun, but plagued with issues. Those parts are super expensive and that's what essentially killed it. The V50 is actually what people are talking about when they talk about a Forvo kind of car. It spent six months in the shop before we finally decided to pull the plug. Sold it to some guy who claimed he could resurrect it. Best of luck to him.
Gotta throw some shade at Roman. He seems to not internalize that there are a lot of people who take great satisfaction in things so purpose-built, that the thing almost laughs at the user for demanding anything more of it. A simple, reliable workhorse fullfilling it's role is, in and of itself, satisfaction. It represents things falling into their proper place, or perfeclty fulfilling their expectations, in terms of duty. The fact that the act of driving the V70 does not offer enjoyable haptic feedback is irrelevant. As a man who likes so many AMC cars, I'd think Roman would understand the romanticism born from uncompromising practicality.
A perfect comment.
"so purpose built" as in it's a wagon? Pray tell, what highly specialized task is this 140hp FWD wagon far superior at? What can this do that a 220HP AWD Subaru Outback can't for the same money?
@@nathanchildress5596 This can do better fuel economy, better ride comfort, better ergonomics, better sound insulation, better material quality, better rust protection, better overall safety. And longer lasting.
@@nathanchildress5596 it won't go through headgaskets like a moneypit Subaru with the EJ25 engine would do at age 10. Let's also not forget that base Outbacks came with a buzzy, wheezy NA 2.5 liter with 170 or so HP. What a miserable experience it was to drive one of those, especially when paired to a CVT or the power sucking 4 spd .
But hey to each their own, and if there's a 220hp Turbo Subaru Outback then we can all agree there was also a V70 with a 2.5T with 210, 250hp or 300hp to choose from.
Almost bought an '08 v70 in RDesign trim. It was really nice. 1st mistake was testing the 2.4. You need the 2.5t
I still kinda want one. Although watching my friend's high mile S80 need repair after repair after repair is discouraging lol.
@@fisqual If I remember correctly, the s80 wasn't as reliable as the rest of the line, specifically the v6. The v8 was the Yamaha one
A V6 Volvo, Hahahahahahahahaha!
I6, my fault lmao.
wait wait wait... you ALMOST bought a V70R? Are you insane?... Was it overpriced? That'd be the only reason on earth NOT to buy one.
They're basically the ultimate sleeper.
Noooooooot Roman AGAIN. He's like a little weird sounding copy of the original. He doesn't even have his own original take or style or anything. WHY TORTURE US WITH THIS.
God must be smiling upon Drew if that 5spd transmission is still working. Couldn't believe you called its doors flimsy, every P80 and P2 Volvo I've ever encountered had doors that felt sturdy enough to withstand nuclear armageddon.
Race to the Bottom is one of my favorites right now. It’s such a perfect contrast to Brian’s reviews. This is a solid formula, fellas. Keep up the great work.
I have had several Volvos purely because of the seats they’re by far the most comfortable but everyone’s body’s are different.
OK. The content of this video has a few explanations to be made:
1. This is a quality car. Yes, leather on the seats is prone to cracking under heat and high mileage, but overall build quality is one of the the best in class. They sold way better than SAABs at the time and there are way way more of them still alive. And residual values are much better than SAAB (unless R and Aero are compared, but that down to actual condition of a certain car).
2. Your fuel is SHIT. 2.4 N/A makes 170HP in European guise and is plenty enough to survive in traffic. This is made for reliable commuting to work and with capacity to bring You next purchase from IKEA with a possibility to travel abroad with Your family and a dog. If You want to go fAAAAAst, get the Turbo and fly.
3. Automatic transmission has never been fast in Volvos. It is made for smoothness and (lately) CO2 norms.
4. With proper care, this thing will outlast ALL other cars from Bottom 5. Combined. We have plenty of them still running with >500k and even above 700k kms in both petrol and diesel variants.
5. Toyota benchmark. Look what Toyota has made at the time, compare it and FUCKING chill.
Bravo.
and it was ~170HP in USA too. They got that wrong. they used to sell it as "can use 87 octane" because of the lack of turbo but I never did that.
