"Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'" (otto-the-croatian)
05/07/2020 at 14:14 • Filed to: tack volvo, embiggen this, embiggen, volvo, v70, oppo review, Car Buying
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"Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'" (otto-the-croatian)
05/07/2020 at 14:14 • Filed to: tack volvo, embiggen this, embiggen, volvo, v70, oppo review, Car Buying | 12
| 25 |
Hey folks, I recently bought a Volvo V70 as a new daily. I wanted to make a proper post/review and finally got around to it. Here goes:
Intro
So, as some might remember I sold my Twingo. I did that because it was a pain to register and pass inspection, since the whole underside is rusty beyond any reasonable investment. To repair it would cost more than the car is worth, and/or months of my own hard work with minimum tools, space and skills. I will save that bodywork learning experience for something else in the future. The good news is that I did in fact manage to register it for the next year, and it was sold (pretty much immediately) and will not get crushed - it still has adventures with a happy new owner who saw the potential it has left.
So that brings me to the Volvo. I was at the bottom end of financial abilities, which didn’t leave me with a lot of choice of interesting, Jalop-worthy cars. Keep in mind that I live in Croatia, where seeing any interesting or even slightly modified cars is rare. When I see a car with different wheels, my neck snaps to see it, because even something like that happens like maybe once a week. When I was in the States, every 5th car had some sort of mod on it. Just a different culture I guess - mostly due to the lower financial standard here. A cool exhaust or new wheels is almost a luxury.
Anyways, I was hoping to find a Volvo 245 for cheap but that proved impossible. There are only a couple of them for sale, and all are either rusted out completely, or very expensive. Then I switched to looking for an 850 but stumbled upon this. This one was freshly registered and inspected and I haggled it down to around 8.000 kuna / 1.050 EUR / 1.140 USD. That’s cheap for a car like this here - when I see the prices of these things stateside I want to cry. Anyways I wanted something to use more for longer trips and adventures, rather than in-town runabouts. This new way I would use a car was part of my new lifestyle changes, next to a better diet and exercise. I am restoring a bicycle for in-town stuff, I might post about it sometimes.
Basic info:
1998 Volvo V70
NA 146hp 5 cylinder
Manual
Runs on LNG. I would never be able to keep feeding it otherwise.
Non-stock wheels, 15inch.
500.000 km (310.000 mi)
Sadly no rear-facing seats.
Has a tow-hook.
Bad:
The LNG conversion is half-assed, so the car tends to stutter. I can’t isolate the problem - it happens usually when giving it gas. Sometimes happens when it’s cold, sometimes happens when it’s all warmed up, after an hour or two of driving. Sometimes it’s fine. But I know the problem is the LNG because when I switch it to regular fuel it runs perfectly smooth.
Oh, and the conversion isn’t registered and inspected. So for inspection I’ll have to completely remove it from the car. And if I get pulled over, I have to pretend that the bonnet can’t open. Because if a cop sees the LNG system I’m in trouble.
It’s huge.
I know it’s not for US standards, I mean it’s half a meter shorter than a Crown Vic. But here… Jeez this takes some adjusting. Even more so after the Twong. Parking it was a bitch at first, until I figured out that I forgot about the massive overhangs. Now I adjusted to thinking about where the wheels are, rather than where the corners of the cars are, and I can park/maneuver with less trouble.
It has half a million km on the clock, which is a lot (although these cars can take much more). The age and mileage shows mostly through broken, teared and ripped trim pieces and a pretty scruffy exterior. The hood is completely matte, no clear coat is left. But hey, all of these tiny nicks are just potentially fun one-day projects. Except for the dash rattle, jeeez man that annoys me a lot, and supposedly takes 4-5 hours to fix. I’ll get around to it sometime.
Good:
This is a completely different driving experience from the Twangi. It’s an aircraft carrier. Forget about ‘Yeah I’ll just leave it here for 2 minutes to use the ATM’. Because I can’t fit in all of my regular 2-minute town-center improvised parking spots. You sit in a supremely comfortable, heated lounge chair with dual-zone climate control and leather stuff around you. The steering wheel is freshly re-upholstered and it’s a joy just to touch it. The seats are a bit worn out but still very ergonomically well thought-out. That’s another huge point for the Volvo, especially after the Twingo. I loved that little thing but the ergonomics were absolute dogshit, from the seating position to where the shifter was, to how the steering wheel was tilted. You can adjust every single thing in the Volvo. This is a cruiser. I drove a Crown Vic in New York the same way, I just feel like I’m back there.
Mechanically, it’s in very good shape. No rust whatsoever and the whole underside/engine
is completely dry. I need to do a belt change and service for peace of mind, change one wheel bearing and replace the rubber boot-things on some suspension bits. And that’s it! A drivable, reliable car. The LNG problems can be a long-term thing to check out. If I decide to keep the car for a long time, I might invest into having the fuel system re-fitted and registered properly.
