Discussion
I've run a C30 D3 Auto for a couple of years.
I got the impression that it was designed with the philosophy that Volvo wanted a young persons car and decided the reason young people didn't buy Volvo's was they were practical and so boring. Therefore they made it delibrately less practical than the V50. So despite being the same wheelbase and width as the V50, it is only a 4 seater. As a 2 seater with occasional rear seats / boot extension it is fine, my dog seems to be happier on the back seat of the C30 than the V50. The boot is a reasonable size, with a good floor area, but the hard load cover does restrict boot access.
The ride if tauter than the V50.
The main problem I have with it is I find the steering over light (lighter than the V50), also on the last of the line they changed the light switch operation and I find the DRL's confusing.
I got the impression that it was designed with the philosophy that Volvo wanted a young persons car and decided the reason young people didn't buy Volvo's was they were practical and so boring. Therefore they made it delibrately less practical than the V50. So despite being the same wheelbase and width as the V50, it is only a 4 seater. As a 2 seater with occasional rear seats / boot extension it is fine, my dog seems to be happier on the back seat of the C30 than the V50. The boot is a reasonable size, with a good floor area, but the hard load cover does restrict boot access.
The ride if tauter than the V50.
The main problem I have with it is I find the steering over light (lighter than the V50), also on the last of the line they changed the light switch operation and I find the DRL's confusing.
C3BER said:
Max fuel as I'm traveling from Leeds to Gatwick more often than I want to.
Long runs at highish speed I'd go for the sweet sounding free revving 5pot 2.0 D4 diesel (177bhp) rather than the tractor like PSA/Ford unit. Lots of round town journeys then sway towards the peasant-like 1.6d, but diesels can suffer with DPF probs on continuous short journeys. Petrol wise? T5 a lovely, lovely engine but pretty bloody juicy, smaller petrol units aren't even worth looking at to be honest, gutless and soulless.1.6d ok on motorway if you like cruising along getting great MPG but don't expect any massive driving thrills - D4 on a run expect between 45 and 50mpg fairly easily
I think there a a few changes between the D3 and D4. The exhaust is different as a D4 V50 couldn't have a spare wheel, yet the D3 could. Also the initial power characteristics suggest a different turbo. With the D4 I can count 1 2 between pressing accelerator and launching, whereas with the D3 the lag is barely perceptible.
This Sunday will mark the 2nd week anniversary of me collecting my new car. I'll explain......
I have usually driven convertibles, my last being a SAAB 93 Aero 2.0T Convertible, which I loved. However, earlier this year I changed my job, and moved house, thus my commute became very different driving from Surrey into West London. I decided to forfeit my manual SAAB convertible, and look for a small hatch/coupe with an auto box that would last me more than the usual 12 months that I keep my cars for!
The other car in our household is my partner's Volvo XC60 D5 which she has had for a year now and loves it. Two trips to Scotland, and a run fully loaded to the South of France (not to mention countless runs in and out of London) and my SAAB ownership, has meant I am fully converted to the qualities of the Swedes. Hence me sinking my readies into a 2007 Volvo C30 T5 SE Sport R-Design.
So, what can I tell you? Well, the first thing that impressed me was the overall quality of the car. My sister is now on her 3rd Volvo (an early S40, and then 2 S60 D5's) and, obviously, our own XC60 still hadn't really prepared my for how solid the C30 really feels. It feels the equal of anything by Audi, and a class above a BMW 1 Series. The seats are magnificent (mine has the ivory coloured half leather, half "wet-suit" material), although I would suggest that the heated seats don't feel as strong as they did in my SAAB, or our XC60. Ride quality is excellent (before the SAAB, I had a Seat Leon Cupra R, and my back still hasn't forgiven me!), even dealing with the roads in West London. I find the steering just right for me, but to be fair, I know the SE Sport R-Design has a different set-up on the front suspension, so that may have a bearing.
The refinement is, as you'd expect, superb. I know a few bemoan the lack of exhaust noise from the T5, but I feel the car should be viewed more as a premium hatch/coupe, rather than a "hot-hatch" rival, and so I appreciate the quieter aspect of the car. The interior space is also very good, despite the distinct 4 seat layout. I only rarely carry rear seat passengers, and my 75 y/o father-in-law was in the back last week with only the entry/exit a real issue due to the front seat belts being attached to the seat bases.
Fuel economy on the T5 is averaging out at around 27 mpg (I have the Geartronic too) which is a surprise. Our XC60 isn't the most economical, however I expect that is a lot to do with the size/weight/4wd.
Negatives? Trivial, if I'm honest. The base audio system on mine isn't brilliant (although I have an after-market mod planned for the new year), and depending how practical you need it to be, the boot space isn't huge, but it suits everything I need, so its not really an issue for me.
I know I'm only 2 weeks into my custodianship, but this little car has really won me over. I did set out to buy a C30, and I was only interested in either a D5 or T5 as I wanted the Geartronic, but even so, I am totally smitten. Whether I will miss the convertible come next summer, who knows, but for now, I can't think what else gives so much for the money. Distinctive styling, comfort, refinement, performance, and a quality that few others can achieve. I can only recommend it!
I have usually driven convertibles, my last being a SAAB 93 Aero 2.0T Convertible, which I loved. However, earlier this year I changed my job, and moved house, thus my commute became very different driving from Surrey into West London. I decided to forfeit my manual SAAB convertible, and look for a small hatch/coupe with an auto box that would last me more than the usual 12 months that I keep my cars for!
