Hi all. 
think im gona settle for a volvo. 
where is cheapest place to get one from? 
or has anyone seen any good deals,  
d5 v70 se  
new as poss, ie 04/54 plate  
tar ;-)
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    | 
                        What spec and what method of finance?  Would you have to do a part exchange or sell privately?
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        got £15K at 5.6 % from hsbc. 
they did same deal as northan rock 
www.moneysupermarket.com/Loans/loansresults.asp?Am...= 
 
so 286 a month + rover 75 club se 51 plate 97K miles (5500 ?) 
so got around 20K 
but i would like a high spec 04 reg if poss, with xenons. 
do lot of driving early/late. 
the lights on rover are awful, checked bulbs & cleaned.  
i think the alfa gt is fantastic, gona test drive one tomorrow, but as i have a growing family, 2 kids 11 & 8, i think volvo is the sensible option, already have a scooby sti for fun.  
also love the shape look of volvo, and safety is the biggest issue on 1000 miles a week driving on m/ways
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        It's a good car but an 04 or 54 D5 SE is a very tall order for £20k. 
 
You can get a pre-reg 54 plate metallic S for £20,500 from www.autosave.uk.com - whoever they may be - but I don't think I can get closer than that.  They're based in Halifax if you're interested.  www.smartvolvo.co.uk has a £21k new one. 
 
I'd say that your estimate of the value of the 75 is about £1k too generous but I haven't seen that from Glass's.  Something close to that should be attainable in a private sale though.
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        those are keen prices ! 
on volvos home 2nd hand page they are between 52 plate to 04 plates at 20-23 K 
but the problwm with 2nd hand = no xenons ! 
so will have a look at spec between s & se, on new. 
but you have to wait for a new one ! 
DOH ! 
want one now :-) 
guess i could put some brighter bulbs in tho. 
the newish 04 plates have clear headlights, so i guess they would be bright enough? 
 
cheers david
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        I would guess that a Volvo without Xenons would still be better lit than a Rover. 
 
So maybe not so important...?
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        I have a 2003 Volvo V70 without xenons, as does my father an 1998 S80 and my brother another 2003 V70, whereas a friend has a 2004 V70 with them.  Honestly, there is no practical benefit in the real world. Sure, the xenons look 'cool', but that's it.  The standard halogen lights on the S60 / V70 / S80 are simply superb, and amongst the best of any car I have driven.  Dipped beam has an excellent spread, with a good, well defined cut-off point that doesn't blind other drivers, and full beam is simply fantastic.  I have had people try to say "Ah, but where xenons really score is in the wet, or when snowing", but I haven't found this to be the case with the Volvo, either. 
 
I bought new, and am glad that I kept the £650 in my pocket, despite the fashion to do otherwise. 
 
In contrast, my brother ran a 2000 Vectra Estate 1.8 LS Auto, and I ran a 2000 Vectra Estate 2.5 GSi (we don't always choose the same shape of car, honestly!).  I had xenon (on dipped beam only with this car), and he didn't.  In this case, there was a benefit compared to not having it, but not with the Volvo.
                            
                     | 
                
            
            
                
                
                    
                        thanks for that, i guess i could live without them. 
driven a d5 v70 auto today for an hour. 
armchair ride or what ! 
fanbladdytastic, love it, just gota get sum cash together now !
                            
                     | 
                
                    
                        
                                        
                
                
                    
                        Nice to hear! 
Hope you get the cash together. 
 
Bro's V70 is a D5 auto SE, and it's superb.  One of the best engine and gearbox marriages I have ever come across (and I write that as a self confessed petrol turbo and manual gearbox man!) It has a totally effortless long legged gait, a surprising amount of get up and go when you need it, and an easy 40+ MPG, all of which should suit your driving by the sound of it.  Bro often tows 800KG of boat, and the mountain of torque right where he needs it makes this a doddle, too.  Oh, both the engine and the standard fit HU-803 music system sound superb, too! 
 
I don't know where you live, but recommend www.volvotuning.co.uk in Bromsgrove as an excellent Volvo trained and Volvo diagnostics (VADIS) equipped, independent service centre.  Their rates are half what I originally paid at my local dealer, and as well as being the UK RICA chip tuning agent, their routine servicing work is spot on. 
 
Good luck!
                            
                     | 
                 
                    
                        | 
                            
                         | 
                     
             
            
                
                
                    
                        www.speeds.co.uk are often knocking out year or so old V70's. Also have a look in the Sunday Times and Saturday Telegraph's motoring sections under "Volvo" where a few dealers advertise. 
 
For new, take a look at www.drivethedeal.com 
 
I have to disagree on the Xenon comment. The standard halogens on the S60/V70 are above average but the Xenons are, IMO, a significant improvement. You don't really need many options on the SE model though - they're pretty well equipped as standard.
                            
                     | 
                 
                    
                        | 
                            
                         | 
                     
             
                         |