The sound system is fantastic. Deep bass, clear highs, no crackling or static, and some adjustability from the factory head-unit. I can turn it up a lot without distorting the audio or damaging the speakers. I have an Alpine unit I might put in to see if it improves even more.
It’s huge.
That is also a plus for the amount of stuff it can haul. I can lie down in it comfortably with just the back seats folded. I can’t wait to take it camping sometime.
The handling is pretty good, it grips more than you’d expect, b
ut you can feel the weight, it’s not a canyon carver. The ride is very supple and comfy, you can somehow feel the body taking the bumps while leaving your butt intact.
Future mods, of course:
Higher flow muffler and tip, to make the 5 cylinder sound more raspy, it has enough bass as it is. It has a tiny leak somewhere in the middle of the car, which I won’t get rid of because at full throttle it sounds fucking fantastic. It evokes a Lambo V10, or even Group B quattros (minus the BOV chirps).
Fixing the interior bits, switches and covers that have broken off or are rattling.
Cosmetic exterior stuff, like adding a lip, changing the wheels, adding a trunk spoiler and bumper from the R model. I might go the overlanding route and add a roof basket, some spotlights and stuff, headlight grill guards… We’ll see.
I’ll leave the engine and suspension as-is for now, and bring it to Stage 0 - have it fixed, refreshed and reliable. For now it feels strong and fast, even though it might not be.
Outro
Thank you guys for giving me tips and sharing experiences about these cars. I was worried I wouldn’t get attached to it like I did to the Twango, but now I’m worried that I’ll get too attached. If that happens, at least it will outlive me and it’s a solid and reasonable investment and a good long-term car.
And I mean it’s a Volvo. It just
feels
right. I am a graphic designer, after all, so I think it’s ‘on-brand’ for me. I’m really happy with it.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 14:29 |
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“It has a tiny leak somewhere in the middle of the car, which I won’t get rid of because at full throttle it sounds fucking fantastic.”
I
t’s probably a good idea to track down and correct
that leak. Any exhaust leak under the car has the potential to get exhaust inside the car and that’s detrimental to your health.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> TheRealBicycleBuck
05/07/2020 at 14:35 |
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I had a hella big hole right beneath the cab in my truck for years. I wonder how much that took off my life...
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> TheRealBicycleBuck
05/07/2020 at 14:35 |
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I had a hella big hole right beneath the cab in my truck for years. I wonder how much that took off my life...
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> TheRealBicycleBuck
05/07/2020 at 14:38 |
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Dammit you’re right. Forgot to think rationally there for a bit... Ugh fine
I guess I’ll fix it.
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 14:41 |
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Awesome write-up and I’m glad you like it. I hope it gives you years of trouble-free service.
The S/V cars definitely had the better sound system. The 850s got paper speakers that rot/crack. The ones in my dash were shot so I modified some V70 tweeters to fit, and it sounds much better now.
As far as pulling the dash, I don’t know how it works in a V70, but it’s a pain in the 850. Since the V70 is just an evolution of the 850 I’m going to assume it has the same issue - the dash is mostly just a big sheet of plastic and over time starts to develop cracks. My advice is, if you pull it to fix rattles, get some chopped fiberglass and epoxy because you’re going to want to fix all the cracks in it.
Otherwise, have fun and enjoy. The great thing about these cars is they look pretty cool no mater what you do to them. You can lift them and add a roof basket and lights and go for an overland/rally look, or slam them on big wheels. Either way they look great.
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 14:45 |
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In a lot of LNG/CNG conversions, usually it means there is a big cylinder in the truck area. I don’t see that here. Where is the LNG tank located on your car?
HoustonRunner
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 14:46 |
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I’m curious of the operating cost differences for you LNG versus gasoline. I live in Houston, so even though I have no idea where I would refuel on LNG, I’m 100% certain that I would have options. Based on your comment you clearly have the availability and it is cheaper than gasoline?
ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 14:58 |
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Awesome car!
My friend has a S70 of the same gen. He straight piped his car (no mufflers, no resonator but it still has the cat) and it sounds amazing! I would suggest to straight pipe yours, it dosent drone too bad on the highway...ooh and it genuinely sounds like a V10 lambo :D
Jim Spanfeller
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 15:04 |
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“I t’s huge”
Meanwhile in America...
duurtlang
> HoustonRunner
05/07/2020 at 15:08 |
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I’m not sure about Croatia, but I use LPG to fuel my car. These are the prices:
Germany: Regular gasoline: €1.10. LPG: €0.55
The Netherlands: Regular gasoline: €1.40. LPG: €0.50
Prices per liter.
So yes, it definitely pays to keep using that fuel. Even if you use 10-15% more due to the lower energy content.
sony1492
> Jim Spanfeller
05/07/2020 at 15:12 |
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Ah yes a mid size coupe
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Jim Spanfeller
> sony1492
05/07/2020 at 15:15 |
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Funnily enough, it IS a midsize coupe according to Ford! Gigantic as it is, there were still larger cars available...
arl
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 15:23 |
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Very Jalop - c ool car, sketchy mods, potential to be a mechanical and/or financial disaster, sprinkled with hope for a long life of awesome adventures!
God speed and good luck!
Nom De Plume
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 15:50 |
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You’d already know if the exhaust leak was direly in need of repair before it killed you. I hope you would already know if it was.
sn4cktimes
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 16:49 |
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For the LNG system check to see if it uses a bladder. It’ll be a round disc shaped housing near the throttle body. Before you touch it lookup how to safely depressurize / vent the gas in the system to atmosphere. Usually close the tank and carefully crack open a fitting near no ignition source. Forklifts often have bladders when they use propane. It’s a way to physically regulate the pressure of the gas. If the bladder has a tear, OR any gasket / o-ring is worn or has a nick it can fail to keep the pressure properly / suck in atmosphere which leads to a lack of combustible fuel. Was a common failure point on our units. Other thing to check is there’s usually a little electric solenoid that lets gas into the bladder and will only open if the system is powered (safety). If it has a bad connection or the coil is starting to go it’ll intermittently bump close and you’ll use up the fuel in the system and then it’ll stutter out.
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HoustonRunner
> duurtlang
05/07/2020 at 17:20 |
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Interesting. Hard to find prices for it locally, but it looks to be pretty similar to gasoline here.
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/07/2020 at 18:59 |
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Thanks!
Yes same thing for the dash here, ot rattles and shakes over bumps, I can pull it slightly off the hinges. When I have a full day off I will tend to it. Epoxy, superglue and aluminum sheets all standing by for repairs!
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> sn4cktimes
05/07/2020 at 19:02 |
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Great, thank you for the tip. I will copy all of this and save if for when we do the ti ming belt andbstuff, might be a good idea to do everything at once.
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> Jim Spanfeller
05/07/2020 at 19:03 |
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Midsize lol. Mid meaning smaller than an aircraft carrier but bigger than a ferry, I can only assume.
A lovely thing nevertheless.
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> HoustonRunner
05/07/2020 at 19:10 |
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Yep prices are similar here as they are in the Netherlands. I guess the cstch is that it costs around 3 to 5 thousand kuna (around 500 or 700 dollars) to have the system installed, which van be a big ask on a used car which cost you 1000 dollars.
A nd you lose some space. In my car the LNG tank is in the spare tire well. Some opt to install it in the trunk.
But again, the fuel savings are pretty good, especially if you buy a car that has the system fit ted already, and if the infrastructure supports it.
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Jim Spanfeller
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/07/2020 at 23:07 |
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Yeah... I sometimes fantasize about bringing one to Europe and watching jaws drop as I drive around, shouting, “Howdy, I’m an American! Where’s a steakhouse?” :p
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duurtlang
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/08/2020 at 02:10 |
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My 406 had it installed when it was only a few months old, and had 8000 km on the odometer. This is 20 years ago. I bought the car with 167k, and it currently has roughly 3 65k. So I drove it roughly 200k myself. I calculated the savings of LPG vs gasoline at roughly 7 cents per km. €0.07 * 200000 = € 14000 in savings (in 7.5 years). That is a lot of money.
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> duurtlang
05/08/2020 at 03:16 |
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Wow ok that’s a lot. In that time did you have any problems with the LNG system? What do you have to do to service it?
I know that this fuel is a little bit drier than gasoline so the car uses a tiny bit more oil when running LNG. And of course I assume that you run it on gasoline every once in a while?
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duurtlang
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
05/08/2020 at 03:43 |
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Mine starts on gasoline and switches to LPG after a certain time, partially based on load and temperature. When I drive off and it isn’t overly cold outside, it usually takes 10-20 seconds or so.
The maintenance these systems need depend a lot on the system, and on the engine as well. Some need to have a filter changed every 20k kms or so. Others need some kind of valve lube, for engines that are not as well prepared for liquefied gas. It combusts at a higher temperature, which could lead to burnt valves in engines without hardened valves. My system and my engine need none of that. I had the (gasoline) injectors cleaned once. I also have had the cylindrical tank behind my back seat swapped to a tank in the spare tire space, to make the trunk in my coupe more usable. My tank also contains the fuel pump, which died shortly after receiving the new tank (warranty!). That’s it, in 200k km of my usage with a 20 (well, 19.5) year old LPG system.
I am talking about LPG and you are talking about LNG. Are we talking about the same thing? Both are a possibility for automotive use. In my limited experience LPG is much more common as an aftermarket installation. One is a by product of crude oil refinery (like gasoline and diesel) and consists of mostly propane and butane, the other is mostly natural gas consisting mostly of methane.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_petroleum_gas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_natural_gas
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Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/08/2020 at 07:24 |
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It’s in the spare wheel well, the tank is shaped like a big donut. I’ll send a pic later today
. You lose the wheel but gain the free space in the trunk. In a sedan it would make sense to leave it in the trunk, because you most likely don’t need that much space anyway, but since the whole point of a wagon is the trunk space, this makes sense to me.