Well soon ill be selling the fabia vrs, and have been looking at the above car, just wondering if anyone has had any unbiased reviews on this particular model, it's a 2.4 turbo diesel, 185bhp, full leather and all the trimmings anything before 2008.

I'm a big Volvo S60 fan - had a D5 and a 340bhp S60R previously

+epic stereo

+great seats

+toys

+D5 engine is nice

+general feeling of high quality everything

+safety

-auto box a bit slow

-turning circle a complete mare, embarrassing at times

-image (no skin off my nose, but you will get comments)

HTH

Will be going for the manual, image, they can mock all they like, I'll then suggest a friendly game of rugby, it's going to for my family my boy is nearly a year old and want somthing safe! Any thing I need to look for when buying a used one?, if my missues wouldn't be using it I would love the r spec, amazing car that! I'm hoping when I get into the navy I would like the new s60 t6 r design jobber!

Unbiased could be a little difficult as i work for volvo but i nearly bought a S60 T5 instead of vrs but it was just bigger car than i really wanted and id had 3 classic s40's and didnt want another.

The d5 engines are just about bomb proof as long as you keep on top of belt changes and change idler pullys aswell

The d5 engine a good one to go for then, after the diesel for Eco but would like to keep some performance, what is the performance like on the d5 by the way?

I've got a stage 2 V70R. So i'm biased but what I would say is the Volvo is in a whole different league to the skoda with regards to build quality. I had a d5 v70 for a few Weeks and I loved it. Almost as much as the R. The turning circle is only an issue with big wheels, the d5 had a normal turning circle, however the R, as said is embarrassing especially when trying to park. Go and test drive one.

Nearly bought one of these a little while back I just didn't realise how good a deal it was until too late.

Turning circle is supposedly appalling.

If it's a Euro 4 they have issues in common with almost every other E4 car. E3 seem to be pretty bullet proof.

budget for an early cambelt change. Supposedly they have a habit of breaking before the recommended mileage (100k I think) but it's a relatively easy job on the D5 compared to some other cars.

Get leather and the winter pack for heated seats etc. Seats themselves are supposed to be some of the best around.

They don't hold their money as well as they should so don't pay over the odds.

In the right colour I think it's quite a handsome motor and well worth considering.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/s60-2000/

Edited 25 November, 201114 yr by Aspman

What is the s60 d5 sport like? Is there a change to the suspension set up?

What is the s60 d5 sport like? Is there a change to the suspension set up?

Depends -

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Volvo-S60-D5-Sport/208417/

So which one will this be? The Sport pack adds special seats, unique 17-inch alloys, splashes of aluminium, and a discreet boot spoiler. These can be added to the 2.0 or 2.5-litre light pressure turbos or the diesel, for between £900 and £1400 over the base S. For another £1500 you can stoke the fire further with lowered sports suspension and 18-inch alloys.

Looks better especially in silver. ^ says 18" alloys are to be avoided.

Starting to wonder about the s60, lots of reviews are telling me, theres not much rear leg room? any one come across this problem, Also how big is the boot, heard a few reviews about the boot being a bit of a problem, needs to be bigger than the fabias. Quite a few reviews are also suggesting the bmw 3 series?

If the boot in the S60 is putting you off then best avoid the 3 series (not touring) for the same reason. S60 has a big boot but not a big opening. We've a big pram and that was one thing that made me think twice.

Beemer also has an ok boot but not a big opening. I know of one person who is swapping his 3 series for a VRS because he can't get all his kiddy stuff in the boot.

Rear leg room look fine to me, depends what you're used to and who'll be travelling in the back.

I have just got rid of my s60 2.0t sport. Unfortunately it was the worst car I've owned but only because the engine failed just over 9 months into ownership.

My best mate had a d5 185 SE with auto box and it was ok apart from a bit slow and the geartronic manual shift was so slow between changes.

As above, seats are fantastic, get leather and winter pack.

Stereo on mine was the basic with no Dolby. It was poor, even compared to my Cee'd! Best mate had the upgrade with Dolby (standard I think on SE) and was much much better.

Rear legroom, I had a baby seat in the back (front facing) and it was tight, my son used to get frustrated on long journeys and kick me in the back. The seats are rather deep, resulting in the poor legroom!

