Thinking of a V50 (advice please)
Discussion
Hi Everyone
Last year I traded my TVR for a Mini Cooper S (lost so much cash on the TVR that was all I could afford) However one year on and with a young family the Mini, although great fun, is annoyingly small (the convertible having much less luggage space the the hard top) My wife also has a small city car so between us car space is not at a premium.
I used to use my old Rover 400 as the family run about and as a winter car when the TVR was in the garage but when the Tiv was sold I also got rid of the Rover (double insurance, double road tax , a real pain) Now however I have decided to grow up and buy a family car. I am not interested in a 4x4 as I have driven them and much prefer the car experience. Therefore I have decided to get an estate somewhere in the region of £14,000 - £16,000 (still paying off the loss on the TVR!!!) I loked at the Alfa 159 but want to get something reliable and safe. The Audi A4 is nice but expensive so I am thinking about the V50 (in black)
Can any give me any feedback on ownership and anything I should be aware of when looking for my car.
Many thanks
Rippers
Last year I traded my TVR for a Mini Cooper S (lost so much cash on the TVR that was all I could afford) However one year on and with a young family the Mini, although great fun, is annoyingly small (the convertible having much less luggage space the the hard top) My wife also has a small city car so between us car space is not at a premium.
I used to use my old Rover 400 as the family run about and as a winter car when the TVR was in the garage but when the Tiv was sold I also got rid of the Rover (double insurance, double road tax , a real pain) Now however I have decided to grow up and buy a family car. I am not interested in a 4x4 as I have driven them and much prefer the car experience. Therefore I have decided to get an estate somewhere in the region of £14,000 - £16,000 (still paying off the loss on the TVR!!!) I loked at the Alfa 159 but want to get something reliable and safe. The Audi A4 is nice but expensive so I am thinking about the V50 (in black)
Can any give me any feedback on ownership and anything I should be aware of when looking for my car.
Many thanks
Rippers
Two friends have V50's and both swear by them - rather than at them. Nothing much to worry about and in that price bracket you'll get full Volvo warranty. I bought an S60 D5 last year and love it. Lots of good V50's about; 2.0D may suit, or D5 if you really want to have the best of both worlds. Shame the Volvo Owners Forum is closed at present, lots of great stuff on there.
Have a look at the Rybrook site, (they have 3 on at present - too cheap & too dear, I think), but they'll find the right car for you if you talk to them.............they did for me. Speak to Peter Welch and tell him the S60, (KE06), bloke from Lincoln sent you. Or you could go onto the Volvo Cars website and search under their used section.
For that sort of money you could get an '06 V70 D5, (ex-Rybrook), which will probably have 2 years warranty etc.
Whatever you decide on you should be happy with it. They really are good motors.
Look forward to hearing of any progress.
ETA : Rybrook, Chester.
ETA II : If you look down the forum list of topics there's one about V50 2.0D.
Have a look at the Rybrook site, (they have 3 on at present - too cheap & too dear, I think), but they'll find the right car for you if you talk to them.............they did for me. Speak to Peter Welch and tell him the S60, (KE06), bloke from Lincoln sent you. Or you could go onto the Volvo Cars website and search under their used section.
For that sort of money you could get an '06 V70 D5, (ex-Rybrook), which will probably have 2 years warranty etc.
Whatever you decide on you should be happy with it. They really are good motors.
Look forward to hearing of any progress.
ETA : Rybrook, Chester.
ETA II : If you look down the forum list of topics there's one about V50 2.0D.
Edited by Skodaku on Friday 25th April 21:36
Edited by Skodaku on Friday 25th April 21:38
The 2.0 D manual is a great car as is D5 auto (I found the D5 manual box a long throw after the 2D)The relevant topics on this are :-
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have nothing much to add to my comments in those threads apart from:-
The owners manual says you must premix washer additive before filling the bottle. A small point but it is important especially if you have a strong mix in very cold weather. If you do, as most people do, pour in the additive and then add water you can get it failing to mix and seals etc can degrade.
There is an upgrade for the electrical sockets that that the loom down the sides of the car into the door electrics. What happens is that you can lose all the electrics down one side, so for example, nearside (say) windows will not work, also lose the central locking, mirror operation and the indicicator repeater stops functioning. Often just opening and closing the door can reseat the connector and restore function, but there is an upgraded plug.
Finally just to repeat what said before considering the family remark, it's not a big car.
Dealers in a different class to Ford. Car still reliable.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have nothing much to add to my comments in those threads apart from:-
The owners manual says you must premix washer additive before filling the bottle. A small point but it is important especially if you have a strong mix in very cold weather. If you do, as most people do, pour in the additive and then add water you can get it failing to mix and seals etc can degrade.
