Keeping up with Volvo flow that I started a few weeks ago with a blog entry of a… well you know it… Volvo V70R Estate! I came across this car on Cars & Bids while I was browsing for material for our beloved instagram account. Without hesitation, I had to get in touch with Ryan, the new and current owner of this fine wagon.
The first two things that got my attention on this specific Volvo wagon are those bumper mounted HELLA foglights and those rare 2-piece BBS Nebula option wheels. I honestly think that those two items are the ones that set this Volvo wagon apart from others (as if Volvo wagons are not rare enough already…) Plus, what’s not to like from a 5-cylinder turbo motor pushing out factory claimed 300HP, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and putting that power down through all four wheels?!? Did I mention Brembo brakes all around?!?
Ryan admitted that the exterior of his wagon is a bit on the rough side; it’s the performance that shines the most from this wagon. You see… this wagon has been extensively modified by its previous owner that includes a 2.4L turbo swap from a Volvo S60 complete with an upgrade Turbo from Majestic Performance along with its supporting mods (a tune, bigger injectors, upgraded intercooler, a more free-flow turbo-back exhaust). KW suspension was picked to lower the ground to achieve a more aggressive stance. IPD front and rear sway bars were also purchased to add stability when attacking corners at the local canyons. The result is the ultimate sleeper that you see here on Avantturous blog! This awesome wagon is blessed by having the uber cool Atacama interior (Volvo’s lingo for their burnt orange interior). Ryan put his own touch to the interior by adding a rear-facing 3rd row seating from the Volvo XC70; such a cool mod!
With the performance modification already done by its previous owner, Ryan’s next moves are to enjoy it and perform preventative maintenance in order to keep this uber rare wagon on the road. Well, at least until he is ready to move on to achieve his next target prize: a 987.2 Porsche Cayman S.
Introduce Yourself
Hi, my name is Ryan Botzbach, im a college student born and raised in Orange County, California. I am currently a bioengineering major at UC Riverside, with plans to pursue a career in the automotive or aerospace field once out of college.
WHY A WAGON?
Wagons have some obvious advantages: they have a lot of space for moving stuff, they can carry a lot of people, all the while still retaining roughly the same dimensions as a sedan. They are the ultimate practical car without sacrificing their looks to something such as a van, so when I was looking for a forever car that I can still have fun in, a wagon was the most obvious option
Did you consider a different WAGON instead of this one?
Although I loved the idea of owning a wagon, I wasn’t really considering a wagon at the time because most of the performance wagons were way out of my price range. When I first went to go see my V70R I actually had no intention of purchasing it; I went out to see if I fit in it well, so I could consider a same generation S60R, which are considerably more affordable.
What was your original objective with your car and has that objective changed?
I would say my original objective is still the same: maintain and preserve the car as best as possible to be used for years to come, all while retaining its daily driving capabilities. Maintenance on P2 Volvos is notoriously excessive, so it has definitely kept me busy throughout my ownership
What style would you say best describes your car?
I would say OEM++ is the best style to describe my car. I would love to throw on some different wheels or add more exterior and interior modifications, but I love how much the car is a sleeper, so cosmetically the goal is to be as least invasive as possible. It’s fun for people to get into my car and think everything is exactly how the car came factory, but they don’t notice the short shifter under the spaceball, the boost guage which appears completely factory, or the head unit I added which seamlessly blends into the dash. My love for OEM++ style builds has led me to consider removing the auxiliary headlights the original owner added, however the headlights have grown on me over time and I have since decided that the lights will be the one item that breaks my OEM++ rules
Who assisted in the planning/building/modding of your car?
Most of the modifications so far has been from the original owner, Jason. He extensively restored this car from its originally poor state. He went through the process of finding a new interior and replacing it from the old torn interior, as well as engine swapping the motor. He replaced the original 2.5L inline 5 with a 2.4L inline 5, an almost identical copy to the original engine, just bored out less so the walls are thicker. He also had the turbo rebuilt to a hybrid turbo, and he added some supporting mods with a tune. Overall I can’t take credit for most of the work done on this car, because without Jason it would most likely be in a junkyard somewhere along the West Coast, but since the beginning of my ownership I have been making mods where possible to perfect what Jason had started.
What do you feel makes your car unique / special in your eyes?
Absolutely no one expects a cool Volvo. Volvo is typically the last thing anyone thinks of when they hear performance car. Volvos are known to be safe, reliable, and luxurious, but nothing much else. So when I tell people my car came with BBS 2 piece rims, Brembo 4 pot calipers at every corner of the car, advanced electronic suspension, an AWD system, 6 speed manual, and 300 horses from the factory, they suddenly have a new light into what Volvos were and can be. Most of them never got the oppurtunity to see what Volvos used to be, and I think giving that oppurtunity and talking to people about it is what makes my car so unique.
What is your favorite part/feature/function of the car?
I have a love/hate relationship with the 6 speed manual in the car, also known as the spaceball. As far as I have looked, there is no other car that does a manual shifter like my Volvo, and it confuses the hell out of a lot of enthusiasts when they first see it. I knew that the first car I bought would need to be manual, but I didn’t really think I would have the weirdest manual to ever exist. The quirky manual does come with downsides. Little things can get stuck in the spaceball, including crumbs, sand, rocks, and other stuff, so it scrapes easily. Also the shifts feel very mediocre. It’s stiff and resists any attempt from the driver to move the shifter. It wants to stay either in gear or in the middle of neutral, and it just overall doesn’t like moving. I should give some leniency to a 200k+ mile transmission, but as I have replaced transmission parts, it’s had very minimal improvements in the shifting experience. The car’s manual makes me miss my 2020 Mustang ecoboost’s notchy shifter, but I think its looks overpower the below-average shifting experience
If you could pick one thing you aren’t satisfied with about your car, what would it be?
The number one thing I am not satisfied with right now is my paint. I have a pretty bad sunspot on the roof, a decent scrape at the rear corner from another driver hitting my parked car, and the front is littered with rock chips and imperfections. I hope to work on some paint work as soon as I get the chance, but since I am currently parking the car outside, I am not in the biggest rush to fix the paint, just to have the harsh California climate destroy my work as quickly as I did it.
What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced while building this car?
There are probably 2 things to contest for the spot: the boost leak I have been chasing since purchasing, and a rough idle that’s been plaguing the car for some time now. The boost leak is most likely a crack in a small line because I can impressively hold 28 psi without a problem, however there is a very audible air hissing sound which begins the moment I build any boost on the system. The rough idle has been something I am hopefully going to fix with a new fuel pump, however I have been replacing part after part and I am still experiencing occassionally rough idle. It’s potentially my tune, but I haven’t gotten through all of the possibilities yet. It could even potentially be related to the boost leak.
What one word best describes your car?
Quirky. There is nothing quite like a V70R and I doubt we will get anything like it ever again. The number of manual performance wagons is falling quickly, and while it is sad, it leaves the V70R as a unicorn. They’re rare, sporty, and practical, and most people will only get a handful of times to see these, especially good examples like mine.
What is your final goal with this car?
I don’t think I have a final goal with this car. It’s already extensively modified, and I can always do more mods, like meth injection, cams, built internals, but ultimately I am just curious how far I can take this car. With 210k miles on the dash, 100k on the engine, and 28 psi of boost, I want to see how long I can reliably drive this car. I have no plans on ever selling it (unless someone comes along with too good of a deal to ignore) so if I keep it all these coming years, it’s a matter of how much maintenance I am willing to do and if I haven’t fallen in love with taking care of another maintenance monster, such as a 987.2 Cayman. For now, I just want to drive and enjoy this car for years to come.
