Volvo V70 2.0 Tdi SE 136 bhp

[raywell]

Hi, I am considering getting a 2013 Volvo V70 SE 136 bhp, does anyone have any experience of towing with this car and if so what does it perform like? Also how is it for pulling off on wet grass? read somewhere they aren't at all good in snow and on wet grass etc. Any opinions very welcome thanks in advance.

Ray

 

[raywell]

I should add it would be the 6 speed manual gearbox

 

[otherclive]

I've got an Xc70 which will be similar inside to the V70 and its very comfortable with excellent seats. 400 miles towing is not a problem and it just swallows the caravan gear and dogs. Few car are good in snow or on wet grass unless they have suitable tyres as most tyres are designed for dry/wet and temperate conditions. I've even seen 4wd cars struggle in those conditions. In snow my order of choice is first the Note, second the Pajero and third the Volvo. Why? Well the Note has snowflake rated tyres, the Pajero has AT tyres and the Volvo makes do with Pirelli Assimetricos which although M&S rated are not well suited for snow or wet grass. Last 'summer' I confirmed that its AWD worked okay when it sat there with all four wheels turning on a C L without the caravan hitched. But it had rained for 24 hours solid and the kind farmer had cut the grass just before. My previous Sorento did the same thing on that site two years before even with AT tyres, but at least it had the van on!! I carry two plastic grip tracks and thus far the Volvo hasn't failed to get us moving off CLs.

 

[otherclive]

I forgot try Volvoforums.co.uk where you might get a specific answer for the model that you are considering.

 

[emmerson]

As you suspect, poor traction will be your major problem. I no longer tow with my front wheel drive Volvo because of this , although it is an excellent road car.

 

[otherclive]

Just home from an outing to the National Arboretum and watched with interest as firstly a Mitsubishi ASX fwd model had difficulty pulling onto a slightly inclining section of grass parking, then their friends in a BMW 1 series made it almost off the road onto the parking but then had difficulty getting the rear wheels onto the grass. Both cars had normal road orientated tyres. I parked the Volvo without any problem after passing over a muddy section without any wheel spin at all.

Up until 2004 I'd towed everywhere with fwd cars and quite honestly never had a problem on grass pitches although I think then tyres were a but chunkier than today's tyres. But depending on the cars speed rating you can fit chunkier tyres generally up to H rating. My son uses Pirelli STR which work fine on grass and are quite good on snow. But quite clearly proper winter tyres are best for snow and cold weather. Inspecting the pitch before unhitching is something I always do and also if necessary I'd park the van so gravity aids the tow car to pull the van off its pitch. At the end of the day the warden/ farmer will pull you off or other caravanners will give assistance.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

I have owned Volvo cars for the past 35 years, and never realy had a problem with traction, as Clive points out a lot is to do with tyres, and another key factor, driver ability and technique.
The snow we have experienced this year has caused no problems at all with my V70 phase 3, where necessary just put the auto girly tronic in to manual mode, and with a gentle right foot, traction has been no problem.

 

[ProfJohnL]

It always gives me a wry smile to see a driver sitting behind the wheel quite bemused as to why they going nowhere or in the wrong direction, gunning the throttle, wheels spewing mud snow and ice over every one nearby.

But its wrong to feel too superior about it as after all we all have to learn these skills through experience.

Perhaps my recollections are inaccurate, but seem to remember winters back the 1950 and 60's the winters were more severe than to-day, yet despite the poorer condition far less disruption arose. Perhaps its the relative rarity of such winter events in recent years that now gives them greater impact.

Driving on adverse surfaces is tricky and requires a skill set that is not taught as part of the normal driving lessons. I believe it should be taught, even though it is a less significant event.

However Caravanners are more likely to encounter slippery conditions when negotiating wet or muddy fields etc. And with the added complexity of having a trailer in tow!

It does seem strange that a driver who has passed a test in a four wheel solid vehicle where the weight is shared between the main wheels is allowed to more or less double the weight of their vehicle by adding an articulated trailer which has s significant adverse affect on the handling and performance of the basic vehicle with no further training or proof of capability.

 

[emmerson]

I have owned Volvo cars for the past 35 years, and never realy had a problem with traction, as Clive points out a lot is to do with tyres, and another key factor, driver ability and technique.
The snow we have experienced this year has caused no problems at all with my V70 phase 3, where necessary just put the auto girly tronic in to manual mode, and with a gentle right foot, traction has been no problem.

Prof, one thing I do not lack is driver technique and ability!

