1998 Volvo C70 Turbo Review - The Coupe That CHANGED EVERYTHING For Volvo!

[@p-osweden934]

I build these back in -98 in Uddevalla Sweden. AW 2 assembly workshop No 2. Those were the days. I was young 🥰

[@kebabaluba]

Was it at the same site as todays Volvo Bussar Uddevalla?

[@p-osweden934]

@@kebabaluba no. It’s a bunch of small businesses in that old factory i think. (Sorry for my english)

[@kebabaluba]

@@p-osweden934 It`s not by chance that old Volvo-Pininfarina factory around the docks?

[@p-osweden934]

@@kebabaluba The factory was named ”Autonova” back then and was owned 51% of TWR (Tom Walkinsaw Racing) and by Volvo 49%. Pininfarina came later. I belive when C70 gen 2. But by then i had quit.

[@p-osweden934]

@@kebabaluba it was by the docks.

[@andrewneal7615]

This has to be one of the most obscure cars you've reviewed. I don't recall ever seeing one of these. It's actually a pretty handsome looking coupe!

[@AmosDohms]

I've seen more C70's here in Canada then a lot of hot hatches and the like from this era.

[@MugatuJag]

@@andrewneal7615 right, very handsome looking coupe. You see them in the convertible quite often here in Southern California, I actually looked last month and there was three C70 coupes for sale. It was featured in the movie, The Saint Val Kilmer

[@noobeenaut]

They're not really that obscure, they just weren't very popular

[@MugatuJag]

@@noobeenaut about 28,000 total first GEN coupes produced. That’s pretty rare, probably 1/3 still on the road today

[@noobeenaut]

@nicholasbabeaux2052 oh yeah they definitely aren't common. I can't say I've seen one in person anytime recently. I'd say a more obscure car that even many volvo enthusiasts forget exists is the S60 Cross Country. Weird lifted AWD variant of the S60 that sold very poorly

[@MrJayrock620]

Gotta admit it’s kinda funny to see the post it with the km/mi conversions, especially that precise. Most Canadians know the kms to miles approximately 50/30, 80/50, 100/60 and 140 is “get over to the slow lane ya hoser, I wanna get to get to work before my Tim’s gets cold!”

[@jonathankleinow2073]

My mom had a 1999 C70 convertible. It was the first import my parents bought after growing up a Mopar family. I think there's a Dolby Pro Logic badge missing from that center dashboard speaker -- I remember the upgraded stereo being a big selling feature. I think they had the head unit replaced two or three times because the radio kept flaking out. Hers didn't have S/E/W buttons below the shifter, just the W. My dad couldn't figure out why it was driving so odd until he figured out the W meant "Winter" and kept it in second when starting from a stop. The dealership also skipped removing the shipping blocks from the springs during the PPI, so it rode incredibly harshly until we noticed and had them take those out. Other than that, it was a pretty decent car. The interior plastics for the switches and buttons got gummy and sticky within a couple of years in the Florida sun. They eventually traded it for a BMW 328i around 2007ish.

[@bwofficial1776]

Not a bad-looking coupe. I don't think I've ever seen one of these in the wild.

[@anthonykiedis1765]

You'll find more in junkyards than on the street.

[@T5_T-Rell]

They’re not super common especially as a coupe it seems the convertibles are more common. Manuals are unicorns and a manual with the paint code: saffron or cassis with a manual are pretty much non-existent. Rare care but not worth a ton. Fun and peppy cars

[@SupaPictave]

Oh, that was one of my dream cars in my teenage years. My parents had a V70 AWD estate in the late 90's, exacty the same metallic red as this coupé with light beige leather/alcantara interior, and I guess the same engine (5cyl, low pressure turbo, about 190hp) and a manual transmission, what a car ! Very smooth engine, and the AWD was incredible in the snow. I actually learned to drive on this car and it was a pretty rare config here in France. In my opinion this generation of Volvos is just as iconic as the older 240s. EDIT : the cabriolet was absolutely stunning too. Still a headturner today.

[@joshb2000jb]

The other day I saw a C70 coupe out and about and I had to turn my head. My first car was a 1999 Volvo V70, so the P80 platform Volvos will always have a special place in my heart.

[@ericbritton9346]

I remember back in the day in my valet years, I love driving the C70 coupe, my favorite Volvo at the time and I still want one. The last one I drove was in 2007 with a manual transmission and it was way better then the auto transmission.

[@ubiased23]

This is an incredibly good-looking coupe. It is even harder to find one in a manual transmission. The Volvo C70 1998 was introduced in the 1997 movie called The Saint that was started by Val Kilmer.

[@tedfreakinray]

The sticky note in mph is killing me lol

[@SouthsideKidd550]

I said the same thing too but you know what, its way cheaper to use a sticky note than to pay hundreds of dollars for a US spec instrument cluster.

[@steverice7546]

Good to see the original owner specced the optional kph/mph conversion Post-It Note.

[@jgg02]

Again, as a Swede, I approve this episode. More Saab too would be great. Thanks for another great review

[@bren.nan_]

Fun fact about the speaker in the dash: you could option later model cars with a GPS system that was supported up until 2014-16 I believe. My S60R has one!

