2008 Volvo S80 SE Sport

Highlights

• Proper Q car that has a 4.4-litre V8 with light tune said to be good for 340hp
• Other tasteful mods include MY11 front grill, 30mm suspension drop and 20mm spacers
• Four-wheel drive
• Low mileage and extensive service history
• Lovely condition inside and out

Overview

Remember that Noble that we sold through PH auctions for over £200k? Well, if you couldn’t quite stretch to an M600 but have a hankering for a 4.4-litre Yamaha V8, then here is your chance to obtain one, wrapped up in a rather fetching Swedish executive saloon, predictably for a lot less money. And this isn’t some back street garage concoction knocked up in a shed, either, but a bona-fide OEM product.

Rather obviously aimed at the US market and also sold in tiny numbers over here, it’s almost the very definition of a ‘Q’ car (albeit with a surprisingly raucous exhaust note, which aftermarket exhausts can uncork further), an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive to keep things Volvo-steady. The S80 had a lot going for it, even in its more cooking variants, too, with a roomy and comfortable interior, all the usual refinements and restrained but characterful styling that has (un?)arguably aged considerably more gracefully than the contemporary Chris Bangle-penned 7 series.

This example looks to have been cosseted throughout its life, with many invoices to show how caring its four owners were and is in lovely condition today. Possibly in deference to its appetite for unleaded, it has covered a measly average 4,600 miles per year, though owner feedback would suggest that it’s not for want of comfort on long journeys.

There have been a few discreet modifications along the way: it’s now sporting a MY11 grill, a slightly wider track thanks to 20mm spacers and a 30mm suspension drop. Adaptive dampers should ensure that the ride quality hasn’t been sacrificed too much, however, while the wick has been turned up slightly on the engine to 340hp. So, if you’re looking for an understated quick, comfortable, roomy and, above all rare V8 saloon then this looks like just the ticket. And you’ll have some common ground to chat about to the next Noble M600 owner you meet, too.

History and documentation

• Registered 1 Mar 2008
• Four owners from new
• In current ownership five years
• Comprehensive set of invoices showing services as follows: Stratstone Jaguar, date and mileage illegible, Apr 2011 @ 14k miles, Mar 2012 @ 16k miles, Mar 2013 @ 23k miles, Mar 2014 @ 30k miles, Mar 2015 @ 38k miles, Mar 2016 @ 42k miles, Feb 2017 @ 46k miles, Feb 2018 @ 50k miles, Feb 2019 @ 53k miles
• The owner tells us that he has serviced the car twice yearly during his ownership
• Currently showing 73,876 miles
• Full document pack
• Collection of other invoices for work and parts, old MOT certificates, original order form
• Current MOT expires 22 Feb 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Step inside the S80 and you’re treated to an object lesson in Swedish restrained style; the dashboard is a model of clarity, the central screen is hidden until needed and the floating centre console helps to increase the feeling of airiness
• Brushed aluminium trim provides a cool accent and the perforated black leather seats look incredibly inviting
• All the mod cons are present and correct: air conditioning, electrically adjusted seats with memory, heated and cooling, and a sunroof
• There’s also a sat nav which we suspect may look familiar to anyone with experience of Aston Martins of the era, here with a remote control, and a built in wired phone that does show the car’s age a little
• There is a small mark on the driver’s side A-pillar cover, some general wear to the driver’s seat and a mark on the base of the front passenger seat but otherwise the cabin is in excellent condition with few signs of use elsewhere
• Both flavours of overmats to choose from: posh carpet and rubber
• Cavernous boot with space saver spare and all tools beneath the floor and a first aid kit
• In summary, it’s stylish and luxurious and in great condition

Exterior

• Finished in metallic silver, the car presents very well and it remains a handsome saloon
• A 30mm drop to the suspension and 20mm spacers make for a slightly more sporting and menacing stance, while a later grille makes it look a little more modern
• The paintwork is in generally very good condition with just a few marks, including a small scuff in the centre of the boot lid and a couple of scratches on the lower skirt of the rear bumper
• 18-inch alloys are in decent condition and are reportedly completely straight but the owner advises that they would benefit from a refurbishment to bring them back to their best
• There are two new Pirelli tyres at the front and the rears are also Pirelli with 5-6mm of tread remaining
• Light lenses are undamaged and not faded all round
• The underside is said to be in good condition with no visible rust to the body and no sign of any fluid leaks
• Overall, it’s a fine looking car in our view, in lovely condition

Mechanical

• 4,424cc Yamaha V8 with a K&N filter, remapped and reportedly good for 340hp
• Automatic gearbox
• Four-wheel drive
• No known mechanical faults; the only issue is an “on call service required” message on the dash which is apparently caused by the back up battery for the on call system being degraded, not that it affects the driveability of the car or even the function of the inbuilt phone as it is only for a backup incase of total power failure
• The owner reports that it starts without issue, fast idles for around one minute to complete the initial heat-up process and then drops down to a steady idle
• He describes the car as driving smoothly with plenty of power throughout the rev range
• There are three drive modes: comfort, sport and advanced which alter the suspension stiffness, throttle map and gearbox settings
• The brakes are reported to be strong with good feel
• The addition of a Polestar strut brace contributes to a solid feeling and a chassis that the owner says handles the power well, although it can still cruise comfortably when needed
• As can be be heard in the video, there’s a fantastic soundtrack

Summary

The S80 V8 has always been a rare groove and, hindsight, it’s possibly more desirable now than ever. All the attributes that made the S80 popular are there: the comfort, style and space. But here it’s mated to a slightly snarly V8 and an all-wheel drive chassis that enables swift progress down the back roads as well as refined motorway cruising. This one has low mileage, extensive history and lovely condition on its side, too, which makes for a great modern classic executive saloon.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.