There is an upgrade for the electrical sockets that that the loom down the sides of the car into the door electrics. What happens is that you can lose all the electrics down one side, so for example, nearside (say) windows will not work, also lose the central locking, mirror operation and the indicicator repeater stops functioning. Often just opening and closing the door can reseat the connector and restore function, but there is an upgraded plug.
Finally just to repeat what said before considering the family remark, it's not a big car.
Dealers in a different class to Ford. Car still reliable.
The V50 is a fine piece of kit, the more so as it is built wholly on Ford's Focus platform and shares all the suspension components baring Volvo's choice of springs, dampers and roll bars.
My choise would be either of Volvo's own 5 pot engines, the T5 or D5, however you will get better consumption, if that is important to you, by going for one of the lower spec., maybe Ford engines.
You can get various software upgrades and other performance stuff for either of these 5 pot engines which may be your bag.....
And, on the subject of Volvo dealers, avoid most of them for service outside of warranty, they are with few very worthy exceptions run by greedy corporate owners and individuals.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
www.kalmar-union.com
My choise would be either of Volvo's own 5 pot engines, the T5 or D5, however you will get better consumption, if that is important to you, by going for one of the lower spec., maybe Ford engines.
You can get various software upgrades and other performance stuff for either of these 5 pot engines which may be your bag.....
And, on the subject of Volvo dealers, avoid most of them for service outside of warranty, they are with few very worthy exceptions run by greedy corporate owners and individuals.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
www.kalmar-union.com
I just left this info on another V50 thread ... I got my V50 D5 in Sept 06, I had a M-B 220D before, and was almost set on a Saab 9-3 wagon until I had a whizz in the Volvo. It goes, feels GREAT ... but! First was turbo failure, dealt with by the Carlisle Volvo dealer really well in 24 hrs. Next was some sort of sensor that brought warning lights on. It's now been off the road a week cos of fuel pump failure "has to be ordered from Sweden sir". Then they discovered that it failed cos the pipe connection was kinked FROM NEW (wrong pipe) and that is a Sweden order too. So, lovely lively car when it's going (I have a loan C-30 1.6 which is gutless right now) but not too impressed with reliability ... I sort of thought on that score it would be better than the Merc. Oh, if only a Mercedes or Volvo could be as reliable as my TVR Griffith!!!
Generally they are very reliable and good all round comfy cars, naturally the odd one does not work as it should as with every car manufacturer.
Comment above about it being wholly built on the focus platform is incorrect, about 25% of the chassis is shared with the focus (which is a Volvo/mazda design not ford) mainly due to the extra safety requirements which the focus is very good at but not upto Volvo's standards. Fortunately it borrows the focus suspension which is excellent but every part is galvanized where the ford bits arent.
Basically a good all round small estate.
Comment above about it being wholly built on the focus platform is incorrect, about 25% of the chassis is shared with the focus (which is a Volvo/mazda design not ford) mainly due to the extra safety requirements which the focus is very good at but not upto Volvo's standards. Fortunately it borrows the focus suspension which is excellent but every part is galvanized where the ford bits arent.
Basically a good all round small estate.
johnzo said:
I just left this info on another V50 thread ... I got my V50 D5 in Sept 06, I had a M-B 220D before, and was almost set on a Saab 9-3 wagon until I had a whizz in the Volvo. It goes, feels GREAT ... but! First was turbo failure, dealt with by the Carlisle Volvo dealer really well in 24 hrs. Next was some sort of sensor that brought warning lights on. It's now been off the road a week cos of fuel pump failure "has to be ordered from Sweden sir". Then they discovered that it failed cos the pipe connection was kinked FROM NEW (wrong pipe) and that is a Sweden order too. So, lovely lively car when it's going (I have a loan C-30 1.6 which is gutless right now) but not too impressed with reliability ... I sort of thought on that score it would be better than the Merc. Oh, if only a Mercedes or Volvo could be as reliable as my TVR Griffith!!!
Car is great when it's going but... after saga above just a couple of weeks ago, the lastest is to hear an odd noise, got it looked at and told that a/c compressor is seized. So undrivable with a/c on or off as belt has to be able to move. And OVER TWO WEEKS to get it fixed as spares unavailable til then! Whats all THAT about? In the end after a certain sort of phone call to our lease company (we have a fair few Volvos) I am told Monday it will be fixed.SO BEWARE, MY EXPERIENCE OF RELIABILITY IS POOR WITH SPARES DIFFICULT TO GET !!!
johnzo said:
johnzo said:
I just left this info on another V50 thread ... I got my V50 D5 in Sept 06, I had a M-B 220D before, and was almost set on a Saab 9-3 wagon until I had a whizz in the Volvo. It goes, feels GREAT ... but! First was turbo failure, dealt with by the Carlisle Volvo dealer really well in 24 hrs. Next was some sort of sensor that brought warning lights on. It's now been off the road a week cos of fuel pump failure "has to be ordered from Sweden sir". Then they discovered that it failed cos the pipe connection was kinked FROM NEW (wrong pipe) and that is a Sweden order too. So, lovely lively car when it's going (I have a loan C-30 1.6 which is gutless right now) but not too impressed with reliability ... I sort of thought on that score it would be better than the Merc. Oh, if only a Mercedes or Volvo could be as reliable as my TVR Griffith!!!
Car is great when it's going but... after saga above just a couple of weeks ago, the lastest is to hear an odd noise, got it looked at and told that a/c compressor is seized. So undrivable with a/c on or off as belt has to be able to move. And OVER TWO WEEKS to get it fixed as spares unavailable til then! Whats all THAT about? In the end after a certain sort of phone call to our lease company (we have a fair few Volvos) I am told Monday it will be fixed.SO BEWARE, MY EXPERIENCE OF RELIABILITY IS POOR WITH SPARES DIFFICULT TO GET !!!
Personally speaking, I'd buy a Focus and spend the spare cash on a holiday while you can still fly abroad for a sensible price!
I've had a lot of experience with the Focus Estate(which is the same floor pan, and has a lot of shared parts with the V70), and I can say that I am very impressed with that car. OK it's got a blue oval on it, and that's one badge I've steered clear of for a few years - until this latest incarnation of the Focus.
Working on both breeds of car, you can see the Volvo-esque build standards and designs in the trim. Older Focii had plasticwork that broke as soon as you looked at it. This V50/Focus design is a factor of lots better.
The 2.0 TDCi engine (the max power variant) is a lusty engine, and provides fine fuel economy, and a fair grin factor due to the low weight of the car.
The downside - the blue oval badge.
The upside - cheaper and strangely more available parts that don't have to come from Sweden (even though they're made in Turkey or Spain!)
Regardless, if you must buy a V50 because of the badge, or because you want a T5 (which oddly appears cheaper and more available than the Focus ST!), spend you money, and have your holiday in Bognor (see you there!)
I've had a lot of experience with the Focus Estate(which is the same floor pan, and has a lot of shared parts with the V70), and I can say that I am very impressed with that car. OK it's got a blue oval on it, and that's one badge I've steered clear of for a few years - until this latest incarnation of the Focus.
Working on both breeds of car, you can see the Volvo-esque build standards and designs in the trim. Older Focii had plasticwork that broke as soon as you looked at it. This V50/Focus design is a factor of lots better.
The 2.0 TDCi engine (the max power variant) is a lusty engine, and provides fine fuel economy, and a fair grin factor due to the low weight of the car.
The downside - the blue oval badge.
The upside - cheaper and strangely more available parts that don't have to come from Sweden (even though they're made in Turkey or Spain!)
Regardless, if you must buy a V50 because of the badge, or because you want a T5 (which oddly appears cheaper and more available than the Focus ST!), spend you money, and have your holiday in Bognor (see you there!)
thunderbelmont said:
The downside - the blue oval badge.
I think the Volvo has a much more upmarket interior, especially with the leather trim. I don't think it's just a matter of badge snobbery. You do get more luxury with the Volvo, it's just a question of whether or not you want to pay for it. Both great cars in their own right.Speaking of the Focus, one thing I noticed is that some of the higher spec models have security tinted windows , behind B pillars obviously.
I asked a Ford salesman if it was a option to delete those, ie have normal tinted windows, preferably a no cost option. He told me it wasn't an option, no cost or otherwise.
Surely he's wrong? I hate these uber tinted windows with a passion, think it just makes cars look, well, like a van frankly. Can Ford really have made such a blunder? I suspect he is wrong but no hard evidence to prove otherwise.
I asked a Ford salesman if it was a option to delete those, ie have normal tinted windows, preferably a no cost option. He told me it wasn't an option, no cost or otherwise.
Surely he's wrong? I hate these uber tinted windows with a passion, think it just makes cars look, well, like a van frankly. Can Ford really have made such a blunder? I suspect he is wrong but no hard evidence to prove otherwise.
big_jof said:
Just picked up my new one - its awesome. The 2.0D was good but the D5 is a different beast all together. Handles better too. Dony know if the R-Design suspension differs from the old Sport one but it seems more fixed. Buy one!
Can you say how much difference there is between the 2 engines? More punchy? Better sounding? And is the 2.0D manual and the D5 auto?Are you better buying the base R-Design and then speccing it up a bit, than buying the R-Design SE?
ian_c_uk said:
I would strongly recommend driving a D5 and a 2.0D back to back.
I did and discovered the D5 is not for me, shame as I really fancied the figures and the idea of a 5cyl.
what didnt you like about it? I did and discovered the D5 is not for me, shame as I really fancied the figures and the idea of a 5cyl.
i drove one at the weekend before taking the T6 out and wasnt impressed with it either....it just felt "flat"
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