Hi guys i own a 1998 S70T5 with a manual transmission.....is it possible to convert my car to a AWD model?....or am i going crazy?..i cant see it being that hard because they make a AWD version already or is everything totally diffrent?....just wondering guys because if i can do i sure would love it!!.....tks guys from Rob

Rob

If you really want a manual tranmission awd, go to Newport Motors web page (URL below), and check out the 1998 flame red v70 awd for $33,900 Cdn (~ $23,000 USD). According to the web page, the car has 65,000 km on the odometer (~ 42,000 miles). Newport claim to be specialists at assisting US customers import their cars. Then, go to Wetterauer or IPD and get a chip upgrade, and voila, your manual transmission T5 awd.

Oh, if you want a more sedate looking version of the v70 awd, go to Volvo of Oakville http://www.volvoofoakville.com/. They have a 1998 v70 awd with a manual transmission in blue-green colour. 82,000 km, and a couple of thousand cheaper. No warranty, but frankly, you'd probably have problems with the Volvo Canada warranty anyway.

Standard disclaimer - I am not affiliated with either dealer.

Happy hunting.

Neil

FYI, I bought my S70 in Montreal and the warranty is good here in the US. I imported my car by myself - a very simple process (much easier than converting an FWD to AWD!) And with the incredible US/Canada exchange rate, it was an extremely good deal.

Chelsea White

Pretty much anything is possible, gven the application of enough rectangular green paper. Is it a good idea? There was an 850 AWD 5-speed model sold in Canada. Subsequent AWD 70s came only slushbox equipped worldwide, not just in the USA. So even VOLVO didn't think it was a good idea, and they're the ones who make the cars and want to sell as many as possible.

Supplementing your Volvo with an old Audi Quattro, an old BMW 325iX, or an old Porsche Carrera 4 would likely be A.) much cheaper and B.) much better.

Plus, when the AWD system breaks, you'd still have your Volvo to drive.

My $0.02

-Uncle Olaf

No true, Olaf, about subsequent '70s came only with slushbox. I have seen and driven manual V70 XCs, V70 AWDs, V70 Rs and S70 Rs with the manual tranny...

Volvo was too cheap and too consevative in investing the necessary millions to certify these cars in manual tranny for the US.

Yannis

Uncle Olaf

Well, you are not entirely correct about Volvo dropping the manual transmission after the 1997 850 awd. In 1998, early model v70 awd wagons were sold in Canada with manual tranmissions. And they continued to be offered elsewhere in the world with manual transmissions, although they were indeed withdrawn from North America. There has been a frequent contributor from Spain (René Huiskamp?) who owns/owned a v70 awd with manual transmission.

Here is a line from the UK 2001 XC page:

"Five-speed fully synchronised manual gearbox. As an alternative, there is a five-speed, electronically controlled automatic transmission with adaptive shifting pattern, winter mode and lock-up function which reduces fuel consumption when cruising."

So, while it is true that North Americans cannot purchase an awd v70 with manual transmission, Volvo has done this because of the seemingly low interest in cars equipped with manual tranmissions. So the allroad begins to look pretty good.

Neil

I suppose it would make sense that if the 850 had a manual AWD version, the 70 would, too.

I seem to recall a UK or other european poster noting that they could not get AWD manuals there either.

The "low demand" remark is interesting....there are no manual 40s in the US, but the 60 comes in both intercooled and non-intercooled manual versions, at least as I read the option list. Perhaps the different lines' product managers could talk to each other sometime.

I'll have to settle for snow tires, myself.

-Uncle Olaf

I've never looked into it so not an authority but I'm sure it would be MUCH cheaper to sell your car and buy one with AWD than it would be to retrofit AWD to your car. Just look at the cost of fixing anything broken with the AWD system - you'll have to buy everything.

Sorry for the bad news,

Mike