I won't go into my experience on here, it would take too long, but rest assured that the traction problem on the Volvo is the car, not me! I do accept, however that more aggresive tyres than the purely road-biased ones I have fitted may well help solve the problem.
Our access lane is very short, with a narrow bridge straight onto a 1:4 gradient up to the main road. The Volvo will scrabble for grip in the rain on this slope, and is the only vehicle in the 25 years I have lived here to have failed to get me out.
This is one of the reasons why my "spare" car is a Range Rover.
Going back to when the 850 first came out, a friend who had had Volvos for many years, expressed concern about the switch to front drive, and its affect on the car's towing ability. Nevertheless, he traded his trusty old 740 for a new 850. After bering towed on and off three rally fields in succession, he took it back, and was able to reverse the deal, as his 740 had not been sold.
No, I'm afraid I stick to my earlier statement that the Volv o estate is a prodigious load carrier, and great road car, but bottom of my list as a towcar.

 

[emmerson]

Prof, is it not also possible that back in 50s and 60s, rear wheel drive was predominant?

 

[DeliDave_]

sorry for going off topic but can anyone recomend a good tyre to help on grass.I have fitted 2 Hanook winter tyres to the rear wheels on my Hyundai i800 and when I change them back at end of March I was thinking of fitting some kind of chunky tread.I know it will be a bit noisier and less economical but we try and use CLs and would make life a lot easier.

 

[Sproket]

sorry for going off topic but can anyone recomend a good tyre to help on grass.I have fitted 2 Hanook winter tyres to the rear wheels on my Hyundai i800 and when I change them back at end of March I was thinking of fitting some kind of chunky tread.I know it will be a bit noisier and less economical but we try and use CLs and would make life a lot easier.

Hi Sir Deli Dave
Have a look on here for some tyres

I have just recently had fitted a set of BF Goodrich AT's on the truck.
Road noise is not a problem & they are a 50/50 on / off road tyre even with 1/2 an inch of tread depth....

 

[ProfJohnL]

Prof, is it not also possible that back in 50s and 60s, rear wheel drive was predominant?

Yes that is true, but even today there are a good few vehicels with RWD (BMW, MERCS JAGS etc) and look at how many of those end up with problems!

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

I have owned Volvo cars for the past 35 years, and never realy had a problem with traction, as Clive points out a lot is to do with tyres, and another key factor, driver ability and technique.
The snow we have experienced this year has caused no problems at all with my V70 phase 3, where necessary just put the auto girly tronic in to manual mode, and with a gentle right foot, traction has been no problem.

Prof, one thing I do not lack is driver technique and ability!

I won't go into my experience on here, it would take too long, but rest assured that the traction problem on the Volvo is the car, not me! I do accept, however that more aggresive tyres than the purely road-biased ones I have fitted may well help solve the problem.
Our access lane is very short, with a narrow bridge straight onto a 1:4 gradient up to the main road. The Volvo will scrabble for grip in the rain on this slope, and is the only vehicle in the 25 years I have lived here to have failed to get me out.
This is one of the reasons why my "spare" car is a Range Rover.
Going back to when the 850 first came out, a friend who had had Volvos for many years, expressed concern about the switch to front drive, and its affect on the car's towing ability. Nevertheless, he traded his trusty old 740 for a new 850. After bering towed on and off three rally fields in succession, he took it back, and was able to reverse the deal, as his 740 had not been sold.
No, I'm afraid I stick to my earlier statement that the Volv o estate is a prodigious load carrier, and great road car, but bottom of my list as a towcar.

Emmerson old chap I can only speak from experience. I have owned numerous models inc 740s 850s S70 360 940, and found them to be very good cars on and off the rally field, not the best, but more than capable.
hand on heart I have never had a problem getting on or off rally fields, with one exception with the 740, where we went out for lunch on the Sunday, and on our return we were the last unit left, and yes we got stuck! Unhitched turned the van put some sacking under the wheels, and with a little coaxing off we went
i have also been on rally fields where the only way off was with the aid of the farmers tractor!
perhaps we should all buy a Massey Ferguson for that rare occasion that we might get stuck!

 

[otherclive]

My son has Pirelli STR which are H rated and have a tread with more blocks and sipes but is somewhere between ordinary road summer tyres and All Terrain tyres. They get good reviews on the tyre surveys and on his car are quiet.

 

[Dustydog]

sorry for going off topic but can anyone recomend a good tyre to help on grass.I have fitted 2 Hanook winter tyres to the rear wheels on my Hyundai i800 and when I change them back at end of March I was thinking of fitting some kind of chunky tread.I know it will be a bit noisier and less economical but we try and use CLs and would make life a lot easier.

