C30 2.0D Facelift

[smithyithy]

Hi guys, hoping for some advice.

Really contemplating trading in my Mini for something cheaper and more economical as I'm trying to save for a house deposit.

I did the usual broad searches on PH and AT, seeing what fits the bill of the ever-flexible criteria. Turns out, the 2.0D Volvo C30 does, quite well.

I've always quite liked these cars, but never looked too deeply into buying one.

So what can you guys tell me about them, specifically the 2.0D 134hp facelift model?

The ones I'm looking at are in the sub-£10k range. I receive a car allowance and am limited to 160g CO2, making it the only engine I can get away with, however it does seem ripe for the remap (local company quote 170bhp for £300) and near-50mpg is 15 more than I'm getting now - on 250 miles a week I think I should save a few £.

So that's my situation. Are they good engines? Quick enough? Economy true to it's quoted figure? General reliability, any other issues to look for on these cars (mainly the facelift model, unless a really clean early model pops up).

Any and all advice welcome, many thanks.

[mc72]

Hi there,

My girlfriend has a 12 plate C30 D3 which is 150hp 5 cylinder diesel, and she really likes the car and engine having come from a 180hp bmw 120d. I've driven her car a few times and the torque it has makes it feel far quicker than I would've expected a 150hp diesel to feel. I believe it's the same chassis as the ,art focus so obviously it handles pretty well for a front wheel drive car.

Her car is an ex Volvo management car so it's fully loaded with all the options, heated memory electric seats, keyless go, adaptive xenon headlights which turn and swivel with the steering wheel. It's also got the Dolby Pro Logic upgraded hi-if system along with upgraded 18" all its as well as Bluetooth and USB Interface. I don't know what the CO2 rating is but I think it's cheaper road tax, maybe £30/yr but need to check with her. It has full Volvo service history.

She now works in the city centre so doesn't need a car so she's selling due to lack of use, so in a week or so she'll be selling her car with a yrs MOT, 2 new Bridgestone front tyres and a major service from Volvo. It's metallic black in colour with two tone leather interior. Might be a little more than your original budget but it's a more up to date model with all the options.

Let me know if you'd like me to send you on some pictures.

[smithyithy]

Thanks for the reply mate, I'll certainly keep it in mind.

Sounds good though, I might see if there are any of a similar engine / spec at my nearest showroom this weekend and try for a test drive. I think it's a shame they stopped making them really, I always liked them.

I will double check the engines but I'm pretty sure the 134bhp 2.0D is the only one under 160g CO2, which is my limit unfortunately..

[mc72]

Hi there,

She's checked the CO2 emissions and its 134g/km for her 2.0 D3, whereas the older 2.0d engine is 156g/km which makes sense as her car is a 2012 and you would expect the newer car to have lower emissions.

[smithyithy]

You are right sir, I did some research on Parkers, it seems the Dx engines are much improved - more power, better MPG and lower emissions.

I don't mind pushing my budget up if I do start looking to buy one, though I'd like a limit of say £10k.

Now, to find a D3 or D4 R-Design with a manual gearbox in a colour other than white with a 10k budget

That looks a lovely example too! I'd shyed away from black cars due to the extra effort in detailing them - red being my favourite and current car colour - but I must say the C30 is one of those cars that just looks so right in clean black

[anonymous-user]

The 2.0d engine is a Ford 4 banger. It's OK, if you like 4 banger diesel engines I guess. Honest advice is that the only engines worth having in your Volvo are Volvo engines so you need to be looking for 2.4 D5 engined models or newer D3 or D4 models, they are miles nicer.

[Axionknight]

smithyithy said:

You are right sir, I did some research on Parkers, it seems the Dx engines are much improved - more power, better MPG and lower emissions.

I don't mind pushing my budget up if I do start looking to buy one, though I'd like a limit of say £10k.

Now, to find a D3 or D4 R-Design with a manual gearbox in a colour other than white with a 10k budget

That looks a lovely example too! I'd shyed away from black cars due to the extra effort in detailing them - red being my favourite and current car colour - but I must say the C30 is one of those cars that just looks so right in clean black

There's a couple on the Autotrader if you are willing to push the budget to eleven thousand.

[smithyithy]

This one looks good for bang on 10k:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

With 11k I'd have a good choice for sure, but I think I could drop lucky and snag one for 10, with a bit of bartering perhaps.

I'd like to save that bit of cash towards a remap (so not picky between the D3 and D4 as remapped figures are quite close) and a wheel refurb if needed.

[Axionknight]

Looks nice - I had an 08 plate petrol model for five years, great car, not the most roomy in the back though so consider that if you need the space, the hard boot cover makes the entry into the boot space small too, if it is fitted, easy to remove though, just four clips.

Mine never put a foot wrong over 80,000 miles, looked superb, turned a lot of heads (many couldn't believe it was a Volvo - one woman at a petrol station asked if it was a Fiat ) and the seats were the best I've sat in, until I replaced it with a new V40!

[smithyithy]

It's probably no worse than my Mini for practicality really.. I've had mine 5 months and only had to use the back seats a handful of times (ie. picking up drunkards) so for very occasional use it's not an issue, other than that it's just light shopping that can spill onto the rear seats - do appear to fold pretty flat which is good.

I've yet to speak to Mini about my contract so that's my first port of call.

Cheers for help so far guys