Volvo or Mercedes

[mattsurf]

My boss has suggested that I should change my car

I have found 2 cars I am interested in.

The first is a late 2003 E270CDI with the BEHR rad and Nano paint - it is fully loaded with command, leather, 7 seats, large fuel tank etc and best of all has just 36k miles fsh and one owner. The owner runs a successful garage, all of the servicing is MB (other than the last service) but all maintenance has been done at his garage - as far as I can tell it has been really well maintained - cost £11k which looks reasonable, given condition

The second is a 2005 Volvo V70 D5 with the 185bhp engine. Much newer and in excellent condition but has 57k miles and is under £10k

The 270 cdi engine is nothing like as quick or as smooth as my ageing E320 cdi, however it seems adequate

The Volvo D5 is quick and smooth - very impressive engine

Does anyone here have experience of Volvo D5s

Thanks

Matt

 

[television]

This will be the new lump in the D5,,have a look around here
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/search.php?searchid=343235


I cannot fault the build of my old V70R, superb seats and a good finish, but it will never be in the MB class for that special something about it feel

 

[JEZ.S320L]

This will be the new lump in the D5,,have a look around here
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/search.php?searchid=343235


I cannot fault the build of my old V70R, superb seats and a good finish, but it will never be in the MB class for that special something about it feel

A Cunning Plan to get us to register.! We know your tricks, Malcolm - and we're not falling for it again

 

[television]

A Cunning Plan to get us to register.! We know your tricks, Malcolm - and we're not falling for it again

I have only been a member for a few days, since my ABS went down, I got a good answer from them that is a DIY so it suits my pension, I have only answered two post, one on a wheel bearing and one on converting a + ground car to - ground

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I have only been a member for a few days, since my ABS went down, I got a good answer from them that is a DIY so it suits my pension, I have only answered two post, one on a wheel bearing and one on converting a + ground car to - ground

What I meant Malcolm, was that the link you supplied takes you to the login/register page, and not to the article you thought it would do

 

[television]

What I meant Malcolm, was that the link you supplied takes you to the login/register page, and not to the article you thought it would do

Oh dear, so sorry about that:Oops:, but you can read all of the post from there

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Does anyone here have experience of Volvo D5s

Hi Matt.

I have had 2 Volvo diesel automatics and done a total of 180,000 miles in them. One was never in the garage apart from servicing (every 10,000 miles, IIRC, with a dashboard reminder). The other needed a new gearbox at about 50,000 miles.

They were both excellent cars, very comfortable and well equipped, good fuel economy (>40 mpg overall), good paintwork and no niggling faults.

On the downside, they were not as quiet or relaxed as either the E or S Class 320 CDIs that I have had since, nor were they as quick. The only practical limitation of the front wheel drive diesel is a poor turning circle, but then the MB turning circle is very good for such a large car.

I doubt if you would go wrong with either car, but my preference would go to the MB (economical but powerful engine, better refinement, and lower mileage).

Will be interesting to hear what you choose.

 

[jackwall5]

Hi Mattsurf,

I faced a similar question when I was buying half a year ago.

OK, the cars in question were a class lower in both cases, C220 cdi vs V60.

At the end of the day, what swung it for me was that I came to believe that in a couple of years time, subject to care and proper attention, the MB will hold up better than the Volvo, even though the Volvo was also a couple of years younger and in my case also had a few less miles.

Wish you well with your choice ... they are both excellent cars and for sure MB does not hold the top spot in every criteria.

Safe Driving

 

[The Crooner]

I had a V70 as my last company car.

Make sure you have an extended test drive, include a trip to the supermarket, a really tight roundabout and a multi-story car park.

The turning circle is awful.

Go for the Merc, its RWD, better built and will depreciate less.

My 2c worth.

Tony

 

[The Crooner]

I had a V70 as my last company car.

Make sure you have an extended test drive, include a trip to the supermarket, a really tight roundabout and a multi-story car park.

The turning circle is awful.

Go for the Merc, its RWD, better built and will depreciate less.

My 2c worth.

Tony

 

[mattsurf]

I had an extended test drive this evening - the Volvo just doesn't do it for me - When I got back into my old e-class I immediately felt that it was much better.

The Volvo had a fantastic engine it was quiet and smooth and made a great noise when pushed, it was also very quick and much more linea than my old 320CDI

However, the interior was pretty poor overall too black, there were too many cheap looking buttons and the stereo sounded awful

The last straw is the turning circle - I just love the turning circle in my Merc

So will I get the Merc E270CDI - Well not sure yet, the 2.7 is just not so nice as the 3.2 engine..... but the rest of the car was perfect - immaculate condition, low mileage, well looked after

 

[television]

I had a V70 as my last company car.

Make sure you have an extended test drive, include a trip to the supermarket, a really tight roundabout and a multi-story car park.

The turning circle is awful.

Go for the Merc, its RWD, better built and will depreciate less.

My 2c worth.

Tony

Was the first one as good as the second

 

[television]

I had an extended test drive this evening - the Volvo just doesn't do it for me - When I got back into my old e-class I immediately felt that it was much better.

The Volvo had a fantastic engine it was quiet and smooth and made a great noise when pushed, it was also very quick and much more linea than my old 320CDI

However, the interior was pretty poor overall too black, there were too many cheap looking buttons and the stereo sounded awful

The last straw is the turning circle - I just love the turning circle in my Merc

r

I sat in the C60 this week, it was as you say too black inside and the dash and controls look so cheap, with an awful vertical center console

 

[The Crooner]

Was the first one as good as the second

No, but the wifi on the train worked the second time and I knew it, it worked the first time and I knew it not.

Good old George must be turning in his grave at the parlous state of t'internet on National Express East Coast.

Tony

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Well done Matt

That was a really good thread. Started at 5.00 p.m. today - lots of interest and the thoughts of the contributors very much aligned to what Matt found in reality when he tried the car.

Market research does not come much more focused, or useful than this.

 

[philharve]

Police cars

Hi All

I cannot recall seeing a Mercedes police car but I assume they exist. Volvo police cars are very common. Is it lower purchase cost, reliability and cheaper maintenance that makes this a no-brainer decision?

I had considered purchasing a Volvo but Mercedes had a better image. But is a Mercedes a better car? I don't know, I've never driven a Volvo.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

That was a really good thread. Started at 5.00 p.m. today - lots of interest and the thoughts of the contributors very much aligned to what Matt found in reality when he tried the car.

Market research does not come much more focused, or useful than this.

Interesting thoughts Alex, things have changed in the last 10 years in the up market car design, it cost a lot of money in a Volvo to get the interior any where near the same as the MB, maybe the Ford input has squashed things a bit, as Volvo made their name on the large estates , there seems to be too little room in and around the driving seat

 

[television]

Hi All

I cannot recall seeing a Mercedes police car but I assume they exist. Volvo police cars are very common. Is it lower purchase cost, reliability and cheaper maintenance that makes this a no-brainer decision?

I had considered purchasing a Volvo but Mercedes had a better image. But is a Mercedes a better car? I don't know, I've never driven a Volvo.

REGARDS

Phil

Mainly Phil because the output of the 2.3 Volvo engine is in the order of 295 BHP in it propels the V70 T5 to 60 in the same time as an SL500, the fuel consumption in the Volvo is much worse than the MB at over 70 MPH

 

[television]

for anyone who thinks that MB parts are expensive, I just paid £37 for this piece of wire with a plug one end for my Volvo

 

[Alex M Grieve]

for anyone who thinks that MB parts are expensive, I just paid £37 for this piece of wire with a plug one end for my Volvo

Ouch. I trust that you are going to clone it and sell them on e-bay for £25?