Volvo V70 T5 What is this beast?

Saw one yesterday that was parked by my office. The more I looked the more I started t drool. This one was a 5 speed, white, black leather interior, Looked to be very well appointed. Some nice aluminum rims with tires that were no more than say 10 inches wide (they tucked under the care very nicely with plenty of room at the fenders.) They looked completely appropriate for the car.

This car screens sleeper. The photos I have seen of "regular" V70 wagons and even the ones I have seen in person have done nothing for me. BUT add T5 after V70 and WOW. This thing is just cool!!!!

So what is a T5 optioned car all about? Some one learn me on these cars. I have been looking at 850 turbo wagons for a while but now that I have seen a V70 T5 in the flesh I think I am sold.

Look into the T-5R/V70 R for even more fun.

1998 Volvo V70 R Turbo Asking $2995

I am in real troubble. I may end up owning this.

That looks really nice for 3K. I paid more than that for my 99 GLT a couple years ago.

jwdmotorsports wrote: That looks really nice for 3K. I paid more than that for my 99 GLT a couple years ago.

The early FWD cars are starting to get cheap. My only problem with that is the late RWD cars are insanely cheap, and RWD is more fun.

I really like the older style ones. The newer ones with the elongated nose between the headlights is not for me. But that 98 is fantastic. The 98's seem to have enough smoothing at the corners yet still retain that volvo box look. The only down side to the car above is that it is an AWD car. I have found several V70 t5's and just plain old V70 turbos so what is the deal with them. Are there three trim/performance levels for the turbo V70?

That is gorgeous, I love that car.......

A 5 speed too! Get it!!

I kind of answered my own question I think. At least in the 850s the T5's and the R's got 15 g's with 222 and 240 Hp respectfully where as the regular just turbo cars only got the 13g. and around 188 hp. I wonder if this carries over to the V70's

Ok After some more looking around It looks like in the V70's the t5 is basically the same as a R type with 18-45 less hp (depends on the year) and it lacks some of the special body trim parts. But if I read it correctly the t5 gets the improved underpinnings that the R type gets (suspension and posibly brakes).

So others understand what I am talking about.

First gen V70

Second jen V70

That orange one is just screaming at me to tint the windows!

In reply to dean1484:

Man that thing is really nice looking, I would rock it

dean1484 wrote: Are there three trim/performance levels for the turbo V70?

In 1998, there were two trim levels for the FWD V70 Turbo and three for the AWD version. All were autotragic only except for the T5, which came with a stick or auto.

GLT: FWD, 2.4L I-5 with 190hp @ 5100 rpm and 199 ft-lb. @ 1800 rpm.
T5: FWD, 2.3L I-5 with 236 hp @ 5100 rpm and 243 ft-lb. @ 2100 rpm.
Turbo: AWD, 2.4L I-5 with 190hp @ 5100 rpm and 199 ft-lb. @ 1800 rpm.
XC: AWD, extra ground clearance and body cladding, 2.4L I-5 with 190hp @ 5100 rpm and 199 ft-lb. @ 1800 rpm.
R: AWD, factory body kit, 2.3L I-5 with 236 hp @ 5100 rpm and 243 ft-lb. @ 2100 rpm.

RexSeven wrote:

dean1484 wrote: Are there three trim/performance levels for the turbo V70?

T5: FWD, 2.3L I-5 with 236 hp @ 5100 rpm and 243 ft-lb. @ 2100 rpm. R: AWD, factory body kit, 2.3L I-5 with 236 hp @ 5100 rpm and 243 ft-lb. @ 2100 rpm.

I had no idea these were getting so cheap.

So, what's the consensus - is the AWD auto or FWD stick funner?

FWD stick, all the way. These things make pretty ridiculous power with some simple bolt ons, too.

The AWD system is commonly know as the weak link in the equation. The FWD system is pretty stout.

That Saffron Orange color is rare and even more beautiful in person.