[@MugatuJag]

Zack, this was so unexpected, I absolutely love the C70 😅coupe this generation. I almost bought the dark blue one high-pressure turbo loaded seven years ago for 2800 bucks and I regret it ever since. My dilemma was should I get a CLK coupe instead and I got a CK 550 which I absolutely love

[@SouthsideKidd550]

I always thought of the Volvo C70 as being one of the most highly attractive cruiser coupes from the 90s. The Honda Accord coupe and Toyota Solara just looked weird to me.

[@brianklamer3328]

I've got a 2004 C70 convertible in Nautic Blue Metallic with 52,000 miles. Thanks for the video.

[@sirot5561]

I remember seeing these a lot from 1998-2001ish then its like they all just disappeared from the road. But I always thought they looked so amazing and handsome dare I say. I just loved the look of these!

[@paulm6481]

I think Val Kilmer drove one of these in Saint

[@Niro.C]

The Volvo C70 was one of the best looking coupes of the 1990's, and it's no wonder because it was designed by Ian Callum who also the designer of Aston Martin DB7 and the Jaguar XK, XF, F-Type and last Gen XJ. One if the greatest automotive designers of all times.

[@jxun4l3ht10]

I know a guy who brought one of these when he got his license and he's still driving it 17 years later

[@jacksonhui581]

Wow sweet ride!

[@brianklamer3328]

There was one hard top C70 coupe in our tri-state area years ago, had the high pressure turbo 5 and a real funky looking sort of purple metallic paint, but that was the only one I've ever seen in person.

[@doug6191]

This model was featured in an underwhelming action movie, "The Saint," starring Val Kilmer. The Volvo was the best part.

[@jacksonhui581]

yes literally!! hahah i'd watch the volvo scene over and over again

[@davidp2888]

Always liked Volvo coupes.

[@volvoman23]

Love to see another Volvo under your belt.

[@CPMUNSEY]

I fell in love with these cars because Val Kilmer drove one in the movie The Saint,lol!!

[@Dankcatvacs]

HORAAY ZACK ON PASSENGER SIDE !! its a pretty car just dont forget the timing belt 60k to 100k 7 to 10 years ,max.interferance engine , no mulligans , unlike my slow brick loyale or the 240 vovlo redblock.

[@joeseeking3572]

Oh I wanted one of these back in the day. In Saffron - I don't think I knew this color existed or I'd have had it. The initial coupes were all high pressure turbo good for 236 hp. I would not have bought the auto or the stupid light pressure version (this). Unfortunately, they were beyond my price point, though I seriously looked at an S70 T5 stick shift which was basically the same car. The dealer and I squared off over $500 and I walked / which was stupid for both of us.

[@matthewfuller1129]

I always liked the shape of the Volvo C70. Did they ever make these in a T5 trim with the high-pressure turbo and the six speed manual spaceball shifter? I remember way back in my youth. My mom had a S70 T5 - which was the sedan - and it was a riot. Speeding tickets were easy to come by because it was sneaky quick.

[@lukemallory7832]

No spaceball - that came in for the S60. The T5 was a 5 speed in manual, a 4 speed auto until c. 2000 / 2001 when it became a 5 speed auto, which for some reason is not as highly regarded as the 4 speed in terms of reliability.

[@hollybirge4087]

I love these. I like the look a lot and would love to drive one.

[@miguelojera2356]

I would love to see you review the second generation of the C70. If I remember correctly it was only sold as a folding metal top convertible.

[@T.S.T2014]

Still one of my favourite looking cars.

[@FirstLast-dy4gt]

Come to Raleigh and see DK99C70 HPT coupe with 42 original miles!

[@dave11686]

These are sweet

[@davinp]

Does it really matter which side of the coupe you access the back seat? On a sedan you can on either side since their are doors on both sides

[@andrewneal7615]

Almost looks like a stretched E46 BMW coupe from the side

[@Jessecwebb]

As a Volvo guys, I don’t really care for these. The only one I ever saw that looked “Good” was a mint late year T5 one in red, that a Chinese roommate student kept in our garage for most of the year. The C30 is the actually good Volvo coupe.

[@AmosDohms]

The C30 is not much of a coupe, much closer to a Focus or a Golf.

[@lukemallory7832]

Are you sure you're a 'Volvo guy'...?!

[@damilolaakanni]

The design reminds me of the first generation S40/V40 which it was based on.

[@lukemallory7832]

It was based on the P80 platform - nothing to do with the S40/V40. In fact I believe it uses the V70 floor-pan which is slightly longer than the S70.

[@btrdangerdan2010]

I like the c70. Better looking than the s70 sedan

[@sannissansanjuan5074]

The Sweden 2001 Acura CL

[@allthingssamsung1988]

This car looks good and believe it or not the rear reminds me of a Mercedes Benz.

[@christophersmith1155]

I wonder if Volvo is being built in China now?

[@bwofficial1776]

Some are.

[@WildWildWeasel]

Yep in the Geely factory. I affectionately call them "Geelvos".

[@Jessecwebb]

Mostly the brand new models and EV’s. The Chinese made models are probably as good as American made ones from any brand. It easy to think they might be junky, but China has a MASSIVE car industry with a lot of competition. I can’t imagine they would be particularly bad.

[@The_gear_head_]

First?