Seller Submission: 2006 Volvo V70R
I can remember the first time I got a ride in a 2nd generation (2004-2007) Volvo V70R. It was a strange sensation of bombing down a surface street with 5 full sized adults on board and thinking wow, we are going fast…in a Volvo wagon. Really fast AAAAAAAAAAAA, WATCH OUT FOR THOSE…hey, great brakes on this thing, anybody have a spare pair of pants? If you want to experience the thrill of going faster than everybody expects, pick up this 2006 Volvo V70R offered for $10,000 in Menifee, CA via craigslist. Seller submission from Colin.
The V70 was a mid-sized wagon from Volvo, the V standing for Versatility
and the 70 falling into Volvo’s Ford ownership era naming standards, a
basic designation for size. In the second generation (2000-2007) the
standard V70 was a typical front-drive snoozer, but the R version was a
real treat for enthusiasts, equipped with a 5-cylinder turbo engine, (optional 6-speed
manual gearbox) and all-wheel-drive.
The V70R is powered by a 2.5 liter inline-5 B5254 engine that puts out
300 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque. Power is routed via a 5-speed auto to all four wheels and braking is accomplished via dinner
plate sized Brembo brakes. Additional refinement can be found in the Öhlins designed 4C multi-mode suspension that allows the driver to select from a number of different driving modes for comfort and sportiness.
The interior of a V70R is a great place to spend time racking up miles at high speed, especially with that mysteriously Nordic blue leather lining the sofas seats.
Got your own car to sell? Send it here, we won’t bite: tips@dailyturismo.com
Woohoo!
I've known a few owners of these, and paid close attention to the forums, and these R series appear to be an A+ in concept, and a C-/D+ in execution. It would take incredible hypocrisy for a big German car maintenance cost detractor (cough, cough) to get excited over one of these, as by all accounts the ownership one involves the utility of a wagon, the safety of a Volvo, and the reliability and maintenance of a Lotus Esprit turbo.
With that said, and knowing all the flaws, hot damn I still want one, and I wish the seller all the luck in the world—it's truly a neat car.
Did they make these with a 5 speed?
Heck yeah! I was excited to see this car pop up on this site! We have a 2004 with a 6 sp manual, which we've had since 2005. Super fun, looks great, drives great and can fit a bunch of stuff in it.
I never claimed that the Mk 2 Rs were cheap to maintain. If anybody could bring themselves to bloody ask, you'd know I am Mk 1 T5 fanatic.
And yes, they could be had with a manual.
Had/have (selling it Tuesday) a 2005 S60R with six speed manual, all the same running gear as this wagon. Great handling, brisk acceleration, and fun to drive fast.
Here are the negatives: horrible turning circle. You will have to three-point just to get it in a normal parking space. The front tires rub against the fender wells, which is made worse if you don’t buy OEM model Pirellis. This is a design flaw that Volvo compensated for by putting a metal rub strip in the fender well.
-In my five years of ownership I went maybe a total of three months without a warning light illuminated on the dash, usually traction control/anti-skid, or ABS. I was constantly chasing electronic gremlins relating to the AWD system. If the car has close to 100K on the clock ask the owner if it had its spline sleeve replaced, if it hasn’t budget $500 to $1100 or be prepared to remove the gear box yourself.
-Every part, even the thermostat, cost a minimum of $200, most parts well north of that. If you don’t do your own work be prepared to sell your family into slavery or mortgage your home. Don’t even think of using anything but genuine Volvo parts if you don’t want to do the same job twice.
-The electro-magnetic shocks can be caught off guard causing a horrific crashing through the whole structure of the car if you hit a sudden pot hole.
-In a heavy rain you will hear a horrible screeching nose if you run through standing water as the exhaust and drive shaft come in contact with each other when they expand and contract at different rates.
On the bright side the timing belt was easy to replace although the belt kit cost $200.