You typed out that manifesto and you're telling us to chill? Ok buddy
nah he was wrong on the horsepower number. i live in the US and my mom’s v70 2.4 makes 168 hp. it’s plenty for daily driving
@@nathanchildress5596call it a manifesto but he’s right. you’re the one shitting on volvo in every comment section. i bet you drive an american car 😂
@@kylemontano228 I'm shitting on Volvo because I can't believe how triggered the fans are over this dull ass wagon. I drive Japanese cars, some vintage some modern, and they're all reliable fun and affordable, because of course they are.
Weird, I had an 04 Volvo V70 and I loved it for 300k miles.
“Your experience may vary”
My parents had a couple of XC70's...best seats in any car we've ever owned.
Had a 2001 V70 and aside from the problematic transmission, it was a great car. Usually agree with most hot takes you post but this one is so, so wrong. These cars require a little more maintenance than others and the end result is usually clapped out models which is likely what happened here
“Aside from the problematic transmission”
The mental gymnastics you have to do to defend this boring ass car just because it’s a Volvo wagon is wild
@@nathanchildress5596 The manual transmissions are good, autos not so good.
@@tobias_dahlberg Very difficult to mess up a manual transmission, especially in a European car. I'm from Finland and even though Volvos are very common (3rd best selling brand last time i checked), they're not exactly all as reliable or good as people would think.
They use AISIN transmissions so it was probably the wiring causing you transmission woes. lol.
@@tobias_dahlberg I would hope a manual would be reliable, since it leaves the process up to you...
Almsot every take in this video was a total miss, what a shame. This is possibly the worst example you could have gotten for a review.
I don't really like this generation of Volvo either, but I think you may be depressed.
I owned a V70R, the car is a blast to drive (excluding the awful turning radius) it was also the most unreliable thing one could own.
My XC70 as well...
@@danielcarroll5667I've owned a few P2s... all unreliable
Family has owned four cars on the P2 platform and the two R cars I have had do need a lot of extra attention. They are both high mileage but the real big problem is the transmissions. Need a manual one for it to not break.
@iamdiscothedrunkhippo5380 The M66 has its own host of massive issues. Both the Auto offerings were decent for the R, although the AW-55 is massively lacking in performance.
@@ArsenalPhotos194what issues does the m66 have besides your normal clutch replacement ?
This review is honestly an L. I've owned a P2 2.5t v70 and now a P2 2.5t S80 and they are the best cars I've ever owned. I can see where your coming from with power. You drove an NA 2.4 of course it's slow. NA P2 Volvos are not worth owning tbh. Everything else from the doors to the trans is flat wrong. The 5 Speed auto is great if it had all the dealer updates to the computer and has had proper maintenance. And the doors are thick as hell and heavy as shit so I don't know where he's getting that from.
This video has enraged..... The Volvo V70 owners club.
rightfully so. reviewing the most clapped out underpowered version and then shitting mindlessly over it was kind of a dick move.
@@RollingShutter I wonder if he ever realised this
I'm about to buy a 2001 V70 XC CROSS COUNTRY with 196,000 miles for my son in law it was obviously taken care of for at least the majority of its life. I've driven it for a couple of days and it seams like a well engineered well built vehicle, the interior is sparse and utilitarian, the seats are about as comfortable as I've ever sat in, and I've worked in the "car sales and service industry" for the last ten years... New and used, and the interior of this vehicle is immaculate, the electronics all work except for a "service security system warning" that goes away a few seconds after starting the vehicle. I figure it's a good first car for a young guy, It's not quick so street racing is absolutely out of the question it's AWD and one of if not the safest brand in the world for the price... And for $2,000 USD and the one I'm potentially buying is the low pressure turbo version with 197hp... Sure its not quick but as a utility vehicle to carry people and cargo from point to point safely its second to none...
I almost bought this car, say what you want, the D5 is a great pragmatic choice
How is it pragmatic? Because it’s a wagon? Because it’s AWD? I swear Volvo fans don’t know other cars even exist.
