So last August my first Volvo, a 2000 v40, had the ABS module break and after numerous other problems, I got fed up and sold it for a 2003 XC70.

Day 1 -




I've owned 6 cars in my life and always wanted a roof basket, this XC was the first car I've owned that had the crossbars to make it happen so I got some 50 dollars universal crossbars -



And then bought a basket with wind fairing for 100 bucks -



Then I took it offroading -







Video of it driving through some mud and sand -


I was displeased with the OEM exhaust tip as it was pretty small, so I fitted a tip that I had lying around from a 2004 Scion xB -



I also was interested in mudflaps, but the Volvo OEM flaps were roughly 70 bucks total, meanwhile a set of RallyArmor flaps was 15 bucks, so I invested in a set of those which I like much more than the OEM ones -



My latest mod which I just finished today was installing an OEM style v70 spoiler. A company on eBay makes molds of a variety of spoilers and sells them at a standard fee of 169 dollars with paint which is a steal considering Tasca wants $425 for a spoiler. -









I understand that this will never be a pro rally car or whatever but that is the look that I am going for and plan to have fun offroad every now and again. My next mod is likely going to be a set of foglights/search lights mounted in a crossbar behind the windfairing, and then saving for the BadSwede lift kit, IPD Sway bars/endlinks. Also considering buying 4 steelies instead of the alloys but I'm not sure about that yet.

Thanks for looking!

 

Nice, I have the same year XC70. Great car. Wondering what kind of roof rack that is - $100 seems like a steal compared to what the MOAB and similar racks go for normally.

 

You may have wasted your money on the spoiler if you keep the basket on. They are very "dirty" aerodynamically.

I know a lot about form drag because I did undergraduate aero at a small school just north of Colorado Springs and a little graduate aero work at USC.

Personally I and my 2004 XC70 live with it because I often car top kayaks, SUP boards, or a ski box. My whitewater kayak will usually fit inside to save gas.

If you have the on board computer you can do some ROM testing for mileage using this method:

1. Pick a relatively level approximately 10 mile stretch of expressway and light traffic.
2. With the engine and tires warm, set cruise control at 60 mph (or at what ever other speed you choose) and reset average speed and MPG. (cross check speed with GPS if you have one)
3. Reverse course and repeat to compensate for wind direction and elevation changes.
If you can't make a smooth, uniterupted 180 then record each leg separately and average.
4. Install or uninstall your basket, box or rack and repeat.

This method will work for tires or performance accessories you can install quickly. It is not perfect because it depends on the cpu to meter and record fuel flow but I would estimate the "experimental error" to be less than 15%

BTW a fairing (air deflector) in front of the rack/box saves about 0.5 MPG but is still not as clean as no crossbars.

 

Heh, haven't been on here in a long time. Basket was a no name brand eBay special, kinda junk but cheap as dirt. It's since been removed and the car is sitting on Canisto wheels now. Hell I'm actually trying to sell the car now too.