Volvo S60 (2000 - 2008) D5 S 4d (2004/54) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I can abandon fixed ideas and appreciate the dynamic and energising turnaround of a classic stereotype. Or that my head's too full of sales jargon and I wanted a repmobile that was a cut above a Mondeo. I wanted it "Quick Tommy, before ze Germans get 'ere"

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They think it's a Volvo, and they'd never buy one because you have to have a cap, gloves and very, very thick glasses. I tell them there's only one thing very, very thick about making a decision not to buy something that's screwed together better than an Audi for less than a Mondeo because of the badge

Would you buy this car again and why?

Well, perhaps not this car, because I already own one. I would, however, have the S60R for my "Get something even faster, that I won't have to get rid of if a baby comes along" life crisis. I'd get a V70 if I needed to raid IKEA. If I had to replace this S60 due to misfortune, then it would definitely be with another S60. With a heated windscreen for even faster demisting in the mornings.

What are you likely to buy next?

A Jaguar XF, possibly the XFR if petrol isn't on ration, tax isn't £1000 a year and I am not changing nappies.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£5,500

When did you buy the car?

October 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

It was only 12,000 miles away from its first cambelt service (at 96,000) and it was a particularly unusual(horrendous) shade of gold so I haggled the price down by £2500

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I borrowed one for 2 weeks, and noticed that a 6'5 person fits in one so much better than in a Honda Accord. My knees are far less painful these days.

What was the dealer like?

Amiable, funny and glad that his forecourt could no longer be seen from space

What's it like to drive?

As noted above, it's a mile muncher. It does more to the gallon than my bike, my dad's Micra and my brother's C3. It grips well, has a useful burst of torque in the rev ranges that you'd typically drive in and it's easy to forget everything about a journey because nothing about the car stands out as particularly annoying. It's not a sports car, so you won't get much feedback from the steering but this car was made for rods where you don't really use the steering. If you're looking for a car with character, you'll need to look elsewhere, because this car was designed to be your favourite pair of comfortable shoes.

What's it like to park?

Many people say it's a nuisance, with a turning circle the size of the moon and a boot that is difficult to see the end of. I've often parked it in spaces about a foot longer than the car itself with a minimum of nudges, and only a few to-ings and fro-ings; the power steering is light but has a reassuring weight when driving at speed. My girlfriend refuses to park it, though she claims it's because she doesnt want to scratch my baby, rather than the fact that she can't see over the steering wheel with the seat in my driving position. She also says it is wider than it is. To this day, I do not know what this means but it may make sense to another girl out there looking to drive one.

Have you had any problems with the car?

One of the tail light bulbs occasionally doesnt light up. The computer helpfully tells me this, and a tap on the light lens brings it back on for another few thousand miles. It has also run out of washer fluid twice, giving me reason to open the bonnet. Coming from a long history of car ownership that saw me covered in oil and having bleeding knuckled at least once a month, this is quite a refreshing change.

What's most practical about your car?

It has seats like arm chairs (with an incredible number of adjustments), a 5 cylinder diesel that is far smoother than rival 4-bangers, a fantastic sound system, cruise control and that it bursts into life and demists quickly on the coldest of days. It makes a 100 mile commute almost a joy, and a wish I'd had it when I was doing 1000 miles a week installing shop till systems. I challenge anyone to say that they honestly cannot find a comfortable driving position in one of these.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The cruise control; I'd never buy another car without it. My partner is much simpler to please; it seems that a fantastic climate control system, and the thoughtful inclusion of 2 lights either side of the mirror in both the passenger and driver sun visor would motivate some girls to drive a tank like this.