@@nathanchildress5596 AWD is XC70, this is FWD. Its fuel savvy, the service is reasonably priced. Its spacy and comfy. Im not a Volvo fan, I just like some of them. Seems to me you didnt do your research
@@H34D5H07You can get regular V70's with AWD as well
@@H34D5H07 Ah, so it's even less appealing than I thought. Sorry, my mistake. What I know is this thing was $30,000 in 2004, and it does nothing better than any other wagon you could have bought.
@@nathanchildress5596 I see you confuse facts with opinions as you dont know anything about cars and have poor taste. Go away.
There is an old 1980's Dudley Moore movie where he is an ad executive that has a mental breakdown and is sent away for treatment. He starts working with others that are there for the same reason and they start doing "truth in advertisement" and the Volvo was one of the first ones they did. They started the ad with " We're boxy but we're good" .
I thought you were the reviewer who likes all the cars lol
Not good cars apparently
Is it good? Or is it just “there”?
It's a great car, for the person of the matching mentality. That being the 'seat on wheels that takes me places' school of automotive thought. The opposite sort of person, who distinguishes one car from another by pedal and steering and gear lever feel, and seeks driving enjoyment as defined by the total of all the sensations involved, will find 'dull but competent' to not be an especially good car.
@@danyoung8392 What the hell does that mean? So it's good because it's a car? It's not cheap, or fun to drive, or particularly luxurious, or particularly reliable, or attractive, or more practical than any other wagon.
It seems like you expect a hell of a lot from 20-30 year old economy cars @@nathanchildress5596
As a xc70 owner (the cross country v70) it’s the most comfortable car I’ve owned and I love the versatility. Kick ass road trip car
Humpy borg day, Roman!!! 🎉🌯 Thank you for a year’s worth of Race to the Bottom and looking forward to more!!!
This was my first car, as a sedan. I got it when it was 8 years old and i drove it for another 7 years with absolutely no issues.
Liar
You must've woken up on the wrong side of the bed for this review. This is a horrible review and easily your worst race to the bottom, somehow beating the gmc 1500
That one was another stinker
I knew the Volvo guys weren't gonna like this, and man the comments have not disappointed so far lol
Actually not as pissed as I thought they'd be...
@@danielcarroll5667 I'm working on that 😎
@@danielcarroll5667 Yeah somehow a good amount of them is "nah man we gotta get you in the V70R/the Turbo'd one!" which is pretty heartwarming in a sense
@@GuntanksInSpaceR vs base model is a night and day difference. My mom’s base v70 feels like a camry in terms of performance but my s60r feels more like an s4 from the time period
@@kylemontano228 The thing is, whatever Roman drove that day was laughably underpowered and beat up
Comfy seats though.
First of all, he's driving a naturally aspirated 2.4L versus a 2.5L engine. That's a difference of about 39hp. Secondly, it's FWD versus AWD. And the seats are meant to be anti-fatigue. This keeps the driver awake and alert while driving. And the doors? Well compare closing the door of a Kia which sound like aluminum Coke cans to the solid-sounding doors of a Volvo.
The problem here is you have a non-turbo automatic model. Even a 2.5T would be better, or even if this one just had a manual transmission. The AW55 auto transmissions are pretty lame.
The autos are okay if taken care of. I'm not sure how much did it comes down to luck But mine is still fine at 225,000 mi. Doesn't shift perfectly all the time but sometimes it does and it keeps the car moving. I think the issue is the fluid was never changed or fluid was neglected.
Now if you're talking about the very early 2000s like maybe before 2004 or 2003, those autos had known issues unrelated to the fluid. If it's not too late, they can be fixed for cheaper then a whole new transmission but it is still not great
MY SON WAS INMATE OF THE MONTH.
Reminds me of the Podel Video with Squidward working on a oil rig, when Mr Krabs is driving the red sports car it had a sticker like that on the rear bumper that said MY CHILD IS AN HONOR STUDENT AT THE ALABAMA STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
When I snapped one of the front axels on my 2005 S60R, there was literally only one new replacement available in the country and it was over $900. When it was time to send that car off to its next owner, part of me was relieved to see it go, almost like I was tossing a live hand grenade off to some poor unwitting soul who really didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
This review is all wrong total rubbish from start to finish. Build quality of a 20 year old Volvo is better than any American made car and the p2 V70 set the bar in terms of the V70 becoming a popular reliable work horse. This guy has no idea what he’s on about.