I don't get it. A T5 is just like a GLT with a higher pressure turbo. It really doesn't look any different (besides the T5 badge and larger rims). An R wagon gets the body kit, upgraded interior, adjustable active suspension, and default AWD.

My '99 V70 T5, 5 speed, white/black, is the perfect daily driver. Plenty of power (stock) and rides fantastic (with the Eibach/Koni FSD combo). The one wheel spin gets pretty old pretty fast though. A Quaife LSD is available, but expensive.

But compared to my brother's S60R, there's no competition. Granted he did have some nice upgrades like IPD tune and front mount intercooler, but the way that thing pulled was unreal. There's no way to put that much torque to the ground through the front wheels.

The manual in my T-5 isn't anything to brag about. The clutch pedal is soft, the drive by wire makes heel/toeing nearly impossible and the throws are very long.

So if you can spring for the newer V70R with AWD and manual, do it. Otherwise the old T5's will have to do. I'd stay away from the autos...

blackm3sedan wrote: My '99 V70 T5, 5 speed, white/black, is the perfect daily driver. Plenty of power (stock) and rides fantastic (with the Eibach/Koni FSD combo). ... .. . .. .

Thanks!!!! That is very good info. I am leaning twards a t5 just because I dont want it to stand out. I so love the R in orange but it also screems steel me and some of the places I have to go for work I don't need that. Now that all said regular t5's with a std how much hp can you up them to while still keeping it as a DD. In other words I am thinking of modest mods. Can we get to say the low 300HP and still have it start and drive on a cold NE morning? I am looking for a sleeper. Think silver t5 v70 with a dark tint. Stock looking alu rims but say in 17x8 with some decent rubber for the summer and then put the stock rims back on with snow's for the winter. Koni's all the way around and upgrade the bars as needed. I wold consider an upgraded brake but with the advances in pad technology I am finding that the a simple pad upgrade and some enhancements to the cooling is all that is needed.

Now the real problem is AWD versus FWD. In NE it would be great to have the AWD but I went through many a winter with FWD cars and with a decent set of snows they are all but unstoppable. Is the AWD it that much more expensive and complex? Are parts really that much more expensive and hard to come by? How reliable is it? What about the FWD reliable as a hammer? or ?

wjones wrote: I don't get it. A T5 is just like a GLT with a higher pressure turbo. It really doesn't look any different (besides the T5 badge and larger rims). An R wagon gets the body kit, upgraded interior, adjustable active suspension, and default AWD.

The t5 has sodium filled exhaust valves, and oil squirters pointed at the bottom of the pistons. It is also lower compression, and has a smaller bore to keep the cylinder walls thick, so it is 2.3l vs 2.4 for tha NA and low pressure turbos. The (mostly) swedes who build these things favor the 2.3l blocks becuase of the cylinder wall thickness.

The angle gear in the AWD is the weak link. Unless you really need AWD, I think a V70 t5 with a 5speed would the winner. At 3300 lbs they are not exactly light, but with 300 ftlbs on tap with the use of a manual boost controller and thorough maintenance round you can eat miles. It will always push badly, but pointed strait or flowing trough sweepers one can make time very comfortable while hauling gobs of stuff while propped up in wonderful seats.

In reply to dean1484:

Speedtuning has a remap for 300 bucks that gets you close to 270 hp or so. The gearing is tall and the mitsu 16t runs out of puff at 5k so it is torque that matters anyway. With a 2.5" or 3" exhaust and the remap you end up solidly north of 300 fllbs.

I have a 1995 855 t5r with the slushbox and it is a great touring car. It can point a squirt pretty rapidly but it does not handle well by any stretch. I have the stock springs and koni yellows with the IPD anti sway bars. I left the stock springs in as the ride is bashy already and I did not want to give up any load capacity. It is very traction limited.