Cornering was wallowy, and no overly precise..the s60R is much better but you clearly want economy.

The d5 in my best mates averaged around 40mpg and it was RICA remapped.

Turning circle as has been said is shocking, curbed wheels are pretty unavoidable, and a bus probably has a better turn!

Overall is was a very mixed experience...nice car to look at (mine was in dark grey pearlescent, best mates in gold) but reliability for me ruined the experience after being left a 3k bill after the variable valve timing threw a wobbler! My best mate had no issues with his d5, it ran well, drove ok for him and was better than mine :p he has only recently got rid of his and bought a Subaru again!!

Hope this helps!

I have the use of an S60 on occasions when my (diesel) Superb is doing other work.

On balance, I'm not a fan:

The turning circle is just unacceptable (did they work this out before putting a 5 cyl engine in sideways?). You just couldn't reverse a trailer into a tight space with this car.

The car is a reverse Tardis. It's as big as my Superb, with absolutely no rear legroom and a useless boot (entry hole is too small).

The huge centre console makes it tight in the front - what's in there?

The seats are comfortable on paper - but the leather is too smooth, so you slouch into an uncomfortable position. They feel good in the "showroom" but become poor when on the move.

The fuel consumption (petrol auto) is just a joke - but they do make a diesel.

The build standard is generally good but deteriorated with later build (Ford?). My friend has an '06 which, superficially is not as well built as my Superb.

Because of a lack of market penetration, there is no competition for spares and diagnostic software. Costs are stupidly high compared with VAG. Check the price and availability of engine oil for the DPF diesels.

It looks a sod to work on - I wouldn't fancy doing a cambelt change and I gather they don't always run to the belt change mileage before the idlers let go.

I'm not brave enough to buy a diesel engine with an aluminium block.

On the credit side, it's a smooth cruising car with better handling than the Superb. Fine if you have no passengers and no cargo.

I wouldn't swap - ever.

rotodiesel.

Edited 28 November, 201114 yr by rotodiesel

Mmm, interesting, so then what do I go for? As said I want a really nice ride, I've had enough of the harsh ride of my vrs, granted it's because of why Ive done to it, I always hear about how good the volvos are to drive and sit in so that's somthing I'm defiantly looking for, needs to have room all around, rear and front and a bigger boot than the fabia, I'm not a fan if mondeos, im reading more and more reports that diesel might not be the best, because the price of the fuel plus they tend to be more expensive to buy in the first place, but no I don't want a gas gussler by any means. Really open to ideas here I've got about 9ish k to spend.

Buy a mk1 superb..just don't buy the 2.0 tdi...ever. By far the best car I've owned. I wish I had kept mine!

Octavia vrs?

BMW 5 series for me in that situation I think.

I haven't driven a s60 but I have driven a few v70's and I must say they are brilliant cars with good grip, very comfortable and with them being the d5's (and the one I drive now being the the new twin turbo) it is very nippy for a diesel and can almost keep up with the t5's. But with two - three times the mpg.

I wouldn't have thought the s60 would be that much different but I can't argue as I haven't driven one.

I have been looking at the 5 series, i have a bad fear of buyying a car near 100k miles, should i be worried at this?

All the BMW`s in my family have gone well over 200,000 miles so not personally. I`m sure with £9k you could get one with a bit less than that tho.

have a look here, full of usefull info http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/

turns out the bmw 5 series is quite expensive to insure! the 530d is a grand the 520d is about 800!

Sounds good to me, but then I guess your older and wiser pmsl

3/5 series have DPF which needs replaced at 'around' 100k at a cost of about £1500. Apparently there is a hidden menu on the OBC which will give you a count down to when it's due. If you google you can fine the instructions on how to get to it.

DPF removal is about £1100.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/49573-530d-maintenance-advice-and-ecotune-dpf-replacement/

There are issues with swirl flaps and cracked manifolds on pre 06 cars.

DPF issue put me off as I was looking into a 525d and other than the DPF the mileage isn't really an issue with them or the 530d. The Swirl flaps are relatively easily and cheaply removed.

Saab 9-3 the twin turbo aero diesel has quite a high spec, but know nothing about Saab what so ever? Any thoughts?