My vehicles don't always top, but when they do, it's from the bottom. 😂
Some may agree with you, I on the other hand. Most definitely disagree.
What is wrong with the reviewer? The Volvo is great.
Ever watched the movie or read the novel, "A Man Called Ove"? Not the Tom Hanks US remake. The original Swedish one.
It's true in real life as well. People were either a Volvo stan and thought SAAB was the most mid car ever made, or they were a SAAB stan and truly believed Volvo was everything that is wrong with the world.
The truth is. It usually takes someone who've been around either, and is unbiased because they're likely to be a fan of a much better marque than either anyway, to realize that both brands from a certain point on was benchmarked with each other so much they're incredibly similar in feels, performance, ergonomics, and target demographics.
Yes, the main structure, suspension and the engine won't be the same, and you won't be swapping parts like Lego. But the tiny little things such as the relays, plastics, bushings, transmission design, electric motors in every little components, turbocharger, materials etc. were from the exact same bunch of suppliers that they had in mind that week. Because Sweden is not a big country with vast amount of option, and either companies weren't big enough to take things in house.
Yes I've taken the worst route, pissing off both fanbase at the same time. I have a Volvo.
I drove a new XC 90 mild hybrid for a rental car. Mid trim. It was a perfectly adequate car. However, it seemed really expensive for what it offered. It was not a good choice for a highway car, being it was a super and turbocharged 4 cylinder trying to push 5k pounds brick through the air at 75 MPH.
I have a 2008 93 Aero V6 and I have a great love for both brands, if I was to buy a 2nd car it would likely be a XC90 or V70R/T5. They are both great brands with a history of amazing models.
I've heard another problem with the newer Volvos is that they use huge rims that crappify the ride quality. So something like a SUV should be comfortable but it isn't. Could you confirm?
Happy birthday Roman, I respect you for challenging the popular opinion of this Volvo. I am a Volvo fan and I'd love to have this car. But in Malaysia, somehow they are a NIGHTMARE to maintain. parts are expensive and the cars just DO NOT last. maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the lack of maintenance expertise but they are NOT popular here.
All Volvos remind me of that time I was at Wendy's and I was eating at the SuperBar and I saw this post-menopausal lady, she got on top of the SuperBar and just dropped her pants and started queefing on everything she was queefing on the garbanzo beans, and then she got a turkey baster and just filled up her snatch with some old pool water and then just queefed again and again and again and again and again-
Yar, the internet be a cruel mistress 🦜🏴☠️
I miss the good old days as well
???
@@Uncle_Roadkill BASS
CLITORIS
Reference to the S60R review@@_ulick
I've road tripped with my friend's V70 XC and it was great. Certainly not fast, but plenty of power to pass and merge safely. If you want to see a _real_ slow bucket from this era, drive an '01 Caravan with the 2.4l and 3AT.
I own a Volvo wagon. This video couldn’t be further from the truth.
It is the truth
I'll qualify that I like Volvos, but I'm not a fanboy. When Volvo fucks something up, I'm more than happy to call them out (like putting that 4-speed auto with the highway-est of gearing in the XC90 T6. Absolutely insane).
That said, I really don't know where Roman is coming from, on this one. My family owned two V70s (a standard gen 1, and an XC gen 2), and we all collectively agree that they were the best cars we owned as a family. They're comfortable, well-made, reliable, efficient, and if you get the right version (looking at you, V70R), they have some real pep in their step. Even *Ford* didn't manage to ruin them. Influence some bad decisions, maybe, but definitely nothing bad enough to ruin the car.
I genuinely think Roman just drove a lemon in this case. Of course, he's entitled to his opinion, and I completely respect that. Maybe the V70 just doesn't work for him, and I'm wrong about this one being a lemon, and that's fair. But what he's describing just doesnt line up with the extensive first-hand experience I had with them.
Bad take. It's a utilitarian vehicle that's comfortable, reliable, superbly practical. It IS refined. It is an excellent car, and does exactly what it's supposed to.
A lot of your accusations are just flat out wrong. The power steering in these cars is by far the lightest of any car I've driven.
Not a fan of this review.
I detest Volvos and their fanboys, I was so happy to see the thumbnail, only to turn the video off after 2 seconds in sheer disappointment
This is complete trash review. I had a 97' V70 AWD wagon and it was the most comfortable car I have owned. I have owned A LOT OF cars. For a brick wagon damn thing could handle corners pretty good and Highway mileage was actually quite pleasing.
Volvo seats are the most comfortable seats I have sat on. You can drive for 5 hours straight without back pain
You missed the mark, this aint a review but an opinion piece. Just like the tabloid.
Volvo V70. The official car of Gustavo Fring.
I could understand a fair bit of the criticism until you came after the seats…Volvos have the best seats. Full stop. If they were rough, that’s nothing to do with the design.
Worst take i've heard in a while lol, never heard anyone bad mouth a v70 like that and obviously almost no one agrees with this trash, but I cant knock him for speaking his mind, i'm just shook because this is unheard of levels of Volvo bashing.
good gas milage
nice power plant
plenty of room
timeless exterior
super safe
cheap to insure
plenty of modding capability
comfy seats
good community
good value $ (now that they aren't new)
Volvo
...nice prank but ya aint foolin me RGR
The V70 is a unexciting station wagon/estate? Compared to what in the US at that time. Not a lot of competition in that segment then. The S40 T5 or S60 R are the "exciting" options from the era. I dont think I've ever heard of a Saab fan that dislikes Volvos. Weird.
I suppose that the US-centric viewpoint is where this review went wrong. Fuel economy is actually one of the biggest downsides of this car in Europe, especially for gasoline versions. Of course the base model automatic car is helplessly sluggish. 20 years ago in Europe automatics were meant for disabled people or retirees, so speed was not really a concern.
I have got the same 2.4 engine but with 170bhp and as a manual. The gearbox has held up remarkably well, allowing for a lot of fun to be had. It really moves in the upper parts of the rev range. The doors are anything but flimsy; they are quite heavy and I find myself "slamming" the doors of other cars shut accidentally when they aren't as heavy as the Volvo. Obviously the steering was broken on this particular example, normally the steering is a little bit heavier than modern standards but it's very responsive and accurate still.
You know that something is wrong when the strengths of this car are listed as weaknesses (comfort, build quality, driving experience) and weaknesses as upsides (fuel economy)
Ohh
This time, wrong😢
I used to own this car with 2.4 diesel built in the Netherlands. it's surprisingly good for the price and dirty reliable. I travelled the EU with this thing. You can sleep in this thing, fuel consumption is good 👍, ac, comfy enough, dedicated diesel heater, full plywood sheet, or king-size mattress fits on the roof, full-size refrigerator fits...
It is possible to chip tune the diesel version...
Pure utility, safety, and reliability for the cheap.
It is super popular in baltics, plenty of parts available, and most of them are diesel.
when you think you're better than a Camry but don't have the personality to back that up.
Camry didn't have a wagon in the 00s. That's the biggest drawback of a Camry. Sedan is so pointless.
@@incremental_failure the Camry wagon was replaced with the Venza
Rented a newer Euro spec one in Europe in 2014, had a diesel with 8 speed auto. It was an impressive car - getting nearly 40 mpg and cruising at 100 mph all day long. It was whisper quiet inside even at high speed. The seats weren't super comfortable but neither did you have a hard time getting out of them after an hour. A difference of years and specifications, but we really liked the car and I'm surprised this one could be so bad.
This video is BS. I've got one, do have many friends and they're awesome
I now do not trust anything at all that Roman says anymore. NOTHING about any of this is accurate.
I can’t stand Roman’s videos.
Happy birthday, Roman! Keep up the great work