The strength of the car is on the highway. It pulls mountain passes like a lear jet. I am at 160k with 60k on the remap and it sounds exactly the same as when I bought it (90k) and still using a quart per 3-4k. It is very well put together. Read all about them at vovloseed.com. Not a great site but search the threads and all the fixes and tweaks are to be found.

http://www.speedtuningusa.com/products/dyno/kf-volvo-t5-225ps-300nm.htm

In regards to the AWD vs FWD, it really is just the angle gear that gives problems, but they blow up on people all the time. The FWD slush box works fine, it does not need to shift very often due to the tall gearing and the programming is generally trying to keep from shifting which I like. It is easy to live with as long as one does not try and push the car on twisty roads.

The rear axle set up on the AWD cars was lifted out of RWD cars, so it is heavy and under-stressed. It is also limited slip, but only a little bit of power goes back there, unless the front looses traction, then it all goes back and the angle gear blows up. It really is a kluge of a system. The haldex system on the 2002-2007 v70awd and sv70r is much better, but they still blow up the angle gears.

The manual FWD boxed are really good, super tough, and there are zillions of them in junk yards because all the 93-00 cars use the same one (year to year revisions but the same box).

ipd.com for the sways which help alott.

Shaun's post has good info. To add to it a bit however, the AWD cars suffer not only from chronic angle gear issues, but I have seen many driveshaft issues (manily from the front coupler). If you're ever test driving or checking out an awd car, make sure to lock the wheel and drive slowly in a tight turn to load the components-- listen for 'clanging' noises. Keep in mind, all 4 tires also need to have very mininal variance in circumfrence all the time to keep the system status quo. As Shaun stated-- unless you NEED the AWD, the FWD does pretty well in snow with proper tires and is much less complex and cheaper to own.

Also note that the 98 and 99 my cars v70/s70s have major differences; 99 started CAN netwowking, electronic throttle module, coil on plug ignition, etc.

Watch out for leaking a/c evaporators, excessive oil leaks, weird idles(ETM issues) and suspension clunks, radiator leaks.. Many times I've seen these bought cheap, and end up costing a fortune to get sorted..

Shaun wrote:

wjones wrote: I don't get it. A T5 is just like a GLT with a higher pressure turbo. It really doesn't look any different (besides the T5 badge and larger rims). An R wagon gets the body kit, upgraded interior, adjustable active suspension, and default AWD.

The t5 has sodium filled exhaust valves, and oil squirters pointed at the bottom of the pistons. It is also lower compression, and has a smaller bore to keep the cylinder walls thick, so it is 2.3l vs 2.4 for tha NA and low pressure turbos. The (mostly) swedes who build these things favor the 2.3l blocks becuase of the cylinder wall thickness. The angle gear in the AWD is the weak link. Unless you really need AWD, I think a V70 t5 with a 5speed would the winner. At 3300 lbs they are not exactly light, but with 300 ftlbs on tap with the use of a manual boost controller and thorough maintenance round you can eat miles. It will always push badly, but pointed strait or flowing trough sweepers one can make time very comfortable while hauling gobs of stuff while propped up in wonderful seats.

Yes, I know. But my point was that the OP said he was caught by the "look" of the T5. It doesn't look any different than an NA or GLT apart from these larger rims and badge.

Yeah, but the color, rims and stance really set the "look" well on this one!

Well the wife was rather down on getting one of these BUT I took her along and showed her one in person and she gave the big thumbs up to a T5 V70. So the shopping starts for real now!!!!

I don't know of any suspension goodies that the T5, or the R (or the T5R) got that the GLT doesn't have. At least in the early V70's.

Remember, Volvo does their best to drive you nuts with their designations and their mixing and matching of components on the same car.

The Nivomat suspension was anything but a performance upgrade.

AWD until they went to the stouter system was very fragile, VERY fragile! As well as the FWD works, I'd leave the AWD alone.

The GLT has a smaller turbo with less peak. But, it gets into boost faster than the larger turbos. So a GLT has a good chance of beating a T5 or R for the first block or two.

The automatic is boring, but it's not fragile.