Volvo C30 1.6d

[smudgerebt]

The above car.

Whats it like to live with?

Mainly commute with the odd 200 mile drive.

Whilst a 4 seater the rear seats wont be used so not fussed by being a 3 door and small boot.

[steve-5snwi]

If its the older version check to make sure there is no carbon build up around the injectors and make sure the AC works as the condensor sits right in the firing line of stones.

[JamesRR]

I have one. What’s it like to live with? It’s generally very comfortable with the usual exceptional Volvo seats, although poor road surfaces can cause it to ride a bit on the crashy side, in R-Design trim anyway. They make an excellent motorway car, 5th gear sits you right in the torque/power band at 60/70. It’s based on a MK2 Focus platform so it handles well, and hydraulic assistance makes for quite a feelsome steering set up.
The engine is obviously the smallest diesel but it’s pokey enough for a daily driver, but don’t expect ‘fast’.
The parcel shelf with its minuscule flip up loading hatch makes the boot pretty poor, but take the shelf out and drop the seats and it can be practical - myself and two others went camping for a weekend using mine. Being a Volvo, the standard stereo is impressive, and obviously the optional ones better again. The doors are MASSIVE; parking a C30 in tight spaces is for contortionists only. I’m not one, and have on occasion almost disgraced myself attempting to disembark.

To summarise, I’d say it gives a ‘big car’ feel in something about the overall size of a MK7 Golf. I can drive mine all day and not get tired/uncomfortable.

[MYOB]

Nice car but get one with a Volvo engine.

[smudgerebt]

I thought all in that age group shared engines with ford?

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's the one with Peugeot 1.6d then avoid it.

[MYOB]

smudgerebt said:

I thought all in that age group shared engines with ford?

I think for the C30, perhaps the D5 and T5 were Volvo engines. I'm sure the 1.6D is fine providing it has a FSH from Volvo.

[GreatGranny]

If its the older 1.6d I would avoid especially for only 20 miles per day.

Go for the 1.6 or 2.0 petrol C30's.

They won't do 50+ mpg but trust me (from having an S40 1.6d) things will go wrong (DPF, DMF..) and it's not cheap to sort.

[Malcs87]

I would recommend you look at the D3 engine. I do 90 miles a day commute for work and have now done 50k in mine with no issues. Enough power and not sluggish. The only downside for me is that the seats are not the comfiest (I'm 6ft) and the boot isn't the biggest but that's no issue for me. I also regularly get between 50-55 mpg on my commute, mainly motorways and A roads.

[nunpuncher]

Did Volvo change from a Ford/PSA 1.6D to their own unit at some point between 2006 and 2016? Or are people referring to the current cars when they say "get one with a Volvo engine"?

[MYOB]

I think as a general rule, any Volvos that were 4 cylinders were not Volvo's engines during this period. The 5 pots were all Volvos own engines.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 1.6d is a PSA engine & has a reputation for being a unreliable.