Volvo C70 Review Covering 1997

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Quick Summary of the Volvo C70

OVERALL

A Volvo C70 will appeal if you are the sort of driver who appreciates a good-looking car, buys into the Volvo philosophy of safety, security and sensibility and has probably put the days of tyre-smoking sideways antics behind you. If you need an urbane, indestructible and slightly quirky coupe, the C70 fits the bill. The convertible models are equally impressive and will appeal to those who might otherwise have considered a soft-top Mercedes CLK, Audi Cabriolet or Saab 9-3 Convertible. The 2.4T cars are the most impressive, combining a fair amount of power with a sweet, tractable and reasonably fuel-efficient engine. Don’t think the T5 models will keep up with BMW M3s or Audi S4s on twisty roads, but instead buy one if you want to over big distances quickly. In short, one of the better boulevard cruisers.

VOLVO THROW AWAY THE BOX BUT KEEP THE TOY

The Volvo C70 was possibly the first Volvo since the P1800 of the sixties that didn’t look as if it was designed with rulers and setsquares. It’s elegant fusion of compound curves and taut sheet metal was an instant hit, and further enhanced the credibility Volvo was gaining through touring car racing. The brand had metamorphosed from something only driven by schoolteachers and harmless eccentrics into something genuinely desirable.
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History of the C70

The C70 was launched in the UK in June 1997 with a one-model range. The engine available was the powerful 2.3-litre T5 turbocharged five-cylinder unit. Volvo made optimistic noises about how this car would challenge the likes of the BMW M3, but in truth it fell a fair way short as a sports car. In May 1998, the range was bolstered by the addition of the C70 2.5T, with a 193bhp light-pressure turbocharged five-cylinder engine. This model was more correctly renamed the 2.4T in April 1999, as its capacity was 2435cc, and a 2.4 without the turbocharger but which still generated an identical 170bhp was also offered. The Convertible models were introduced in April 1999 with a 240bhp T5 version and a 193bhp 2.4T model constituting the range. A 2.0-litre 163bhp entry-level Convertible model was added in December 1999.
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Volvo C70 Road Test

In a straight line the T5 models can mix it with M3s and quick Mercs. In the 2.3 T5, rest to sixty takes just 6.9s on the way to an artificially limited top speed of some 155mph. So far so good. Volvo is quite capable of producing luxurious mile-munchers and has a stable of potent engines. Where the Swedes have no track record is in producing BMW-bashing standards of handling.Wisely then, they turned to Walkinshaw; Tom Walkinshaw, he of TWR, the outfit that runs the Arrows Formula One Team and developed the Jaguar XJ220. The company, too, that took the boxy Volvo 850 and turned it into a race-winning force in the British Touring Car Championship. The Kidlington-based operation specialises in chassis engineering and had a hand in the car’s development. However, without recourse to silk purse/sow’s ear comparisons, the C70 is always going to be a punchy front-wheel drive car, so to expect it to handle like a sporty BMW is perhaps aiming a bit high.No, it isn't a BMW M3 - but then, given its Grand Touring aspirations, it could hardly afford to be. By far the best option is the 2.4T engine with an automatic box, as this best suits the car’s gentle nature. The T5 models try rather too hard to be sporting, and the sad truth is the basic chassis layout just isn’t good enough. If you want a rapid motorway and A-road car, the T5 is great, but it just won’t destroy corners with the aplomb of many coupe rivals or, indeed, many more prosaic saloons. Turn-in is crisp; but ride quality could be slightly better. The convertible models suffer from very little body distortion and are beautifully finished; again the 2.4T engine is the most satisfying bet. The 2.0-litre models try hard but are ultimately a little breathless in such a heavy car.
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Buying a Volvo C70

Whilst the C70 shares its mechanicals with that old workhorse of the nineties Volvo range, the 850, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to check them for towing stress or load bay damage caused by antique Ottoman chests. The C70 will have led a far more pampered life, although the front tyres and shock absorbers on all models, but especially the T5, are worth inspecting. Also check that the hoods of the convertible cars are in good operating condition as they employ a large number of electric motors which are easily damaged by anybody attempting to lower the hood manually. Sounds idiotic but it happens, especially if the car has been used by a number of drivers. The basic mechanicals of the car are sound, but try to get one with a decent main dealer service record.
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Volvo C70 Typical Pricing

The opening value for the C70 coupe is £4,800. This will buy a 1997 P-registered C70 2.3 T5, whilst £7,400 will net a 2000 V-plated example. Prices of the C70 2.0T Coupe begin at £6,800 for a 1999 V-registered example, but expect to pay around £550 more for the desirable automatic option. The Convertible models are quite sought after and you’ll need at least £9,300 to get behind the wheel of a C70 2.4T soft top. It’s worth paying an extra £600 to get the automatic option, as it suits the personality of the car superbly. The T5 models aren’t such a good bet, but should you wish to opt for one, expect to pay £9,500 for a 1999 T-registered manual model and £500 more for a similar vintage automatic. Insurance for the C70 is eminently reasonable, ranging from Group 14 for a 2.0-litre car up to a modest Group 17 for the tyre-shredding T5 models. This perhaps reflects the target age range of Volvo models and their impressive safety and security provision.
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Volvo C70 Parts

(approx based on a 1998 2.3 T5 coupe) Spares for the C70 are on the whole fairly reasonably priced. A clutch assembly is £150, whilst a new exhaust system is around £260. Front brake pads won’t see much change from £70 for a pair, whilst rears weigh in at a more lightweight £38. You’ll be looking at £140 for a radiator and the best part of £150 for a starter motor. A headlamp unit is £160 for the complete kit or around £40 for a replacement lens.
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Volvo C70 Rated

Performance Performance 2.5 out of 5

Comfort

Handling

Economy

Styling

Equipment

Build

Depreciation Depreciation 2.5 out of 5

Insurance

Value

Volvo C70 Review1997 - 2000