Volvo S80 (1998 - 2005) 2.4 SE LPG (140bhp) 4d (2002/52) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
-
Summary
What does this car say about you?
Terrible. I always wonder about this. Car is 6 years old now, you see the odd new S80. From some angles it's great, long and sleek but it's difficult to shake that 240/740/940 legacy!
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Mum loves it. Brothers love it. Friends (I do a car share) seems to like it. It says a lot, the size, the brand- it's got its own story. Not a beamer, not a merc. Everyone loves the tv. (Except me)
Would you buy this car again and why?
Nah- Volvo is for life. get another car is just another subsidy to the industry. So long as lpg stays well below the price of petrol/diesel, I'll probably stay with it for a while. They stopped making it round about when this one was built (oct 2002) and tried some compressed natural gas models. totally impractical as there are only 10 places in the UK where you can buy CNG.
What are you likely to buy next?
I'm really attracted to the previous edition C70 Coupe. Otherwise, it would be the Alfa Romeo Mito -tiny engines, massive personality.
-
Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchise
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£8,500
When did you buy the car?
February 2006
Did you get a good deal and why?
Dealer didn't realise the car had TV in addition to SATNAV etc. Cost of fuel - major savings,
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
LPG. When I bought it, LPG was 37p/l. My allowance was 12p. Case Closed.
What was the dealer like?
Carshop- fine. would buy again.
-
Driving it
What's it like to drive?
V hard on rough surfaces. Say speed bumps? Very unhappy on that kind of chucking around. Smooth motorways- perfect but wouldn't every car. I got to say, it's very boring. There's little pickup, little feedback. But- 9p a mile- beats a turbo diesel 306.
What's it like to park?
I find it ok. I always back in to a spot as I can line it up much better than when going in front first. I find the lock is fine as well.
-
Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Nothing that I didn't contribute to by servicing it in a back-street dealer who didn't realise that a valve in the lpg system had to be changed. Otherwise, nothing has gone wrong at all.
What's most practical about your car?
Difficult question! It's far too big for me, I only do c.600m a month now (it used to be 1200). Don't think luxobarge can be practical! Perhaps it's the way the front passenger seat can be flipped forward like a hatchback's seat, to allow you to put 2x4s' through the ski-flap. O
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
SATNAV in the dashboard (I hate most tv so it's barely ever used), the Stability control, definitely the cruise control.
