E30 Zone

A mate is looking at getting a 2013 Volvo V70 D5. Any particular issues to look out for?

Cheers

At that age generally nothing should be an issue providing it doesn't have intergalactic miles on it. As with almost anything made in the last 10 years a full documented history is a necessity. Electrics on older models and 4 wheel drive issues on the likes of the cross country versions are pretty well known, but that was the last generation model

The autobox suits the car better than a manual and with a remap these respond well with a big increase in torque.

Get the highest spec he can afford as whilst the audio setup in even the most basic D5's is pretty good the high spec cars have very impressive sound systems.

Perfect cheers
I didn't think there would be much at that age, and after all it is a Volvo!
Ive pointed him in the direction of some Volvo forums and he doesn't live far from a Volvo specialist, so he should be good.

I've been looking at these to replace the e61. Although not a proper hardcore Volvo like the old 240 / 760 / 940 etc. But then the e90' e60/1's etc. are no e34 either.

If i was in the market for a 5 series size car id definitely have these on my list. The fact that there are a lot of them out there with monster mileages speaks volumes.

S60/V70 Volvos are very strongly built. I'm running a 2008 2.5 diesel with close on 160k.

But, the manual gearshift is awful, the lock an absolute joke - so bad that a t junction on a country lane requires a lot of room. But it was cheap - if looking at 13 plate cars I think I'd still have an F11 520d to be honest, as long as it has the BMW warranty.

I do a lot of work with Volvo, mainly development work on their Advanced driver assistance systems. They are genuinely brilliant, great reliability, un rivalled comfort and about the safestcar on the road. Manual cars are not so nice to drive, make sure you get a well serviced auto, from memory it's an Aisin Warner gearbox, it can have its problems, what can't., in the 5 years I've been working with them I have never been let down.
We have a development hack V60 AWD D5, it's been horribly abused, smashed in to things, mercilessly thrashed, driven around Europe full of kit, never been serviced in the three years and 70k we had it, it's never put a foot wrong.
If it was my money I'd go with a V60 like the above with the full driver assistance pack, Adaptive cruise, the whole lot.. If it was a new one V60 hybrid.