Post 798127 by dionbullock on 2016-03-15 16:21:15
Hi all - it's that time of year where we've had a weekend of sun! So I'm toying with the idea of buying a convertible and the obvious choice is the C70. I'd love an MX5 mk1 for the no frills fun of light weight low power driving! But I'd need at least 4 seats - which the c70 has - but not so light weight! :D
I owned a C70 coupe years ago and thought it was a decent car! Never having owned the convertible version - are there any common issues I should look out for? I'm mainly worried about the roof and the mechanisms/leakages! How are they to drive compared to the coupe?
Budget wise no more than £1500 should get me a 100k miler and i'd love a manual T5!
What are your thoughts on the much unloved Volvo??
Post 798129 by Doingitsideways on 2016-03-15 16:30:51
I love mine *cough* sorry, the wife's.
They're a bit wobbly compared to the coupe. Alright, very wobbly. A strut brace helps no end though.
They're not a B road beater, more of a cushty cruiser.
No problems with my roof (yet) and it only leaks a tiny bit when blasted with the jetwash. Think that's around the door seals though.
Oh, the boot is hilariously bad. Expect less than half of the coupe.
Post 798131 by stribo on 2016-03-15 16:45:26
[QUOTE=Doingitsideways;798129]I love mine *cough* sorry, the wife's.
They're a bit wobbly compared to the coupe. Alright, very wobbly. A strut brace helps no end though.
They're not a B road beater, more of a cushty cruiser.
No problems with my roof (yet) and it only leaks a tiny bit when blasted with the jetwash. Think that's around the door seals though.
[COLOR="#FF0000"]Oh, the boot is hilariously bad. Expect less than half of the coupe[/COLOR].[/QUOTE]
He's not kidding:
Post 798139 by dionbullock on 2016-03-15 19:28:58
Holy moley that boot is small!! My dad had the later folding tin top c70 which had a decent boot when the roof was up! Not so when down but a clever tilt function to get stuff in and out of the boot when the roof was down. No such thing on the first gen cabrios then??
Post 798151 by Doingitsideways on 2016-03-15 23:42:10
Nope.
It's a solid bulkhead under the carpet.
Probably for the best as they'd be even more wobbly without it.
The wobbliness can have it's advantages though...
When I test drove mine at a small second hand car dealership, I clocked how much they twisted.
I put the roof down half way and drove back.
When I parked outside the dealer's, I parked with the front wheel up a drop kurb and tried to close the roof. Low and behold it wouldn't engage properly at the top of the screen.
"Could cost a fortune to sort that, Mate." says I.
£500 off.
Job done :)
Post 798160 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 10:24:57
Sneaky ^^
I bought my C70 ragtop with the 2L engine last year complete with Dale Winton interior and automatic trans. Its great fun - not particularly fast and the boot is rubbish. I would look for the facelift version from 2003/2004.
Make sure the roof works and if it is an AT then make sure the gear change is smooth.
Scuttle shake is part of the charm & I don't plan to track or push this to the limits. This is all about the cruise in the sunshine. I would focus more on appearance than performance.
This Luton-based facelifted 2.4 GT is a stand out colour good mileage for the year and less than a grand!
Volvo C70 2.4 GT 2dr
2.4 has plenty of low down grunt!
Another in Solihull... 2 litre GT here in grey includes heated seats so you can use it all year long.
Post 798162 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 10:35:11
I dare say Glasgee is wee bit too far away & I am not sure why the horns are red??
Volvo C70 2.4 GT 2dr
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/volvo/c70/used-volvo-c70-2-4-gt-2dr-glasgow-fpa-201601029758884
Post 798167 by jamesy12345 on 2016-03-16 10:48:59
Make sure you get the correct headlights with the car....some of the above are missing the clear class/crystal type
Post 798168 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 10:49:34
[QUOTE=jamesy12345;798167]Make sure you get the correct headlights with the car....some of the above are missing the clear class/crystal type[/QUOTE]
those are the ones before 2002 - hence that is why I said look for the facelift models.
Post 798173 by dionbullock on 2016-03-16 11:29:52
[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;798162]I dare say Glasgee is wee bit too far away & I am not sure why the horns are red??