Hi Sir Deli Dave
Have a look on here for some tyres

I have just recently had fitted a set of BF Goodrich AT's on the truck.
Road noise is not a problem & they are a 50/50 on / off road tyre even with 1/2 an inch of tread depth....

Sir Sproket CJ (BAR)

You've stolen my tyres!! I'm on my third set . Usually get about 40k an dexcellent traction. Remember Stowford last year!!

 

[emmerson]

I have owned Volvo cars for the past 35 years, and never realy had a problem with traction, as Clive points out a lot is to do with tyres, and another key factor, driver ability and technique.
The snow we have experienced this year has caused no problems at all with my V70 phase 3, where necessary just put the auto girly tronic in to manual mode, and with a gentle right foot, traction has been no problem.

Prof, one thing I do not lack is driver technique and ability!

I won't go into my experience on here, it would take too long, but rest assured that the traction problem on the Volvo is the car, not me! I do accept, however that more aggresive tyres than the purely road-biased ones I have fitted may well help solve the problem.
Our access lane is very short, with a narrow bridge straight onto a 1:4 gradient up to the main road. The Volvo will scrabble for grip in the rain on this slope, and is the only vehicle in the 25 years I have lived here to have failed to get me out.
This is one of the reasons why my "spare" car is a Range Rover.
Going back to when the 850 first came out, a friend who had had Volvos for many years, expressed concern about the switch to front drive, and its affect on the car's towing ability. Nevertheless, he traded his trusty old 740 for a new 850. After bering towed on and off three rally fields in succession, he took it back, and was able to reverse the deal, as his 740 had not been sold.
No, I'm afraid I stick to my earlier statement that the Volv o estate is a prodigious load carrier, and great road car, but bottom of my list as a towcar.

Emmerson old chap I can only speak from experience. I have owned numerous models inc 740s 850s S70 360 940, and found them to be very good cars on and off the rally field, not the best, but more than capable.
hand on heart I have never had a problem getting on or off rally fields, with one exception with the 740, where we went out for lunch on the Sunday, and on our return we were the last unit left, and yes we got stuck! Unhitched turned the van put some sacking under the wheels, and with a little coaxing off we went
i have also been on rally fields where the only way off was with the aid of the farmers tractor!
perhaps we should all buy a Massey Ferguson for that rare occasion that we might get stuck!
Pax! We'll agree to differ!

. I didn't buy a Massey, but I do use a Range Rover, the Volvo was not really intended as a tow car; it has a towbar "just in case".

 

[DeliDave_]

Thank you Sir Sproket CJ (BAR) and Sir Dustydog hoping you are both keeping well.I think I will look at a pair of those. I don't imagine having different tyres front and back will be an issue as long as they are the same on an axle.

Thank you for the helpful postings.

 

[otherclive]

I'd think very carefully about fitting all terrain tyres onto the rear of a Hyundai i800. These are normally fitted to pickups, land rovers or off roaders it would be most unusual on a vehicle like yours. Their road grip is less than the sort of tyres normally fitted to your car and the aspect ratio may be well above that specified for your car. You could well find the back end catching up the front end! I'm also surprised that you fitted winter tyres only to the back when all advice is for winter tyres all round. There are some good YouTube videos that show the problems that can arise by only fitting two winter tyres whether to a fwd or rwd car. Check them out.

 

[DeliDave_]

Thanks other clive,I will have a look at the videos but so far I have not had any problems.To be fair it is not a vehicle that you drive in anything but a sedate manner but I will look furthur into it before I do anything more.

 

[raywell]

Thank you all for your valuable contributions, your help and advice is very much appreciated. Well the decision is made, I have decide on the VW Passat Estate 140 TDI bluemotion. It was a close decision but the Vw won in the end. The VW has a full size spare wheel against the volvo's spray can (I cant get my head around trying to fix a blow out with a tin of foam) ;-) the Volvo has full leather however it has no heated seats unless you pay £400 for them, the VW is cloth so no cold bums in winter or blisters in summer. The VW has rave reviews as a towcar and a few more bells and trinkets too.

Cheers

Ray

 

[otherclive]

A good choice, happy towing

 

[RobKnapp2]

I have just put my Passat est 140 over the 10k mark, and have towed two different caravans - an old swift challenger of approx 1175kg and our new (to us!) Sterling Europa at 1330kg. You wont be dissapointed! - Very stable, nice power and comfortable.
Mine is a company car and im afforded a fuel card, so dont give huge amounts of attention to what the right foot is doing - this month, a daily 185mile round trip has seen it running at 14p per mile doing both motorway, and what seems like an eternity of traffic in Birmingham..