Volvo V50 T5 | Spotted
Before there was a V60 Polestar, there was a V50 with Polestar power...
Yes, it’s another fast Volvo estate for sale. But as any weary millennial will tell you, 35 is the new 30, and when a car as loved as the Volvo 850 makes it to that milestone some celebration is in order. Despite sharing two thirds of its names with the old stager, the V50 was a different proposition to the 8, a more bijou estate that was as much about style as substance.
But there was still a T5, and in old Volvo speak that still meant a turbocharged five-cylinder engine. The result was a fast estate unlike any other, the V50 flagship competing against four-cylinder alternatives with the five-pot swagger we’d only come to associate with larger Volvos. Few sold, of course, because if you were buying the most affordable Volvo estate then a 2.5-litre engine might have been a stretch. This was the time when diesel was popular as well, more so than it already was for this sort of car.
Which makes this 2009 car quite interesting. Not only is it a T5, it’s also a top-of-the-range R-Design, complete with snazzy wheels, a big glass roof and factory-fit sat nav with a screen the size of a stamp. Somebody really wanted the best a V50 could be back in the day. On top of that, either of the two owners also spent money on the Polestar optimisation. You’ll remember that back when Polestar was part of Volvo, kits were offered to boost the power of turbocharged models, and this is one of them. There’s even a certificate to prove it. Power and torque were usefully increased for the 2.5 turbo, with new maximums of 250hp and 273lb ft, the latter boost from 236lb ft likely to make a meaningful difference. The badge looks cool, too.
Moreover, going to the effort of Polestar-ing a regular Volvo surely points to the kind of committed ownership we all love to see. It’s the kind of upgrade purchased by a proper enthusiast, who really wanted to get the most from their five-cylinder curio estate. Don’t forget, either, that this was the engine that went into fast Focuses of the time, so there’s potentially even more tuning headroom for those that want it.
The impression of considered care throughout this Volvo’s life is supported by the condition. Far from the tired workhorse, it looks remarkably fresh for 17 years old, the paint and wheels in very good order. There’s some wear inside, but this is an 80,000-mile car. The seats, as expected, look set for another 17 years easy. The service history is said to be comprehensive, of course.
This T5 is one of just two such V50s on PH. At £12k, this one is quite a bit more expensive than the other, but then it’s also quite a bit nicer. Certainly the V50 is cheaper than an 850 in such condition would be, and an awful lot less than those later V60s. Not as loved as either, sure, though most certainly with oodles of Volvo estate charm. Just imagine how good it might look with a roofbox…
SPECIFICATION | VOLVO V50 T5
Engine: 2,521cc, five-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 230@5,000rpm (standard, Polestar 250)
Torque (lb ft): 236@1,500rpm (standard, Polestar 273)
MPG: 32.5
CO2: 208g/km
Year registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 79,850
Price new: £24,963 (2004, base T5)
Yours for: £11,990
But all you'd expect from Volvo in terms of quality build, a nice design (for the time), and really quite a lot of power (for the time) in what was a physically small estate. Would I pay £12k for it now? Not a chance
but an auto with 80k for £12k!? you'd have to be an idiot to pick this, espically as i doubt the 100k mile cambelt service has been done, and that costs a lot.
i got my 2.5T 2006 P3 S80 Manual with 79k miles for £5k, and it had way more features, luxury and interior space than this. in what world is this worth 12k!?
I fancied the V50 as the extra flexibility of an estate over a hatch would have been handy
I test drove all as it was a 4 year lease so I needed to be sure I liked the car
The Volvo T5 was rejected "immeadiately" by the test drive as it was really dull to drive with tons of understeer and a chassis that just didn't match the engine
The choice between the Focus and Golf was a lot harder but the 35mpg (vs 30) of the Golf coupled with the lower CO2 and hence about £1000 a year saving in BIK made the decision for me
Pretty happy with that decision at the time and in hindsight as the Golf Mk5 GTi really was a very solid choice for the combiination of 25,000 miles a year of which 2/3 were business use, mostly motorway work, and an enjoyable car to drive as well (oh, and as a bonus you could fit a towbar to the Golf to tow my go-kart around on a trailer behind the car whereas you couldn't with the Focus)
Anyway - Volvo T5 - lovely engine - sensible practical car but makes sense with a lower powered engine
That is strong money, but are we edging towards a good condition T5 Polestar and top spec being a pretty desirable car in future....
but an auto with 80k for £12k!? you'd have to be an idiot to pick this, espically as i doubt the 100k mile cambelt service has been done, and that costs a lot.
i got my 2.5T 2006 P3 S80 Manual with 79k miles for £5k, and it had way more features, luxury and interior space than this. in what world is this worth 12k!?
Handsome cars these in any case, and nice to drive (with a manual gearbox). The only strange thing is that they don't feel quite as sharp to drive or steer as a mk2 Focus - sloppier suspension and lighter steering.
but an auto with 80k for £12k!? you'd have to be an idiot to pick this, espically as i doubt the 100k mile cambelt service has been done, and that costs a lot.
i got my 2.5T 2006 P3 S80 Manual with 79k miles for £5k, and it had way more features, luxury and interior space than this. in what world is this worth 12k!?
This V50 looks like a nice clean car but when I think that I sold mine for £8.5k with similar mileage 15 years ago the £12k being asked for this is mad money ! That said, if you can get a deal on it then I'd highly recommend the T5.
Well sorry, you ain’t getting my money for a car like this, as I see it as worth half the asking price, but I suppose we will have to wait and see how long this takes to sell for the proof of the pudding…
What kind of f
king idiot would buy that?PH advert is populated with what I presume is the value for a manual car, (under the main title for the car on the PH listing it states manual) This one has rated CO2 emissions of 227g/km putting it in band L.
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