Volvo C70 2.4 GT 2dr
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/volvo/c70/used-volvo-c70-2-4-gt-2dr-glasgow-fpa-201601029758884[/QUOTE]
Not too far for the right car, but that one looks like its been on pimp my ride! :)
Its sounds to me like if I cant get a good T5 manual for the money, a 2.4t is just as good or better im some respects for this type of car
Post 798177 by jamesy12345 on 2016-03-16 12:14:37
[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;798168]those are the ones before 2002 - hence that is why I said look for the facelift models.[/QUOTE]
I didn't realise it was only the facelift models that came with the clear lights, but that grey one should have them being a 2004. The owner/previous owner must have realised they are popular
edit
sorry ignore me it does have them!! first photo looked like old style lights with new indicators
Post 798192 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 17:21:59
[QUOTE=dionbullock;798173]Not too far for the right car, but that one looks like its been on pimp my ride! :)
Its sounds to me like if I cant get a good T5 manual for the money, a 2.4t is just as good or better im some respects for this type of car[/QUOTE]
TBH there aren't that many T5 ragtops knocking about. My question would be - why the F$%K did you paint your horns red? I think if you stretch to 2k you'd get one. The collection trim models are the top of the tree.
Post 798194 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 17:22:57
[QUOTE=jamesy12345;798177]I didn't realise it was only the facelift models that came with the clear lights, but that grey one should have them being a 2004. The owner/previous owner must have realised they are popular
edit
sorry ignore me it does have them!! first photo looked like old style lights with new indicators[/QUOTE]
I bought brand new 2003 rear clusters for my coupe - just because...
Post 798196 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 17:26:08
And I found this t5 manual collection model with the dale winton - oh yeah baby.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-C70-2-3-Special-Edition-2004MY-T5-Collection-/191725828185?hash=item2ca3bff859:g:d~oAAOSwA4dWMOhb
got everything inc. kitchen sink.
sorry I lied the kitchen sink has been removed, but only 16K miles - bargain for 2350!
Only thing is I think the headlights are wrong.
Post 798198 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 17:32:59
I think I might have a winner in Tipton...
Volvo C70 2.3 T5 GT 2dr Manual
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/volvo/c70/used-volvo-c70-2-3-t5-gt-2dr-tipton-fpa-201603121888457
80K solid colour. Only downer is the interior - beigey yuck - but you could get that for under 1800 if you walked up with the cash?
Post 798201 by jamesy12345 on 2016-03-16 18:03:19
[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;798196]And I found this t5 manual collection model with the dale winton - oh yeah baby.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-C70-2-3-Special-Edition-2004MY-T5-Collection-/191725828185?hash=item2ca3bff859:g:d~oAAOSwA4dWMOhb
got everything inc. kitchen sink.
sorry I lied the kitchen sink has been removed, but only 16K miles - bargain for 2350!
Only thing is I think the headlights are wrong.[/QUOTE]
that is a nice one, hard to tell with lights from that angle. MOT history site says it done 160k..!
Post 798205 by dionbullock on 2016-03-16 18:46:59
[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;798196]And I found this t5 manual collection model with the dale winton - oh yeah baby.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-C70-2-3-Special-Edition-2004MY-T5-Collection-/191725828185?hash=item2ca3bff859:g:d~oAAOSwA4dWMOhb
got everything inc. kitchen sink.
sorry I lied the kitchen sink has been removed, but only 16K miles - bargain for 2350!
Only thing is I think the headlights are wrong.[/QUOTE]
Yeah i saw this ad, looks good but 160k with a rag top? Id buy a coupe/v70 with 160k no problem if it were looked after... Not so sure about a convertible though
Post 798206 by dionbullock on 2016-03-16 18:47:54
[QUOTE=Wobbly Dave;798198]I think I might have a winner in Tipton...
Volvo C70 2.3 T5 GT 2dr Manual
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/volvo/c70/used-volvo-c70-2-3-t5-gt-2dr-tipton-fpa-201603121888457
80K solid colour. Only downer is the interior - beigey yuck - but you could get that for under 1800 if you walked up with the cash?[/QUOTE]
That could work!! Although ad states auto, the photo is obviously a manual car!
Post 798231 by Wobbly Dave on 2016-03-16 22:27:28
[QUOTE=dionbullock;798205]Yeah i saw this ad, looks good but 160k with a rag top? Id buy a coupe/v70 with 160k no problem if it were looked after... Not so sure about a convertible though[/QUOTE]
Aaah I see now they dropped a 0 off the mileage in the advert cheeky chappies.
Post 798339 by dionbullock on 2016-03-19 09:18:42
Ive seen an 02 plate C70 T5, for under budget but the guy said the engine management light came on yesterday, took it to the garage and turns out its the cat. Could it be a lambda sensor? A new cat would be expensive ��
