Finally - New D5 V50 R-design. turned up

[plfrench]

Cracked 40mpg average for a tankful for the first time today! 40.6mpg, just as it passed 4000 miles

[L500]

Hi Plfrench... Just wondering how the V50 is going? Any problems/highlights to report? Mine is now due at the end of this month ;-)

Cheers.

[plfrench]

Still very pleased with it. Just passed 6k miles today. No problems with it at all, not that you'd expect any after less than 2 months The only thing i would say is that the Pirelli tyres it comes on don't have much traction in the wet. Maybe it's got something to do with 400Nm of torque going to the front wheels

[L500]

Thanks for the tip ;-)

I've had confirmation for next Friday now, so will re-post my initial thoughts... You don't see many R designs on the road do you...! I think I've seen 1 in 6 weeks of looking...

I've also been reading on separate Volvo forums (Volvo Car Club etc) and some people favour the looks of the car better with the suspension slighter lowered - may help weight distribution in the wet - who knows...

[mondayo]

The R design's are pretty rare, although I did see a S40 D5 the other day...looked pretty good actually.

With that engine, its defintely a car to feed the power in and then once you've got some momentum, you can floor it. If you want a laugh, turn off the DSTC!

[plfrench]

I find the DTSC on/off doesn't make much difference to the traction control... I know it is bound to be impossible for a FWD car with a large chunk of torque to get all the power down in the wet, but I'm sure that the Pirellis struggle more than they should do even with only quite small throttle openings. The Michelins I had on my Focus seemed to allow a greater rate of acceleration. Fortunately we are only allowed Michelins on our company policy, so once the originals have worn out, I'll be getting some.

[mondayo]

I know I'm not exactly comparing like with like, but my current P600's seem much better than the old ones.
Maybe it's that the V70 grips better than the V50? or are they different tyres, I think mine are 17" 225/45's and I seem to get much less wheelspin even though I'm putting more power through the fronts!?

[big_jof]

Well six months in still the best choice I think i could have made. The Geartronic thas taken some getting used to as its my first auto but apart from having to use 3rd to get anywhere on ice.

Only dealer issue is the R design mats which casued the throttle to stay when you kick down - that got a little scary once or twice - but volvo contacted me and swapped it out.

Other than that its great and always good for upsetting the odd 320d rep mobile.

[F i F]

Agree with earlier posts about the OEM Pirellis are like a Jack Russell on lino on anything other than clean dry tarmac.