The other car in our household is my partner's Volvo XC60 D5 which she has had for a year now and loves it. Two trips to Scotland, and a run fully loaded to the South of France (not to mention countless runs in and out of London) and my SAAB ownership, has meant I am fully converted to the qualities of the Swedes. Hence me sinking my readies into a 2007 Volvo C30 T5 SE Sport R-Design.
So, what can I tell you? Well, the first thing that impressed me was the overall quality of the car. My sister is now on her 3rd Volvo (an early S40, and then 2 S60 D5's) and, obviously, our own XC60 still hadn't really prepared my for how solid the C30 really feels. It feels the equal of anything by Audi, and a class above a BMW 1 Series. The seats are magnificent (mine has the ivory coloured half leather, half "wet-suit" material), although I would suggest that the heated seats don't feel as strong as they did in my SAAB, or our XC60. Ride quality is excellent (before the SAAB, I had a Seat Leon Cupra R, and my back still hasn't forgiven me!), even dealing with the roads in West London. I find the steering just right for me, but to be fair, I know the SE Sport R-Design has a different set-up on the front suspension, so that may have a bearing.
The refinement is, as you'd expect, superb. I know a few bemoan the lack of exhaust noise from the T5, but I feel the car should be viewed more as a premium hatch/coupe, rather than a "hot-hatch" rival, and so I appreciate the quieter aspect of the car. The interior space is also very good, despite the distinct 4 seat layout. I only rarely carry rear seat passengers, and my 75 y/o father-in-law was in the back last week with only the entry/exit a real issue due to the front seat belts being attached to the seat bases.
Fuel economy on the T5 is averaging out at around 27 mpg (I have the Geartronic too) which is a surprise. Our XC60 isn't the most economical, however I expect that is a lot to do with the size/weight/4wd.
Negatives? Trivial, if I'm honest. The base audio system on mine isn't brilliant (although I have an after-market mod planned for the new year), and depending how practical you need it to be, the boot space isn't huge, but it suits everything I need, so its not really an issue for me.
I know I'm only 2 weeks into my custodianship, but this little car has really won me over. I did set out to buy a C30, and I was only interested in either a D5 or T5 as I wanted the Geartronic, but even so, I am totally smitten. Whether I will miss the convertible come next summer, who knows, but for now, I can't think what else gives so much for the money. Distinctive styling, comfort, refinement, performance, and a quality that few others can achieve. I can only recommend it!
I owned an R Design C30 for nearly five years - sad to say it was only a 1.6, as a rule of thumb avoid the 1.6 and 1.8 petrols, you won't save anything of fuel over the 2.0 as you need to rev them to get them going.
Good points during my ownership:
The seats are excellent, only time I have sat in better is in a bigger Volvo
Standard stereo also excellent, the upgraded ones (see: Dynaudio) are something else
Never missed a beat in nearly five years and 80,000 miles
Turned a lot of heads, plenty of people asking about it - many couldn't believe it was a Volvo
Quirky/different (subjective I know)
Did I mention the EXCELLENT seats?
Bad points during my ownership:
Crap engine but my age (19 when I ordered it), diddled the insurance costs, avoid smaller petrols
MPG due to above reason
Boot cover, the boot entry is small anyway and the hard load cover makes it smaller still, easy enough to remove and ditch in the garage though
Thats basically it
Notes:
Four seats only and rear legroom can be a bit tight, I seldom had passengers though, but it never became totally unacceptable comfort wise when carrying four people.
Mine had 17" alloys, the ride was OK, but not exceptional - I'd avoid larger wheels if possible personally.
It's based on the MK2 Focus but doesn't drive as well, it grips and turns in well, but the feel is minimal and feedback poor, I did drive mine like a tit on occasions though and I never binned it, so it can't be too bad!!
I far preferred it the the Astra, Focus, Golf, 1 Series and A3 I looked at when I bought it in 2008.
Good points during my ownership:
The seats are excellent, only time I have sat in better is in a bigger Volvo
Standard stereo also excellent, the upgraded ones (see: Dynaudio) are something else
Never missed a beat in nearly five years and 80,000 miles
Turned a lot of heads, plenty of people asking about it - many couldn't believe it was a Volvo
Quirky/different (subjective I know)
Did I mention the EXCELLENT seats?
Bad points during my ownership:
Crap engine but my age (19 when I ordered it), diddled the insurance costs, avoid smaller petrols
MPG due to above reason
Boot cover, the boot entry is small anyway and the hard load cover makes it smaller still, easy enough to remove and ditch in the garage though
Thats basically it
Notes:
Four seats only and rear legroom can be a bit tight, I seldom had passengers though, but it never became totally unacceptable comfort wise when carrying four people.
Mine had 17" alloys, the ride was OK, but not exceptional - I'd avoid larger wheels if possible personally.
It's based on the MK2 Focus but doesn't drive as well, it grips and turns in well, but the feel is minimal and feedback poor, I did drive mine like a tit on occasions though and I never binned it, so it can't be too bad!!
I far preferred it the the Astra, Focus, Golf, 1 Series and A3 I looked at when I bought it in 2008.
Edited by Axionknight on Saturday 6th December 23:58
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